A Guide to Hockey Socks: FAQs & More

If you’re looking for hockey socks for youth or adult hockey leagues, you should know how to pick the right pair to keep you comfortable and safe out on the ice. With a lot of different options on the market, it can be hard to know where to look. Take a moment to review some frequently asked questions about hockey socks and some tips for finding the best pair.

How Are Hockey Socks Different From Regular Socks?

Unlike other socks, hockey socks don’t cover a player’s feet. Instead, they extend from a player’s ankle to their thigh, with some featuring cut-resistant materials. The socks are either held in place by a garter or Velcro tabs on undershorts. Some players also apply athletic tape below their knees and around their ankles to secure the socks. By wearing these socks, hockey players keep their shin guards in place and receive additional protection for their legs.

What Are Hockey Skate Socks?

While hockey socks aren’t like other socks, hockey skate socks are much like standard socks. These skate socks are thin, cover the entire foot, and are designed to be worn inside the skate. Some hockey players prefer playing barefoot under their skates since it gives them a better feel for the ice and edges, but the barefoot option wears out skates faster and can make the skates stink.

What Hockey Sock Regulations Do Players Need to Follow?

USA Hockey is the governing body for organized ice hockey in the U.S., with most youth leagues following its rules. Part of these rules involve protective equipment, and while they don’t have any regulations for socks, they recommend that players wear cut-resistant socks. However, some leagues may not follow USA Hockey’s rules, so you should still check if your child’s league has any specific regulations for youth hockey socks before you send them out on the ice.

If you play hockey on a collegiate level, the NCAA Ice Hockey Rules Book doesn’t have any rules about players’ socks. However, they do say that visiting teams should wear dark-colored stockings (in addition to the jersey), while home teams should wear light-colored stockings.  

What to Look for in Hockey Skate Socks

While you might have to wear a certain type of hockey sock to match your team, players typically have more leeway when it comes to picking hockey skate socks. Since these socks are covered by the skate and the hockey sock, you can likely wear whatever brand or type of sock is most comfortable for you. As you look for the right socks, take a moment to review our top three tips for purchasing hockey socks and hockey skate socks below:

1. Make Sure They’re Properly Sized

When purchasing standard hockey socks, they should be tight enough to hold the shin guards in place but loose enough that they don’t restrict your knee or ankle movement. As long as the shin guards are secured and you can still move your ankles or knees like you usually would on the ice, you’ll have a properly sized hockey sock. The socks should also cover your entire ankle and extend past your highest shin guard.

For hockey skate socks, your socks can be as long or as short as you’d prefer since they’ll be hidden underneath your pants, hockey socks, and skates. While length doesn’t matter, you may want to look for thinner socks if your skates already fit tightly. However, thicker socks tend to offer greater comfort, and if you purchase thicker double-layer socks, you can better protect yourself from skating blisters. 

2. Pay Attention to Their Material

While searching for hockey socks, make sure they feature cut-resistant material to protect your or your child’s legs from other players’ skates. Usually, hockey socks will be made out of mesh polyester and cut-resistant materials, such as Kevlar.

Since your hockey skate socks will be under your skates and other hockey socks, they don’t need to be cut-resistant. However, they should be made with materials that are breathable and moisture-wicking. Cotton isn’t an appropriate material for hockey skate socks, as they absorb too much moisture and can start to feel quite damp due to sweat. In contrast, socks made with Merino wool and synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon will keep your feet dry and comfortable.

3. Check If Your Team or League Has Color Requirements

If you play on a team, you may have requirements for the color of your hockey socks. Typically, these types of requirements will make a player purchase hockey socks in the team’s home and away colors, but they can vary team by team. With hockey skate socks, you can usually wear whatever color you want since they’re hidden under other hockey apparel. 

Choose Wrightsock for Anti-Blister Hockey Skate Socks

At Wrightsock, we’re proud to offer thin single-layer hockey skate socks alongside our flagship anti-blister double-layer socks. If you prefer a thicker and more comfortable sock, we have lightweight double-layer socks that are backed by our blister-free guarantee. Those who want a greater feel for the ice should go with our lightweight single-layer thin socks, such as our Ultra Thin Crew socks.

Review our selection of lightweight single and double-layer socks today. If you have any questions, please contact us.