The materials used to create boot socks can vary a lot. These materials are in the form of yarn because it’s very easy to knit yarn together to create a good product. Usually, only six types of yarns are used in the sock industry (95% of socks are made out of these materials), and those are cotton, polyester, nylon, spandex, wool, and bamboo.

Cotton is the most common fiber used. It is soft, light and comes from the cotton plant. Cotton is breathable and strong and absorbs colors well, so you have plenty of choices.

Polyester is man-made, and it is the most used synthetic material today. Polyester is known for its moisture-wicking properties, drying much faster than natural materials and keeping you safe from sweat and odors. It’s also very washable and resists wrinkles.

Nylon is also a man-made material but it differs from polyester. It’s much more elastic, and it retains its shape better. Also, it has more strength while weighing less!

Spandex is a synthetic material that is very durable. It is resistant to natural body oils, so it won’t break down as easily as others. What makes it remarkable is the fact that it can be stretched for over 500% of its original length without breaking apart!

Wool is what was originally used to make socks. It can come from a variety of animals, usually goats or sheep. It offers a lot of protection in all seasons, and it keeps us dry and warm in winter. Not only that, but wool is a good option for summer as well since it is wonderfully moisture-wicking and can keep you cool in high temperatures.

Bamboo is a material that is, believe it or not, even softer than cotton. But unlike cotton, it lasts much longer. This is because the threads used are very strong, just like Bamboo itself. It also has silk-like properties, because it is very smooth and light.

Boot socks can also be made from materials not listed here, but we thought that listing the most common ones can guide you on your way to owning a perfect pair!

Today, socks come in various styles.

The earliest sock was invented by the Greeks. They were called piloi and were made out of matted animal hair. Since then, the sock has evolved a lot, and today, we have a whole world of different sock designs made to fit every kind of foot. The most common sock styles today are as follows:
 
Ankle Height - These tiny creations are usually worn during the summer and with low-cut footwear. As the name suggests, they reach your ankles, and that’s about it. These are a great choice for casual opportunities, worn with loafers or any other type of informal footwear.
 
Quarter Height - These peek just above your ankles and stop before your shins. They provide better coverage while protecting you from blisters and shoe bites. They go along with informal footwear, best worn with sneakers.
 
Crew Height - Your new best friend when winter starts to knock on your door. Great for hiking, running, and other outdoor activities. Depending on how tall you are, they can even reach halfway up your calf muscles.
 
Mid-Calf Height - These truly do come to the middle point of your calves, no matter your height. Usually made out of wool or other warm materials to keep you safe and warm.
 
Calf-Height - As the name suggests, these cover your calves completely and keep the lower part of your legs insulated. Sports people adore them because they offer the best kind of protection.
 
Knee Height - These are mostly a favorite among women, worn under tall boots to offer even more protection and heat. They also cushion each and every step you make, thus making wearing shoes an easy job.
 
Thigh High - This is as long as a sock can get without turning into tights! They hug your whole lower leg up until the halfway-up point of your thighs. Usually used as a fashion detail by women, worn under skirts.
 
Slip-On Paddings - Last but not least, the tiny paddings are a great partner to formal footwear where you don’t want to go barefoot, but wearing regular socks would make it uncomfortable or distasteful.

We have all seen many different boot socks in our lives, and without a doubt worn and gone through just as many.

Usually, aside from their colors and design, what makes one boot sock stand out from another is their knit pattern. The knit pattern is the way the threads on the clothing are woven together to create a single piece. It can vary a lot, ranging from different ways they are knit to create a pattern to the way each section of a sock is made.

Double-pointed needles are the most common choice of weapon used to bring boot socks to life. They eliminate the seams from the toes and heels, which creates a more comfortable fit. The toes, and sometimes the heels, are brought together using the kitchener stitch. The kitchener stitch is subtle, almost invisible.

Now, each sock is created the same way, starting from the top. The cuff is the starting point of each sock, and usually has the same amount of stitches as the rest of the product. Elastic threads can be worked in in this part, providing a snug fit.

Some boot socks may be topped with lacing or other types of decorations, and some are left bare.

The heel is the next part that is created and can be the same color of the sock, the same color of just the toes of the sock, or a completely different color altogether. The instep comes next, and that part connects the whole construction together. The foot is the bottom of our socks, that keeps us warm. The toes finalize the whole item and bring it all together, which leaves us with one perfect sock.

All of these things can affect the way our boot socks fit on our feet, and different knit patterns make different fits!

As we have already mentioned, one of the most important purposes of boot socks is keeping our feet warm. But, that is not the only benefit provided.

Odor prevention is another key aspect. Our feet have a lot of sweat glands, and this article of clothing, in particular, absorbs all of that liquid and helps prevent smelly feet. This is great when combined with anti-bacterial linings because that way you are extra safe.

Disease prevention is also an important benefit. Boot socks keep us less exposed to diseases such as Athlete’s foot or other types of fungi that can spread from foot to foot at places like public showers, pools, or the gym.

They also help us prevent foot pain. This is because they protect us from the harsh ground, its surface and various sharp and dangerous objects lurking out there. This is emphasized when you wear them with proper shoes - going barefoot does seem like a nice idea, but it carries plenty of perils!

And of course, boot socks make us look stylish. We can achieve this by combining them with various pants, skirts or dresses, no matter if they match the color completely or not.

The main purpose of boot socks is making us feel warm and toasty.

The very first version was created in the 8th century by the Greeks, and it did not look like our modern day ones at all. However, it had the same goal as ours today, and that is to protect the skin on our feet and to make it balmy.

In today's more modern styles, various designs provide varying degrees of warmth, and that all depends on the type of material they are made out of.

Boot socks came to the scene when we realized that regular designs do not provide enough heat when the weather gets cold. So, combined with hiking or working boots, or even snow boots, these make the interior feel like an oven - which is a good thing during winter, since otherwise, we risk numbness in our toes, and even frostbite!


There are some specially designed boot socks to give the feeling back to numb, poorly circulated toes and feet. They are thick, usually made out of wool, and stretchy enough to be worn over regular pairs, making even the coldest of feet bounce back to their regular temperature.

All in all, warmth is one of the most important features, and should be sought after even when it gets a little bit sunnier outside!