These Warm Socks Are Winter Must-Haves for Anyone Whose Feet Are Always Cold (2024)

As winter creeps up and temperatures drop, staying warm is essential. While winter coats, sweaters, warm boots and base layers are important, a pair of warm socks can go a long way. While they may feel like an afterthought, the right pair of socks can make all the difference, especially since our extremities — including our toes — often get cold before the rest of our bodies. Plus, socks can also help prevent blisters, cushion your feet during winter adventures or add extra warmth and fuzzy comfort to late-night movie marathons during the holiday season.

The Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab has regularly evaluated the best winter footwear and apparel, including winter coats, fleece-lined leggings, thermal underwear and more, to help build the perfect winter wardrobe. On top of that, in the past year, we've tested over 90 pairs of socks, from hiking socks and compression socks to no-show socks for every type of shoe, both in our Lab and with hundreds of consumer testers across the nation. To find the best warm socks for every activity like hiking, skiing, building a snowman or lounging indoors, our experts analyzed over 18,000 data points.

Read on for more information about how we test socks in the Lab plus additional shopping tips. Looking for other ways to stay warm in cold weather? Check out our guides to the best winter hats for women and the best winter gloves.

Made of luxe merino wool, this sock is designed to keep you warm and cozy during any type of weather. It has a pile-lined interior, which means it's got an extra layer of loops of yarn to keep your feet warm. Several testers highlighted the soft feel and substantial cushioning, especially on the sole. One even commented that they were the perfect thickness without being bulky. During in-Lab tests, they weren’t the most durable, but they barely shrank after multiple washes.

Under Armour is a consistent top-performing brand in our tests, Its ColdGear line is designed to keep you warm in cold weather and includes some of the best fleece-lined leggings and down jackets we've tried. While we haven't tested this pair of socks just yet, it's gotten rave reviews from thousands of Amazon users. One reviewer exclaimed, "I’m always cold, especially my toes, but these did the trick!" Note that some found the socks felt tight on their calves.

If you struggle to fall asleep in winter temperatures or wake up with cold feet, these socks might be the solution. They're made using merino wool for a luxuriously soft feel with naturally thermoregulating properties. While some may feel uneasy about the idea of wearing socks to sleep, this pair is thin and won't feel bulky in bed. In fact, testers called them “super comfortable” and loved wearing them with pajamas to lounge. Remember that these socks are meant for indoor wear only.

These socks feature rechargeable lithium batteries that can heat your feet for 3 to 6 hours when fully charged. While we haven't been able to test these socks in our Lab yet, we were impressed to see that this pair has heating elements that cover the entire foot, from the top to the sole to the toes, where you typically get cold first. Just remember to remove the battery pack before washing!

When heading outside with your little one, make sure their toes are properly bundled up. These wool socks by Eocom are available for kids ages 0-5 years old and come in a pack of six, so if a sock goes missing, you have a backup. Plus, wool is naturally moisture-wicking and breathable, so these socks are also great to wear year-round.

For compression sock users or for anyone who experiences swelling or cramping from long periods of standing or post-workout, this pair from Vim&Vigr is hard to beat for the winter. While it isn’t as temperature-regulating as the brand's merino wool offerings, this heathered cotton sock offers great durability and moisture-wicking properties. Long-term fans at GH love pairing them with all sorts of shoes from boots to sneakers.

Cashmere is known for its luxurious, soft texture, but beyond that, the knit fabric has excellent insulating properties, often keeping you warmer than merino wool. And while the material often comes at a premium, Quince offers a pair of cashmere socks that still feel decadent at a slightly more affordable cost. The caveat is that the socks aren't engineered to retain warmth, lacking the pile our other picks have, and they need to be hand-washed.

If you're looking for socks that will provide the most insulation, make sure to keep three things in mind: material, construction and the shoes you plan to wear. Certain materials, such as merino wool or cashmere are known for their temperature-regulating properties while acrylic is known for its heat insulation. Additionally, socks designed for warmth often use pile (loops of yarn) on the interior to trap warm air in order to retain heat for better insulation. But ultimately, the types of shoes you plan to wear are essential. The warmest socks for ski or snowboard boots may not be the warmest socks for everyday winter boots or sneakers. This is because the right fit is crucial — a pair of socks that are too thick can cause blisters or even cut off circulation in some shoes.

Grace Wu is a Textiles Product Review Analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute who oversaw recent in-Lab and consumer tests for all socks, including compression socks, wool socks and running socks. Prior to joining GH, Grace earned a Master of Engineering in Materials Science & Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Fiber Science from Cornell University.