Short answer: football boots are tight, thin and worn with a long team sock over the top. A grip sock goes underneath that, against the boot lining, so the foot doesn't slide inside the boot when you turn, stop or strike. Most players wear a crew-length grip sock and either pull the team sock over it or cut the foot off the team sock and wear it as a sleeve. This guide covers how to fit a grip sock to a boot, what to do about the team sock, what the grip changes and what it doesn't, and which SZOKZ socks suit football. In the SZOKZ range, only the High Intensity Sport Socks have grip zones; the rest are compression socks without grip.

Why football boots are different

A football boot is built to be close to the foot: thin upper, narrow last, minimal padding, and usually bought snug. That's good for feel on the ball and bad for sock behaviour, for three reasons:

  • There's no room for a thick sock. Anything bulky changes how the boot fits and where your toes sit.
  • Boot linings are smooth. Synthetic linings, especially in lighter boots, let a plain sock slide.
  • The team sock is the wrong material for the job. Team socks are mostly polyester or a cotton mix, cut long for shin pads, and designed to look right, not to hold the foot. In a wet boot they slide.

Add turning, sprinting, stopping and striking, and the foot moves inside the boot more in football than in most sports. That's what a grip sock addresses.

What a grip sock changes in a boot

Knitted grip zones under the ball and heel increase the friction between the sock and the boot lining at the two points that take the load.

Where you'd expect to notice it:

  • Turning and cutting. The foot pushes sideways against the boot; a sock that stays with the lining doesn't let the foot roll over it.
  • Hard stops. The foot drives forward into the toe box. A heel grip zone keeps the sock seated rather than sliding forward and bunching at the toes.
  • Wet conditions. Rain, dew and sweat make a plain sock slick. A moisture-wicking grip sock holds better as the boot gets wet.
  • Blisters at the heel and ball. These come from repeated rubbing in the same spot. Less sock movement means less rubbing there.

What it doesn't do: make a boot that's the wrong size or shape fit, or stop your boot slipping on the pitch — that's studs. And it won't improve your first touch. It removes one variable: the foot moving inside the boot.

Fitting a grip sock to a football boot

  • Size to the chart. SZOKZ sizes are S (UK 3–5), M (UK 6–8), L (UK 9–11) and XL (UK 12–14). Don't size up; a long sock puts the grip under the arch and bunches at the toe.
  • Check the grip zones standing up. They should sit under the ball of the foot and the heel. If they don't, it's the wrong size.
  • Try boots on in them. A grip sock is thin, but if you bought boots to fit over a thick team sock, swapping to a grip sock underneath may change the fit slightly. Lace accordingly.
  • Crew length. The grip socks are crew, which is what you want: a crew sock sits above the boot collar and under the shin pad. SZOKZ ankle-cut socks are compression only, without grip, so they aren't the football option.
  • Avoid cotton underneath. Cotton holds sweat against the skin, which is the condition blisters need.

What to do about the team sock

You still need the team sock for the kit and to hold the shin pad. Three ways to combine them, in order of how common they are:

  1. Cut the foot off the team sock. Cut the team sock just above the ankle bone and wear the leg part as a sleeve over the shin pad, with the grip sock underneath. Fold or tape the cut edge. The grip sock is the only sock in the boot, so the fit is unchanged. Match the grip sock colour to the kit so the ankle looks right.
  2. Team sock over the grip sock. Both socks in the boot. Works if the boot has room; if it's snug, the double layer changes the fit and you lose some of the point. Fine for training.
  3. Grip sock over the team sock. Don't. The grip needs to be against the boot lining; with a team sock on the outside the grip is against fabric, not the boot.

Check what your league or competition allows on sock colour and taping before you cut anything.

Which SZOKZ socks for football

The High Intensity Sport Socks — the only SZOKZ range with grip zones — in the colour that matches the kit at the ankle.

The patterned All Sport socks, the ankle-cut socks and the Summit are compression socks: same arch band, fabric and reinforced heel and toe, no grip. They're fine for training in trainers on a dry day, but they don't address the sock sliding in a boot.

The High Intensity socks have a grip-zone knit at the ball and heel, an arch band rated 20–30 mmHg that keeps the sock in place, reinforced heel and toe, and a moisture-wicking, odour-resistant 65% nylon blend with no cotton. Prices: £7.99 a pair, £24.00 for a 4-pack (£6.00 per pair), £30.00 for a 6-pack (£5.00 per pair). Free UK delivery on orders over £30. For the differences across the range, see which SZOKZ range should you choose.

Common questions

Do grip socks work with all stud types?
Yes. The grip is between your foot and the inside of the boot; the sole plate is irrelevant.

Will they stop my boots slipping on the pitch?
No. That's studs and surface. Grip socks work inside the boot.

Do I need them if my boots fit well?
Less. A well-fitted boot on a dry day holds the foot reasonably. The difference shows up in wet conditions, in boots that are a touch loose, and over 90 minutes as the boot gets wet from the inside.

Can I wear them for five-a-side or astro?
Yes. Astro and indoor shoes are trainer-like and the crew grip sock works the same way in them. There's no ankle-cut grip sock; the ankle range is compression only.

Are all SZOKZ socks grip socks?
No. Only the High Intensity range. The patterned, ankle-cut and Summit socks are compression socks.

Do they help with blisters?
They reduce one main cause — the sock moving against the heel and ball. A boot that's too tight or a seam pressing on a toe still needs the boot sorted.

How do I wash them?
Machine wash at 30°C, inside out to preserve the grip zones and colour. Do not tumble dry or iron. Air dry flat. Care details are in the FAQ.

Grip socks vs normal socks in general?
Covered in grip socks vs ordinary sport socks.

Hazel Gleed writes the SZOKZ Journal.