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Since their entrance to men's style in the early 2000s, no show socks have exploded in popularity. Unlike the traditional ankle sock, a true no show offers a comfortable way to wear shoes without showing any sock.
Whether worn with dress shoes for an avant-garde look or simply to add a level of comfort to boat shoes or loafers, no shows have proven themselves as a staple for men's warm weather wardrobes.
But the subject of this article is not just any no show sock; we're here to discuss wool no show socks. Whether you're looking for tips on which wool no show socks to buy, how to style them or even why they're so hard to find, this article covers it all.
Simultaneous to the rise of no show socks for men, merino wool has seen a similar spike in popularity over the past couple of decades.
Before jumping into more detail on fibers and why merino has become so popular, we need to emphasize the focus on merino wool. There are many different kinds of wool but merino wool is far and away the superior type of wool for socks. Derived from merino sheep, this type of wool is much finer than regular wool and is comprised of thinner fibers that make it soft and smooth.
This is a common misconception. No-show socks are a summer staple, most commonly enjoyed during the hottest months of the year. When your feet are hot and sweaty, merino wool socks are exactly what you want to wear because they:
You'll find wool no show socks to be comfortable on even the hottest days of the year primarily because of their breathability. Merino wool absorbs sweat and draws it away from the skin where it can then be evaporated. This process is similar to how humans sweat, ultimately releasing heat and not only cooling your feet but also keeping them dry.
Beyond managing moisture and temperature, merino fibers have a natural coating that make them antibacterial. Bacterial growth is what leads to foot odor and other foot health concerns, which is just one more reason why merino wool is the perfect material for no-show socks.
If you're interested in learning a bit more about the benefits of merino wool socks, be sure to read our article on 6 reasons why you should wear merino wool socks.
If wool is such a slam-dunk material for making no-show socks, why is it so hard to find men's wool no show socks? The short answer is because wool is expensive.
Merino wool is derived from merino sheep, which can only be shorn once or twice per year. Imagine all of the costs and labor involved with maintaining a flock of sheep and a large ranch for them to thrive. Compare this to simple man-made fibers that are produced via chemical processes and it is easy to understand how merino wool is comparatively expensive.
Photo Courtesy Mount Hesse Farm
Man-made materials such as nylon and polyester are cheap, plentiful and easy to produce. As a result, most socks on the market are predominantly made from low cost, synthetic fibers.
It is important to note that synthetic fibers do have advantages. In fact, at Boardroom Socks, you'll find a combination of both natural and synthetic yarns in all of our socks. We add nylon to our merino wool no-shows to add stretch and improve durability.
For more information on sock materials and how they impact performance and function, be sure to read our article on what dress socks are made of.
When looking for the best wool no-show socks, two vital factors to take into consideration are comfort and whether or not the socks stay up. After all, is anything more aggravating than a pair of no-shows that slip off your heel and ball up under your foot?
When evaluating comfort, the materials the socks are made from and the actual manufacturing process both need to be evaluated.
From what we've found online, Boardroom's no-show socks have among the highest percentage of merino wool of any brand on the market. Beyond just the quantity of wool, there's also the quality of the wool. We use an extra-fine merino which, in layman's terms, means we're using the premium version of an already premium wool! You can expect exceptional softness and breathability.
From a manufacturing perspective, Boardroom's no-shows are proudly made in the USA using top-of-the-line knitting machines. This unique combination of American craftsmanship and modern technology allows us to provide you with unsurpassed quality.
But do the socks stay up? That's a question we get asked all the time, so frequently in fact, that we wrote an in-depth article on how we ensure our no-show socks stay up.
Now that we've nailed down which wool no-show socks to buy, let's explore a few quick tips on how to style them.
Some shoe styles are better suited to no-show socks than others, so be sure to choose fairly relaxed footwear that naturally accompanies the "sockless" look that no-shows provide. Some of favorite shoes to wear with these socks are loafers, boat shoes and dress sneakers.
While no show socks aren't designed to be seen, they may poke out depending upon the shape of your foot and the vamp placement of your shoes. With this in mind, we recommend choosing socks that either closely match your skin tone or the color of your shoes. In the event that the socks can be seen, this will minimize any chance of them drawing unwanted attention.
In conclusion, merino wool is the perfect material for men's no-show socks, offering comfort, durability, and moisture-wicking properties that are unparalleled in other sock materials. With the right pair of no-show socks and a few style tips in mind, you can enjoy a comfortable and stylish look without sacrificing comfort or function.
