Socks. Universally loved but near universally reviled as a holiday present. Except by me. As I’ve written extensively in the past, socks (especially the Kapital varietal) are often my favorite thing to receive and many in my life know it.
I’m here to defend the sock gift: it’s almost always one-size-fits-all, they’re easy to wrap and easy to pack in a suitcase home, you can get a very nice pair for not a lot of money and people don’t generally splurge on socks for themselves.
Have I convinced you yet? Good—here’s a bunch of suggestions!
For your unhoused neighbors
Socks are an essential piece of gear whether urban or outdoor camping, and as per our Great White Sock review, the Gold Toe 656s is the best bang for the buck out there at only $3 per pair. Forget Hanes, Uniqlo, and even Kirkland, these were the best fitting and hardest wearing pair for under $10/pair you can find!
Available for $18 at Amazon.
For those who don’t yet ‘get it’
I’m guessing there’s someone in your life that sneers at the concept of $200 jeans (it may very well be you), and if you want to spread this well-made heritage disease we all have, there’s no better patient zero than Lady White Socks. Easy on, easy off, made in Japan, luxurious to the touch, and goes with just about anything, it’s impossible to ignore just how much better this thing is if you’ve spent your entire life in socks purchased at Foot Locker. Just don’t let them complain when you see them the next holiday season in a full Visvim kit.
Available for $27 at Lost & Found.
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For the sibling who sailed in college
Every time a strong wind picks up, does your brother pull a thousand yard stare and you can see that they’re sheeting out the main sail in their mind? Never mind that they live in a Missouri now, you can take at least their feet back to the open water with this Japanese made, French linen blend pair of socks from Chup.
Available for $39 at Franklin & Poe.
For the dad who works on his feet
This may be the first sock designed with steel-toed work boots in mind. American merino wool will keep your feet warm but not sweaty, the cushioned heel and toe will stave off blisters, and a compression arch keeps the blood flowing all day long. If pop doesn’t believe it yet, let him know the manufacturer does with a 10 year durability guarantee.
Available for $26 at Camel City Mill.
For the friend who did a 2-week ‘spiritual retreat’ in Peru
Hexagons, man. You’ve never really thought about the world until you realize it’s all hexagons. At least they didn’t until they spent days throwing up in a sweat lodge on ayahuasca. If they can’t appreciate the skill of the hand-linked toe or the artful blend of Japanese cotton and acrylic, they will get a lot out of this southwestern pattern.
Available for $28 at Clutch Cafe.
For the partner with icicle feet
RoToTo basically made a merino wool blend sweatshirt for your feet. If you can minimize your partner’s time between the socks and the bed, you may be able to save yourself from that icy shock at 2am.
Available for $34 at Stag.
For the friend who won’t shut up about Philadelphia
Wish we could call them a rare breed, but if you’ve got one in your life, you likely know far more about how the Eagles are doing this season than the hometown team you supposedly care about. Let them know they are heard with this set of big green made in USA socks from Philly-based maker American Trench.
Available for $20 from American Trench.
For the uncle with a greenhouse
“You know they only made hemp illegal to support the cotton industry!” If this line, or something like it, has been the subject of much dinner table debate, let your uncle know you’re on their side with a garment of their favorite unfairly maligned substance. Japanese sock experts Anonymous Ism have blended a portion of hemp into this pair, proving that cotton and hemp can survive in harmony.
Available for $28 at Clutch Cafe.
For the aunt who composts
This is the sock with the least environmental impact. It’s made from 100% upcycled cotton yarn and knit about 20 minutes away from its point of origin in North Carolina. There will be no globetrotting for this pair, except on your feet. It comes in a variety of colors and even has a matching beanie!
Available for $16 at Upstate Stock.
For those who ‘get it’ but kept going
Last stop, everybody off! This one is for the ‘me’ in your life (likely you). If you stare at this stuff for long enough, you end up a Kapital head with a drawer full of double-eyed shame smiling back at you. This year’s crop didn’t really have anything truly off the rails, but I would just be ecstatic to shove my feet into a pair of these leopard knits and get my pinky toe caught on the loose yarns of the spots halfway in.
Available for $66 in Green and Brown at Hatchet Supply.
