Best shooting socks – our top picks for comfort and performance

Look around the field on a driven shooting day and you’ll see that many Guns have made the most of the opportunity to cut a dash and wear the best shooting socks they can lay their hands on. (If you’re new to shooting, here’s some useful advice on what to wear out shooting.) So we’ve asked around Guns of our acquaintance to see what they wear.

You should also read our tips on how to wear your gameshooting socks out in the field. Oh, and if you’re looking for the best shooting boots, here’s our list.

Our list of the best shooting socks

1. JACK PYKE Diamond Shooting Socks with Garters, £20.95

Best for traditional tweeds

• Material: 30% wool 70% acrylic
• Complete with matching garter
• Colours: burgundy/gold, green/gold, navy/light Blue
• Sizes: 8 to 11 UK
• Length: Knee length
• Machine washable: Yes

+ Goes with every sporting outfit
+ Machine washable

Machine washable with a top turnover in a diamond effect and contrasting coloured garters, these Diamond Shooting Socks will keep you warm and secure out in the field.

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2. Ladies Heat Holders The Ultimate Thermal Sock, £5.68

Best for affordability

• Material: 91% Acrylic, 5% Nylon, 3% Polyester, 1% Elastane
• Machine washable
• Also available for men and children
• Machine washable: Yes
• Sizes: 4-8 UK
• Colours: Navy
• Length: Mid length

+ Very supportive
+ Affordable

– Cannot tumble dry

With a 2.34 tog rating these socks will keep ladies’ toes warm and toasty whilst out beating, game or clayshooting. A unique three-stage insulating process means that more warm air is held close to the skin, keeping feet warmer for longer. They may not be the most dazzling to look out but if you’re standing around on a frosty day they’ll do the job.

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3. Thorlo mountain socks, £17.19

Best for hiking trips

• Material: 58% Combed Wool, 29% Acrylic, 11% Polyamide, 2% Elastane
• Unisex
• Clinically tested
• Sizes: M,L,XL
• Machine washable: Yes
• Colours: Grey
• Length: Mid length

+ Great front and heel support
+ Combined wool gives extra warmth
+ Ideal for mountaineering

– Can’t be dry cleaned

Shooting Times contributor Matt Cross is always up hill and down dale in Scotland and says he only wears: “Thorlo socks, particularly their awesome mountain socks”. Well, that’s certainly a recommendation from one who knows.

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4. Darn Tough Hiker Boot Sock, £25

Most durable

• Material: 66% Merino Wool, 32% Nylon, 2% Lycra® Spandex
• Claimed lifetime guarantee
• Colours: Black/Denim/Olive/Onyx
• Length: Mid length
• Sizes: M, L, XL
• Machine washable: Yes

+ Performance fit
+ Fast Action Wicking – repels bacteria and odor
+ Seam fusion for invisible feel

Created from Merino wool, these socks are cool in warm weather and warm in winter. I road-tested them out picking-up on a shoot recently and am a real convert. They stay put, don’t fall down into boots and have a substantial ‘feel’ without being bulky. They are guaranteed for life, which is an impressive claim.

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5. Bisley Cable Stripe Shooting Breek Socks, £20.09

Joint-best value for money

• Material: 2% Merino Wool. 42% Acrylic. 16% Polyamide
• Knee length turn over top
• Sizes: 6-11 UK
• Machine washable: Yes
• Colours: Conker/denim/green/maroon
• Length: Knee length

+ Perfect quality to price ratio
+ Ideal for outdoor pursuits

Warm, comfortable, practical and made from an insulated wool blend, Bisley’s technical shooting socks are perfect for outdoor pursuits. They go perfectly with breeks and you can find our list of best shooting breeks here.

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6. Pennine The Penrith 80% Premium Wool Shooting Socks, £28.95

Most comfortable

• Material: 80% Wool, 20% Polyamide
• Sizes: 3-13 UK
• Machine washable: No (hand-wash only)
• Colours: Pollen
• Length: Knee length

+ High wool count for comfort

– Hand-wash only

Made from 80% extra fine merino wool and 20% polyamide. With the comfort of wool and the toughness of nylon fibres, these socks make for the perfect outdoor selection.

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7. Sealskinz knee-length socks RRP, £37.99

Best for wet weather

• Material: OUTER: 90% Nylon, 10% Elastane, INNER: 35% Merino wool, 35% Acrylic, 23% Polyester, 3.5% Elastane, 3.5% Nylon
• Available in mid or knee length
• Length: Mid and knee length
• Sizes: S-XL
• Machine washable: Yes
• Colours: Black/grey, black/navy blue, grey, grey/red, black/anthracite

+ Completely waterproof
+ Very durable
+ Flat toe seem prevents rubbing

These socks are great for excursions in the shooting field. (Their gloves are highly recommended too.) They are 100% waterproof, windproof and breathable, with a Merino wool lining for added moisture control. You can read our guide to the best waterproof shooting jackets here.

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8. Le Chameau 1927 Shooting Socks, £45.00

Best in terms of quality

• Material: Made from soft lambswool blend
• Sizes: Small UK
• Machine washable: Yes
• Colours: Green, red
• Length: Knee length

+ Very comfortable

– Most expensive on list

Made of quality lambswool, this is a perfect blend of simplicity and style. If you’re looking for wellies, you’ll find our list of the best shooting wellies here.

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9. Schöffel Ladies Lilymere socks, £43.99

Best for cold-weather shoots

• Merino/Acrylic/Lycra
• Matching garters
• Sizes: 3-8 UK
• Machine washable: Yes
• Colours: Raspberry
• Length: Knee

+ Machine washable
+ Nylon reinforced heel and toe

The Schöffel Lilymere Sock is a wonderful edition to the Schöffel Women’s shooting socks range. In rich, warming tones, these socks are made to pair perfectly with any outfit. Find out more about keeping warm in the field with our suggestions for the best shooting thermals and base layers.

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10. Seeland Hawker Stalking Socks, £11.95

Joint-best value for money

• Mesh ventilation
• Made from a wool blend
• Colours: Grey
• Length: Mid length

+ Elasticated arch
+ Provides warmth even when damp
+ Great product for the price
+ Thick padding across whole foot

These Seeland socks are from a wool blend, which has excellent heat-regulating properties. But not only that, these socks can retain moisture without losing their shape, as well as continuing to provide warmth. You probably won’t find a better pair of go-anywhere socks for this price.

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11. Harkila Pro Hunter 2.0 Long Socks, £26.95

• Material: 55% merino wool, 43% polyamide and 2% elastane
• Naturally temperature-regulating
• Sizes: M, L, XL
• Colours: Olive
• Length: Knee length

+ Thick, robust and warm
+ Flat comfort toe seam

Thick, warm and hard-wearing and made from 55% merino wool, 43% polyamide and 2% elastane, these Harkila Pro Hunter 2.0 socks will keep your feet dry, warm and secure no matter where you go.

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Need to know

• Whilst everything in our best shooting socks list is washable, make sure you look at the washing instructions carefully. If you wash and dry them too hot, they could well end up shrunken, tight and unwearable.
• When you’re buying socks, look for those which have a reinforced toe and heel. Merino wool is wonderful, but a touch of nylon means you won’t get holes in areas of hard wear.
• Don’t store your socks in a ball. Instead pair them together and then fold them toe to middle, then fold the cuff down. They’ll take up less space in a drawer that way and hold their shape.
• Buy the right size for you. Too big and the heel will be in the wrong place, plus which the socks are liable to slide down your foot. Too small and they’ll be very uncomfortable and could cause blisters.
• Our main irritation with socks is ones that fall down. Avoid this by investing in a pair of shooting garters.  Again, an opportunity to peacock a bit.