What's the difference?
A normal football sock is a long knitted tube. It holds your shin pad in place and shows your team colours, but the foot is smooth fabric, so inside the boot it can slide.
A grip sock has silicone grip pads on the sole. They grip the inside of the boot, so your foot stays put when you turn, stop and sprint.
| Normal sock | Grip sock | |
|---|---|---|
| Foot inside the boot | Can slide on sharp turns | Held in place by silicone grip |
| Blisters | Friction from movement | Less movement, less friction |
| Bunching | Can bunch up during a game | Stays flat |
| Team colours and shin pads | Yes | Worn under your team socks |
Why players wear them
- Better touch and control. When your foot doesn't move inside the boot, what you feel is the ball, not the sock sliding.
- Sharper turns. The grip matters most when you change direction or stop suddenly.
- Fewer blisters. Less movement means less rubbing.
- Other sports too. The grip works in any fitted or studded shoe, so they're used in rugby, futsal, hockey and running as well.
How to wear grip socks with team socks
Most players wear the grip sock on the foot and a team sock, or a cut-off team sock sleeve, over the lower leg to hold the shin pad. Some cut the foot off their team socks completely, which also makes boots fit better. Either way, the grip sock goes on first.
With shin pads, the order is: grip sock, shin pad, then the team sock or sleeve over the top.
Are grip socks allowed in matches?
Yes, grip socks are worn at every level, including the Premier League. The one thing to watch is colour. The Laws of the Game require anything worn on the outside of your socks, such as tape, to match the colour of the socks. So if your grip sock shows between your boot and your team sock, choose a colour that matches your kit. If in doubt, check with your league or referee. That's why ours come in five colours: white, black, blue, green and red.
Are they worth it?
If your foot moves inside your boots, you get blisters, or your socks bunch up during games, a pair of grip socks is one of the cheapest upgrades you can make. Strapzy's grip socks are €12 a pair or 3 for €32, and €5 off when you order them with custom shin pads.
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Full-length silicone grip, five colours, two sizes. €12 a pair or 3 for €32.
Shop Grip Socks →FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What do grip socks do?
Grip socks have silicone pads on the sole that grip the inside of your boot, so your foot doesn't slide when you turn, stop or sprint. That means better touch, sharper turns and fewer blisters.
Are grip socks allowed in football matches?
Yes. Grip socks are worn at every level, including the Premier League. If the grip sock is visible between your boot and your team sock, choose a colour that matches your kit, and check your league's kit rules if unsure.
Do you wear grip socks under football socks?
Yes. Put the grip sock on first, then your shin pad, then your team sock or a cut-off sock sleeve over the top.
Are grip socks worth it?
If your foot moves inside your boots, you get blisters, or your socks bunch up during games, grip socks are one of the cheapest upgrades you can make. Strapzy's grip socks are €12 a pair or 3 for €32.