Best Grip Socks for Men for Pilates (2026): 6 Pairs by Men's Size

Many reformer studios ask you to wear grip socks, as NBC Select notes, and many popular pairs are sized for women: Gaiam's one size is a women's 5–10, and Tavi comes in women's sizes only. That makes finding the best grip socks for men for Pilates harder than it should be. "One size" usually means a women's 5–10, and plenty of popular pairs come with ruffles or crisscross straps.

The best Pilates socks for men have three things: a real men's size chart (ideally one that goes past 12), grip that covers the whole sole, and a closed toe. Plain colors help too.

Shopping for everyone, not just men? Our best Pilates grip socks guide covers the full field.

Quick comparison

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The best grip socks for men for Pilates and reformer classes

Best Overall for Men

1. Bombas Men's Gripper Ankle Sock

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Garage Gym Reviews named the Bombas Gripper Ankle Sock its best Pilates sock for men. NBC Select also notes that Bombas Gripper Socks come in men's and women's sizes.

• Men's sizes: M 6–9, L 9.5–13 and XL 13.5–16, per NBC Select. GGR gives the same men's 6–16 span.
• Design: ankle height with a tab, honeycomb arch support, blister tab, cushioned footbed, seamless toe (GGR)
• Material: Supima cotton, polyester, nylon and elastane (GGR)

GGR tester Matt Dustin gave it 4/5 for workout performance, noting a little shifting inside the sock but strong grip. He also wrote that he had "only worn these a handful of times for testing," so his durability expectations are based on other Bombas socks he owns.

GGR's cons: it found only black in its listing, customer reviews on comfort are mixed, and some customers raised durability concerns.

Pros

• ✓ Men's sizes up to 16
• ✓ Seamless toe and blister tab
• ✓ A dedicated men's pick from GGR

Cons

• ✗ Limited colors in GGR's listing
• ✗ GGR's tester noticed slight shifting
• ✗ Mixed customer comfort and durability reviews, per GGR

Best Quarter Length

2. doublesoul Quarter Grip Sock

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We rank it second because, after Bombas, it's the only expert pick here with both a published men's size column up to 14 and a seamless toe cap. NBC Select lists the doublesoul Quarter Grip Sock in men's and women's sizes, S to XL. It describes the sock as highly cushioned, with a seamless toe cap and a cuff that sits above the ankle.

• Men's sizes (per NBC Select): S (4.5–6.5), M (7–9), L (9.5–11.5), XL (12–14)
• Material: cotton-nylon blend (sources list different percentages)
• Where: doublesoul's own site

One thing to weigh: Garage Gym Reviews warns that "too much cushion may leave room for your foot to move around within the sock." If you want a more locked-in feel on the footbar, a thinner sock may suit you better.

Pros

• ✓ Unisex chart with a men's column up to 14
• ✓ Seamless toe cap
• ✓ Quarter height

Cons

• ✗ Heavy cushioning, which GGR says can let your foot move
• ✗ Not on Amazon

Best Crew Length

3. MoveActive Crew Grip Socks

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NBC Select lists the MoveActive Crew Grip Socks as fitting both men's and women's feet. MoveActive publishes its own men's sizing.

• Men's sizes (per MoveActive): M (7–9), L (9–11), XL (12–14). The chart skips a men's 11.5.
• Material: 80% cotton, 12% polyester, 8% elastane (MoveActive)
• Design: crew height, "non-slip PVC grips on the sole," arch compression

MoveActive says its "elasticised cuffs keep them securely in place without digging into your skin." That's a brand claim. If you're between sizes, the brand recommends sizing down. If you wear a men's 11.5, you'll have to choose between L and XL yourself.

Pros

• ✓ Men's sizes up to 14
• ✓ Crew height
• ✓ Mostly cotton

Cons

• ✗ No size covers a men's 11.5
• ✗ Sold on the brand site

Best for Size 13+

4. Sticky Be Men's Grip Socks

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Sticky Be is one of the few grip sock brands with a dedicated men's line. It comes in no-show, ankle and crew heights, and the men's collection includes a separate 13–17 size (Be Focused 13–17), which goes bigger than anything else here.

• Design (per Sticky Be): full toe, "elastic arch support for compression," "padded foot bed," "sole non-slip grips"
• Material: 80% cotton, 20% spandex/elastane (Sticky Be)
• Fit: Sticky Be says its men's socks are "cut wider and longer" (brand claim)

Exact size coverage is unverified. The standard men's product pages say "Fits Mens size 10-13," but the men's collection filter also shows "6-12." The Be Focused 13–17 pages carry the range only in the product name and give no separate size line. Check Sticky Be's size chart before ordering. We found no independent reviews of these socks.

Crew styles fall in a higher price tier than the ankle styles.

Pros

• ✓ Made for men, not just unisex
• ✓ A separate 13–17 size
• ✓ Full toe

Cons

• ✗ Conflicting size copy on the brand site
• ✗ No independent reviewer coverage
• ✗ Crew styles cost more

Best Budget

5. Busy Socks Non-Slip Cushioned Grip Socks (2-Pack)

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Garage Gym Reviews made the Busy Socks Non-Slip its Best Cushioned pick. For men, the useful detail is the tester: Caine Wilkes has size 14 feet and gave the fit 5/5 ("I surprisingly liked these"). That's one man's report, though. Most of the size figures we found stop at a US 11, so treat this as a pick for average-size feet.

• Size: one size. GGR lists US 8–13 in its specs but 8–11 in its cons; the Amazon listing is titled for women and says US 8–11.
• Design: ankle height with a tab, hexagon silicone grips, compression arch support, seamless toe box (GGR)
• Material: cotton, polyester and elastane, in 5 colors (GGR)
• Pack: 2 pairs

Wilkes gave the appearance 3/5 and said the grip tread looks too much like hospital socks. GGR also notes mixed customer reviews on fit: some buyers said the sock stretched and moved, even though the grippers stayed in place.

Pros

• ✓ Lowest price tier here
• ✓ GGR's size-14 tester rated the fit 5/5
• ✓ Seamless toe box

Cons

• ✗ Most listed ranges stop at US 11; Amazon listing is labeled women's
• ✗ Looks like a hospital sock, per GGR's tester
• ✗ Some customers report the sock stretching

Most Comfortable

6. DeadSoxy Black Ankle Grip Socks

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Yahoo Health picked the DeadSoxy Black Ankle Grip Socks as its "most comfortable" option. Tester Janelle Randazza wrote: "They are buttery and cozy, and the ankle is so, so comfy. But my feet never felt sweaty!"

• Size: one size. DeadSoxy says it "fits shoe sizes 6–12" but doesn't say whether those are men's or women's sizes. Treat the fit as unverified, and note that Yahoo's tester was a woman.
• Material: cotton and Lycra (Yahoo)
• Design (per DeadSoxy): full-sole medical-grade silicone dots, mesh upper, flat toe seam, terry-loop cushioning

Yahoo called it "very grippy and stable." Its listed cons: the sock was "slightly loose around smaller toes," it's expensive, and it comes in one color. Yahoo also notes it's sold only on DeadSoxy's website.

Pros

• ✓ Yahoo's most comfortable pick
• ✓ Breathable mesh upper, per Yahoo
• ✓ Plain black

Cons

• ✗ The 6–12 size range doesn't say men's or women's
• ✗ Premium price tier
• ✗ Only on the brand site

Grip socks that may not fit most men

These are popular picks, but their size charts stop short for many men:

• Gaiam's closed-toe Grippy Studio socks are one size, women's 5–10 / men's 4–9, per NBC Select. Garage Gym Reviews lists the toeless version in the same one size. That's a limit of the one-size cut, not a knock on the sock.
• Tavi Savvy is NBC Select's top pick overall, but NBC lists it in women's sizes only, with XL covering a women's 13–14 (see our Tavi grip socks review).
• ToeSox Half Toe Low Rise goes up to an L (11–13) on ToeSox's site, with no men's column. The ToeSox chart on Amazon lists L as women's 11–13 / men's 9.5–11.5. Yahoo Health also found the grip "stops short of the back of the heel," and its tester "slipped during certain reformer moves like scooters."
• Lucky Honey Harlow comes in one size, per NBC Select.
• Lululemon's grip socks top out at a women's 11, according to Garage Gym Reviews.
• Pointe Studio's Happy Full Foot Grip Sock is Garage Gym Reviews' best overall Pilates sock, but GGR lists it in women's S/M and M/L only, with the largest size reaching a women's 10. Pointe Studio's size guide does include an L/XL (men) row for US men's 9–11, so check which sizes a given style comes in.
• Reforman is a UK brand of gender-neutral grip socks sold in one size. Its site says the fit works for EU sizes 39–44 and doesn't give a US men's conversion, so check with the brand before ordering if you have larger feet. It ships from London.

Two more options we didn't rank:

• Balanced Body's Full Foot Toe Socks come in Large (men's 10–12) and Extra Large (men's 12–14), with left- and right-specific designs, according to Balanced Body. The site doesn't list a price; it says to contact a local representative.
• Tucketts sells toeless men's anklets in a single L/XL size ("Men and Women's US Size 9+"). They're toeless, which NBC Select's experts advise against (see below).

How to choose grip socks for men

Read the men's column on the size chart

Men's and women's numbers aren't the same. On the ToeSox chart on Amazon, M is women's 8.5–10.5 / men's 7–9, and L is women's 11–13 / men's 9.5–11.5. Every brand draws its chart a little differently, so use the men's column when there is one. If there isn't, convert using that brand's own chart rather than a general rule. A "one size" sock often means women's 5–10, as with Gaiam.

Full-sole grip, including the heel

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Saba Alavi-Parham of Fuse Pilates told NBC Select that the best socks are covered from the "toes to the heel," and NBC Select says every sock it recommends has grips covering the entire bottom of the foot. Garage Gym Reviews agrees. Based on its testers' experience, it says a full foot of silicone grippers "works the best," and adds: "At minimum, look for socks with silicone grips under the ball of the foot and heel." Heel coverage is what separates good reformer Pilates socks for men from basic grippy socks. Yahoo's tester slipped in scooters when the heel grip fell short.

Closed toe for studio classes

NBC Select's experts recommend against toeless socks because "they're not as hygienic." Many studios ask for closed-toe socks, so check your studio's policy before you buy. Not sure your studio requires them? See do you need grip socks for Pilates.

Snug, not loose

"We want them to be gripping your feet, so we don't want them to be loose," Alavi-Parham told NBC Select. Kilinski adds that a sock shouldn't be too thick, so you can still feel your foot and grip the machine. Garage Gym Reviews says "targeted cushion or minimal cushion is ideal." MoveActive recommends sizing down if you're between sizes. If your feet are also broad, our grip socks for wide feet guide covers sizing in more detail.

Plain styles exist

You don't have to wear ruffles. Bombas (black in GGR's listing) and DeadSoxy's black ankle sock are plain, and Sticky Be's men's line is listed in colors like Navy/Grey, Black/Grey and Heather/Navy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do men need grip socks for Pilates?

Usually. NBC Select says most studios require grippy socks. Citing Bekah Kilinski of Form50, NBC says the grips "prevent you from slipping on your mat or reformer, which reduces the risk of injury." A studio owner quoted by NBC wants grips from toes to heel. Check your studio's policy.

What size grip socks should a man buy?

Use the brand's men's column, not the women's numbers. On the ToeSox chart on Amazon, a women's L (11–13) is listed as men's 9.5–11.5. Bombas' men's sizes run M 6–9, L 9.5–13 and XL 13.5–16, per NBC Select. MoveActive recommends sizing down if you're between sizes.

Are there grip socks for men with size 13+ feet?

Yes. Bombas' men's XL goes up to 16, per Garage Gym Reviews and NBC Select, and Sticky Be sells a 13–17 men's size, though its size copy conflicts, so check the chart before ordering. doublesoul and MoveActive top out at a men's 14. GGR's tester with size 14 feet also found the one-size Busy Socks fit well, though that's one report and most listed ranges for that sock stop at 11.

Are toeless grip socks OK for men in reformer class?

The instructors NBC Select interviewed recommend against toeless socks because "they're not as hygienic." Many studios ask for closed-toe socks, so check first.

Can men wear women's grip socks?

Yes, if the chart covers your size. But many one-size socks stop around a men's 9 (Gaiam is women's 5–10 / men's 4–9, per GGR and NBC Select), and Tavi lists women's sizes only, up to a women's 14, per NBC Select.

What should men wear to reformer Pilates?

Closed-toe grip socks plus fitted clothes. Balanced Body advises clothing that isn't "loose enough to get caught in the Reformer's parts," and NBC Select lists joggers among suitable bottoms. Experts NBC spoke with say shorts work best if they're longer and lined. See [what to wear to Pilates](/what-to-wear-to-pilates/).

The verdict

For most men, the Bombas Men's Gripper Ankle Sock is the place to start: GGR's men's pick, men's sizes up to 16, seamless toe.

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• Want more cushion or a taller cuff: doublesoul Quarter Grip (quarter) or MoveActive Crew Grip (crew), both up to a men's 14.

• Size 13 or larger: Sticky Be's 13–17 size (confirm the chart first).

  Check price at Sticky Be

• On a budget: the Busy Socks 2-pack, if you wear around a US 8–11. GGR's size-14 tester rated the fit 5/5, but that's one report.

  Check price on Amazon

• Comfort first, smaller feet: DeadSoxy, Yahoo's comfort pick. Its "6–12" range doesn't say men's or women's, so confirm with DeadSoxy before ordering if you wear above a men's 10.

For more options, browse the grip socks category.

Sources

• Garage Gym Reviews: Best Pilates socks
• NBC Select: Best Pilates socks
• Yahoo Health: Best Pilates socks
• MoveActive: Crew Grip Socks
• doublesoul: Quarter Grip Sock
• Sticky Be: Men's collection
• Sticky Be: Men's Be Present Grip Socks
• Sticky Be: Men's Be Focused 13–17 Grip Socks
• Amazon: Busy Socks Non-Slip Grip Socks
• DeadSoxy: Black Ankle Grip Socks
• Balanced Body: Full Foot Grip Sock
• Balanced Body: Everything you need to know about Reformer Pilates
• NBC Select: Everything you need for mat and reformer Pilates
• ToeSox: Half Toe Low Rise Grip Socks
• Amazon: ToeSox Grip socks (size chart)
• Tucketts: Men's collection
• Pointe Studio: Size chart
• Reforman: Grip socks collection