Tavi grip socks review: Fit, sizing, and how they compare to Bombas

Tavi grip socks are a studio favorite: NBC Select named the Tavi Savvy its best overall Pilates sock, and a Pilates studio owner it interviewed praised the fit. Tavi says it began as a grip sock brand designed by barre instructors before expanding into activewear in 2021.

The question most shoppers have isn't whether Tavi grips. It's whether the close fit reviewers describe suits them, which Tavi style to buy, and whether Bombas is the better buy.

The short answer

• Choose the Tavi Savvy if you want a low-rise, organic-cotton sock with a close fit and lots of colors.
• Choose the Bombas Gripper if you need men's or larger sizes or want a strap-free ankle sock. The women's Gripper is listed on Amazon. For men's sizes, look for the separate men's Gripper.

Low-rise, close fit

Tavi Savvy Grip Socks

Check price at Tavi

The Savvy is Tavi's flagship grip sock and the only Tavi style we found covered by an outlet. Tavi lists a non-slip grip sole, a protective heel tab, a supportive arch band and a below-ankle height.

NBC Select named it "Best overall" and listed its arch support, heel tab and light cushion as pros. Its one con: they "only come in women's sizes."

Pros

• ✓ NBC Select's best overall Pilates sock
• ✓ Arch band and heel tab
• ✓ GOTS-certified organic cotton blend, per Tavi
• ✓ Many colorways

Cons

• ✗ Women's sizes only, per NBC Select
• ✗ Yahoo's tester found them "pretty tight"
• ✗ Some colorways come only in S and M

Tavi Savvy at a glance

Specs are from Tavi's Savvy product page unless noted.

NBC Select lists the fiber as "73% cotton, 14% nylon, 7% nylon, 6% polyester." That looks like a typo for elastane, so we use Tavi's figures.

What reviewers say

Grip and stability

Tavi calls its grip "patented" and says it "delivers superior traction." We couldn't find a patent number, so treat that as a brand claim. Tavi also says the grip materials are free of BPA, PFAs, phthalates and PAHs and are RoHS compliant, citing SGS.

Outside reviewers back up the grip itself. Yahoo Health put the Savvy in its "other picks" rather than its top six, but tester Elizabeth Berry, Yahoo's home editor, praised the "excellent grip." She also liked the neutral look and a profile low enough to wear under sneakers.

Fit: snug or too tight?

This is where opinions split, though both sides describe the same close fit.

• Snug in a good way: Saba Alavi-Parham, owner of Fuse Pilates, told NBC Select: "Tavi socks keep snug to your foot and last a long time."
• Too tight for some: Yahoo's Berry wrote that "the Tavi socks are pretty tight, and I am realizing now that is why I don't wear them as often as I could."

If you like a sock that doesn't shift on the reformer, the snug fit is a plus. If you have wide feet or prefer a relaxed fit, see our grip socks for wide feet guide.

Tavi sizing: what size should you get?

NBC Select gives Tavi's women's sizes as:

• XS: 4–6
• S: 6–8
• M: 8.5–10.5
• L: 11–13
• XL: 13–14

Not every colorway comes in all five. Tavi's Ebony page lists XS–XL, while the Pebble page listed only S and M (both sold out when we checked). Check the size list on the exact colorway you want.

Reviewers describe a snug fit, so if you're between sizes, keep returns in mind. Tavi's refund policy offers a no-risk guarantee on its apparel, including worn items, and charges a $1 processing fee on US returns. The policy doesn't mention socks specifically, so check with Tavi before you count on returning worn grip socks.

Durability and care

Alavi-Parham's "last a long time" is the only durability comment we found from an outside source. No outlet tracked Tavi's grips over months of wear.

Tavi's care instructions: turn the socks inside out, wash on gentle and cold, skip fabric softener and air dry. NBC Select's experts give similar advice, recommending inside-out washing and air or hang drying so the grips last. For more, see how to wash grip socks.

Tavi's own Ebony page showed a 5.0 rating from 6 reviews when we checked. That's too small a sample to count as consensus.

Which Tavi grip socks should you buy?

Tavi's grip sock collection comes in four heights: low rise, ankle, crew and knee high. The collection page listed 171 grip sock products when we checked, most of them colorways. Styles include the Savvy, Savvy Tec, Stacy, Kalea Scallop and Penny. Most Tavi styles sit in the $10–20 tier, and some are at or just over $20.

Tap the diagram to enlarge

Savvy (low rise): the one reviewers covered

Start here if you want the style with outside reviews behind it. It's the one NBC Select picked and Yahoo's tester wore.

Savvy Tec (double grip, synthetic)

Sweaty feet (per Tavi)

Tavi Savvy Tec Grip Socks

Check price at Tavi

The Savvy Tec is a low-rise sock made from 79% polyester, 14% nylon and 7% elastane, according to Tavi. Tavi says its "TAVI Tec" yarn wicks moisture and that it has a mesh jacquard knit. It sits in the $20+ tier, just above the Savvy.

Tavi files it under its "TAVI Tec Double-Grip" collection, and the product page lists "grip technology inside and outside" and a "secure fit designed to stay in place." We found no outlet review of the Savvy Tec, so these are brand claims only. The page we checked listed sizes S and M.

Stacy (crew) and Kalea Scallop (mini-crew)

• Stacy: Crew height, 88% organic cotton (GOTS), 6% nylon, 4% elastane and 2% polyester, with an arch band. Sizes S and M, per Tavi.
• Kalea Scallop: A mini-crew with a scalloped cuff, organic cotton and an arch band. Sizes S and M. Tavi doesn't show exact fiber percentages on the page we checked. Its care label is different from the Savvy's: "Line dry or low heat in dryer."

Neither style has outside reviews that we found.

Tavi vs. Bombas grip socks

No outlet we found tested these side by side. The table and notes below line up what each source said separately.

Tavi sizes per NBC Select and Tavi. Bombas Gripper sizes per NBC Select and Garage Gym Reviews. Studio Gripper sizes and materials per Yahoo Health.

What reviewers said about Bombas

Strap-free ankle sock, wider size range

Bombas Women's Gripper Ankle Sock

Check price on Amazon

NBC Select named the Bombas Gripper "Best ankle sock" and lists it at 72% cotton, 18% polyester, 8% nylon and 2% elastane. Its pros were built-in arch support, a blister tab and multipacks. Its con was limited colors. NBC Select's Rebecca Rodriguez said the material "seemed thick" but was "so breathable," and that they "gave me a great grip on the machine."

Pros

• ✓ NBC Select's best ankle sock
• ✓ Built-in arch support
• ✓ Blister tab
• ✓ Men's version up to size 16, per NBC Select and GGR

Cons

• ✗ Limited colors, per NBC Select and GGR
• ✗ Durability complaints in customer reviews, per GGR

• Men's/unisex Gripper at GGR: Garage Gym Reviews named it "Best Pilates socks for men" (honeycomb arch support, polka-dot grips, cushioned footbed, Supima cotton blend).
• GGR scores: Tester Matt Dustin gave it 5/5 for appearance, 5/5 for durability and 4/5 for workout performance. He'd only worn them "a handful of times," so the durability score leans on his other Bombas socks. He also noted, "The grippiness may take some getting used to." GGR's cons were black only, durability complaints in customer reviews and mixed customer reviews on comfort and grip.
• Bombas Studio Gripper Ballet No Show: Yahoo Health's "Best for the reformer." Its tester found the full-coverage line grips more comfortable to walk on than dots and the best grip on the reformer. The cons: the crisscross straps felt tight by the end of a workout, the price, and feet moving inside the socks during mat work.

Sizing and fit

Bombas is the safer pick for men or larger feet. NBC Select and GGR list the Gripper in men's sizes up to 16. Tavi is women's only, per NBC Select, though some colorways go up to XL (women's 13–14).

Tap the diagram to enlarge

Both brands drew comments about tightness, but for different reasons. Tavi's whole sock is reported as snug to tight. With Bombas, Yahoo's tester said it was the Studio Gripper's straps that felt tight, and the ankle Gripper has no straps.

Grip design and materials

The Tavi Savvy uses a certified organic cotton blend, according to Tavi. The Bombas Gripper uses a cotton blend, which GGR describes as Supima. GGR describes the Gripper's grips as polka dots. Yahoo's tester said the Studio Gripper's line pattern felt better underfoot than dots.

We found no source that compared how long Tavi and Bombas grips last. That question is unanswered.

Colors and styles

Tavi offers four heights and dozens of colorways on its collection page. NBC Select and GGR both list limited colors as a con for the Bombas Gripper.

Where to buy and returns

The women's Bombas Gripper is listed on Amazon. We couldn't confirm the men's Gripper on Amazon, so our men's link is an Amazon search. NBC Select lists Amazon and Tavi as retailers for the Savvy, but we couldn't confirm an official Tavi listing on Amazon, so our Tavi links go to Tavi's own store.

Tavi's refund policy offers a no-risk guarantee on its apparel, including worn items, and charges a $1 processing fee on US returns. The policy doesn't mention socks specifically, so check with Tavi before you count on returning worn grip socks. GGR mentions the Bombas Happiness Guarantee, but we couldn't confirm its current terms.

The verdict: are Tavi grip socks worth it?

The Tavi Savvy is a well-regarded low-rise grip sock with an expert recommendation behind it. It's the better pick if you wear a women's size, like a sock that stays put, and want organic cotton and lots of colors. Buy your usual size only after checking the colorway's size list, and expect a close fit.

Check price at Tavi

The Bombas Gripper is the better pick if you need men's sizes, have larger feet or want a strap-free ankle sock. Men should pick the men's Gripper, not the women's listing. If you like full-length grips for the reformer, Yahoo's pick was the Bombas Studio Gripper, though its tester found the straps tight.

Women's sizes:

Check price on Amazon

Men's sizes:

Check price on Amazon

If you want a toe sock, ToeSox is Tavi's sister brand; its Half Toe is in the guide below.

Comparing more brands? See our best Pilates grip socks guide or browse all grip socks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Tavi grip socks worth it?

For many people, yes. See the verdict above for who each pick suits.

Do Tavi grip socks run small?

Reviewers describe a snug-to-tight fit. Tavi sizes are women's only, per NBC Select. Some colorways come in XS–XL, while others come only in S and M, so check the size list on the specific colorway page. Tavi's refund policy offers a no-risk guarantee on its apparel, including worn items, with a $1 processing fee on US returns, but it doesn't mention socks specifically, so check with Tavi before you count on returning worn grip socks.

Do Tavi grip socks shrink?

No source we found addressed shrinkage. Tavi's care instructions for the Savvy are to wash inside out on gentle and cold and air dry.

Can you wear Tavi grip socks for barre or yoga?

Tavi says it started as a grip sock brand designed by barre instructors. The outside reviews cited here come from Pilates sock guides, and we found no reviewer comment on using Tavi for barre or yoga.

Tavi vs. Bombas: which grip sock is better?

It depends on your size and the fit you like. The Bombas Gripper comes in men's sizes up to 16 and was Garage Gym Reviews' pick for men. Tavi offers more colors and heights and has NBC Select's best overall pick. No outlet we found tested them side by side.

How do you wash Tavi grip socks?

Tavi says to turn them inside out, wash on gentle and cold, skip fabric softener and air dry. NBC Select's experts also recommend air or hang drying to protect the grips. The Kalea Scallop's label allows line drying or low heat in the dryer, so follow the label on your pair.

Where can you buy Tavi grip socks?

Tavi's own store is the only channel we could verify. NBC Select lists Amazon as a retailer for the Savvy, but we couldn't confirm an official Tavi listing there. Tavi's refund policy offers a no-risk guarantee on its apparel, including worn items, with a $1 processing fee on US returns. It doesn't mention socks specifically, so check with Tavi first.

Are Tavi and ToeSox the same company?

They're sister brands under Thirty Three Threads, Inc. Both brands' websites carry the same copyright line, and ToeSox lists Tavi under its sister brands.

Sources

• Tavi: Savvy Grip Socks, Ebony, Savvy Grip Socks, Pebble, Grip Socks collection, Savvy Tec Grip Socks, Stacy Grip Socks, Kalea Scallop Grip Socks, About us and Refund policy
• ToeSox: Half Toe Low Rise Grip Socks (sister brands listing)
• NBC Select: The best Pilates socks (Bianca Alvarez, updated January 2, 2026)
• Yahoo Health: The best Pilates socks (Kelli McGrane, MS, RD, August 21, 2026)
• Garage Gym Reviews: Best Pilates socks (Lauren Strong, CPT, updated January 6, 2026)
• Amazon: Bombas Women's Grippers Non-Slip Ankle Socks