The best yoga shoes & socks – my reviews & favorites

I’ve created some reviews of the best yoga shoes and socks because I’m a big fan of them. Not only do they help to keep things hygienic, but I’m also prone to getting cold feet so I like to use a pair when I practice.

As there are various motivations for using yoga footwear – including hygiene, warmth, grip, fashion, aesthetics, cushioning, support, preventing dry skin, and protection when practicing outside – I’ve tried to point out the pros and cons of various styles, so you can make an educated decision about which to buy for your needs.

 

5 of the best yoga socks

Rahabsox Non Slip Socks

4 pack of Rahabsox non slip yoga socks for women

Best yoga shoes

Available in 4 colors

Click here for the best price on Amazon

These ankle length yoga socks are a best seller on Amazon. They have a 4.5 star rating with nearly 2000 customer reviews so they’re clearly doing something right! They’re not as dainty as some of the alternatives, but they’re comfortable, affordable and they do the job you want them to.

Pros

  • Very comfortable. These are made of 95% cotton and 5% spandex, for great breathability and lightness while absorbing sweat.
  • Anti-slip grip pattern on the heels and balls of the feet are sticky enough to prevent sliding and slipping on your yoga mat.
  • Easy to keep clean – simply wash inside out in the washing machine in cold water.
  • Available in a value 4 pack for only twice the price of a single pair.

Cons

  • These come only as a one-size-fits-most, so if you fall outside the range of shoe size 5-8 these probably won’t work for you. (If you have a shoe size smaller than 5, the Gaiam kids socks below fit well.)
  • Arguably these socks are not as fashionable as some… The ankle length style, while very comfortable, definitely looks like you’re wearing regular socks, rather than dainty dance socks.

 

My Favorite Socks for Yoga – ToeSox Bellarina Half Toe OR Full Toe Socks

Toesox womens Bellarina full toe yoga socks  Available in nearly 30 colors! – Full toe and half toe options available

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Well these ones win my vote for prettiness. They’re available in such a HUGE range of colors and patterns it can be hard to pick just one favorite to buy.

They’re available in full toe (main picture above – in peacock blue) or half toe (pictured here in “Amour – Love collection” pink) options. I prefer the full toe option myself, because it keeps my toes warm and clean. But that’s just a matter of personal preference. You might want to shoe off your pretty pedicure with the half toe socks!

Pros

  • These socks have the widest variety of sizes available. Available in 4 sizes to provide a better fit to more people: choose either size extra-small 3-5.5, small 6-8, medium 8.5-10.5 or large 11-13.
  • 90% organic cotton with 8% elastane and 2% other fiber.
  • The 5 toe construction allows your toes to move and spread naturally.
  • Machine washable and can go on low heat in the dryer.
  • There are various gender neutral colors and patterns available which could be suitable as yoga socks for men (small = mens shoe size 5-7, medium = mens shoe size 7.5-9.5, and large = 10-12)
  • These are comfortable, lightweight, stay up well and have a good thickness.
  • They provide good grip along the whole length of the foot.

Cons

  • If you have larger feet it feel a bit tight between your toes when you first get them. After a couple of wears and washes this should sort itself out.

 

Great Soles Women’s Ballet Grip Socks for Barre Pilates Yoga

Great Soles cotton pilates and yoga socksAvailable in 6 colors (pictured in “Juliet Ivory”)

Click here for the best price on Amazon (PLUS free returns if required)

The Great Soles grip socks for yoga, pilates and barre are high quality, look good and work well. They are made of quality cotton so they aren’t bulky and give you a barefoot feeling. (They contain 75% cotton, 23% polyester and 2% elastane.)

These are only available in one size, which covers the range of shoe sizes 6-10. As with regular socks, they are flexible so stretch to fit when/where needed.

Pros

  • They have a streamlined, dainty look, in a ballet inspired design. They are available in 6 color options so you can find one (or two) that coordinate with your yoga clothes.
  • The non-slip grip extends fully from the heel to the toe, giving you better balance and stability. The grip is sticky enough to prevent sliding and slipping on your mat.
  • Easy to keep clean – simply wash inside out in the washing machine in cold water. You can even machine dry them on low heat, or line dry them. I have found the color has lasted well after numerous washes.
  • Great Soles is an American company.
  • These are a top seller on Amazon where they have a 4.5 star rating after more than 1000 reviews.

Cons

  • These come only as a one-size-fits-most, so if you fall outside the range of shoe size 6-10 these probably won’t work for you.
  • This is a thinner sock – which has benefits (see above) – but if you want a sock for warmth, try something thicker.

 

RAE toe socks with grip

RAE yoga toe socks with grip in natural colorAvailable in black or ‘natural’ color.

 Click here for the best price on Amazon (plus free returns if required)

Toe socks aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I have to say I really like these ones. They’re really lightweight with just a subtle grip (unlike the bump style grips on most yoga socks) so it feels very close to having bare feet. They’re also really soft – softer than cotton, almost like cashmere – because they’re made of bamboo and I LOVE soft materials. When it’s a warm day, and I don’t need socks for warmth, this is my go to choice for inside yoga.

The yoga toe socks are a low rise design and have a non-slip gel tab on the inside of rim of the heel to prevent it slipping down and help keep the socks in place.

Pros

  • Very soft, lightweight material for a barely-there feel.
  • 5 stars for hygiene
    • Your whole foot is covered and protected.
    • Antibacterial, antifungal, odor resistant and antiallergenic. This is thanks to the bamboo blend material.
    • The material is light and breathable to minimize sweating.
    • Easy to wash and dry in between uses. Can go in the washing machine and the dryer on low.
  • Eco friendly material AND packaging.
    • The socks are made from 80% rayon from bamboo, 15% Spandex and 5% Lycra. Bamboo is a rapidly renewable resource that uses 1/3 less water to produce compared to growing cotton plus uses minimal pesticides and herbicides.
    • The packaging is responsibly sourced and fully recyclable.
  • A subtle grip which is sticky but not “bumpy” (unlike silicone dot style grips).
  • Available in 2 sizes to provide a better fit to more people: choose either size 5-8.5 or 8.5-11.

Cons

  • Some people with very high arches or wide feet find the fit uncomfortable, as the elastic around the top is quite tight.
  • Some people found that the socks can slip on the feet when doing certain moves like warrior that put a lot of pressure in the feet. Not everyone has that problem so perhaps it depends on the angle individuals press on their feet.

 

Best Kids Socks for Yoga (also good for women with a shoe size 4.5 or less)

Gaiam Yoga Socks for kids

Available in 4 colors

Click here for the best price on Amazon

Like mother like son in my household. I love to get my son involved in my yoga practice once in a while, so he has some of his own socks too.

These Gaiam yoga socks are adorable and fit kids aged 5-8 (kids shoe size 11-4). They’re an ankle length sock so they stay on easily and comfortably. The spiral silicone grip pattern provides the grip kids need. Made of 81% cotton, 11% nylon, 5% polyester, 2% rubber and 1% spandex.

Not only are these useful for yoga, but my son also uses them on trampolines and just around the house. We have polished floorboards to the extra grip can be handy! They’d also be good in houses with slippery tiles.

 

 

3 of the best yoga shoes

 

My Favorite Shoes for Yoga – Vibram Women’s Alitza Loop Fitness Shoes

Available in 3 colors

Click here for the best price on Amazon

Do you like separate toed shoes? It’s really a personal preference. Some love it, others find it weird. Those who love them, usually cite the main benefit as liking the minimalist feel while still having warmth and protection for their feet.

These yoga toe shoes provide a good solution for those who want to feel barefooted while having maximum grip and traction. They are made of stretch polyamide and have a rubber sole with a good grip pattern.

Pros

  • 5 stars for hygiene – Your whole foot is covered and protected and the material is breathable to minimize sweating. Plus these are machine washable yoga shoes – wash in cold water and air dry.
  • I like these shoes for doing yoga outside on the grass. It gives me a bit of extra protection and durability that yoga socks don’t provide, while still allowing me to feel the ground and move organically.

Cons

  • More expensive than most yoga footwear alternatives.
  • Unlike the New Balance Studio Skins, the sole of this shoe does not have any padding for comfort (nor arch support). Not necessarily a bad thing though… unless that’s what you’re after.

 

New Balance Women’s 118v1 Studio Skins

The Studio Skins are a dance shoe that provide light support to the foot as well as cushioning to the ball of the foot. The sole goes from the base of the heel to the base of the toes, so your toes and heel will still touch the ground/mat, while the center of your foot has added grip and cushioning.

New Balance also sells a coordinating ballet flat that you can wear over the top of the Studio Skin while going to and from class. Though you could probably use ballet flats you already own in the same way.

Pros

  • These are great for anyone who wants extra support on their feet. The criss-crossed tape on top provides light support to the upper foot while the extra cushioning on the ball of the foot and arch will benefit anyone with foot problems.
  • These would be good for people who do other exercise classes like barre, pilates and dance and want one shoe to cover them all rather than a specific yoga shoe.

Cons

  • More expensive than most yoga footwear alternatives.
  • Toes and heels aren’t covered so not as great for people who want yoga shoes for warmth or hygiene.

 

FitKicks Women’s Active Footwear

FitKicks Womens Active Footwear for Yoga and Casual UseAvailable in 8 colors and patterns

Click here for the best price on Amazon

These nylon shoes with a non-slip, soft, rubber sole aren’t specifically for yoga, but can be used for it. Personally they don’t really work for me for yoga, as I am flat footed and this shoe is loose around the middle of my foot so it slips too much for yoga. Though I do like them to use for general casual wear. If you have a typical shaped foot, and you’re after something that can be multi-purpose, this could be a good option.

Pros

  • They’re available in several patterns and styles.
  • These are multipurpose shoes – soft and flexible enough for yoga, with a sturdy enough sole for casual wear. These would be particularly good for practicing yoga outside, because the sole is tough enough to protect your feet from stones and hazards.
  • You can even throw these shoes in the washing machine… though see the warning below about the innersole coming unstuck.

Cons

  • There’s no way to adjust the fitting of these shoes to make them tighter or looser if you need. So if you are flat footed or have particularly wide or narrow feet, these may not fit well enough for yoga.
  • Some people have found that the inner sole can come unstuck and shift around inside the shoe. You may need to re-glue yourself if this happens.

 

FAQs

Do you really need yoga shoes or socks?

People have been practicing yoga for thousands of years without the need for special yoga shoes or socks, so obviously they’re not strictly necessary. Does that mean they’re useless? Not at all.

Yoga socks and shoes are good for people who:

  • get cold feet.
  • get sweaty or slippery feet.
  • who like to keep their feet covered for hygiene reasons.
  • want to avoid walking bare footed around public areas to avoid catching something nasty like Athletes Foot.
  • like the look of them for fashion and aesthetics.
  • practice yoga outside and want a lightweight cover to protect their feet.
  • don’t like to go barefoot in general.
  • get dry skin on their feet if they go without socks too often.

Regular sports shoes are no good for yoga because they get in the way of your foot and ankle mobility. Yoga shoes give you a light covering of your feet and provide warmth, hygiene and grip while letting you stay flexible where you need to.

 

What is the difference between yoga shoes and yoga socks?

The line is blurred between yoga socks and shoes. The difference comes down to the material of which they are made and their design.

Yoga socks are usually closed toe tubes in a soft material, with grip on the bottom of the sock.

Yoga shoes can be made of various materials and usually have a slightly firmer sole and body. They may provide some light foot support and/or cushioning.

Both can be open toed, closed toed or with toes separated.

 

Final thoughts

Yoga shoes and socks are a very affordable item of sports gear. Having a pair is an easy way to show yourself a bit of self-love to keep your feet warm and protected from nasties. Even if you don’t want to wear them every session, it’s handy to have a pair in your yoga tote for cold or hot (sweaty) days.