Hockey Socks: Knits versus New Style

Which hockey socks are right for you?

By Warren Tabachnick

Almost since the advent of the sport, knit hockey socks have been a mainstay of the ice hockey uniform. They have always been the one component of the hockey wardrobe that seemed to take years to see any real innovation. But recently a new style of hockey socks has turned up in the marketplace.

While the traditional knit socks can be pretty consistent from one manufacturer to another, the funny thing about the “new style” of high-performance hockey socks is that they can vary quite a bit from brand to brand, in terms of feel, composition, and cost. Some of these makes can be very tight fitting, which may be a bit more comfortable but are more susceptible to rips. And since they’re more elastic, when there’s a rip the elastic almost always accentuates the tear.

These days many people are making the switch to these new hockey socks, which to some can be compared to switching from wearing old-school long johns to the dry fit/wicking performance apparel (like Under Armour). It’s true that knit socks are still super economical, but being a combination of cotton and polyester they tend to rip and fray quite easily and also hold a lot more water weight. Plus, they can shrink a bit in the wash due to their fabric. But they probably won’t disappear entirely any time soon as many people change teams or lose their socks before the they wear out and thus don’t care much for durability.

I recently had a chance to try out the new K3G Hockey Socks for myself, having scored a pair in New York Rangers colors. Before that I had been wearing Reebok Edge socks, and it did not take long for them to suffer a gash caused by the errant skate of one of my teammates jumping from the bench onto the ice. As soon as I put them on I immediately noticed the difference. The K3G Hockey Socks are made from premium K3G fabric, a high-grade polyester. They are cut and sewn for an ergonomic fit and durability, and feature built-in Velcro tabs and elastic cuffs. And since they are somewhat loose fitting, they are stronger and tougher.

While there’s the occasional complaint they don’t hug the leg nicely on those with thinner shin pads, I did not have a problem wearing the K3G Hockey Socks. They look and feel like they’re made to last.

K3G Hockey Socks come in authentic NHL team striping and colors, and are available in XS, S, M, and L. Check them out at JerseysMadeEasy.com. No doubt you’ll agree they are right for you.