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Because the studio is no place to slip up men s anti skid socks
In case you missed it, reformer Pilates is having just a bit of a moment right now. And alongside a brilliant pair of flexible yoga leggings, grip socks are non-negotiable when it comes to hitting the reformer.
But it’s not just in the fitness class du jour that you can benefit from wearing grippy socks. Also a mainstay in barre studios and favoured by many on the yoga mat, grip socks can provide extra traction as you move, protect your feet from germs on communal studio mats (grim but, let’s be honest, necessary), and provide a layer of warmth during slow flows or shavasana.
Basically, grip socks are your friend for any class that requires stability, balance, and precision.
These are the best yoga and Pilates socks at a glance, tried and tested by the WH team. Keep scrolling for the full list and our thoughts below.
Yoga, barre and Pilates socks tend to look like normal trainer or crew socks, but on the sole, they have a sticky grip pattern to provide traction on Pilates reformers, yoga mats and slippy studio floors. ‘Grip socks are essentially non-slip socks, and you can think of them as your workout "shoe",’ says Jada-Rae Poku, Master Pilates Instructor at Club Pilates UK.
‘In modalities such as Pilates, barre or yoga, practitioners often wear grip socks to prevent any slipping as a safety measure.’
The best Pilates socks are hard-wearing and moisture-wicking to keep you comfortable during hot or sweaty sessions. Some have other design features too, such as ballet-style straps across the top of the foot; separate toes, which is useful during asanas that include stretching out the foot for balance; or with open toes and heels, for complete freedom of movement and connection to the ground.
While often used for yoga, barre and mat or wall Pilates, it’s equipment Pilates (such as reformer or tower) where grip socks are an absolute must.
‘Grip socks can be used for many different reasons, including safety, support and minimising the risk of injury. Most people use them in Pilates, reformer, yoga and barre, whether taking classes on the mat or on the apparatus,’ says Poku.
Before attending any new class it’s worth checking what gym kit your studio recommends, but most barre and Pilates classes will not only require grip socks, but will warn against wearing normal socks, which will slip on equipment or smooth mats.
The sticky tread on the bottom of Pilates socks helps provide stability, control and protection — essential as you’re likely to be balancing your toes on the reformer foot bar or gripping the floor with one foot as you perform sliding movements.
‘The benefit to grip socks is they not only elevate your whole look as they come in a range of styles and colours, but they really help with safety,’ adds Poku.
The best yoga, Pilates and barre socks have multiple benefits. They can help you align your posture in the right direction, prevent slip injuries and give you extra traction on the mat or equipment to support balance.
‘In modalities such as Pilates, you are practising slow, controlled movements that require balance and stability, so the grip socks provide added friction and support to ensure you don't slip and fall while moving your body. In addition, wearing grip socks provides an added layer of hygiene and sanitation,’ says Poku.
To ensure your grip socks stay grippy for as long as possible, follow these simple steps when washing:
And as tempting as it may be, only wear your grip socks for class. Don’t wear them round the house and definitely don’t wear them with trainers to and from the studio.
Yes, obviously your new grippy sole sistas need to match your cute gym co-ords. Luckily, most of the best Pilates socks come in multiple colours and designs, so that’s no problem. But it’s also worth ensuring they fit well, as your foot slipping around inside a too-large sock makes for a fairly useless anchor point.
Also, make sure the grip pattern is both deep enough — shallow tread will wear out faster — and covers enough of the foot to be effective. The toes, ball of the foot and heel are your key stability points.
‘Always go for comfort and style when shopping for grip socks, as you need to be comfortable while moving your body and working out,’ says Poku. ‘The best grip socks are good quality and remain sticky even after going through a few loads of laundry!’
These pretty socks from celeb-favourite label Alo Yoga are giving serious ballerina, and we are here for it. And sure, £40 for a single pair of small socks does sound vaguely ludicrous, but these have both style and substance in spades and are well worth your cash if you're a reformer or barre devotee.
There are multiple features to keep the socks firmly in place: wide crossover straps that are soft, stretchy and supportive; interior silicone heel grips and a sturdy grip pattern across the entire sole. Even with feet pressed against reformer shoulder pads in planks and lunges, these have stayed put — the grip really is brilliant.
The reinforced toe box means they'll last, no matter how many pointes you perform, padded soles keep things comfortable on unforgiving equipment and the breathable mesh upper means you're in no danger of sweaty feet — plus they're gorgeously soft and honestly a joy to wear.
They come in three chic colours that go with everything: black, pale grey and ballet slipper pink.
These cosy grip socks from Sweaty Betty are super soft and ideal if you're in a chilly studio or prone to cold feet. They have a light compressive band around the forefoot, which helps keep them in place and gives a sense of stability — particularly if, like us, you the feeling of your foot being hugged.
The grip pattern is decent too, covering the full foot in a dot/logo pattern, and there's an anti-blister heel tab — ideal if your workout requires you resting your heels on a bar.
They wash well, retaining their grip over time, but on some smaller-footed folk they are a little loose, so if you're in that bracket steer clear to avoid the socks sliding off your feet mid-downward dog.
Known for its pretty mandala mats, yoga brand Gaiam also makes some brilliant pairs of grip socks, and this toeless design takes the top spot.
These are ideal for those who like being barefoot or prefer a more tactile workout but want the extra stability grip socks provide, plus toes out = added balance, so it's a win-win. The silicone grips cover the entire sole and provide superior traction on any surface, be it reformer strap or shiny studio floor.
We're big fans of this secure crossover style but they're also available in a closed top design if you prefer more coverage.
If you prefer to channel Hailey Bieber with your gym lewk (or are just a fan of the crew sock/leggings combo) then these are the grip socks for you.
Thanks to those calf stripes they have a gorg sports luxe feel and are almost knee high if you don't scrunch them — we prefer rolling them down slightly for a slouchy athleisure look. Luckily this doesn't affect the traction at all, which is superb, thanks to the triangle grip coating on the entire forefoot and heel.
The grips are so sticky it was initially difficult to get the socks out the packaging, but once they were on they were very secure and didn't slip at all — even when then bunched at the toes a bit during downward dog, our feet didn’t actually budge. They're particularly brilliant when wrapping feet around the footbar on the reformer during leg presses and glute bridges.
Available in black, light grey and charcoal.
Sweaty Betty's famous grippy socks were designed to keep you stable during yoga, pilates, barre, and home workouts. These breathable organic cotton blend socks have good grip and a cross strap so they won't slide off mid-Warrior II pose, and as such, offer a less coverage than many of the other socks on this list — ideal if you're working out in a warm studio.
They're currently only available in this stylish black and grey pairing, but the brand often release new colourways, so keep an eye out if you fancy something a little brighter. (Psst — after wearing these to many a yin class, one WH editor can confirm these are comfy, lightweight, and wash well.)
Yeah yeah, the 90s are back, but what about the 80s? Channel some serious aerobics vibes with these legwarmer style grip socks from Alo Yoga, featuring pretty crossover straps and ribbed knee high cuffs. Whether you wear them pulled up or rumpled for a classic look, it won't affect your traction.
Yep, aesthetics (and calf warmth) aside, these beauties deliver, with a thick, almost tacky, dot grip pattern across the sole, breathable mesh upper and reinforced toe, while the peekaboo section means you retain full ankle mobility.
Because the socks join up with the cuffs at the heel there's no danger of popping out of them during transitions, but putting them on is a bit of a faff.
For extra security you can wear these under leggings, which really helps anchor them in place but admittedly doesn't give the smoothest silhouette. We found these were best worn with yoga shorts or under flared yoga pants. We did also find the logo label at the top a tad itchy, but you can counter this by folding the top of the sock over.
Currently only available in black, but they're soon to be released in this gorgeous soft mulberry colour.
These toeless socks hit sweet spot between full freedom of movement and the stability of secure grip, no matter how hard you push yourself.
They're breathable and moisture-wicking for class-long comfort, while the toeless design allows greater connection with the mat — ideal if yours isn't exactly non-slip but you can't invest in an upgrade right now. However, the separation between the big toe and the rest may not be comfortable for some.
Available in a bunch of fun colours including three nude shades.
Want the control of going barefoot but not the chills? Enter these full toe socks from Bellarina. Available in seven designs they offer a cut-out design, arch support and amazing stability, with the dotted grips extending on each individual toe.
Sure, they might look a little funky, but you'll get an unrivalled toe squat pose in these, thanks to your ability to fully spread out and grip each toe on the floor.
Toe freedom doesn't have to come at a price! These budget-friendly non-slip yoga socks mean you can feel focussed and unrestricted when you hold your pose.
They're surprisingly comfortable for toe socks, with a padded heel tab and supportively stretchy construction. The grip is good too, although there's a gap on the ball of the foot which could be an issue for certain moves on the reformer. But for yogis who want to maintain barefoot control and hygiene, these are a winner.
These may not be the best looking grip socks of the bunch. But they are the most secure, using artificial leather along with a silicone anti-slip pattern on the ball, toes and heel.
These stay put and don't twist around on the foot during classes (the dream), while the flexible material and thick elastic straps allow you to still move freely. Plus the toeless design offers greater connection with the mat. Available in six designs.
Hattie Parish is the Health and Fitness Ecommerce Editor for Women’s Health, Men’s Health and Runner’s World, covering the best gym wear, latest fitness tech and wellness launches worth investing in, plus the best deals during Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day. As well as clocking up the miles in myriad running socks, pummelling her muscles with massage guns, testing out fitness mirrors and donning dry robes every other weekend, Hattie consults leading experts in the health and fitness industry to help readers make informed decisions when shopping online. Brought up by two medics, Hattie worked in health clinics before completing a BA in English at King’s College London. She qualified as a journalist in 2015 and has since written for titles such as Healthy magazine, Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar and Red, as well as worked commercially with health and wellness clients such as Holland & Barrett, Lloyds Pharmacy and Superdrug. Hattie is passionate about arming readers with honest, unbiased product reviews and has a particular interest in the role of technology in our wellbeing, as well as gender-based inequalities in healthcare. When she’s not putting gym wear through its paces on the Pilates reformer or kitting out her home gym (garage) with the latest equipment, she’s attempting to make progress on her teetering pile of bedside books, cycling round South East London or sampling wellness retreats for the Women’s Health travel pages.
Ces is the resident runner, with 3 marathons (and counting) under her belt. As acting digital editor she spends her days filling your feeds with things you want to do, try and eat… and lives in perpetual fear of running out of funny meme ideas.
Maddy Alford is the Fashion Editor at Cosmopolitan UK and Women's Health UK, covering fashion content online and in print. Maddy specialises in shopping galleries and first-person reviews of the best fashion buys, from jeans and jewellery to wedding dresses, gymwear, and winter coats. She also writes op-eds on on pop culture, viral fashion moments, travel journalism, fitness, and the LGBTQ+ community's relationship with style. Maddy is also a fashion stylist who has worked on over 100 photoshoots at Hearst, including those starring Raye, Niall Horan, and Lena Dunham. Previously, she has worked in fashion PR and e-commerce, including stints at ELLE US and UK, Net-a-Porter, InStyle, and Time Out New York. Maddy has ten years of experience in the fashion industry in both London and New York City, after graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. She is passionate about second-hand shopping, inclusive fashion, running on Regent's Canal, and finding London's cosiest pubs.
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