Soccer Socks for Kids – Protect Your Kids’ Feet
Are you looking for a pair of durable, comfortable, and breathable soccer socks for your child? Did you know that soccer socks are meant to protect your kids’ feet against irritation and infection? I am going to show you a list of the best soccer socks for kids that will help prevent the formation of blisters and calluses by providing extra cushion and padding to targeted areas of the feet.
There are so many soccer socks available for kids, that is hard to find which one is the most appropriate for your child to wear. Finding the right pair of soccer socks will make all the difference in comfort and foot health for your child.
Are Soccer Socks Necessary? – 3 Reasons Why They Help Keep Your Kids’ Feet Healthy
1️⃣ Moisture on the skin can create a myriad of problems, such as blisters, the growth of odor-causing bacteria, and fungus, such as Athlete’s Foot. Soccer socks can help wick moisture away.
2️⃣ Soccer socks help provide targeted cushioning on the footbed and the heels for shock absorption which reduces the friction between the foot and the cleat.
3️⃣ Fabric content and fit are essential for comfort inside the cleats. If socks are fitted too snug, they restrict circulation in the foot; if they are fitted too big, they increase friction which leads to blisters.
I have been playing soccer my whole life, and I have dealt with calluses and blisters for several years. I realized that the type of socks I wore during my soccer games made a huge difference in keeping my feet healthy. Keep in mind that calluses or blisters make soccer, or for that matter any sport, much less enjoyable. The thicker soccer socks I began to wear acted as a barrier between my feet and the cleats, which allowed me to run and play more comfortably.
The Correct Types of Socks Can Prevent Foot Issues Such As Blisters
Blisters are common in children who engage in soccer no matter the level they are playing. You will notice them on the back of the heel and bottom of the foot. The repeated friction that occurs when playing soccer causes the layers of skin to separate from each other. A blister forms when fluid then fills in the area.
These facts make it clear that wearing the right type of soccer socks is critical for your child to be able to enjoy the game of soccer. Every movement in soccer creates different stress points on the body, and to prevent injury or unnecessary stress on the feet, vulnerable spots must be protected. The appearance of blisters and other foot problems can be reduced greatly by wearing socks that fit properly and that wick moisture away.
Best Soccer Socks for Kids – Prevent Blisters and Increase Comfort
Below you can find a list of soccer socks that I have fitted before at the shoe store that I work for and most families were happy with them. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.
- Order these socks made by Aptesol on Amazon
- Structured cushioning for added protection in high-impact areas
- 3 pairs
- Bottom feature sweat-wicking combed cotton fabric to help keep your child’s feet dry & comfortable
- 56% Polyester, 27% Combed Cotton, 17% Spandex
- Machine washable
- Order these socks made by TeeHee on Amazon
- 3 pairs
- 80% Acrylic, 17% Polyester, 3% Spandex
- Machine washable
- Order these socks made by WinterLace on Amazon
- 6 pairs
- Enhanced level of breathability
- Features high elasticity allowing for better fitment as well for wearing with shin guards
- Machine washable
- Order these socks made by Marchare on Amazon
- 5 pairs
- Enhanced level of breathability
- Extra padding and cushion below the heels
- Machine washable
Fabric content and fit are essential for comfort inside the cleats.
Making Sure You Get the Correct Soccer Sock Size for Your Child
Soccer socks, just like soccer cleats, should fit the length and width of the foot perfectly. They are not supposed to feel either too tight, or too lose, since the two will have negative impacts on your child’s feet:
➡️ Socks that are too short make your kids’ toes overlap with each other, which creates friction between the toes and leads to blisters.
➡️ Socks that are too long end up bunching up in the bottom of the shoes, causing a great deal of discomfort.
How to Order the Correct Sock Size? – Get it Right!
For you to figure out your child’s exact sock size, you must first know your child’s shoe size. When trying to find the correct sock size for your child, please ignore the label that reads “sock size” or “age guidelines”.
To find your child’s correct sock size, you must always look under the label “shoe size” in the sock tags. This is the most effective way to find your child’s correct sock size. Take a look at the image below for clarification:
The first thing I want you to pay attention to when putting the socks on your child’s feet is for the socks to fit smoothly against the skin without any bulkiness. This is important because you don’t want to crowd the toes.
Each child will be comfortable with a different sock length. However, if we are going by rules of thumb, your child should keep the socks at least above their shin guard.
What Materials Should Your Kids’ Soccer Socks Be Made Of?
The socks I recommended are made from a mixture of the following materials:
➡️ Cotton socks are durable, but they lack elasticity and they might be one of the worst at wicking moisture. Cotton absorbs the moisture, but the moisture remains against the foot, softening the skin and making it more prone to blisters. The other reason why I don’t recommend soccer socks with a high content of cotton is that they will fail to hold their shape and offer poor friction control. Even though they are the easiest and most affordable socks to find, cotton socks should be avoided.
➡️ Wool is the best material for absorption with the ability to repel moisture. It definitely manages moisture better than cotton, but the main disadvantage of wool is that it shrinks. To keep your kids’ feet dry while retaining the sock’s shape, any synthetic fiber will serve you better.
➡️ Acrylic provides great cushioning, excellent friction, and moisture management. It is also among the softer synthetics. This material is an excellent choice for kids who play soccer.
Many of the new athletic socks are worth the investment. Remember that the synthetic materials help wick moisture away from the skin, the double layers will reduce friction, and the seams will avoid pressure points.
The Importance of Wearing Shin Guards – Protect Your Child’s Legs!
Shin guards play an important role in keeping your child’s leg protected. The main purpose of the shin guards is to protect your child’s tibia, fibula and ankle. Please don’t put your children’s foot and leg health in jeopardy by failing to get the proper protective soccer gear.
Did you know that the average shin guard reduces force by 11% to 17% and strain by 45% to 51% on the guarded leg compared with the unguarded leg?
Your kids’ soccer coach will most likely be able to tell you when your child should start wearing shin guards. but most children start wearing shin guards between the ages of 4 and 6. At this stage, you will be looking for foam front shin guards, or integrated foam and plastic (tri-safe guards) will make a good selection too. These types are a lot softer, more flexible and less intrusive than the full plastic shin guards.
As your child gets older and the game gets more competitive, you should invest in full front plastic shin guards, fiberglass or carbon fiber will be the right choice. Even though these are more expensive, they provide additional protection that meets the demand and pace of the game.
How Are Shin Guards Supposed to Fit? – Let’s Find Out!
Occasionally I will meet an over-protective mom who visits the shoe store where I work and insists that the shin guard should cover the whole child’s leg. Picturing how a child is supposed to move around with such a big shin guard is quite intriguing to me. Shin guards should end below the fold in the kneecap to allow the knee to bend comfortably.
What Size Ball Should Your Child Be Using?
Soccer balls used in youth leagues come in sizes 3, 4, and 5. If you don’t know what size to get for your child follow the guideline below:
Now that you have read all this information, I believe your child is ready to conquer the soccer field.
What Are the Best Soccer Shoes for Children?
As far as soccer cleats are concerned, your main priority should be to find a pair that fits your child’s foot shape correctly. I created a different resource that has a list of comfortable soccer cleats for kids as they are capable of accommodating different foot shapes such as wide or extra wide feet.
Soccer Socks for Kids – Watch Video!
In the video below, I show you top-rated soccer socks designed to keep your child comfortable and blister-free on the field. I also cover key features to look for, such as moisture-wicking fabric, cushioned soles, and seamless construction.
Do you fit your child in regular socks or do you invest in soccer ones? Is there a particular soccer sock that you can recommend? Share your findings in the comments section below so other families can benefit from your experiences.
I wasn’t aware that there were so many variables in soccer socks for children. I generally pick up whatever brand I see at my local sport good store for my son. However, after reading this article, I will certainly consider the multitude of factors that are important such as moisture, fit, and cushioning. I really appreciate all of the helpful insight so my son can have the best sporting experience possible!
Bimmerguy,
Sometimes we tend to overlook things. Soccer socks, or socks in general, play a key role in keeping children’s feet healthy. They can make all the difference of them feeling comfortable in the shoe, and also keeping his or feet dry. If your child tends to sweat a lot, the type of sock she or he wears can make all the dfference!
My nephew has started few weeks before soccer and I think it will be a good site for my sister to read. I know she has been looking for good soccer socks and I see you provide a review of the best soccer socks for kids.
I didn’t know the importance of the clothing in sport and sometimes we overlook things.
Thanks for sharing and it is really a very interesting article 🙂
Thank you!
Cristina
Cristina,
You came to the right place. I think you sister will find all the answers she was looking for in this post. You are correct that sometimes we can overlook things, and parents are always so busy that is is hard for them to look at every single detail. Soccer socks are important to keep your kids feet healthy. They will also make them feel so much comfortable when playing a game.
Juan—Your page on children’s soccer socks is absolutely the first time I have ever read anything about the importance of socks for soccer players—or even thought about it! Your copy is engaging and provides some very useful, pertinent, practical information for parents who want the best for their children. I was particularly interested in the health benefits of socks that you mention. Your layout is broken up very effectively to allow the reader plenty of options for moving around and exploring. I am glad I found your website! Thank you!
Jonathan,
Socks play a huge role when it comes to comfort and protection of your kids feet. I feel like every parent should know about the benefits and the drawbacks of wearing the right type of soccer sock since it something that not all parents take into consideration.
That’s very interesting. As you say at the beginning of your article, I assumed soccer socks we’re mainly for containing the shin guard.
Can you tell me if the use of acrylic socks is the same for all football codes, eg: rugby. NFL, AFL etc? If not then why not?
What about other sports in general. Surely any sports where you’re running around will benefit from acrylic socks.
Nigel,
You definitely want to use acrylic socks for football, rugby, or any other sport. Acrylic provides great cushioning, excellent friction and moisture management. It is also among the softer synthetics. This material is an excellent choice for any type of child or individual who is involved in sports.
Hi Juan,
So funny my 2 kids just started soccer and I was searching for all of these answers. I had no idea why they needed the shin guards or special socks. I purchased the socks you recommended and they are so happy about it. They told me they like how cushy they feel! Thank you!!!!!
Tara
I am glad that the socks you purchased made a difference. Know you know the importance of wearing the proper equipment when playing soccer and what difference can it make! Let me know if you have any other questions.