The Best Socks for AFOS – Seamless, Breathable, and Durable!

Are you wondering which socks work best with AFOs? Has your child developed blisters or red spots from wearing AFOs with their shoes? The best socks for AFOs are seamless, breathable, durable, and tall enough to prevent the AFO plastic and strapping from rubbing against your child’s skin. Children who wear AFOs with their shoes already have enough to deal with trying to adjust to how the AFOs feel, and the last thing that you want is for your children to have to worry about the socks not feeling right.

Are Certain Socks Made Specifically for AFOs?

Certain socks are made specifically for children who need to wear ankle foot orthosis (AFOs) in their shoes, and these socks help provide your child with protection and comfort under their orthotics. The socks should also be tall enough to prevent the AFO’s plastic and strapping from rubbing against your child’s skin.

There are only certain socks that are tall enough to cover the length of the brace to provide protection and comfort to your child’s feet. If you want your children to be comfortable while wearing their foot or leg braces you must provide them with the correct type of socks. It is a fact that most children dislike socks with seams since they might rub and cause irritation.

The Best Socks for AFOs – The 5 Most Important Features!

For your child to be able to feel comfortable wearing AFOs, the socks must provide these five important features:

1️⃣ 100% Seamless: There is a myriad number of socks out there that claim to manufacture truly seamless socks, but they actually come with a flat or hand-linked seam across the toes. These will still cause irritation to many children. The socks I describe below are 100% free of seams.

Photo Courtesy of SmartKnit, a brand of Knit-Rite, LLC

2️⃣ Moisture Wicking: This feature helps prevent your child’s feet from sweating excessively by allowing your kids’ feet to breathe. Wicking fibers help keep your kids’ feet and legs comfortably cool and prevent foot odor.

3️⃣ Exceptional Softness: The socks are made from super-soft materials to keep your kids’ feet comfortable.

4️⃣ Non-Binding Halo Top: This feature eliminates irritating indentions, and also reduces slippage on the legs.

5️⃣ Various Lengths: These socks are available in various lengths which allow children to fold them over the AFO brace.

The Best Socks for AFOs to Prevent Blisters

These socks are made from ultra-soft materials and a design that involves a non-binding Halo Top, which eliminates irritating indentions, as well as reduces slippage on the legs. Disclosure: Some links in this post may be affiliate links and we may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) when you click our links and make purchases.

How to Figure Out What Sock Size You Need to Order?

It’s important to note that children won’t get most of the benefits that these socks have to offer if you don’t provide them with the correct sock size. Socks that are too long will make your children feel uncomfortable since the extra material will bunch up below your kids’ feet. On the other hand, socks that are too short will cramp your kids’ toes and make them overlap and rub against one another. The chart below will help you figure out your child’s correct sock size:

Smartknit-socks-size-chart

Are Any Other More Affordable Choices?

Most parents are hesitant to pay that kind of price for their kids’ socks. However, once they try them, they realize that they are the only socks that work properly with their kids’ AFOs. They will keep your child’s feet comfortable while preventing blisters and sores. With that said, I understand that investing $20 in a pair of socks is not in the budget for many families, so do not hesitate to contact me and I will help you find an alternative type of socks:

fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com

Several parents have told me how their kids never wore a more comfortable pair of socks, and how other socks used to leave red marks on their kids’ feet and make their feet sweat and smellThese socks will also prevent your children from getting red cracked sore skin on their feet as well.

Photo Courtesy of SmartKnit, a brand of Knit-Rite, LLC

What Are the Best Shoes for Kids Who Wear AFOs?

There are many resources I have created over the years, but these two cover the best sneakers and dress shoes for children who wear AFOs.

Is there a particular sock that has worked well for your child’s AFOs? Please share your findings below other parents can learn from your experiences.