Many new Doc Martens owners wonder which socks to wear with Doc Martens to prevent blisters, or which look best for style purposes. My first pair of Docs left scars on my ankles because I didn’t wear them with proper socks during their break in period, so now I’m passionate about protecting my feet and breaking in Docs properly with high quality socks.
Here is a guide to the best socks to wear with Docs, including my own reviews as a long term fan of the brand, Amazon customer reviews and Reddit research.
*This page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Learn More.
Here’s a quick look at my top picks:
** (Further into the article I’ll also be covering some fashionable sock options to wear once your Docs are broken in, so keep scrolling if that’s what you’re looking for!).
Ortis Heavy Duty Work Boots Socks – click to view current price
- Multipack with best price per sock!
- Great reviews for blister prevention and quality materials.
Fox River Wick Dry Military Socks – click to view current price
- Military grade socks – if they can handle military boots they can handle Docs!
- Amazing quality wick dry socks.
Darn Tough Merino Wool Work Socks – click to view current price
- Super tough socks with a lifetime guarantee.
- All weather comfort.
Here are my TOP 10 socks picks in more detail, including the pros and cons of different brands, with price, quality and blister prevention factors compared…
Best Socks to Wear With Doc Martens
The best socks to wear with Doc Martens are heavy duty work boot socks with a blister guard design. Military socks and hiking socks are great options also, to help prevent painful rubbing. Socks from Ortis, Fox River and Dr. Scholl’s are the best socks to wear with Doc Martens.
Here are six super tough socks picks that are ideal to wear with Doc Martens during the painful break in period to help protect your feet.
1. Ortis Heavy Duty Work Boots Socks
Click here to view the current price on Amazon.
Ortis create super comfortable high performance socks with a focus on breathability. These Heavy Duty Work Boot Socks are designed to be worn with work boots over long periods of time.
They’re an excellent choice if you are looking for a well priced multipack of quality socks that will help prevent your Docs from shredding your poor ankles.
Here are the pros and cons of these socks:
Pros:
- Merino wool and polyester blend.
- LOW PRICED (four pack) which is great value for the quality!
- They feature extra heavy cushioning to help reduce foot pain and blisters.
- Reinforced toe and heel to enhance durability when worn all day long.
- Moisture wicking properties to provide breathability, reduce food odor and keep your feet fresh and dry.
Cons:
It was really hard to find even a single con for these socks after trawling through hundreds of Amazon customer reviews, however one customer did mention:
- The merino wool the socks are made with may cause them to shrink if they are washed on a super hot high heat. If you follow the washing instructions you won’t have any issue!
My final thoughts on these socks is you really can’t go wrong when it comes to the quality and price. The Amazon customer reviews are excellent and the simple colors of the socks makes them a good unisex choice to pair with your Doc Martens.
They’re tough and durable, with cushioning to prevent blisters – what more could you need! Click here to view the Ortis Heavy Duty Work Boots Socks on Amazon.
2. Dr. Scholl’s Advanced Relief Blisterguard Socks
Click here to view the current price on Amazon.
Dr. Scholl’s is a well known brand that makes top notch footwear products. For this reason I wanted to thoroughly research their Blisterguard socks and see if they would live up to the brand’s usual quality when it comes to blister relief (which we all know is super important for wearing with Doc Martens!).
Here’s what I found:
Pros:
- These socks are really well priced and come in a 2 pack.
- They feature “Blisterguard technology eliminates rubbing at the back and toe of the foot for blister prevention“.
- The tops of the socks are ‘non-binding‘ and won’t restrict your calves for proper blood flow and movement when walking in your Doc Martens.
- Reinforced toes and heels so they won’t wear through quickly.
- Anti-microbial technology promotes odor control and prevention.
- Moisture control fibers to keep your feet feeling fresh and dry all day.
Cons:
- After many washes the foot part of the sock may start to feel a little loose when wearing.
My final thoughts on these socks – I think they are a well priced option and I would definitely pair them with Doc Martens to help prevent blisters. Click here to view their current price on Amazon.
Blister proof socks are an essential part of the Doc Martens break in process in my experience. If you need some additional help with breaking in your Docs, consider reading my full guide –
3. Fox River Wick Dry Military Socks
Click here to view the current price on Amazon.
If you have a particularly tough time breaking in your Doc Martens you may want to consider getting a pair of military grade socks to protect your feet.
The Wick Dry Military Socks by Fox River are a super durable choice, with blister prevention.
Here are the pros and cons of these socks:
Pros:
- Memory knit compression, a contoured rib top and spandex compression zones.
- Blister reducing Wick Dry moisture control – “Our exclusive technology quickly draws moisture away from your skin so your feet stay dry and comfortable; removes any moisture build up which reduces hot spots and friction that causes blisters“
- Extra foot cushioning for comfort and blister prevention.
- Quick dry sliver and copper fibers to control odors and make washing and drying easy.
Cons:
- These are pricey. But they are worth it if you want a durable pair of socks that can handle breaking in Doc Martens. They have stellar reviews from work boot wearers too.
Click here to view the current price of these military socks on Amazon.
4. Darn Tough Merino Wool Work Socks
Click here to view the current price on Amazon.
Darn Tough make socks that live up to their name. It’s as simple as that.
Enjoy a lifetime guarantee on these heavy weight socks with unbeatable comfort. Many customers in the reviews mention coming back to purchase these socks time and time again after experiencing their quality.
Here are the pros and cons of these socks:
Pros:
- Made using the highest quality merino wool, providing all weather comfort.
- Performance slip design to prevent slipping, bunching or blistering.
- Thermo regulating, moisture wicking and odor resistant.
- Made in Vermont and pass rigorous durability testing.
I think these socks are the pinnacle of quality and are an awesome choice for pairing with Docs, when breaking in the tough leather. There is a fairly big con though…
Cons:
- The price. These are a pricey pair of socks! But they have legendary durability AND a lifetime guarantee. They are a good choice for those who like to ‘buy once’ and invest in really high quality items.
Click here to view the current price on Amazon.
5. Mirmaru Multi Performance Hiking Crew Socks
Click here to view the current price on Amazon.
If you’re looking for a durable multipack of socks that are tough enough to prevent blisters from your Doc Martens then check out this set by Mirmaru.
Here are the pros and cons of this set of socks:
Pros:
- Strong and durable design, made with 55% Combed Cotton, 40% Polyester, 2% Spandex
- Affordable – a pack of 5!
- Reinforced with high-density fibers and pile cushioning in the underfoot area for added comfort. The fibers protect feet from blisters, and rubbing.
- 100% satisfaction guarantee – you don’t like them, no problem! Get your money back.
- Designed to support ankles, arches and heels.
- A really high number of reviews, with an overall high rating.
Cons:
- They can stiffen after multiple washes, so make sure to follow the washing instructions and use fabric softener.
Overall I think these socks are a great choice if you are looking for a multipack to wear over consecutive days with your Doc Martens. They are tough and will help protect your feet from blisters.
Click here to view the current price of the multipack on Amazon.
6. Darn Tough Steely Boot Cushion Socks
Click here to view the current price on Amazon.
If you own a pair of steel toe capped Doc Martens work boots then you may want to invest in a pair of socks that are designed specifically for use with them.
These socks from Darn Tough are designed to be worn with steel toe capped boots and have extra reinforcements in key areas to prevent blistering and pain.
Here are the pros and cons of this set of socks:
Pros:
- Full cushioned toe box to keep your toes from rubbing. This has a double benefit of keeping your toes extra warm.
- Designed and Knit in Vermont with 56% Merino Wool 41% Nylon 3% Lycra Spandex. The fast action wicking pulls moisture away from skin, so no more sweaty, stinky socks.
- Lifetime guarantee! If these socks develop holes or tear then Darn Tough will replace them no questions asked.
- Seamless design for an invisible seam feel.
Cons:
- They are pricey socks, but with this level of quality and design they are a great investment for a lifetime of use with steel toe capped Docs.
Here’s what one Amazon customer had to say:
“These are the best darn socks that you will ever come across. The cup of steel toe boots used to rub against the side of my foot, but that is an issue no longer. The material is thick and very strong, with even more padding in all the right areas. They are moisture wicking, no more sweaty feet, and anti-microbial, so they don’t stink anymore either.“
Click here to view the current price on Amazon.
Cute Socks to Wear With Doc Martens
If your Docs are nicely broken in and you’re looking to wear some cute socks with them for fashion purposes, then these picks are for you!
I’ve focused on socks that feature frills or a ribbed design at the top, that will be visible over boots, or in the Mary Janes. I love these socks and think they make a really cute combination with Doc Martens, whilst being affordable.
1. Mcool Mary Turn-Cuff Casual Ankle Socks
Click here to view current price on Amazon.
These super cute ankle socks buy Mcool are a great choice for those who enjoy variation in their sock drawer. Choose from 6 different color combinations to mix and match with your Doc Martens.
They have excellent customer reviews and are really affordable!
2. Funcat Women’s Lace Ruffle Cotton Socks
Click here to view current price on Amazon.
If you like the lace ruffle look on socks then you’ll love this multipack of floral socks from Funcat. They’ll look super cute with Mary Janes or other low rise Docs, but they are also long enough for the ruffle to pop out over the top of the classic Doc boots.
3. Semoholli Women’s Cotton Ankle Socks
Click here to view current price on Amazon.
These cotton ankle socks will look great with Mary Janes or other Docs shoes of a low rise style. They’re plain white and have a timeless ruffle design! You can’t go wrong with these in terms of the low price too.
FAQs
Best socks for Dr Martens 1461?
The best socks to wear with Dr Martens 1461s are the low cut Ortis Merino Wool Moisture Wicking Socks. These socks will protect your feet whilst you break in your 1461s as they are designed provide extra protection from blisters.
After thorough research these socks pass the bar for me in terms of quality and level of protection from rubbing shoes. They have great reviews and will help prevent sore heels when breaking in your 1461s.
Click here to view the current price of Ortis Low Cut Socks here on Amazon.
What type of socks do you wear with Dr Martens?
It’s best to wear tough wool socks with Doc Martens with additional cushioning on the heels to prevent blistering. Doc Martens can rub painfully during their break in period, so investing in some good wool based socks will help ease soreness.
Should you wear thick socks with Dr Martens?
You should wear thick socks with Dr Martens to prevent rubbing and blisters during wear. Thick socks will help provide a protective layer between your ankles and the tough leather of Doc Martens boots.
Are Doc Marten socks any good?
Doc Marten socks are good to wear with Doc Marten boots, as they are specifically designed for this purpose. Pair Doc Martens socks with your Doc Martens boots or other tough work boots for additional comfort and durable protection.
Related Articles
I hope you enjoyed this post! Here’s a picture of my Doc Martens with my hardwearing wool sock collection – you can never have too many chunky socks!

For more Doc Martens content check out:
Are Doc Martens Waterproof? – A Review With Photos
Do Doc Martens Run Big? – A Sizing Review With Photos
Are Doc Martens Comfortable? A Review With Photos
How Much Do Doc Martens Weigh (Are They Heavy To Wear)?
Are Doc Martens Non Slip? A Personal Review + Tips

Lorna is a footwear geek and the founder of Wearably Weird. She created a YouTube channel in 2021 for fellow footwear fanatics, dedicated to detail-rich footwear reviews and info. She has a fashion media qualification (awarded in 2011).