There are some items in our daily activities that we cannot imagine our life without them. Take socks, for example – a small piece of fabric that wraps our feet from the inside of our shoes, providing comfort and protection.
Currently, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of socks manufacturers worldwide. With the wide range of manufacturers and models, it’s sometimes difficult to choose which one to go for. The first step for most people is selecting the manufacturer, and are tons of options ranging from premium to cheap. I would never recommend going for the more affordable socks, so today, I’ll be talking about a premium brand – Bombas.
This premium sock brand was founded back in 2013 in New York City by raising funds through Indiegogo. The idea behind the company was to donate as much as people buy. The founders learned that the most south out piece of clothing in homeless shelters was socks, so for every pair of socks you purchase, one pair gets donated to homeless shelters.
So, you buy a pair of Bombas socks and do a good deed. That is not debatable, but the big question remains: Are Bombas socks worth it? Well, today, I’ll be answering that question.
Table of Contents
Bombas socks features
Before I dive into my opinion, first, let’s look at what Bombas socks offer.
Socks donation
I feel like this part of Bombas’ business is often overlooked. After realizing how requested socks are around homeless shelters, the company’s founders based it around it. Whenever you buy a pair from Bombas, it matches your order to a person in need of a new pair of socks. While it’s true that there may be better ways to donate, but there are no downsides to helping someone out during your regular shopping routine.
Wool based
To be honest, the wool may not be the best for every situation. While the material can regulate temperature and has excellent wicking abilities, in a hotter climate, it can struggle. The good news is that it provides exceptional softness and comfort to your skin. As a bonus, people that spend a lot of time in shoes will find that the wool is excellent at odor elimination. The reason why I mention this is because part of Bombas’ lineup is wool-based.
Hex-Tec
Socks manufacturers have their fancy way of naming the technology behind their products. Bombas’ name for the best of the best is Hex-Tec. Essentially, it means that the socks made with that technology are performance-oriented and longer-lasting.
Design and comfort
There are several aspects to Bombas socks that should be mentioned on the design and comfort side of things.
On the front, there is an entirely seamless toe that eliminated that nasty bump you may find with other socks. By doing so, Bombas managed to eliminate pressure or irritation on your toe or the rest of your feet.
There is a special arch system for support in a honeycomb pattern down the middle of your feet. Thanks to the design, your arch gets the required support and snug fit and keeps the shape of the socks in place even after prolonged wearing.
For the back of your foot, there are two aspects that provide comfort and durability. Unlike the front, where there the toe is seamless, the heel gets a Y stitching. The advantage of this approach is that despite the stitching, you will hardly feel it. Moving the stitching away from your foot areas with the most activity also ensures slightly longer-lasting socks. The second design feature is the blister tab. Most people have problems with blisters where the shoe touches the back of their ankle, leading to discomfort and pain. The tab on the back provides cushioning that helps eliminate the blisters.
Finally, there are the design and types. Bombas socks come in a wide variety of designs, colors, and styles, depending on your needs.
Types of Bombas socks
Bombas has tons of types of socks available, so to avoid talking about each one specifically, I’ll try to group them either based on their material or use case.
No Show
If your regular footwear consists of sneakers or similar footwear with a low profile, the No Show are perfect for you. The lightweight material consisting of cotton, nylon, spandex, and polyester means that you will have socks that you will hardly feel on your feet. On the comfort side of things, there is decent cushioning on the bottom and heel grips that will keep them in place all day long. For esthetics, the No Show are socks that will be invisible but still protect your feet from the inside of your footwear, even on the edges.
Ankle
The Ankle socks from Bombas are a perfect blend of style and comfort. Mixing polyester, rubber, spandex, and cotton means that you get relatively lightweight socks, but this time you get better performance on the comfort and durability side. The seamless toe and Y-stitched heel mean that irritation on the front and the back is non-existent. For the middle of your foot, the honeycomb system for support will provide a snug fit along your arch. All of this is incorporated with the cushion on the bottom of the socks for improved comfort. On the back, the blister tab helps eliminate irritation on the back of your ankle from your footwear.
Wool socks
If you’re the type of person that’s a fan of socks made from natural materials, then you should check out the wool socks. Blending wool with nylon, polyester, and spandex enables Bombas to produce soft and comfortable socks and perform well. The synthetic materials provide excellent breathing and elastic properties, keeping your feet as dry as possible. Despite the moisture-absorbing properties of wool, the combination of materials still manages to keep your feet dry, regardless of the outside temperature. Speaking of, natural fibers like wool are excellent are regulating temperature, meaning that your feet won’t be too cold or hot.
Performance
Active people will find this category very interesting. Bombas has multiple types of socks ranging from cycling or golfing to hiking and skiing. Depending on the use case, you can either have wool, cotton, or synthetic-based materials. Regardless of that, all socks provide excellent support and comfort to eliminate irritation or discomfort during your strenuous activities. The blend of materials combined with the design helps keep your feet breathing and dry for longer periods of time. During these kinds of activities, socks take a lot of beating, and you may sometimes find your blister tab below your sneakers in case of running socks.
Dress
Last but not least are the dress socks. These are Bombas’ models for fancy and stylish occasions. A combination of cotton with spandex, nylon, and polyester, as well as bed cushioning, results in socks that are comfortable to wear and grip your feet type. These are very similar to the ankle socks and are designed with seamless toes, Y-stitched heels, and a honeycomb arch system for support. What is different is that these usually come in a single color, and there are several heigh options to choose from, depending on your outfit.
Are Bombas Socks Worth It?
Now it’s time to answer the burning question, are they worth it? My opinion is yes, but let me break things down for you.
The first thing that attracted me to Bombas was that it was a premium socks manufacturer with donating on its mind. For each pair of socks I purchased, the company donated a par to a shelter. Knowing that someone wears soft and comfortable socks is a big plus, especially considering how much socks are needed at homeless shelters across the country.
Next up is the design and features. Bombas has several types of socks, depending on the need, and each one has a unique blend of materials, extracting the most out of each situation. Design is never a priority for me, especially for performance-oriented socks. Still, in this case, the options are excellent, meaning that you can easily combine them with your favorite performance footwear.
On the comfort side of things, Bombas socks will not disappoint. The seamless toe and Y-stitched heel mean that there is no rubbing on those areas of your feet, eliminating irritation or discomfort. The honeycomb support will provide a snug fit for your arch, while the blister tab will ensure that the back of your footwear doesn’t cause blisters on the back of your ankle.
It’s not all positive, though, as Bombas socks are not perfect, and there are a few things to know. The first one is longevity. Despite the marketing surrounding the premium socks that Bombas has, they are not eternal. While you won’t find a pair of socks that will last a lifetime, I feel like some manufacturers have better-lasting socks.
One thing I noticed was that during the first several washes, there is some slight shrinkage. In general, it doesn’t pose a big problem, but you may feel them a bit snugger compared to when they were brand new.
Alternative Brands to Bombas
There are currently tons of socks manufacturers, but not all of them can compete with the products that Bombas has. If you feel that this is not the one you want to go for, here are a few alternatives.
Conscious Step
The business model of Conscious Step is very similar to Bombas. For each pair of socks, the company donates, but not in the form of socks. There are 19 causes that the company supports, and depending on the model you purchase, there will be a donation for a particular cause. They support HIV treatments, children’s education, preventing breast cancer, protect animals, and others.
As for the socks themselves, I consider them to be regular socks, not really intended for hiking or similar strenuous tasks. They are decent, and even though you will sacrifice arch support, they are far from the worst socks you’ll put on. For design, there are ankle and crew socks in tons of designs and colors, so you’ll have no problem incorporating them into your outfit.
Pact
Pact is not a company dedicated to socks only; there are other types of clothing as well. On the socks side of things, there are 3 options to choose from: no show, ankle, and crew. Similar to the previous one, there are no performance-oriented models. Another thing that I feel is missing from Pact is the available options. While there are multiple height and color options, other brands offer more.
For comfort, don’t expect too much because, as I mentioned, these are not intended for hiking or other extreme activities. Pact is very proud to sell products made from cotton, and with that, you get a decent price tag. Even though I’m not a fan of cotton, these socks are great for everyday use.
Boody
The last alternative socks company I’ll mention is Boody. In terms of eco-friendliness and sustainability, this company is on top of the game. With several certificates and complying standards, this is probably the most eco-friendly socks manufacturer worldwide.
For options and features, they are not as good as Bombas, but I feel like they are a slightly better option than Pact, and the same goes for the price as well. Design-wise there are far fewer options adhering to the theme of simple and basic socks that come in several style options.
The most unique thing about Boody is the choice of materials. The company’s policy is eco-friendliness, which is why the socks are made from bamboo textile.
Final Thoughts
I’m happy with Bombas socks and would recommend them. While they have a premium price tag, I can get over that thanks to the fact that the company donates whenever I make a purchase. They are very comfortable socks designed to eliminate or at least minimalize discomfort and irritation.
For me personally, the shrinkage is not a big issue, as it’s minimal and kind of like the snug fit it provides. I’m not too happy with expensive socks that are not as durable as I would like them to be, though.
In general, I believe that the pros outweigh the cons, which is why I would recommend Bombas socks to anyone.
