Pilates socks are grip socks with silicone dots or patterns on the sole, so your feet stay put on a reformer, a mat or a smooth studio floor. Many studios require them: Club Pilates, for example, asks everyone to wear grip socks in every class. Most pairs are cotton with a little stretch, in low-cut, crew, slouch, toe and toeless styles.
My main yoga studio was in London for the last 4 years: it was just a simple room for yoga, no receptionist or anything fancy, but great teachers, sound healing classes, Pilates and yogalates. I like mat Pilates because it builds the strength I need for yoga. All you need is a mat, and sometimes it’s nice to have socks too. A studio floor can be very cold in winter, and a grippy pair of Pilates socks doubles as yoga socks.
Below are our 8 picks, all cotton-led, led by the Ozaiic grip sock for its soft combed cotton and full-sole grip. You’ll also find TAVI’s organic cotton pairs, toe and toeless styles, a crew for cool studios and a unisex pair for men, plus tips on grip, fit and care. For the rest of a natural yoga kit, see our yoga equipment guide.
At a Glance
- 1Ozaiic Non-Slip Grip SocksCheck price
- 2TAVI Savvy Grip SocksCheck price
- 3TAVI Stacy Slouch Grip SocksCheck price
- 4Ozaiic Five Toe Grip SocksCheck price
- 5Tucketts Allegro Toeless Grip SocksCheck price
- 6American Trends Crew Grip SocksCheck price
- 7yeuG Grip SocksCheck price
- 8Hylaea Unisex Grip SocksCheck price
| Sock | Cotton | Style | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ozaiic Non-Slip | Combed cotton | Low-cut | One size |
| TAVI Savvy | 73% organic | Low-cut | Sized |
| TAVI Stacy Slouch | 88% organic | Slouch crew | Sized |
| Ozaiic Five Toe | Combed cotton | Full toe | One size |
| Tucketts Allegro | 70% recycled | Toeless | S/M, L/XL |
| American Trends | 93% | Crew | Sized |
| yeuG | 90% | Low-cut | One size |
| Hylaea Unisex | 85% | Ankle | Unisex sizes |
The 8 Best Pilates Socks
Ozaiic Non-Slip Grip Socks
The Ozaiic grip sock is our top pick because it gets the basics right: soft combed cotton that breathes, and silicone grips across the whole sole that keep you planted on the reformer. It’s also the most-loved grip sock on Amazon by a long way, so the fit and grip have been tried by a lot of feet.
It comes in one size (women’s 5.5 to 11), and that’s the catch: buyers mention it runs big on small feet and pinches the toes on bigger ones, so check the chart if you sit at either end. A few reformer regulars would like even more grip.
- Material
- combed cotton with silicone gel grips (the listing gives no percentages)
- Best for
- Everyday mat and reformer classes
- Style
- Low-cut
- Size
- One size, women’s 5.5 to 11
TAVI Savvy Grip Socks
TAVI is the grip-sock brand people search for most, and the Savvy is its classic low-cut pair: mostly organic cotton, with nylon and elastane for a snug fit that doesn’t twist, and an arch band that holds the sock in place. If you’ve been to a boutique studio, you’ve seen these.
They cost more per pair than the multi-packs, and the blend includes a little polyester. Buyers mention the sizing splits opinion, and a few had holes early, so wash them inside out and dry them on low or on the line.
- Material
- 73% organic cotton, 14% nylon, 7% elastane, 6% polyester
- Best for
- Boutique studios and reformer classes
- Style
- Low-cut, sized
TAVI Stacy Slouch Grip Socks
The Stacy Slouch is the most cotton-rich sock on our list at 88% organic cotton, in the relaxed slouch style you’ll see in a lot of barre and Pilates classes. The grips are the same as the Savvy’s, and the soft cuff keeps your ankles warm in a cool studio.
It’s a newer style with far fewer reviews than the Savvy so far, and the slouchy look isn’t for everyone.
- Material
- 88% organic cotton, 6% nylon, 4% elastane, 2% polyester
- Best for
- Organic cotton, cool studios
- Style
- Slouch crew, sized
Ozaiic Five Toe Grip Socks
The five-toe Ozaiic is our pick if you like your toes separated, so they can spread and move naturally during standing work and footwork on the reformer. It’s combed cotton with silicone grips, and ballet-style straps over the top hold it in place. It keeps your feet warm, too.
As a yoga teacher, I’ve learned how much our feet do: they’re the first point of contact with the ground, with 26 bones and more than 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments working to keep us steady. So I like toe socks, and I’m used to them from learning about barefoot shoes. They aren’t the prettiest look, though, and they take a moment longer to pull on. Buyers mention they run small and that the toe seams can come apart with heavy use.
- Material
- combed cotton with silicone gel grips (the listing gives no percentages)
- Best for
- Toe splay and footwork
- Style
- Full toe, low-cut with straps
- Size
- One size, women’s 5.5 to 11
If cotton toe socks for everyday wear appeal to you, see our cotton toe socks guide.
Tucketts Allegro Toeless Grip Socks
The Tucketts Allegro is for a barefoot feel with extra grip: your toes stay bare, and the grips sit under the heel and arch. It’s 70% recycled cotton with nylon for stretch, knitted left and right so it doesn’t roll or bunch, and friendly to wide feet.
Check your studio’s rule before you buy: sock-only studios may not accept toeless socks, because your toes are out. Bare toes also run cool, a plus in a hot room and a minus in a cold one. Buyers mention it runs big for some.
- Material
- 70% recycled cotton, 29% nylon, 1% spandex
- Best for
- A barefoot feel with grip, wide feet
- Style
- Toeless, sized S/M and L/XL
American Trends Crew Grip Socks
The American Trends crew is the pick for more coverage: 93% cotton, big grip dots under the whole foot, and a crew length that keeps your ankles warm when the studio runs cool or you train at home on a tile floor.
Crew socks are warmer than you may want in a hot room, so keep a low-cut pair for summer classes. Buyers mention holes near the toe seam on some pairs, and opinions on the thickness are split.
- Material
- 93% cotton, 3.9% spandex, 3.1% nylon
- Best for
- Coverage and warmth
- Style
- Crew, sized
yeuG Grip Socks
yeuG is the pair to choose if you go through grip socks quickly: 90% cotton, silicone grips and a four-pair pack that costs far less per pair than the studio brands. Good for a weekly class habit or a studio bag that always needs a spare.
They’re simple in style, one size only, and budget socks usually wear out sooner than premium pairs. Buyers mention a few pairs slid down or tore early, and some find them thin.
- Material
- 90% cotton, 10% spandex
- Best for
- Value packs
- Style
- Low-cut
- Size
- One size, women’s 5.5 to 9
Hylaea Unisex Grip Socks
Hylaea’s grip socks are our men’s pick: unisex sizing, plain colors, 85% cotton and a cushioned sole with grips, without the studio-fashion look of most grip socks. They work just as well for women who want a plainer, thicker sock.
In my regular yoga studio, men wear grip socks to yoga and Pilates classes too. The studio is cold for everyone, and they usually go for neutral white or black. Sizing is the thing to watch: buyers with large feet mention the L/XL runs small, so size up if you’re at the top of the range.
- Material
- 85% cotton, 11% spandex, 4% binding cloth
- Best for
- Men, unisex sizing
- Style
- Ankle, cushioned, sized
How we picked
For me, two things matter most in a grip sock: it must not slip on my foot when I’m moving and twisting on the mat, and it must feel comfortable, not itchy, so it never gets in the way of a workout or yoga. Therefore, we picked with that in mind, looking for socks where cotton comes first in the blend, with grips that hold on a reformer and lots of real reviews behind them. Additionally, socks that are mostly polyester (most of the cheap packs) didn’t make the cut, and neither did the merino pair we used to list, which isn’t sold on Amazon right now. We kept a mix of low-cut, crew, slouch, toe, toeless and men’s styles, and checked every blend on its live Amazon listing. More on how we choose gear is on our how we test page.
What to look for in pilates grip socks
Grip coverage. Grips across the whole sole give the most hold on a reformer. Dots under the ball and heel are enough for mat classes.
Cotton-led fabric. Cotton is breathable and feels soft, and a little nylon or elastane keeps the sock snug so it doesn’t twist. Check the blend before you buy; it’s on every card above. If you love natural fibers in your everyday socks too, our guide to high-quality socks is a good next read, and our cotton yoga mats pair well with these on the mat.
A snug fit. Grip socks should fit closely, with no spare fabric at the toe or heel, or the grips slide out of place. One-size socks are the gamble here; sized pairs fit more reliably.
Room for your toes. Make sure the socks don’t stop your feet from moving: your toes should be able to move freely, so they can help you stay stable.
Style. Low-cut is the classic studio look, crew and slouch keep ankles warm, and toe or toeless socks let your toes spread. For toe socks made for everyday wear and travel, see our merino toe socks guide.
Care. Wash them inside out on cool and let them air dry. Dryer heat is what wears the silicone grips down.
FAQs
Mostly, yes. Both are grip socks with silicone on the sole, and you can wear the same pair for Pilates, barre and yoga. In yoga, your toes help you stay stable in poses like Tree Pose or Downward-Facing Dog, so I like socks that give them full freedom, like toe or toeless styles.
Yes. Many studios ask everyone to wear them, and plenty of men wear them to yoga and Pilates classes, usually in plain white or black. Look for unisex sizing, like the Hylaea pair above, and size up if you’re at the top of a size range.
Regular grip socks are the easy default and the warmest. Toe socks let each toe spread and grip, which some people love for footwork on the reformer. Toeless socks give bare-toe contact and run coolest, but check your studio’s rule first, because sock-only studios may not accept them.
No, but reformer work rewards grips across the whole sole, because your feet push against a moving carriage and a footbar. On a mat, dots under the ball and heel are enough. One full-sole pair covers both.
In many studios, yes. Club Pilates requires them in every class, and plenty of other studios have the same rule. At home on a mat they’re optional, but they help your grip on a smooth floor and keep your feet warm.
Turn them inside out, wash on cool and let them air dry; dryer heat wears the silicone grips down faster. With weekly classes, a good pair lasts many months. When the grips start to peel or the sock stretches and slides, it’s time for a new pair.
