Boardroom Socks has quickly caught the attention of many fashion-forward men as they are one of the few sock brands that make their products right here in the USA.
Not only are these socks homegrown, but they are also made with quality materials that’ll feel comfortable on your feet all day long.
This review will look at their most popular styles, including over-the-calf, mid-calf, and no-show socks. Additionally, we’ll also look at who is behind the brand, what customers are saying, and much more.
Pros:
- Made in the USA with quality materials (merino wool and Pima cotton)
- Available in a range of colors and patterns
- Over-the-calf socks stay in place all day and are perfect for dress pants or slacks
- Mid-calf socks are office appropriate and offer the same level of comfort as over-the-calf socks
- No-show socks are made with merino wool and have an oversized non-slip heel grip
- Company is family-owned and committed to providing good customer service
- Positive customer reviews and high overall rating
Cons:
- Some customers may have issues with the fit depending on the size of their foot
- Some reviews have mentioned issues with seams or socks slipping down (although customer service is responsive and willing to help resolve issues)
- Higher price point compared to some other brands, although considered a good value for the quality and country of origin
The Bottom Line: Boardroom Socks gets high marks for their quality, customer service, and overall value. If you need a new pair of dress socks, we highly recommend giving them a try.
Overall Rating: 9.5/10
Over-the-Calf Socks
Designed to extend nearly up to your knees, over-the-calf socks will stay in place all day long. Perfect for men who need to wear dress pants or slacks without ever having to worry about their socks falling down.
What we particularly like about the over-the-calf socks that Boardroom Socks makes is that they have two core base materials: merino wool and Pima cotton. While we discuss the benefits of cotton and merino wool here if you’d like to learn more, the short version is that merino wool is superb at wicking away moisture and keeping your feet dry, while Pima cotton is soft and comfortable.
For each material, Boardroom Socks makes them available in several colors and patterns, so you can find one that’ll match your outfit and your personal style.
Reviews on their site show that customers are generally happy with the quality of socks. Here is one review that caught our eye:
I have been wearing Boardroom socks for many years. They are comfortable, long-lasting, and — best of all — made in North Carolina.
Michael R. (review)
Of course, it’s important to look at criticism as well. Here is one review that stated a few issues with their over-the-calf socks:
Most aspects of the socks generally OK, but both socks had seams with solid small “balls” on both sides of the heel (both socks). Uncomfortable and annoying. Will not order any more.
Jack C. (review)
While we understand that not every customer will be happy with their order, we did notice that a customer service rep responded to this review and offered to resolve the issue. The initiative here is a great sign that Boardroom Socks is committed to providing a good customer experience.
Personally, when testing the over-the-calf socks, we found that they fit rather well and would stay in place all day long. The merino wool fibers feel good against the skin and never too particularly hot. Nor did the fabric feel too thick, so it never felt tight within the dress shoes that we wore them with.
Overall, they are a well-made pair of socks that are worth the price.
Mid-Calf Socks
Very much like the over-the-calf dress socks, the mid-calf merino wool dress socks are made with an identical blend of materials: 67% Merino Wool / 30% Nylon / 3% Spandex. The same goes for their Pima cotton line as well; both socks have a blend of 74% Pima Cotton / 23% Nylon / 3% Spandex.
A slightly bit more informal than the over-the-calf socks, the mid-calf socks are still office appropriate and can easily be worn with dress pants. Think of these more as your daily go-to pair, whereas the over-the-calf are more for special occasions or high-level meetings.
That said, they still offer the same level of comfort, wicking away moisture and providing anti-microbial protection. One customer had this to say in their review:
Was as advertised, no surprises, great socks. The navy color was also what I expected, a very dark navy, darker than my current navy pants. I will buy again when I need more. Thanks for the great socks!!!
Eric F. (review)
One notable criticism was for a taller individual that had some issues with the socks being a bit too short. Here is what they had to say:
I’ve had them three months and love the material and quality. The wool blend is warm enough for mild winters (30 to 45 degrees) and with a liner they’re good down to 20 degrees. The only thing I dislike is the mid-calf length doesn’t stay up. They’re too tall to stay up like crew-length and too short to stay up over the calf. So, I’m gonna buy some more, this time the over-the-calf length. I’m 6’0″. That might help you choose the right size.
D.H. (review)
As was the case with the over-the-calf socks, a Boardroom Socks rep jumped into the conversation and offered a suggestion to help ensure a better fit. This is awesome to see, as it shows that they never shy away from criticism and are always willing to help their customers.
No-Show Socks
The newest yet most limited offering by Boardroom Socks is their lineup of no-show socks. Available in five colors and having a composition of 74% Merino Wool, 24% Nylon, and 2% Spandex, they are a classy take that is perfect for summer-time wear.
It’s worth stressing the importance of the material selection here as you’ll find that when shopping for no-show socks, they are nearly always made from a 100% synthetic material. This often leaves your feet feeling clammy and uncomfortable. The merino wool here really shines in this regard as it keeps your feet dry while also wicking away moisture.
Another detail we loved when wearing these socks was the oversized non-slip heel grip. By creating a nice bit of friction between your foot and the shoe, it helps to keep the sock in place all day long. You never have to worry about your sock sliding down or bunching up in your shoe.
While these are relatively new, reviews coming in are overwhelmingly positive. Here is one review that caught our eye:
Wore these new socks walking around Italy for a month! Comfortable and never once had issues with socks shifting around in the shoes! But one sock did develop a hole. The others were like new so it must have been a freak occurrence! One call to Customer Service and they replaced it immediately!
David B. (review)
Review limitations
Trying to get an accurate review of socks is difficult as many factors can affect the overall experience. For example, if you have a larger foot, you may find that the socks are too tight. If you have a smaller foot, you may find that they are too loose.
When measuring durability, comfort, and fit, we created a 1-10 scoring system. We then averaged the scores to get an overall score for each sock type. Of course, some scores may be more objective than others. For example, the fit is very subjective as it depends on the size of your foot. However, we did our best to provide an accurate representation of the socks.
About Boardroom Socks
Founded in 2010, Boardroom Socks is a family-owned business that is based out of North Carolina. The company is currently being run by Nathan James, whom we had the pleasure to speak with; you can read the full interview here.
The company was founded after Nathan’s father, who worked in the textile industry for decades, couldn’t find a pair of merino wool dress socks that he liked. So, he decided to make his own. The rest is history.
If you want to learn more about the process that goes into making their socks, check out their factory tour video below:
What customers are saying
Aside from the reviews that we have already featured for each of the sock types, we also wanted to highlight a few more that stood out to us.
Here’s a interesting discussion that took place on Reddit, one Redditor chimed in and said the following:
+1 for Boardroom. Their no-show socks are the only ones I found that don’t slip into my shoes.
https://www.reddit.com/r/NavyBlazer/comments/wkvzug/socks/
Over at AskAndyAboutClothes, a few critiques from members found that they were a bit too overrated given all the positive reviews they receive.
Broadly speaking, though, the resounding consensus is that Boardroom Socks are good, fairly priced, and worth the investment.
Alternatives to Boardroom Socks
Boardroom socks aren’t the only game in town when it comes to men’s dress socks. If you aren’t quite ready to make the investment, here are a few alternatives that you may want to consider:
- Gold Toe: This brand has been around for decades. With a price per pair of socks averaging about $6 (when purchased as part of a 3-pack), they are good for folks on a budget. They are also widely available and can be found at most department stores. Where they fall short, though, is that they aren’t made in the USA, and quality may vary from pair to pair. Read our full review of Gold Toe.
- Bombas: While they are mostly known for their athletic socks, Bombas also makes a few dress socks. The composition is more similar to the Pima cotton socks that Boardroom Socks makes, but still a touch less in terms of quality. Comparing the price, Bombas is slightly cheaper. Worth mentioning, though, is that they are a Certified B Corporation, which means they are committed to using their business as a force for good (Boardroom Socks is not).
- Pantherella: Very similar to Boardroom Socks in terms of quality and price. Pantherella is a British brand that has been around since 1937 and is family-owned. Quality is comparable. However, the price is higher.
- Allen Edmonds: While synonymous with dress shoes and leather goods, Allen Edmonds also carries a selection of socks. They are well-made and use quality materials; they also have several more expressive patterns than Boardroom Socks.
If you want more suggestions on socks, we recommend reading us review of various over-the-calf dress socks.
What prominent influencers are saying
Aside from our own review and research, we wanted to see what influencers were saying about Boardroom Socks.
Robert Jones of GentStyle loved the presentation of the socks and said the “quality was absolutely amazing.” He noticed both fit and fabric were top-notch. Here’s what Robert had to say:
Muscular Style by Zach Mitchem looked at the socks for those with larger legs and a muscular frame. He said that socks went over his calves, but he had to size up to get the right fit. Here’s the full review:
Ian of Fit Man Style reviews both the no-show socks and over-the-calf socks. He said that the no-show socks didn’t slip at all after three days of use and were very lightweight. The over-the-calf socks stayed up all day at work and were very comfortable. Here’s Ian’s full review:
Price and value
Considering the quality, country of origin, and the fact that they are a family-owned business, we think that Boardroom Socks are a great value.
The cost of their socks is as follows:
- Over-the-calf socks: $16.95
- Mid-calf socks: $15.95
- No-show socks: $27.95 for a 2-pack (or $13.95 per pair)