SHOP nordstrom.com and bombas.com


Welcome to The Esquire Endorsement. Heavily researched. Thoroughly vetted. These picks are the best way to spend your hard-earned cash.


I was at a friend's house when I realized that my socks are, in some instances, a conversation starter. It's not because they're covered in some zany print (perish the thought), but because this particular friend had seen these socks before. Loads of times, in fact—just never in real life. "Oh, those are those Instagram socks!" he almost shouted. "Are they actually any good?"

I admit, I may have sounded a little unhinged when I responded. For one thing, I didn't know that my Bombas socks were Insta-famous. For another, I love them. Like, a lot. And I didn't want anyone thinking they were an empty, social media-driven gimmick. So I launched into an explanation of my fandom. I was probably too long-winded, and definitely too loud. Buy, hey—I believe in good socks. What follows is a (hopefully) much-more-sane-sounding explanation of why.

Costume accessory, Sock, Musical instrument accessory, Shadow, Ankle,
Tim Mulcare

They Really Do Fit Perfectly

Pretty much every sock brand claims that its products have finally solved socks. The all-day comfort, the support, the just-right fabric blend—everything! Sounds great, right? Well, some brands are just one slipped-down heel away from showing you they're full of it. Bombas, on the other hand, isn't.

The socks don't pinch, but they don't slip, either. Athletic styles are thick (but not too thick!) and dressier ones aren't so slight they feel like hosiery. And from crew socks to no-shows, they support your feet in all the right places—the around the arch and instep, particularly. They're so comfortable, you'll find yourself reaching for them first in the morning, and doing laundry as soon as you run out.

SHOP nordstrom.com and bombas.com

Wool, Sock, Product, Purple, Knitting, Woolen, Textile, Fashion accessory, Woven fabric, Footwear,
Tim Mulcare

They Hold Up

Once you love a sock, it's hard to see it go. But I'm hard on them, and I've said my fair share of goodbyes—like that time I ripped the entire ribbed portion off the top of a pair of crew socks while pulling them on. I tell you this so you know: Even I, with my strange affinity for blowing through this particular accessory, have yet to consign a pair of Bombas to the trash heap (some are more than a few years old at this point). In other words: They're worth the investment.

Footwear, White, Product, Shoe, Slipper, Purple, Sock, Pink, Wool, Baby Products,
Tim Mulcare

They're More Than Just Socks

I saved this point for last on purpose, but it's a crucial one: For every pair of socks sold, Bombas donates a pair to a homeless shelter, where they're in extremely high demand. At this point, the company has given nearly 25 million pairs away. Why bury that info? Because Bombas are pretty great in their own right, and now that you know that not only is the product good, but the company is, too, I can't see why you wouldn't want a pair (or three). Can you?

SHOP nordstrom.com and bombas.com


Prop styling by Miako Katoh

Photography by Tim Mulcare