Here is how to wear hockey socks: strap on your shin guards and pull the sock over them to mid-thigh. Then hold it with hook-and-loop tabs on your jock shorts, a garter belt or athletic tape below the knee. Size the sock by shin guard length, not shoe size. Hamco Sports team socks use the same type of mesh as our custom hockey jerseys. They start at $22.99 a pair for 1 to 24 pairs, ready 2 to 3 weeks after design approval.
How to Put On Hockey Socks, Step by Step
A hockey sock goes on after the shin guards and before the pants. The order matters. The sock holds each guard in position, and the pants overlap the top of the sock so nothing rides up during a shift.
- Put on your base layer and jock or jill shorts (the shorts with the tabs or garter attached).
- Strap on your shin guards, positioning each plastic knee cap directly over the center of the knee.
- Pull the hockey sock up over the shin guard to mid-thigh, smoothing out any twist so the stripes sit horizontally.
- Fasten the sock: hook-and-loop tabs, garter clips or tape (see the next section).
- Put on your hockey pants, then your skates.
Don’t confuse hockey socks with skate socks. Skate socks are the thin socks worn inside the skate, directly against the foot. A hockey sock is an open tube with no foot that covers the shin guard and finishes at the top of the skate. For everything else a young player wears, see our full youth hockey equipment list.
How to Keep Hockey Socks Up: Tabs, Garter or Tape
Hockey socks stay up with one of three methods: hook-and-loop tabs, a garter belt or tape. Players usually choose tabs or a garter as the main hold, depending on which shorts they own. Then they add a wrap of tape for extra security.
| Method | How it works | Best with |
|---|---|---|
| Hook-and-loop tabs | Tabs on the jock or jill shorts press onto the inside of the sock | Mesh socks |
| Garter belt | Clips on a belt hold the top of the sock | Traditional socks, older-style gear |
| Tape | A wrap of tape holds the sock against the shin guard | Any sock, as an extra hold |
Source: Wikipedia, Hockey sock (read Oct 31, 2026).
Hamco Sports socks are 160 GSM polyester mesh, the same type of mesh as the hockey jerseys in a lighter sock weight. Check your jock shorts before the first practice, because the tabs and garter clips are attached to the shorts, not to the sock itself.
Why Do Hockey Players Tape Their Socks?
Hockey players tape their socks to hold the sock in place over the shin guard, so it doesn’t slide down into the skate during a shift. A sock that stays put keeps the guard where it belongs, over the shin and knee.
Most players wrap tape just below the knee, and some add a second wrap at the ankle. The tape should be snug, not tight: the player should still be able to bend the knee completely. Colored tape and stripe patterns are personal style choices, so a team can match them to its own colors.
Source: Wikipedia’s Hockey sock page (read Oct 31, 2026).
What Size Hockey Socks Do I Need?
Hockey socks are sized by shin guard length, because the sock has to cover the guard from ankle to above the knee. Check the length printed on the shin guard, or measure the guard from top to bottom, then match it to the table.
| Hamco Sports sock size | Sock length | Fits shin guard |
|---|---|---|
| Youth | 20 in | 8 to 10 in |
| Junior | 24 in | 11 to 12 in |
| Intermediate | 27 in | 13 to 14 in |
| Senior | 30 in | 15 to 16 in |
| Senior XL | 32 in | 17 in and up |
Source: Hamco Sports hockey socks, sized by shin guard (owner facts, October 2026).
Between two sizes, go up one size: a sock that is slightly long tucks neatly under the pants, while a short sock leaves the knee exposed.
Other makers size their socks differently, so don’t reuse the size printed on an old pair. Measure the shin guard at the start of every season, because growing players regularly move up a guard size between seasons.
Order custom hockey socks by the sizes in this table, one line per player on your roster.
Team Socks: Matching Your Jerseys
Team socks have to match in high-school hockey: NFHS Rule 2-1-2 asks every player on a team to wear identical jerseys, socks and pants. Plan the socks together with the jerseys instead of adding them afterward.
Hamco Sports socks are fully sublimated with any logos, names and numbers you want. Your whole order is made in the same dye batch, so the colors match, and long and short socks cost the same.
Socks can also lower your price tier. Products can be mixed on one quote to reach a price tier. 15 jerseys and 15 pairs of socks on one quote make 30 pieces, so both use the 25 to 50 prices. Socks go from $22.99 a pair at 1 to 24 pairs down to $14.99 at 101 or more, with free shipping in the USA.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do hockey socks have a foot?
No. A hockey sock is an open tube with no foot. It covers the shin guard from the top of the skate to mid-thigh, and a separate thin skate sock is worn inside the skate. Hamco Sports hockey socks are open tubes in 160 GSM polyester mesh, sized by shin guard length from Youth (20 in) to Senior XL (32 in).
Can you wash hockey socks with the jersey?
Yes, hockey socks can go in the same wash as the jersey when the colors are similar. Turn both inside out, use cool water with a mild detergent, avoid fabric softener, and air dry them or tumble them on low heat. Full steps are in our guide on how to wash a jersey.
Do you ship hockey socks to Canada?
Yes, we ship to the USA and Canada. Shipping is free in the USA. Canadian teams pay the shipping. We pay the tariffs, duties, import fees and GST/HST, so there is nothing to pay at the door. Socks and jerseys can go on one order. There is no minimum order, so a team can also order a single replacement pair in the middle of the season.
Do hockey socks go over or under the shin guards?
Over. Strap the shin guards on first, then pull the sock over them to mid-thigh. The sock holds each guard in place, and the hockey pants overlap the top of the sock.
Do long and short hockey socks cost the same?
Yes. At Hamco Sports, long and short socks cost the same, from $22.99 a pair for 1 to 24 pairs. Every size from Youth to Senior XL is the same price too.
Order Socks That Match Your Jerseys
A sock that doesn’t match the jersey is the kind of mistake coaches find out about on game day. Put socks and jerseys on one quote so they are designed together. Send your roster with each player’s shin guard measurement and the date of your first game. You get a free mockup within 12 hours and as many changes as you need. Your socks and jerseys are ready 2 to 3 weeks after design approval, then take 3 to 5 days to reach you.
Get My Free Quote for your team’s hockey socks.
How we made this guide: written by the Hamco Sports team. We used our own sock specifications and size table, the NFHS Ice Hockey Uniform Rules (2019 to 2020 edition) and our price list (as of October 2026). Facts checked October 31, 2026.
Together… It’s Guaranteed.
