You’ve probably got your gear bag kitted out with all the staple gear for BJJ – gi, rash guard, spats, mouthpiece, etc. But what about a pair of grappling socks?
The idea of wearing socks for Jiu Jitsu will sound weird to a lot of people, but it’s more common than you’d think. You might find that it makes training a lot more comfortable for you.
Skip ahead to our team’s recommendations for the best grappling socks out there, or read on to the next section to learn more about wearing socks for BJJ.
Grappling Socks – Worth It for Jiu Jitsu/MMA?
Grappling socks certainly aren’t standard for BJJ. Most gyms you go to, you’re probably not going to see anyone wearing socks when they train. That doesn’t mean they’re not worth using, though.
One of the black belts at my first gym used to train in socks all the time. I thought it was a little weird at first, but over time it got less so.
So why would you want to wear socks in BJJ? Here are a few reasons:
Mat burn
The top reason would be to avoid mat burn.
If you’ve never experienced mat burn, I envy you. If you have (that’s probably most people reading this), you’ll know how sore and annoying it is, particularly waiting for it to heal.
Each gym’s mats are a little different. Your gym might have really soft mats, and rarely get mat burn. Yet other gyms have more course mats which scrape the skin off many a foot.
If you’re in the second camp, a set of grappling socks may save a lot of the precious skin on your feet.
Cold feet
Sometimes you might just have cold feet. Certain people are more likely to get cold hands and feet, often due to circulation issues. If you’re one of these people, or training in a cold place, it might be a good idea to wear socks when you train.
Keeping your feet warm, particularly at the start of class, will help avoid sprains and similar injuries to the toes.
Hygiene
Socks may also help prevent infections, either to yourself or others.
One of the worst things that can happen to you on the mats is getting staph or MRSA. This can put you out for a long time, and even have very serious effects on your health. Socks are helpful if you have any cuts or scratches on your feet, by offering some protection against the dirt and bacteria that lives on most mats.
The same goes if you have any kind of infection on your feet. Best thing would be to stay away from training altogether, but you could also just wear socks and avoid spreading it that way.
Compression
Some BJJ socks also provide compression – like rash guards and spats. This can be beneficial for circulation (doubly good for those of us who get cold feet easily), and also quicker recovery and protection from injuries.
Almost everyone who does BJJ gets injured toes – from sprains to minor breaks – at some point, so compression socks may help protect against that.
Are Socks Legal in Jiu Jitsu?
In almost all competition rulesets, socks aren’t legal.
However, most gyms are ok with it. The only thing you’ll want to make sure is that you’re putting your BJJ socks on specifically for training. If you’re just coming to the gym in your shoes and socks, and taking your shoes off before you get on the mats, you’re going to spread a whole lot of bacteria to the mats.
You should get a pair of specially-made grappling socks, and only put them on when you’re on the mats.
What to Look For in BJJ Socks
The black belt I mentioned just used to wear a pair of ordinary wool socks to train. That’s not ideal, however. There are some things you want to look for in a pair of socks specifically for Jiu Jitsu. Here’s a quick rundown:
Durability
Your socks are going to come under more punishment than usual if you wear them for Jiu Jitsu. You’ve got to make sure they’re made of high-quality material, and can stand up to a number of tough rounds, without tearing or breaking up.
Dealing with sweat & moisture
Your feet are also going to sweat a lot, so your socks should be designed to deal with this. Most grappling socks are made with moisture-wicking fabric that helps pull moisture away from the skin. You want some level of absorbency, but not too much – you don’t want to ring them out and fill a whole bucket with sweat after training.
Tightness & fit
The biggest difference between regular socks and proper grappling socks is in the fit. Grappling socks need to fit well, and stay tight even through heavy sparring and rolls. Otherwise it’s going to be easy for your socks to slip down and/or come off, when someone grabs your leg for example, and they’ll just end up being annoying.
Compression
This is more of an optional one. But it’s nice if your socks also provide compression technology. This will help keep blood flowing to your feet, as well as avoiding, or speeding up recovery from, sprains and knocks to the toes or ankle.
Grip
Finally, another big difference between grappling socks and normal socks is the grip. You don’t want to be slipping everywhere, which you probably will be with a pair of normal socks. This will be annoying at best, and dangerous at worst, if you start slipping and falling when trying to do standup moves.
Top Picks – Best Grappling Socks
Want to pick up a pair of grappling socks for yourself? We’ve got you covered. Here are a few picks which are perfect for Jiu Jitsu.
RDX MMA Socks
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The MMA socks from high-quality brand RDX tick all the boxes.
Elasticated closure to help them stay fit and tight. The lycra material is durable and suits hard grappling sessions. While the sole has a rubberized dot-map pattern to give you the grip you need.
I also like that they’re not too long. They cover just the ankle, not much more. You don’t have to worry about them fitting over part of your calves as well.
Sizes: Small, Medium, Large
Colors: Black
Sanabul Foot Grips
- A Secure Grip on the Mat: goodbye to slipping and sliding during Jiu Jitsu, grappling, and combat...
- Proven by the Pros: Trusted by top athletes like legendary BJJ coach John Danaher, Sanabul's pilates grip...
- Tailored for the Perfect Fit: Made with four-way stretch material, these grips won't restrict your range...
- Size Guide for Everyone: Our mens and womens grip socks offer three size options to accommodate different...
- Multi-Purpose Traction pilates socks: Perfect for various activities, including MMA, kickboxing,...
The Sanabul brand makes amazing, affordable gear for pretty much everything you need. That extends to grappling socks. Their “foot grips” and durable and versatile.
Neoprene fabric is made for heavy use, while mesh panels on the side let your feet breathe. The rubberized sole gives you sufficient grip, and the height, like the RDX product, is just right as well.
Sizes: X-Small, Small, Medium, L/XL
Colors: Black, Green, Orange, Pink, Red, White
Tilos Sport Skin Socks
- PROTECT YOUR FEET - Keep your feet safe from the hot sand with the Tilos Sport Skin Sock. The 2.5mm...
- SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT - At only .45kg (1lb), you'll forget that you're wearing socks! Our 2.5mm sole provides...
- BUILT TO LAST - The neoprene sole with adjustable hook and loop cuff ensures a comfortable, snug fit....
- DOPE-DYED YARN - We use a special process to dye our yarn, which is why you'll never find another sock...
- KIDS SIZES AVAILABLE - This sock is also available in kids sizes for little feet. The smaller size...
The Tilos Sport socks are made for a variety of uses – from the gym to outdoors. They’re a fine fit for Jiu Jitsu, too.
Made from neoprene and polyester, they’re durable, stretchy, and comfortable to wear. And since they’re made to be able to be worn outdoors and in the water, they won’t get bogged down by retaining water.
They’re also available in a huge range of sizes and colors, which is nice.
Sizes: 4XS, 3XS, XXS, XS, Small, Medium, Large, XL, XXL, 3XL
Colors: Blue, Black, Pink, Blue Flower, Coral Flower, Digital Blue, Digital Grey, Digital Green, Gray Camo, Heather Fog, Heather Marine
ROLL HARD Grappling Socks
- Bottom of the sock is made of stretchable neoprene material with heel to toe power traction and dot...
- Great product for stand up and ground work, an excellent product for all martial arts, popular among...
- Sold in Pairs.
- Able to be worn on the mat or the cage with or without shoes, it will enhance each martial arts session....
- Sizes: XXX-Small (Shoe 1-2.5), XX-Small (Shoe 3-3.5), X-Small (Shoe 4-5.5) Small (Shoe 6 - 7.5), Medium...
These socks are made specifically for grappling, which should make you confident that they’ll stand up to some tough rolls, as well as providing all you need from BJJ foot protection.
The upper sock (top of the foot, up past the ankle) is made from compression fabric, while the bottom has a rubber dot pattern, to give you top comfort and grip, all in one.
Sizes: 3XS, XXS, XS, Small, Medium, Large, XL
Colors: Black & Red
Ring to Cage MMA Grappling Socks
- Bottom of the sock is made of stretchable neoprene material with heel to toe power traction and dot...
- Great product for stand up and ground work, an excellent product for all martial arts, popular among...
- Sold in Pairs.
- Able to be worn on the mat or the cage with or without shoes, it will enhance each martial arts session....
- Sizes: X-Small (Shoe 3-5), Small (Shoe 5-7), Medium (Shoe 7-8), Large (Shoe 9-10), X-Large (Shoe 11-13).
Finally, the ring to cage socks are very similar to the ROLL HARD product. Both offer compression fabric, sufficient grip on the sole, and the durability to last for BJJ, wrestling, MMA, or whatever your use case.
The size options currently available are a bit limited, but assuming you fit one of their sizes, you can be satisfied that they’ll hold up.
Sizes: Small, Large, 2XL
Colors: Green & Black
Final Thoughts – Wear Socks for BJJ or Not?
Grappling socks aren’t necessarily a must-have item in your gear bag, but they are nice to have.
They’re especially worthwhile if you have trouble with cold feet, you get mat burn easily, or you commonly get injuries to your toes and ankle.
In these cases, BJJ socks can make training a whole lot more comfortable. If you are going to wear socks to train Jiu Jitsu, make sure you get a pair of specially-made grappling socks. You’ll notice a huge difference to the pair of regular old socks you got for your last birthday.
