LAST UPDATED: 13 APR 2025
So far, 1165 sock lovers have taken the time to fill out the Sock Survey (much more than we anticipated, thank you all so much!) and you’re clearly dying to see the numbers, so here are some preliminary results.
This is a work in progress, and we haven’t closed the survey just yet, so please share with anyone who might be interested so we can paint an even better picture of the community.
Everybody is also really pouring their heart out! We’ve uploaded 255 stories so far [link] but do check back because they keep coming.
Who is taking the survey?
So far, the survey has reached 55 countries! Mostly from Europe and North America, but then again the survey is only available in English. The average age is 36 years. 96% identifies as male, and 96.6% says they are attracted to men, so it’s overwhelmingly gay and bi guys.
Note that participants are not required to submit any info, so we are only using data from those who chose to share.
We care about the opinion of people who love men in socks, in a sexual way, not just fashion. Almost 94% answered a solid ‘yes’, another 5% said ‘maybe’.
Check the tabs to see in more detail where everyone is from, how old they are, and how roughly two thirds sock lovers is also into feet.
The survey is about socks but I’m sure many of you are curious how much overlap there is with the foot loving community (podophilia being the most common fetish), so we asked and 63.5% of correspondents enjoy bare feet as well, while 20.6% dislike them.
Of course, this survey is only open to those who are 18+.
The average age is 36 (median age is 33), the oldest of all participants was 79!
There have been answers from the following countries:
AT, AU, BA, BE, BR, CA, CH, CL, CN, CO, CU, CZ, DE, EE, EG, ES, FI, FR, GR, GT, HN, HR, HT, HU, ID, IE, IN, IT, JM, JP, LK, LT, MT, MX, NG, NL, NO, PE, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, RU, SE, SG, SK, TH, TR, UK, US, UY, VE, VN, ZA,
Participants from outside the EU / CA / US are scarce, but that’s more a problem of reach. We should not assume male sock fetishism is a Western phenomenon, on the contrary.
Seeing as the majority is from Europe (as are the people behind the survey) let’s zoom in.
We can’t do the same for the US, as we didn’t ask for which particular state.
(Let’s find at least one sock lover from Luxembourg please.)
If you’re here just to find out what you need to wear to have the biggest chance at success:
👍 the MOST popular are white crew socks, after gym, worn in sneakers
👎 the LEAST popular are piss-soaked tabi socks in crocs
… which might not be all that surprising, but the details on this page are still interesting, we swear!
The types of socks
We put the socks into three categories: athletic, formal, and other. Correspondents can skip these if they want, so we only take the opinion of lovers into account.
Explore the tabs to see how each particular type of sock is rated on a scale from 1 to 5
- 1 🚫 no sexual attraction whatsoever
- 5 🥵️ very sexually stimulating
The overwhelming majority (95.1%) of respondents likes athletic or sporty socks, and the white crew sock was the clear favorite.
% who anwered 4 or 5 on a scale of 1🚫 to 5🥵️
Crew socks are mostly defined by their length, going up to the calf. Whites are classics for a reason.
It makes me feel sexier when I wear Nike crew socks, especially white ones. I’ve been with my husband for 10 years and only recently confided in him about this fetish. He now wears white Nikes when he wants to get me going, and he knows I’ll rub his feet if he wears Nikes. We’ve done a little bit of foot play, but it’s mostly about the aesthetics.
~ JP (read more)
originally basketball socks, two-tone, calf-length, with the iconic line in the back
I first discovered this kink when my brother went to prison and I had full access to his laundry. I would wear his socks, use them as a jack off sleeve, cum in them. It wasn’t until high school that I noticed the Nike elite socks in other guys and felt sexually aroused. I now fully embrace the kink
~ Colby (read more)
long, often colorful socks, conjuring up the image of locker rooms and bound to be real sweaty after a match
My first ever time I was turned on by socks was the sweaty socks smell that hit me in the boys changing rooms in secondary school, and seeing all the boys in rugby socks. It turned me on so much I went home and smelt my own sweaty socks and jerked off to the smell.
~ anonymous (read more)
specific to the fetish scene, like Sk8erboy or AASSOOXX, often including text like ‘sniff me’ or ‘fuck my socks off’
I was at his house and he asked his friends to come over to watch the football match. At the beginning I they strip down only to their socks. All was wearing white crew. Nike, Sk8terboy, fuck my socks off, onyrz etc. after I served them their beers I was transformed to a human urinal. After that I had to sniff and worship all them socks. […] they soaked their socks at hot water, created sock water and they gave me to drink it. […] Its was pure heaven for me.
~ PupSox (read more)
same length and material, but in any color that isn’t white
Recently, My best friend’s step dad caught me staring at his socks. He’s been showing off or changing his socks in front of me every few days since. I think he knows what he’s doing to me. I just want to rub his feet and make sure he’s okay. Those black crews or black sheers look phenomenal
~ anonymous (read more)
comes in many sizes and colors, usually quite light with enforcement on the tops and around the heel
another key arousal is the idea that some men can be embarrassed about having sweaty socks so imagined or role played scenarios that involve unexpected or enforced shoe-removal , perhaps in a shoe store or medical situation really appeal
~ anonymous (read more)
thicker and durable, made for walking all day in sturdy boots
I absolutely love retro style slouch socks, that 80’s / 90’s look is so hot on a man.
My biggest fantasy is to be out hiking solo and stumble across two fit, toned men just getting started, hiking boots kicked off, both wearing nice thick slouch or hiking socks.
~ Sock Lover Si (read more)
part of a baseball uniform, missing the soles and toes, meant to be worn over another pair of socks
High white socks under high baseball stirrups. Also long white socks worn with harness boots or cowboy boots. Pedal pumping with a hard to start car or truck.
~ anonymous (read more)
Only about half (50.8%) of respondents like formal socks, and within that group the love of dress socks was overwhelming, but pantyhose still received the lowest rating from 49.8% of formal sock lovers.
% who anwered 4 or 5 on a scale of 1🚫 to 5🥵️
the type the boss wears in his dress shoes
I’m crazy for men’s dirty black dress socks. The nylon ribbed ones. I want to have sex with another man who feels the same and we can smell each other’s socks and rub them against our penises and masturbate with them, cum on them and then maybe wear them a little bit also.
~ David (read more)
classic pattern where the toes are highlighted in color, most often gold on black
As for biggest fantasy, I would say giving a business man in gold toes a foot massage right when he gets off work. Has never happened for me but hope some day.
~ anonymous (read more)
thinner and more see-through than your standard dress sock
sheer socks are code—huge code. It’s a subtle message that you’re into them, and that you’re interested in befriending like minded men who love socks and might be down for some alone time. Feeling, touching and smelling.
~ @SoCalBoyOC1 (read more)
pattern of diamonds in various colors against a plain background, most often combined with a dress shoe
I love seeing colored socks on guys. Argyle has always been my absolute favorite.
~ anonymous (read more)
thin nylon tights that can include the crotch
hunky guys in pantyhose or sheer socks emphasise muscles and their translucence are a cheeky little “peek under the hood”, if you will. It’s the same with fishnet stockings or even lace-trimmed stockings. They also “soften” him too and imply he is someone who embraces femininity. I find that masculine-feminine duality very, very attractive in an otherwise masculine guy.
~ Jacob R (read more)
Because there are many more besides just athletic and formal socks.
Respondents told us we could have included ribbed socks, cycling socks, white Hanes socks, leg warmers, socks with commands on the bottom, … The seemingly endless list shows how specific we like our socks 🙂
% who anwered 4 or 5 on a scale of 1🚫 to 5🥵️
paired with tactical boots, worn by the military and by hunters
I like socks that are part of a man’s look rather than casual and worn every day. So because of this I like long dress socks and tactical socks way more than standard athletic or crew socks.
~ anonymous (read more)
short socks that leave the ankle bare
First experice was from a foot fetish guy i found online. He loved sucking my feet but I love socks so when I arrived, he was completely naked expect he was wearing, on my request day worn ankle socks. We got on the the bed and for an hour he sucked and caressed every inch of my feet whole I sniffed, licked, sucked his stinky socked feet. We both came and it was great.
~ anonymous (read more)
very thick, knitted socks
Love thickly socked feet to make the feet look rounded and cushioned and protected is such a wonderful sight and feel also love a thick wool sock over a casted foot, the list goes on and on 🙂
~ Kyle (read more)
even shorter than ankle socks, so nothing is showing when worn in (usually) a sneaker
Growing up I didn’t like wearing long socks at all- I would only ever wear no shows or ankle socks, and dislike anything taller.
~ anonymous (read more)
‘funny’ patterns or designs, usually very colorful
I’m very much more into bare feet, and I see socks as an enhancement of the foot. Socks are ultimately something to be taken off during foot worship and play. In scenarios that don’t involve sex, the teasing aspect of socks can be just as fun as bare feet to me. I also like to admire the sock itself because I love novelty socks, and socks with fun patterns are more likely to catch my attention.
~ hunter is fine 🙂 (read more)
kink-specific materials
I was hooking up with a man and he put his foot in sock into my mouth and I could feel that something from the sock was disintegrating and left in my mouth and it kinda disgusted me. I’m very aroused by rubber tabi and I find socks attractive especially when combined with sneakers or slides
~ Noriyo (read more)
with each toe wrapped individually
Those with sock/feet fetishes should allow others with similar but varying specific needs (i.e., different types of socks, footwear, etc.) feel included and not flood sex/fetish creators with negative feed back. Let everyone share in their fetishes so everyone can feel included. Too many people will be anti-feet or anti-socks, or anti-dress socks, etc. and then people’s fetishes don’t get to be included. Let’s be open to variety.
~ D_Holmes (read more)
with little non-slip studs on the soles, made to be worn indoors without shoes
Everyone should share more bc i’ve seen guys who didn’t think about it find interest in sock/feet fetishes after learning more about it. So, stop thinking everyone’s going to judge you as it’s like one of the least harmful and easiest fetishes to fulfill. If people stop feeling ashamed, it’ll have less of this unnecessary stigma.
~ D_Holmes (read more)
with the texture of a stuffed animal
My kinks have grown over the years and I’ve become attracted to so many specifics when it comes to socks. Years ago in my youth it was white socks and that was good enough. Now it’s about the look, texture, feel of them. Especially soft white skater boy socks that are fresh on feet and worn a day or two to make them fuzzy and furry soft.
~ anonymous (read more)
traditional japanese socks with a split-toe design
Had a thing for socks ever since I was a kid, especially fuzzy socks and tabi socks, but also more recently crew socks! I would love to get a sockjob from a man while tied up and teased.
~ anonymous (read more)
Let’s talk about smell
When asked, what do you like to do to socks?, it was very clear that sniffing is the favorite, with 87% saying they like or love it.
Only a third of sock lovers get anything out of odorless socks, but for rancid socks it’s even less. The sweet spot seems to be the after-gym socks, which is overwhelmingly loved.
😀 😍 the most liked scents are:
🚫😒 the least liked scents are:
no smell
end-of-day scent
after-gym/game
worn some days
very smelly
foul or rancid
cum on socks
piss on socks
What about the gear?
Just as we asked about what goes inside the socks, we’re also curious to what’s around the sock.
Turns out the vast majority of sock lovers are sneaker lovers (82.3% like), then it’s a rather steep drop to skater shoes (57.9%) and work boots (57.0%) to complete the top three.
Only a third of participants like dress shoes (37%).
We collectively still hate crocs (70.9% dislike)
a positive note
Having a fetish for men in socks is something most of us have to hide. So many confessions and first experiences are about sneaky opportunities. So many of us wish for a partner who shares the kink, and those who find that connection are grateful when it happens.
Our heart goes out to the few who have been kinkshamed (8.7%), but luckily that number is very low, and almost half of us feel openly accepted by the broader community (45%).
Have you ever been kinkshamed for loving socks?
How accepted is sock kink is within the LGBT+ community?
That’s it?
Oh, there’s much more we asked! About settings, about what matters most in a sock, what you like to do to them, … But this page is a work in progress (and it does take work) so please be patient as we keep adding to the page.
It also get much more interesting when we start looking for trends and corelations. Are Europeans more picky when it comes to socks? (It seems so) Do Americans prefer different footwear? (yup) Do the young sock lovers dream of something else than the older ones? (they do actually).
We want you to give the full story, but we need some more time, and more data certainly wouldn’t hurt either.
The ultimate goal would be a publication with the findings, a printed book with all the data, the stories, and artwork by NSNS. Let us know if that’s something you’d be interested in.
How can you help?
If you haven’t taken the Sock Survey yet, that’s obviously the first step.
The more data, the better, and we have pretty much exhausted our reach so share this page with anyone you think might be interested. It’s a niche subject, so keep it in the family, but if you have a smutty social media channel that allows it, the most direct way of helping would be posting about the Sock Survey. Or sending the link directly to fellow sock lovers.
Well, thank you for participating, that’s the most important part.
To anyone who filled out the survey, who shared it with like-minded friends, special thanks to the many, many of you who submitted stories and very personal confessions, extra special thanks to anyone who shares the survey on their own channels, our gratitude to our own circle of support, to anyone who was excited by the idea, and thank you Dalida for having existed.
Just us, NSNS and his partner, we met through a shared love for socks and thought it would be nice to map out the sock loving community. We had NO idea there would be such an outpour of support. We wish we could devote more time to this project, but, dayjobs, personal life, you get it.
The question we’re asked most often is ‘why?‘ and yet for us it felt obvious. Out of curiosity, the shared love of kink, and many responses formulate a clear need for more community as well. We hope this might help some of you embrace your love of men in socks even more, share and bond over it, maybe even feel motivated to actively build more community yourselves. That would be swell.
If you want to know more about us, we did this great interview for Heavy Feral, it was great fun, check out the rest on there too, it’s awesome.
also, we’re not doing this for the money, btw, if that wasn’t obvious yet …but do pre-order a book when we publish one, okay? 😉
