Yes we wear snorkeling socks now, when we are snorkeling from a boat. And below we will share our favorites. They keep our ankles from getting sunburned, and help prevent blisters or hot spots on our feet after many days of snorkeling, and even provide a little warmth.
Note: Our suggestions come from hands-on experience. We hope you find them helpful. You can help us if you purchase from the links below. We may make a small commission, as an Amazon Associate or from other companies, at no extra cost to you.
Our Favorite Snorkeling Socks
Make sure you read our tips below before buying, but here are our favorite snorkeling socks. It wasn’t really easy to find well-reviewed Lycra socks.
But we have tested the Bren SL with the Yobel name on them (on Amazon), and we both liked them. Be aware that, on Amazon, these socks are described as being made of neoprene, they are not. They are made of a swimsuit-like stretchy thin fabric, not neoprene.
They are so inexpensive that it is worth buying a couple of pairs, just in case the stitching starts to go on one while on a trip.
We found that the seams on these Lycra socks were positioned well, and the overall fit worked for both of us, without being too tight or loose.
Our Favorite Neoprene Snorkeling Socks
We tried hard to find a 1mm or 1.5mm snorkeling sock, but they are hard to come by. If your fins are a little bit loose, the Cressi Ultra Stretch 1.5mm neoprene snorkeling socks (on Amazon) are of good quality.
Unless you purchase your full foot fins with the intention of wearing a neoprene sock, a neoprene sock will normally be too thick to wear in fins that you normally wear barefoot, even these 1.5mm ones. They were still too thick.
The problem with things being really tight is that you risk stretching out your fin foot pocket. And if they are too tight you may also limit your circulation to your feet, which could cause them to get cold, or cause other health issues.
So generally speaking, if you already have a well-fit pair of full foot fins, don’t expect to be able to wear a neoprene sock.
Another issue with most neoprene socks is that they normally have some rubberized texture on the sole. This is good to keep you from slipping when wearing them on a boat deck or over rocks. But it does tend to make getting a snug pair of snorkeling fins harder to get on and off. Getting everything wet first helps.
If you need something on your feet while entering the water from shore, before you put on your full foot snorkeling fins, we recommend wearing flip-flops and a belt to strap them to. Read about that here.
Benefits of Wearing Socks While Snorkeling
Snorkeling Socks Prevent Sun Burns
It seems that the more years we snorkel, the more clothing we wear in the water. The purpose of the clothing is primarily for sun protection.
And the back of ankles commonly get burned, even when we are wearing full foot fins with rash guard pants or a wetsuit. There is inevitably an area between those two that is exposed to the sun. And even if we use reef friendly sunscreen on that area, there is so much rubbing action when snorkeling, of the fins and pants, that it is nearly impossible to keep the sunscreen on.
Snorkeling Socks Prevent Foot Sore Spots
Your fins should not cause blisters or hot spots. But, it is not uncommon when you have not been snorkeling recently, or if you are in the water for a number of hours a day, for some foot sores to start to develop. And this is when snorkeling socks can save the day. At the first sign of a hot spot, if you start wearing Lycra socks, it will likely prevent things from getting worse, and is generally better prevention than using toe tape, or waterproof bandages.
Hey, are you finding this page useful? If so you will love our free monthly Snorkeling Explorer newsletter.
Tips for Wearing Socks While Snorkeling
Snorkeling Socks Are for Full Foot Fins, Not Open Heel Fins
The majority of open heel fins are designed to work with a boot of some sort. So you probably will have no need of an additional snorkeling sock, unless the boot is very low in the back, and you are still getting burns on your ankle. Mostly snorkeling socks are for full foot fins.
Wear Your Snorkeling Socks Inside Out
It is really hard to find a Lycra sock with a super smooth sewn seam. But we have found with most of them that the seam is inside. And if you turn the sock inside out and wear it that way, there is less chance of irritation from the seam.