Nike is a very popular sportswear brand in all the popular sports – football, tennis, and basketball. No wonder they are also at the top of the popularity rankings for basketball socks.
Nike socks are the best and most popular socks among basketball players and are also worn by NBA basketball players. The most popular Nike socks for basketball are the Elite socks, which are very comfortable, quick drying, and easy to put on.
Not all Nike socks are suitable for basketball. But once you’ve picked the right ones, it’s hard ever to want to wear any other brand of basketball socks again. Below, I’ll show you the best Nike basketball socks and what makes them so good.
Why are Nike socks the best for basketball?
Nike has a long history of making sportswear. During that time, they have worked with the best athletes in each sport to help them develop the best products for them and us. And basketball socks are no different.
We all know that the basketball shoe is the most important equipment for a basketball player because the shoe is what separates our body from the basketball floor. However, we often forget or do not realize the importance of basketball socks.
Not all socks are suitable for playing basketball because not all socks are cushioned enough, and not all socks are made of materials that can absorb a lot of moisture. Choosing inappropriate basketball socks can lead to uncomfortable blisters and even the development of fungal infections.
I suggest you read up on the main differences between basketball socks and regular socks.
Nike basketball socks use the best materials
Basketball socks must use materials that are breathable and moisture-wicking. That’s why Nike only uses such materials in its socks. The best Nike basketball socks use polyester, nylon, cotton, and elastane.
Polyester is a material that breathes well, dries quickly, and wicks away sweat. Therefore, the foot can stay dry for longer and be more comfortable. The foot in polyester breathes well and therefore starts to sweat later. However, polyester does not absorb sweat very well, so socks made of 100% polyester are not the best.
In addition to polyester, nylon and cotton are added, which absorb sweat well so that the foot can stay dry for longer. Nylon is added at a higher percentage than cotton because cotton quickly becomes soggy. Nylon, on the other hand, dries very quickly despite absorbing a lot of sweat. Elastane is added in the smallest percentage (<10 %) to add elasticity to the sock. This is so that it can fit the foot well and not wrinkle during running.
As Nike basketball socks use a lot of absorbent fibers, the socks are also thicker and, therefore, more comfortable. Some of the socks I will present later on also have extra cushioning in the most exposed areas (toes, heel, ankle). There are 5 reasons why basketball players wear long basketball socks.
Basketball socks are generally thicker than regular socks to absorb more sweat and better protect the ankle from injury. Because the foot stays dry for longer, there is less chance of blisters developing while playing basketball. I suggest you read what the 3 features of basketball socks that prevent uncomfortable blisters.
Why are Nike Elite socks good?
Nike Elite socks are so good because they are very comfortable and offer extra cushioning at the heel and toe, which provides extra comfort when playing basketball. Nike Elite socks were created in 2007 and since then have been made of the best materials – polyester, nylon, cotton, and spandex/elastane.
There are several types of Nike Elite socks, which mainly differ in price, but they are all very good quality socks. Below I will explain each model’s price and how they differ from other models. For playing basketball, I would recommend Nike Elite socks.
The best Nike socks for basketball are:
- Nike Elite Basketball Crew Socks,
- Nike Jordan Jumpman Dri-Fit Crew,
- Nike NBA Elite Quick Socks.
Nike Elite Basketball Crew Socks
Nike Elite Basketball Crew socks, are the most popular and best socks for basketball. As I mentioned, they are made of high-quality materials that breathe and absorb sweat. The composition is 61% Polyester/20% Nylon/17% Cotton/2% Spandex.
Most basketball socks use 60-70% cotton, which is not good for the foot because cotton quickly becomes soggy. The Elite socks are only 17% cotton for comfort, and the other materials are quick-drying to keep the foot dry for as long as possible.
Nike Jordan Jumpman Dri-Fit Crew
The Nike Jordan Jumpman Dri-Fit Crew is a high-quality sock made of 61% Polyester/20% Nylon/17% Cotton/2% Spandex. As the name suggests (Dri-Fit), these socks are also quick-drying.
They are available in a pack of 3 pairs, and the price varies according to color and size ($23-48). The color options are: 3 pairs of white or 3 pairs of black socks. Or a pack of 3 socks in which one pair is white, one pair is black, and one pair is red.
Nike NBA Elite Quick Socks
Nike NBA Elite Quick socks are the official socks of the NBA. This has also caused problems among players, as basketball players like James Harden and Stephen Curry, who are not Nike athletes, have covered up Nike’s swoosh.
The main feature of these socks is that they are very easy to put on, as indicated by the word Quick in the name. In terms of comfort and support, these are truly the highest quality basketball socks designed for NBA basketball players. To find out more about the socks, watch the video below.