Futsal grip socks: which pair suits your indoor shoes?

You brake on a sports hall floor, your shoe stops dead and your toes slide forward. Or you turn away and feel your heel twist inside the shoe. Below you will read why indoor football asks more of your socks, which grip sock suits your futsal shoe and how to wear it with your club socks.

Why do you need futsal grip socks?

Because your futsal shoe stops almost instantly on the floor, while your foot keeps moving inside the shoe for a moment. Futsal is all about short sprints, hard stops and lots of turning in a small space.

Flat futsal shoe, hard floor

A futsal shoe has a flat rubber sole that grips a smooth floor as well as possible. Outside on grass, the surface gives a little. On a hard indoor floor that hardly happens. So the braking is abrupt and the force goes into your foot. With every stop your foot pushes forward in the shoe and with every turn it twists along. Read where else that sliding can come from in our article on a foot slipping in your shoe.

What does a grip sock do about it?

A grip sock fits snugly around your foot and has grip on the outside of the sole. That grip holds the sock against the insole of your shoe. So your foot slides less in your futsal shoe. You also get less friction and so fewer blisters. Whether you call them grip socks, indoor football socks or futsal socks, the principle is the same as outdoors. Read more in our guide to grip socks.

Do grip socks give you more grip on the indoor floor?

No. Grip inside your shoe is not the same as grip on the floor. How well your shoe grips a wooden or synthetic floor depends on the sole of your futsal shoe and on how clean the floor is. A grip sock does not change that.

In a 2022 study by Apps and colleagues, grip socks had almost twice as much static friction against the shoe as regular socks (1.17 against 0.60). The forefoot slid less inside the shoe when braking. The 20 recreational team sports players also ran a 26 metre slalom slightly faster. The grip between shoe and floor during cutting and turning stayed the same, though.

A smaller 2023 study by Friedl and colleagues with 12 recreational footballers found no clear reduction in sliding and no faster time. So the research is limited. Neither study looked at injuries. Read more in our article on the scientific research behind grip socks.

Which GT grip sock suits futsal?

For most futsal players the Classic is the best place to start. In a tight futsal shoe the Ultra Light fits better. If you want a short sock, there is the Ankle.

Model	Price	Sizes	Colours	Best for
Classic GT GRIP Socks	€25	EU 34-37, 38-42, 43-47 and 48-52	Ten colours	Players who play indoors and outdoors
GT Ultra Light Grip Socks	€35	EU 36-39, 40-43 and 44-46	White and black	A tight futsal shoe in a warm sports hall
GT Ankle Grip Socks	€20	EU 38-42 and 43-47	White and black	Recreational futsal with a short sock

Classic GT GRIP Socks: the all-rounder

Our basic model works just as well indoors as outdoors, so you do not need a separate pair. The silicone grip pattern sits on the outside of the sole: large hexagons with the most grip on the forefoot where you push off and extra grip on the heel. The midfoot is a breathable zone without grip pads. The inside of the sole is terry cloth for cushioning.

The Classic GT GRIP Socks from GT Sport Selection cost €25 and come in ten colours and four sizes, from EU 34 to 52. Take a look at the Classic GT GRIP Socks.

GT Ultra Light Grip Socks: for a tight futsal shoe

If your futsal shoe fits tightly, you want as little fabric as possible between foot and shoe. The GT Ultra Light Grip Socks are thinner and more breathable than the Classic, made with Dryarn fibre. They cost €35 and come in white and black, in sizes EU 36-39, 40-43 and 44-46.

GT Ankle Grip Socks: if you want a short sock

For recreational futsal a short sock feels cooler. The GT Ankle Grip Socks reach the ankle and are built like the Classic: silicone hexagons on the outside of the sole at the forefoot and heel. They cost €20, in white and black, in sizes EU 38-42 and 43-47. To be honest, we mainly made the Ankle for padel, tennis and badminton. For an official match with club socks, the Classic or the Ultra Light is a better fit.

What size grip socks should you take for futsal?

Take the size that matches your shoe size. A grip sock should fit snugly. If you are between two sizes, take the smaller one. For wide feet the larger size is better.

Sizes differ per model. You will find all sizes side by side in our grip socks size chart. Does your son or daughter play futsal? The Classic starts at EU 34. More tips are in our article on grip socks for kids.

How do you wear grip socks with your club socks?

Wear the grip sock on your bare foot and make sure nothing sits between the grip sole and the insole of your shoe. If you pull a full club sock over the grip sock, there is fabric under your foot again and the grip works less well.

That is why many players wear a footless sleeve in club colours over the grip sock, such as the GT Pro Sleeve Socks. Read more in footless football socks. Others cut the foot off their club socks, as explained in cutting football socks.

What do the rules say?

Socks and shin guards are part of the compulsory equipment in the Futsal Laws of the Game. According to Law 4 of the Futsal Laws (on the website of the Football Association), the socks must cover the shin guards entirely. Tape on the outside of the sock must be the same colour as that part of the sock. If you hold your socks in place with sock holders such as the GT GRIP Tapes, choose them in the colour of your sock.

The rules say nothing specific about grip socks under your socks. If you are unsure, ask your club or the referee.

What if your futsal shoe is too big?

Then a grip sock solves part of the problem, but not all of it. Indoors you notice extra room sooner than outdoors, because your movements are more abrupt. First check that your shoe fits firmly around the heel. If it is a full size too big, a shoe that fits is the real solution. If you have pain or ongoing problems in your foot or ankle, see a doctor or physiotherapist. A sock fixes movement inside the shoe, not an underlying problem.

How do you wash grip socks after futsal?

Wash them at 30 degrees on a delicate cycle and let them air dry. Do not use bleach or a tumble dryer: high temperatures can affect the properties of the sock. Everything is in our washing and care instructions and in our article on how to wash grip socks.

Do grip socks work for other indoor sports?

Yes, anywhere you stop hard and turn on a hard floor in a sports shoe, such as basketball, handball and volleyball. Also read our article on grip socks for basketball.

Conclusion

Futsal gives you plenty of grip under your shoe, but that grip stops at the sole. A grip sock helps your foot stay in place inside the shoe as well, with less friction and so fewer blisters.

Shipping is free from €45 in Belgium and the Netherlands and from €50 in the rest of the EU. Outside Belgium and the Netherlands, allow a few extra working days for delivery. If a size does not fit, you can return it within 30 days under our returns policy. All models are in our grip socks collection.