Staying Steady at Home: Why Your Socks Need Grip

Shoes come off at the door, and from then on it's socks, slippers or bare feet. It's one of the most comfortable parts of being at home, but on hardwood, tile and laminate, it can also be one of the riskiest.

What the Research Found

Two well-known studies of older adults looked at what people were wearing on their feet when they fell, and both landed in the same place.

• A University of Washington study of 1,371 adults aged 65+ found that people who were barefoot or in socks had roughly 11 times the odds of a fall compared with people in sneakers.
• A Boston study found that more than half of falls at home happened in socks, slippers or bare feet, and that people who fell while shoeless or in slippers were more than twice as likely to be seriously hurt.

The common thread is grip. Plain socks have almost no traction on smooth floors, and slippers often fit loosely with soles that wear smooth over time.

Not a Shoes-Indoors Person? Choose Grip

A well-fitting shoe with a non-slip sole is the safest choice, but plenty of us simply don't want to wear shoes around the house. Grip socks are the practical middle ground: they give you the comfort of socks with the traction plain socks are missing.

There's encouraging evidence for them too. In a 2023 hospital study in Madrid, all 21 recorded falls happened among patients in regular footwear, and none among those given non-slip socks.

Meet hipSwan Flow

Our Flow grip socks were designed for Pilates, yoga and barre, where your feet need to stay planted on smooth studio floors. That same grip makes them ideal for everyday life at home, whether you're heading to the kitchen first thing in the morning or getting up in the night.

• High-density silicone grip sole for traction on hardwood, tile and laminate
• Arch support band that gently hugs your foot so the sock stays put
• Fully cushioned footbed and seamless toes for all-day comfort
• GOTS certified organic combed cotton for softness and breathability
• 3 sizes for a better fit, in designs suitable for men and women

Choose Flow Crew for extra warmth around the ankle and lower leg on chilly floors, or Flow Ankle, which adds inner heel grips to help keep the sock in place.

"These gripper socks are great to wear round the house and give real stability on ceramic tile floors." – Judith C.

Final Thoughts

What's between your foot and the floor matters. If you'd rather go shoeless at home, swapping plain socks and worn-out slippers for a well-fitting pair of grip socks is one of the simplest steps you can take toward steadier footing. Tip: keep a pair by the bed so they're the first thing on your feet in the morning.

If you've fallen recently or often feel unsteady, it's worth talking to your doctor too.

Shopping for Grip Socks?

We produce a range of high-quality socks made with premium, eco-friendly yarns such as organic combed cotton and merino wool. Our Flow grip socks pair a silicone grip sole with cushioning, arch support and seamless toes, and come in 3 sizes to fit most adults. Learn more here:

Shop hipSwan grip socks here. 👉

Sources: University of Washington (Koepsell et al., J Am Geriatr Soc, 2004); MOBILIZE Boston Study (Kelsey et al., Footwear Science, 2010); Moreno Rodríguez et al., Healthcare, 2023. This article is for general information only and isn't medical advice.