What Socks to Wear for Pilates?

What socks do you wear for Pilates? It is one of the first questions before your first class, and the answer is less obvious than you might think. In the studio you see it all: bare feet, regular sports socks and grip socks. Yet those three options are not interchangeable. What works well on a mat at home can be awkward or even unsafe on a reformer.

Below you will read when to wear what, what studios expect from you these days and what to look for when buying a pair of Pilates socks. So you can focus fully on your exercises at your next class.

Bare feet, regular socks or grip socks?

Bare feet

Pilates barefoot is possible. Joseph Pilates developed his method barefoot and some teachers like it when your toes can spread fully. If you train at home on your own mat, barefoot is a fine choice. In the studio it is a different story. You share mats and machines with dozens of people a day, and once your feet get warm you start sliding on smooth surfaces. Many studios no longer allow bare feet for that reason.

Regular socks

Regular socks are the least suitable option. They solve the hygiene issue but create a new problem: you slide. A cotton sports sock on a smooth reformer or wooden floor gives you nothing to hold on to. You notice it right away in standing work and lunges, where you unknowingly lose power correcting your balance. For a trial class on the mat you can get away with it. As a long-term solution, they fall short.

Grip socks

Grip socks combine the best of both worlds. The non-slip sole gives you the contact and control of bare feet, while the sock itself keeps your feet warm and the studio hygienic. That is why they have become the standard in almost every Pilates studio. Not as a fashion accessory, but as a functional part of your training.

What studios expect from you

More and more studios require grip socks, especially for reformer classes. That is not a sales pitch but a matter of safety and hygiene. A carriage that moves while you stand on it calls for grip, and shared machines call for covered feet. Many studios sell a pair at the front desk for anyone who arrives without.

Visiting a new studio for the first time? Check the house rules beforehand or bring a pair of grip socks, and you are always covered. In the Netherlands you will spot them more and more often: PLTÉ is worn and sold at studios like Studio33, PuraMi and Studio Pilates met Yvonne, and available at Six Senses Maastricht.

Mat or reformer: does it matter?

Yes. On the mat you have more freedom. The surface is relatively grippy, you stay mostly close to the ground and the risk of slipping is limited. Bare feet or grip socks are both defensible here, depending on the studio.

The reformer is a different story. The carriage moves underneath you, the footbar is smooth and in exercises like standing lunges or work on the jump board you carry your full weight on a small point of contact. Grip is not a luxury then but a condition for training safely and at full power. You can read exactly why that is in our article on grip socks for reformer Pilates.

What to look for when choosing

Start with the grip coverage. Many socks only have a few dots under the ball of the foot and the heel, while in Pilates you push off and balance across your entire sole. A grip pattern that runs from heel to toe gives you hold in every position, even when you are standing on the edge of the carriage.

Then the fit. A good Pilates sock fits snugly, with light compression. A sock that creases or shifts also slides across your foot during an exercise, and your grip shifts with it. You do not want it too tight either; light compression supports without cutting in.

Finally, the material. Cotton with polyamide and elastane breathes, holds its shape and stays supple. Also check the quality of the grip itself: on cheap socks it often comes loose after a few washes. You can read why that happens in why cheap grip socks slip.

What PLTÉ does differently

PLTÉ is designed in the Netherlands, from inside the studio rather than from a drawing board. Our socks have an extended grip pattern that runs from heel to toe, a snug fit with light compression and a blend of cotton, polyamide and elastane that breathes and holds its shape. Washable at 30 degrees, no tumble dryer, and the grip keeps doing what it should. You will find them in Dutch studios and online for €16.95 a pair, with free shipping from two pairs. Prefer some colour on your feet? Take a look at Lavender Lilac. Read more about how we look at movement in our philosophy.

Frequently asked questions

Can you do Pilates barefoot?

At home on your own mat, that works fine. In the studio most teachers advise against it and many studios do not allow it for hygiene reasons. On a reformer, warm bare feet also slip away faster than you would expect. Grip socks give you that same sense of contact, without the downsides.

Are regular socks suitable for Pilates?

Not really. Regular socks slide on smooth floors and machines, which costs you power and makes your balance unstable. For one trial class on the mat it is manageable. If you go more often, grip socks are a small investment with a difference you notice immediately.

Which socks for reformer Pilates?

For reformer Pilates, choose grip socks with coverage across the entire sole, from heel to toe. On the carriage and footbar you make contact with your whole foot, so grip under the ball of the foot alone is not enough. A snug fit keeps the sock from shifting during your exercise.

What else do you wear to Pilates?

Clothing you can move freely in and that lets your teacher see your posture. Think leggings or fitted trousers with a top that does not fall over your head during upside-down exercises. Avoid zips and loose cords; they get in the way on the mat and the reformer. Comfort comes first; you should be able to stretch, roll and twist without thinking about it.

Question not covered? Have a look at our frequently asked questions.

Ready for your next class? Take a look at our Pilates grip socks, designed in the Netherlands and worn in Dutch studios. Free shipping from two pairs.

Keep reading: discover which grip socks Pilates studios use, or read our guide on washing grip socks.