There are many, many types of socks in this world, and they all have definite pros and cons that deserve recognition. However, as there are probably millions of sock heights and variations, and there’s only one of me, so I’ll have to narrow it down. Therefore, today I will discuss three types of socks one might choose to wear in the summer, and why or why not these are a good idea.

1. "Hidden" Socks

PRO: Allows you to wear ballet flats, Toms, heels, etc. without having to deal with the grossness factor of sweating into those tiny, leather shoes, or the odd look of socks with the aforementioned shoe types.

CON: These socks are a bit pricey, and don't come in many interesting colors or patterns, plus they only really work with certain types of shoes, most of which have little to no arch support. Additionally, ballet flats (etc.) are often known to dig into the backs of your ankles, and these socks will not help with that issue.

2. Knee Socks

PRO: It's a bold fashion statement, as well as a way to protect yourself from sunburned legs. Also, unlike with most socks, everyone will be able to see the cool patterns and colors you have even when your shoes are on--not to mention that there is almost no way any unwanted objects are going to find their way in.

CON: These socks are especially hot, kind of a pain to take off and put on, and if they are too tight or too baggy, they aren't very flattering. Furthermore, knee socks tend to be more expensive than most socks, and are commonly only sold in individual pairs, plus they may lead to some weird tan lines.

3. Ankle socks

PRO: Not too hot, and go well with most summer shoes. These are also very easy to take off and put on, and they are easily concealed. Additionally, they are some of the cheapest socks you can get, while still in a variety of colors and patterns.

CON: In my experience, these socks are the most likely to slip down into the toes of your shoes, and the most likely to get filled with pebbles, sand, mud, mulch, and virtually anything else you can think of.

BONUS!

4. Go Barefoot!

PRO: It’s summer, and if you wear socks your feet are bound to get hot, sweaty, and smelly. Going sockless will cut down on the heat and stink, and (assuming you don't wear any shoes) it will also allow you to get some really nice, Hobbit-like callouses. Plus, bare feet are all terrain, and all natural.

If you do wear shoes, going without socks will allow you to wear flip-flops or sandals and walk on the beach without getting sand stuck everywhere. Also, if you’re ever in a situation where you would like to go completely barefoot, all you have to do is kick off your shoes (rather than having to deal with peeling off those nasty socks and finding someplace to put them—because you know they won’t get dry if you shove them in your shoes).

CON: You will probably have to spend much of the summer rinsing mud, dirt, grass, etc. off your feet before entering people’s homes, and you're a lot more likely to get foot injuries than you would be if you wore shoes.

If you do wear shoes, all your gross, stinky sweat will have no sock to soak it up and then your shoes will smell very, very bad. Possibly forever.

All in all, there is a lot to think about with any choice of sock (or lack thereof), so why choose? I can say with a decent amount of certainty that most people don't; most people have various colors, patterns, and styles of socks, so why shouldn't you? (I could also ask why you even care this much about socks, but I digress). In the end, no matter what socks you choose, both you and your feet are sure to have a happy summer, so go wild and have fun!