I Review The Ondo No-Show Socks That Claim To Never Slip Off. Truth or Hype?

By now, you probably have a few pairs of no-show socks in your drawer. Some are good, some probably suck—for a number of reasons.

I’ve tried many pairs of no-show socks over the years… Some work well, some don’t. And I’ve run into the same issues over and over again, which made me wonder: Is it really that hard to fix? Maybe a no-show sock that stays on all day doesn’t actually exist?

I haven’t found a pair of true low-cut no show socks that don’t have either one or both of those issues, which is why I was intrigued by this brand, Ondo. They claim to have designed a no-show sock that does not slip off the heel even during all-day wear.

But do they live up to their promise? How good are Ondo socks, actually? Keep reading! I’ll get into the nitty gritty in this article.

 

Wait, What Are Ondo Socks?

Maybe this is your first time hearing about the brand. But it’s also possible, if you’re like me, that you’ve seen them on social media. Their ads popped up on my Instagram feed all the time, and after a few months, I finally bit the bullet and bought a few pairs to test out.

I wanted to check out their classic (or what I’m calling classic, at least) no-show socks and their low cut no-show socks (which, to me, is the true no-show, since it would work for all pairs of shoes I own).

The Problem With Most No-Show Socks

Back To Top

So earlier, I mentioned that I run into the same problems with no-show socks all the time, no matter how many pairs I try. These are the two biggest issues:

1. The no-show socks don’t stay on, meaning the sock inevitably slips off my heel, and now I’m walking with a wadded up piece of fabric underneath the ball of my foot
2. They aren’t low enough—for example, they may be “no show” for my sneakers, but are clearly seen when wearing loafers

Will I run into the same issues with Ondo? Keep reading for my detailed breakdown.

The Ondo Socks I Tested

Back To Top

Ondo has two main styles of no-show socks: The “classic” no-show socks and the low-cut no-show socks.

I ordered a size L in both the Organic Cotton no-show socks and the low-cut no-show socks. For reference, I normally wear a size 9 shoe. They both fit comfortably and as expected.

The standard version comes in merino wool (blended with nylon) and organic cotton (blended with their Aerolight™ fabric), both with a variety of colorways available. The low-cut no-show socks are made of an organic cotton and “Aqua-X” nylon fabric blend.

Side note: They also have specialty yoga / pilates socks, as well as a premium mesh laundry bag, but I didn’t test those.

Ondo’s Classic No-Show Socks: Pros and Cons

Back To Top

So let’s get into what I liked and didn’t like about the classic no-shows.

What I Liked

Back To Top

Silicone Strip = Grip

There’s a substantial silicone strip at the top of the heel (essentially the cuff of the sock, since it’s a no-show) that prevents the sock from slipping off.

The strip measures approximately 4” long by ½” high. It surrounds your heel, which makes a huge difference, especially since comparable no-shows only have little rubber dots or small patches in the heel area to provide grip.

In my experience, this meant no heel slip at all. I’ve worn them 3-4 times so far, and for the entire day (once during a travel day, flying across the country with a baby, which would be the worst time to have a failed no-show sock bunching up underneath the ball of your foot. Honestly can’t say that about any other low-cut no shows I’ve tried.

Thoughtful Design

The classic sock is designed in panels vs being knitted in one piece like a traditional sock. The top panel that goes over the toes and forefoot is cut straight across, which helps keep the sock invisible under (some) loafers, and all the sneakers I’ve worn.

An elasticated strip runs along the entire opening that helps maintain its shape and aids the sock in staying put on your foot.

It Stays On!

Plain and simple. Does the Ondo no-show sock actually stay on? That’s what we really wanna know, right? Yes, this one actually stays on, and I experienced zero heel slippage during all-day wear.

What I Didn’t Like

Back To Top

Too High For Some Of My Shoes

The classic no-show works great for sneakers like the Koios, Greats, or any other classic minimal white sneakers.

They’re also perfect for low profile / low top sneakers like Converse Chuck Taylors, Cariuma, Vans, etc., as well as any other everyday sneakers you might be wearing.

But you start getting into trouble if you want that true no-show look and you’re wearing low cut or low-vamp shoes like loafers. The Ondos are like 95% hidden under my everyday tan Allen Edmonds loafers, but you can definitely still see them when I’m moving around.

And these loafers aren’t low vamp or particularly low in general, so I imagine they’ll show under my other loafers. Still, it doesn’t bother me too much, so I probably would still wear them assuming I had no other options.

You Can Feel The Seams (Kinda)

Remember that these socks are constructed differently than most other socks. There are seams that give it shape and structure, which is nice, but is also one of my cons.

I’ve read sock reviews before where people complain about the toe seam running across the top irritating their toes. I’ve never had that problem, but if you’re one of those people, you may be bothered by how this sock is constructed.

Also, you have to pay attention when putting these on. You want them to be centered on your foot, otherwise, if they’re askew, you’ll feel the socks’ seams a bit more. You’ll know your sock isn’t centered. And that can get annoying.

I’m not super sensitive to that kinda thing, and if you aren’t either, it should be fine. Just wanted to mention for the folks who are sensitive to it.

Ondo’s Low-Cut No-Show Socks: Pros and Cons

Back To Top

And now for the true no-shows… here’s what I liked (and what I didn’t).

What I Liked

Back To Top

100% True No Show

In my opinion, these are true no-show socks. They’re super low cut, covering the heel, coming down low across both sides of your feet, and up to just cover your toes.

You’ll have no problem wearing espadrilles, Belgian loafers, or hell, even opera pumps with these (not that you ever would wear no-shows with Black or White Tie). Of course, standard loafers are a shoo-in (pun intended).

They Stay On Your Feet

These are designed much the same way as the classic no-show sock: substantial silicone strip along the heel at the sock opening, elasticated strip along the entire opening, and a reinforced toe. Just muuuch lower.

And the biggest problem with low-cut no-shows like these is that they rarely stay on your feet. Luckily, I had no heel slippage with these socks. Yes, these actually stay on your feet. I walked all day with them on and they didn’t slip off once.

What I Didn’t Like

Back To Top

Toe Box Feels Narrow

Your toes feel a bit squished in these socks. Kinda strange. The sensation goes away after walking around in them a bit, but I do notice it when first putting them on.

As of this writing, Ondo has released an updated version of their low-cut no-show sock that supposedly features a wider toe box. I tested version one, so I don’t have experience with this new version. But if you’re in the market for these, make sure to tick the toggle for the improved version.

Seams Are Obvious

These are designed similarly to the classic no-shows in that there’s a seam that runs around the flat bottom of the sock that attaches it to the side panels. There’s also a seam along the center heel that’s taped flat and much less noticeable.

As I mentioned earlier, if you’re particularly sensitive to seams, these may be an issue for you, but the majority of people probably wouldn’t notice the seams after a few minutes of wear.

Logo On Heel

The Ondo logo on these are pretty obnoxious.

I didn’t mind the circular logo mark on the classic no-shows, but the name across the top of the heel is a bit too much. Someone walking behind you can clearly see it if your shoes are a bit loose and your heel pops up even a tad as you walk.

I’d prefer they didn’t do this, but maybe it changed in version two?

How Ondo Socks Started (In case you’re curious)

Back To Top

Ondo Socks is the brainchild of Daniel Shim. Born in South Korea, Shim moved to the U.S. in 2010 to attend college, and his interest in the sock industry was sparked by this trend he noticed among international Korean students who preferred to buy socks from South Korea due to their superior quality.

After graduating with a degree in economics, Shim embarked on a career in finance and corporate banking, but he never could shake off his fascination with creating high-quality socks.

In 2020, Shim launched Ondo, an ethical and sustainable apparel brand known for its no-show socks.

He assembled a team of scientists and designers to create a unique, non-slip sock fabric from ethically sourced materials. The team developed a groundbreaking fabric blend incorporating Aerolight™, a patented tech fiber, with certified organic cotton.

In addition to prioritizing ethical sourcing and sustainability, Shim ensured the working conditions at Ondo’s factories maintained high standards. And that’s how Ondo Socks, a brand that marries style, comfort, and conscious consumerism, was born.

Finally, Are Ondo Socks Worth It?

Back To Top

To me, the stand-out pair here is the Ondo Low-Cut No-Show Socks. In all my years testing no-show socks for Effortless Gent, I haven’t found a pair that’s this invisible, actually stay on my feet.

It’s a tall order to design socks that are both very low cut and manage to truly be non-slip, but in my testing, it seems Ondo has done it.

I’ll be sure to update this post if things change in the future (very possible, after multiple wears and washes), but for now, Ondo has my recommendation if you need a true low-cut no-show sock.

Did you enjoy this review? Be sure to check out the other no-show socks we tested in our comprehensive review article.