Tapedesign is an Austrian manufacturer that focuses on grip socks, a type of performance socks that enhances your foot traction inside the boot to give you more stability and reduce internal slippage. Led by Ivan Rakitic, Tapedesign grip socks grew its base of professional football players wearing them which now included the likes of Antoine Griezmann and Joao Felix, all thanks to the premium material construction as well as the efficacy of the non-slip technology.
Tapedesign: The Free-Size, Thick-Sock Pick For Wide Boots
Neon Pink | • ONE-Size-fits-all shape construction • TDX High Grip Technology • Multicolour options | 
| |
Light Blue | 
| ||
Green | 
| ||
The All-Around socks, as Tapedesign calls them, uses a one-size last with elastic soft cotton material. Its grip technology is made up of suction-like rubbery knobs that cover the entire sole. The rubbery knobs do not feature inside the sock but instead, a firm elastic material closely wraps the foot to make sure that the sock stays in place.
Tapedesign has been used in different sports that heavily involves rotational pivots and agile directional changes, with high reviews coming from both professional and amateur athletes.
5 Things You’ll Want to Know About the Tapedesign Socks:
- Approaches non-slip technology the same way like Trusox with the application of silicon suction-like dots in the sole of the socks
- A free-size (ONE size) system due to its elasticity may be viewed as too stretched or roomy for extremely wide or narrow feet respectively
- Offers variety in terms of ankle length with its short, mid, and long cut options
- Does not have internal grip elements unlike other grip socks
- Adjusting for the optimal fit may take a bit of time because of its one-size system
What we Think about the Tapedesign Grip Socks
What is striking immediately with Tapedesign grip socks is that they are definitely not for everyone because of the generic sizing. I find them having a similar issue with laceless boots, in that it takes perfectly-shaped feet to match their fitting profile. I believe this is the biggest obstacle for the brand to overcome if it wants to connect to more players.
With that said, I don’t see any issues with them as far as the essence of this type of socks goes. I do feel the suction effect of the circular shape of the grip elements. Assuming one’s feet matches well with the generic sizing of Tapedesign, I can envision them benefiting from the seemingly augmented anti-slip capabilities of the socks, which in this case does not just rely from the tackiness and friction caused by the underfoot elements.
Overall, I think I might look elsewhere when it comes to grip socks. And that is because I can get better fitting and, at the very least, the same amount of anti-slip from other brands at their current price point. It’s not hard to look for options these days as more and more brands have popped up, with Nike and adidas even having their own grip socks now.
Who Should Buy Tapedesign?
Buy it if: your boots run wide or roomy and you want a thicker, one-size sock to fill that space, you like the classic sole-suction style of grip (the same underfoot approach Trusox uses, per Tapedesign’s own description above), and you want a choice of ankle lengths – short, mid or long – rather than one fixed cut.
Think twice if: your feet are narrow, unusually wide, or you simply prefer a fit built around your actual foot rather than a stretch-to-fit last – Tapedesign’s one-size system can bunch on narrower feet, exactly as we found testing them. Think twice too if you want grip on the inside of the sock as well as the sole: Tapedesign has no internal grip elements, unlike AdvantEdge, WeFoot and TruSox. And if outright grip and fit are what you’re after, our own honest verdict below is that other grip socks currently do it better at the same price.
Try these instead: if you want internal grip elements as well as sole traction, in a fit built around your actual foot, go straight to the AdvantEdge Pro 2.0 review or the WeFoot review to see which suits your boots.
Tapedesign vs AdvantEdge: Which Should You Buy?
Tapedesign
- Price: no working FootballBoots discount code or tracked link found – shop direct at tape-design.com
- Fit: one-size-fits-all elastic construction, sole suction-style grip dots only, no internal grip elements
- Best for: wide or roomy boots where you want a thicker sock to fill the space
AdvantEdge Pro 2.0
- Price: from £14.95/pair at advantedgesport.com, code BOOTS for 10% off
- Fit: thin, low-profile, anatomical left/right shaping with a 170-element grip pattern, inside and out
- Best for: boots with a little extra room where you want a thin sock with grip on the sole and around the foot
If you specifically want a thicker, one-size sock to fill out a roomy boot, Tapedesign is built for that. If you want internal grip elements as well as sole traction, in a fit built around your actual foot rather than a stretch-to-fit last, the AdvantEdge Pro 2.0 and WeFoot have both moved the category on. See the full grip socks comparison.
Which Grip Sock Should You Buy?
- Wide or roomy boots, want a thicker one-size sock to fill the space: Tapedesign
- Want a thin, anatomical sock with internal grip elements and a working discount code: AdvantEdge Pro 2.0, code BOOTS
- Want the thinnest possible fit for snug, low-volume boots: WeFoot, code BOOTS10
