Soccer Grip Sock Wet & Dry Traction Case Study: Eight Sock Systems Tested (2026)

In-house testing with publicly reviewable video evidence

This case study reports testing conducted in-house by ZERO GIVE. The available recorded test videos embedded in this article are published as primary visual evidence so viewers, researchers, media and independent third parties can inspect the test sequence, observe the displayed readings and assess whether the reported BPN values are supported by the recordings. This makes the available evidence open to external, viewer-led verification; it does not mean the measurements were produced, certified or endorsed by an independent laboratory.

Results at a glance

BPN = British Pendulum Number. Higher values indicate greater resistance to sliding under this test method.

What was compared?

The test examined how each sock's external surface interacted with a smooth reference surface, a dry insole and a fully wet insole. The wet condition was wetter than the moisture normally produced by sweating inside a cleat and was not intended as a direct simulation of typical sweaty-cleat conditions. The standard non-grip sock served as a fabric-only baseline. Its traction came from contact between the sock fabric and the insole rather than dedicated grip elements.

Pendulum contact and complete mounted-interface traction

The test also assessed locking at the moment of contact. When the pendulum-mounted sock met the test surface, the sock was secured so it could not shift independently at the mounting interface. The recorded resistance therefore reflected two linked parts of the traction system: external traction between the sock and the test surface, and internal grip—how securely the sock remained engaged with the pendulum fixture during contact.

Within this apparatus, the procedure provides a complete assessment of traction across the mounted sock interface rather than testing the exposed grip material alone. The internal-grip component is fixture-based, however, and should not be interpreted as a direct measurement of foot-to-sock movement inside a player’s cleat.

The central finding: PivotCore stood out in all three conditions

ZERO GIVE led the comparison by 30 BPN on the smooth surface, 35 BPN on the dry insole and 38 BPN on the fully wet insole.

Its dry-insole result rose from 75 to 100 BPN, showing that PivotCore's external grip engaged strongly with the footwear interface. Wetting reduced the result to 70 BPN, but this remained higher than every other product's dry result except ZERO GIVE itself. The wet score was also more than double the next-highest wet value of 32 BPN.

PivotCore™ is ZERO GIVE's five-zone system combining anatomical right and left construction, targeted grip, structured support and graduated 12–20 mmHg compression to help stabilize the foot inside the soccer boot. This test measured traction across the mounted sock system: external sock-to-surface resistance together with fixture-based internal locking. The measured advantage should be attributed to that defined test interaction—not automatically to every other feature of the system. See the Zero Give soccer grip sock comparison hub for the related friction, weight and thickness studies.

Your ankle is the link between your foot and lower leg, and it works hard every time you sprint, cut, stop, push off, or change direction.

12–20 mmHg graduated compression is designed to give the ankle and lower leg a snug, locked-in feel without restricting normal movement. That close fit may also improve proprioceptive feedback—your awareness of where your ankle is and how it is moving.

Graduated compression may also support circulation by helping blood move back up the lower leg and may help reduce temporary swelling or that heavy-leg feeling during or after hard sessions.

For athletes, the goal is simple: a more secure, supported feel through the ankle and lower leg while you move. Zero Give does not claim that compression prevents or treats injuries or medical conditions.

Results by contact condition

Smooth reference surface

ZERO GIVE recorded 75 BPN, followed by Gain The Edge at 45, Senda Gravity Pro at 42.5 and Apex at 35. HAVO Speed-X measured 25.75, WeFoot and TRUsox 3.0 each measured 25, and the standard non-grip sock recorded 20. Because no insole was involved, this condition offers the clearest comparison of how the external sock surfaces resisted sliding against a uniform reference.

Dry insole

All eight systems recorded their highest value on the dry insole. ZERO GIVE reached 100 BPN, followed by Senda Gravity Pro at 65, Gain The Edge and Apex at 60, TRUsox 3.0 at 55 and WeFoot at 45. The standard sock measured 35 and HAVO Speed-X measured 30. This pattern shows that performance is created by the interaction between the sock and footwear interface, not by the sock in isolation.

Fully wet insole

Under the fully wet condition, every dedicated grip sock recorded a lower result than it did against the dry insole. ZERO GIVE decreased from 100 to 70 BPN but remained the clear leader. WeFoot decreased from 45 to 32, Gain The Edge fell from 60 to 30, TRUsox 3.0 from 55 to 25, HAVO Speed-X from 30 to 25, Apex from 60 to 20 and Senda Gravity Pro from 65 to 15. The standard sock measured 30, down from 35.

HAVO and the standard sock lost fewer BPN points, but they began from much lower dry values. Senda Gravity Pro showed the largest dry-to-wet reduction, falling 50 BPN and producing the lowest fully wet result at 15 BPN. Apex recorded the next-largest decrease, falling 40 BPN from dry to fully wet. ZERO GIVE decreased by 30 BPN yet still produced the highest wet result by 38 BPN. Because the insole was wetter than it would normally become from sweating, the result should be interpreted as performance under the defined wet test—not as a direct measurement of everyday sweaty-cleat conditions.

Grip materials and construction

Grip surfaces that look similar are not necessarily made from the same material. The table below separates manufacturer-confirmed descriptions from materials that remain undisclosed. No reliable manufacturer source reviewed for this comparison identified PVC as the grip material used by any tested sock.

TRUsox, WeFoot and Apex displayed visually similar low-profile grip surfaces on the tested samples. Appearance alone cannot establish that their chemistry is identical. Confirming whether those surfaces share the same polymer would require material analysis such as ATR-FTIR spectroscopy.

How the grip technologies behaved

ZERO GIVE PivotCore™

PivotCore uses a five-zone external grip layout across the plantar surface. Its results were high on both the smooth reference and dry insole, then remained comparatively high when wet. The pattern suggests that the design did not rely solely on dry contact with the insole to create traction.

Senda Gravity Pro silicone-pad system

Senda describes Gravity Pro as using silicone pads across the sole to limit foot slippage, together with compression, airflow zones and added cushioning. In this external-interface test, Gravity Pro measured 42.5 BPN on the smooth reference surface and rose to 65 on the dry insole—the second-highest dry result. It then fell to 15 BPN on the fully wet insole, a 50-point decrease and the lowest wet result in the comparison. This pattern suggests that the silicone-pad system engaged strongly under dry insole contact but was highly sensitive to the fully wet test condition. Source: Senda Gravity Pro technology description.

TRUsox 3.0 IN//EX tech™

TRUsox describes its patented IN//EX tech™ as gripping the foot and footwear simultaneously. In this external-interface test, the result increased from 25 BPN on the smooth surface to 55 on the dry insole. It returned to 25 when wet. The dry increase suggests strong condition-specific engagement, while the wet result indicates that moisture removed the measured dry-insole advantage.

Gain The Edge

Gain The Edge recorded 45 BPN on the smooth surface and 60 on the dry insole, showing a stronger starting level and a further increase under dry footwear contact. Its wet result fell to 30 BPN. Within this test, the applied grip system performed best when dry and lost half of its dry-insole value when wet.

HAVO Speed-X Nano-Grip Yarn

HAVO describes Speed-X as a dual-sided grip system using micro-textured Nano-Grip Yarn woven directly into the sock rather than raised silicone dots. Its pressure-mapped grip covers the toe, forefoot, arch and heel, with internal and external grip intended to connect the foot, sock and boot. The company also lists a LYCRA® adaptive fit, targeted mesh and Turbo-Cool construction, and a thin structure measuring as little as 1 mm in selected zones. In this external-interface test, Speed-X measured 25.75 BPN on the smooth reference surface, 30 on the dry insole and 25 on the fully wet insole. The narrow measured range was close to the standard non-grip sock baseline of 20, 35 and 30 BPN. These findings describe the tested samples and do not independently verify HAVO's durability or wet-consistency claims. Source: HAVO Speed-X product description.

Apex external grip system

Apex measured 35 BPN on the smooth reference surface and increased to 60 BPN on the dry insole. It decreased to 20 BPN on the fully wet insole. The 25-point increase under dry contact suggests stronger sock-to-insole engagement in that condition. The 40-point decrease from dry to fully wet, together with a wet result below the smooth reference value, suggests substantial sensitivity to the defined fully wet condition.

WeFoot external grip system

WeFoot measured 25 BPN on the smooth reference surface, increased to 45 BPN on the dry insole and retained 32 BPN on the fully wet insole. The 20-point increase under dry contact suggests stronger sock-to-insole engagement in that condition. Although the fully wet result was 13 BPN below the dry result, it remained 7 BPN above the smooth reference value, indicating partial traction retention under the defined fully wet condition.

Standard non-grip sock

The control sock had no applied traction elements. It measured 20 BPN on the smooth surface, 35 on the dry insole and 30 when wet. These results show the traction generated by the sock fabric against the insole and provide a baseline for assessing the added effect of dedicated grip systems.

What the results do—and do not—show

The data support a specific conclusion: under these test conditions, ZERO GIVE PivotCore produced the highest resistance to sliding across the complete mounted sock interface, incorporating external surface traction and resistance to shifting at the internal fixture interface, across smooth, dry-insole and wet-insole contact.

The test does not establish that a higher BPN automatically improves sprint speed, change-of-direction performance, comfort or injury outcomes. Those questions require athlete testing and additional outcome measures. Product fit, boot shape, foot moisture, wear, washing and insole material may also change real-world performance.

Test limitations and disclosure

• Testing was conducted in-house by ZERO GIVE. The embedded recordings allow outside viewers and third parties to inspect and independently assess the available visual evidence, but they are not equivalent to independent laboratory certification.
• The internal-grip component represents resistance at the sock-to-fixture interface during pendulum contact. It is a controlled surrogate for internal locking, not a direct measurement of a human foot moving inside a sock and cleat.
• The figures shown are mean BPN values supplied for this comparison; raw repeats, sample count and variability should be published alongside the final article if available.
• The insole was tested fully wet and was wetter than the moisture normally produced by sweating. The precise insole material, amount and distribution of liquid, contact pressure, test orientation, conditioning and environmental controls should be documented to make the test reproducible.
• Results apply to the tested samples and conditions. They should not be generalized to every color, size, production batch, insole or stage of product wear.
• Competitor technology descriptions are based on manufacturer information available at the time of writing. Product specifications may change.
• ZERO GIVE is not affiliated with Senda, TRUsox, Gain The Edge, HAVO, WeFoot or Apex. Brand names and trademarks belong to their respective owners.

Frequently asked questions

Which grip sock recorded the highest dry-insole traction?

ZERO GIVE recorded 100 BPN on the dry insole. The next-highest values were 65 for Senda Gravity Pro, 60 for Gain The Edge and Apex, and 55 for TRUsox 3.0.

Which grip sock recorded the highest wet-insole traction?

ZERO GIVE recorded 70 BPN on the wet insole. The next-highest result was 32 BPN for WeFoot, followed by 30 BPN for Gain The Edge and the standard non-grip sock.

Did every grip sock lose traction when wet?

Yes. Every dedicated grip sock recorded a lower BPN on the wet insole than on the dry insole. The size of the decrease differed, as did the absolute traction that remained.

Why include a standard non-grip sock?

It provides a fabric-to-insole baseline. This helps separate traction created by ordinary sock fabric from traction associated with an applied or engineered grip system.

Does a higher BPN prove better on-field performance?

No. BPN measures resistance to sliding under the defined laboratory method. On-field performance also depends on the athlete, boot fit, internal foot-to-sock movement, surface, comfort and other factors.

Does the wet-insole condition reproduce sweaty cleats?

No. The fully wet insole was wetter than the moisture normally produced by sweating inside a cleat. It was used to compare the sock interfaces under substantial moisture and should not be described as a direct simulation of typical perspiration.

Are these independently certified third-party test results?

No. The measurements were produced through in-house testing by ZERO GIVE. The available videos are included so viewers and independent third parties can review the recorded procedure and displayed readings for themselves. The evidence is publicly reviewable and viewer-verifiable, but it is not presented as third-party laboratory certification.

Conclusion

Grip technology and contact condition both changed the measured result. Senda Gravity Pro produced the second-highest dry-insole value but the lowest fully wet value, while TRUsox 3.0 and Gain The Edge also gained substantial traction when dry and lost much of that advantage when wet. Apex increased from 35 BPN on the smooth reference surface to 60 BPN on the dry insole, then decreased to 20 BPN when fully wet. WeFoot increased from 25 BPN on the smooth reference surface to 45 BPN on the dry insole and retained 32 BPN when fully wet. HAVO Speed-X stayed close to the fabric-only baseline. ZERO GIVE PivotCore stood apart: it led on the smooth surface, reached the test maximum on the dry insole and retained the highest absolute traction when wet.

For athletes choosing a grip sock, the relevant question is not simply whether a product has grip elements. It is how the complete grip interface behaves against footwear—and how much traction remains when the contact condition changes.

Testing disclosure: The BPN figures reported in this Case Study 03 were produced through Zero Give in-house comparative testing. Available videos are published as primary visual evidence for outside review and viewer-led verification. They allow viewers to inspect the recorded procedure and displayed readings but are not independent laboratory certification. Results apply to the tested samples and defined conditions. Competitor trademarks belong to their respective owners.