Category AI Visibility Report
Socks AI Visibility Report 2026: Top Brands & Buyer Topics in AI Search
Data updated 2026-08-27 · 30-day window · ChatGPT · Google AI Mode · Google AI Overviews
≈116,909
Est. AI queries / month
14
Buyer topics monitored
10
Brands on the AI shelf
Key insights
- Over the last 30 days, GEOly monitored 14 buyer topics in Socks across ChatGPT, Google AI Mode, Google AI Overviews — an estimated 116,909 AI queries per month.
- Darn Tough leads the AI shelf with 10.5% of brand mentions, followed by Smartwool (8.7%) and Bombas (6.6%). The top three hold 25.8% combined — a shelf that has not consolidated yet, leaving a clear window for challengers.
- The highest-demand topic is “no-show socks” (top keyword “socks no show”, ~33,100 searches/mo).
- AI answers lean on reddit.com most (26.2% of citations) — earning presence on these sources is the shortest path to being recommended.
Brands AI recommends most
Share of brand mentions across AI answers in the last 30 days (Share of Model).
| # | Brand | AI mentions | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Darn Tough | 817 | 10.5% |
| 2 | Smartwool | 680 | 8.7% |
| 3 | Bombas | 514 | 6.6% |
| 4 | Sockwell | 268 | 3.4% |
| 5 | Feetures | 256 | 3.3% |
| 6 | Injinji | 239 | 3.1% |
| 7 | Balega | 186 | 2.4% |
| 8 | Icebreaker | 168 | 2.2% |
| 9 | CEP | 156 | 2% |
| 10 | Swiftwick | 140 | 1.8% |
What shoppers ask AI
Buyer topics monitored in this category, with estimated monthly AI queries and the top Google keyword behind each topic.
| Topic | Est. AI queries / mo | Top keyword | Search volume / mo |
|---|---|---|---|
| no-show socks | ≈41,216 | socks no show | 33,100 |
| ankle socks | ≈30,858 | ankle socks | 40,500 |
| thigh-high socks | ≈24,694 | thigh-high socks | 33,100 |
| wool socks | ≈20,141 | socks wool | 33,100 |
| compression socks | — | socks for compression | 246,000 |
| compression socks for women | — | compression socks women's | 60,500 |
| toe socks | — | toe toes socks | 33,100 |
| heated socks | — | heatable socks | 33,100 |
| compression socks for men | — | support socks for men | 33,100 |
| merino wool socks | — | merino-wool-socks | 135,000 |
| crew socks | — | socks crew socks | 49,500 |
| moisture-wicking socks | — | moisture wicking socks | 40,500 |
| grip socks | — | grip socks | 74,000 |
| christmas socks | — | socks of christmas | 74,000 |
Sources AI cites in this category
Root domains AI engines cited most when answering category queries in the last 30 days.
| Domain | Citations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| reddit.com | 256 | 26.2% |
| goodhousekeeping.com | 88 | 9% |
| outdoorlife.com | 52 | 5.3% |
| darntough.com | 46 | 4.7% |
| nbcnews.com | 45 | 4.6% |
| outdoorgearlab.com | 34 | 3.5% |
| runnersworld.com | 30 | 3.1% |
| verywellfit.com | 30 | 3.1% |
Related category reports
FAQ
Which brands do AI assistants recommend most for socks?
Over the last 30 days the top brands by AI mention share are: Darn Tough (10.5%), Smartwool (8.7%), Bombas (6.6%), Sockwell (3.4%), Feetures (3.3%). Data from GEOly's continuous monitoring across ChatGPT, Google AI Mode, Google AI Overviews.
How many people ask AI about socks?
GEOly estimates ~116,909 AI queries per month in this category across 14 buyer topics, led by “no-show socks”.
Which sources do AI engines cite for socks?
The most-cited domains are: reddit.com, goodhousekeeping.com, outdoorlife.com, darntough.com, nbcnews.com. Building brand presence on these sources is the most direct way to win AI recommendations.
Methodology
GEOly continuously runs category buyer prompts across ChatGPT, Google AI Mode, Google AI Overviews and records which brands are mentioned and which sources are cited. Figures aggregate a 30-day window; AI query volumes are modeled estimates from keyword demand and AI-adoption share. Data: GEOly MCP Server, updated 2026-08-27.
See your brand inside this category
GEOly tracks how ChatGPT, Google AI Mode and Google AI Overviews mention, rank and cite your brand against every competitor above — and what to fix to win the AI shelf.