We bought the RMS SockAid #ad - “a convenient aid to pull on socks and stockings”.

My dad is 70+ with Parkinson’s and dementia. So I’m not using this sock aid to “pull the sock onto my foot”. I’m using it to “push the sock onto someone else’s foot”.

We’re not using the SockAid according to standard instructions, so our review pertains only to caregivers who put socks and shoes onto another person.

If you’ve considered getting the RMS SockAid or similar, here’s my family’s experience unboxing and using a sock aid left then right foot on my dad.

Repeat until sock-ified! Using the sock aid to help someone put on socks:

1. Take off my dad’s old shoes and socks
2. Jimmy my dad’s sock onto the sock aid
3. Put on my dad’s new socks and shoes

The first time I used the sock aid, it took me two minutes per foot to do the full rounds. That’s 5 minutes full circle, left and right feet both included.

Best Sock Aid of 2023

What is a sock aid? The RMS SockAid is the “archtype” of sock aids. It’s a flexible plastic shell made for help people with limited mobility or flexibility put on their socks on easier. 

A standard sock aid features a flexible plastic tube you stretch the sock around then slip your foot inside. Then it has ropes that you pull toward you “up and around the ankle”.

These are the best sock aids I could find when I went shopping in February 2023.

1. RMS Deluxe Sock Aid is far-and-away the best selling sock aid for seniors - and it’s what my family bought too.
2. Rehabilitation Advantage Sock Aid is basically the same thing as the RMS just at a lower price (when I checked last). [UPDATE June 2023] Now I recommend Rehabilitation Advantage's Sock Aid because it's almost the same product as the RMS and much cheaper.
3. VIve Sock Aid has a claim to fame - the pinchers that let you adjust the ropes into a more manageable length.
4. Maddock Deluxe Flexible Sock Aid is the easiest to bend of the bunch. The three-pronged shape makes slipping into narrow socks easier.

For Caregivers: How to use the Sock Aid

I’m putting a photo of the official instructions to the Royal Medical Solutions Inc. (RMS) Sock Aid.

These are the instructions for when you’re putting socks on yourself.

Again, today’s standard sock aid for seniors is designed for seniors who happily put their socks on themselves.

However, I am a caregiver putting socks onto my fussy and combative dad (Parkinson’s and dementia).

These are the instructions for then you’re putting socks on someone else.

• #1 Sit in a chair and hold the sock aid with ropes facing toward you. 
• #2 Set it on my lap with the arch at the top, and pull the ankle of the sock over the end.
• #3 Scrunch the sock until the entire length of the sock is around the length of the sock aid, and the toe is semi-tight around the end of the sock aid.
• #4 Slip your person’s foot until their toe touches the toe of the sock, right-side-up so that your person’s ankle finds the sock’s ankle nub.
• #5 Use the tips of your fingers to pull around the ankle and up the leg until the sock aid comes clear and the sock is worn.

Pro Tip: Your next step is likely to put shoes on. I tried but failed to jimmy a method to fulcrum the RMS Sock Aid as a shoe horn. You’ll need to buy a shoe horn separately.

Sock Aid Skeptics, You’re Not Alone

My first time trying the sock aid with my dad was not smooth sailing.

The reason why you buy a socket in the first place is because you're having trouble putting on your socks.

You're already in a frustrating situation.

As a customer, it’s extra frustrating when you buy something to solve your socks problem, and now you’ve got a new set of socks problems.

It’s true, practice makes perfect, and I’m a sock aid novice.

I’ll keep trying, but so far, I’m giving the sock aid 2 out of 5 stars for caregivers who intend to assist someone else with putting on their socks.

Ropes Didn’t Help

If you read my step-by-step, you may have noticed I didn’t mention the ropes at all.

That’s right, because the ropes didn’t help me - as person assisting another person to put on their socks while they remain seated - at all.

The ropes on the sock aid can be twisty and hard to manage. 

It's a struggle to figure out which way the ropes go, and when you're helping someone with advanced Parkinson's and dementia, cooperation isn’t always in the cards.

My dad can’t learn how to use the sock aid himself.

Hard to Stretch Socks Around It

Lots of customers say it gets cracked, and with such a ridgid and wide-mouth plastic tube, I can see why.

Compression socks (for my dad’s diabetes) with a defined ankle part can easily get caught. But

I still haven’t figured out a sure-fire way to avoid snagging the sock’s ankle corner when pulling the sock onto the white plastic tube.

At one point, I thought about buying a pair of socks just to stretch them out for the next day. It *might* be better, like a marinated steak that has time to set in overnight.

But with my dad's big feet and big socks, getting the tube around the sock aid was a challenge.

I do think it’s like a deck of cards though, the more you use your sock aid, the more you bend your sock aid, the more flexible and easy to use the sock aid becomes.

Thinking Outside the Socks

I will say as well one thing that really disappointed me about the sock Aid is that it just feels outdated.

The RMS sock aid first was first listed on Amazon on ‎September 15, 2017 - so that’s over six years’ opportunity for product improvements.

Some improvements have been added, like the slip-resistant outer foam pad, and like the now contoured U-shaped rim. The type of rope used has been upgraded thicker and slicker for snag-free ease-of-use. Those thick black foam handles are better in 2023 the original model.

However in that same time frame, I’ve seen other elder tech advance much more quickly.

Drinking bottle technology, for example, innovates quickly.

“Connected” Internet of Things solutions, for example, innovate quickly. Amazon Alexa voice assistant and Echo devices came out in 2014 just years before the SockAid.

Goes to show how budget - and wide market appeal - drive innovative assistive elder care technology.

And the inventors of the sock aid go to show - you can’t just innovate once.

Disappointed with the Official Sock Aid

Months after purchasing and publishing this review about the Official Sock Aid, I'm reflecting about how it's actually turned out.

It hasn't worked in my home. My mom never tried it, and she does most of the sock dressing. The thing cracked when I was testing its inward flexibility by squeezing with my palm. And it's been stored in my dad's sock drawer ever since.

I'm disappointed with my experience using the Official Sock Aid. It doesn't make putting on socks any easier or faster for me as an able-bodied individual. I tested it and it's not suitable for my needs.

Although the Sock Aid is designed for the elderly and disabled, it doesn't work well in my specific use case of helping my dad while he's sitting in his chair. The ropes are ineffective in this situation because I can't pull them towards my dad while bending over.

I initially believed this style of sock aid would be the best choice, but now I'm disillusioned and realize it may not be as good as I had hoped.

Can "Try Before You Buy" Solve the Sock Aid Problem?

To clarify, my negative review of the Sock Aid is related to caregivers assisting others with putting on socks. The ropes on the Sock Aid are intended for independent use, where individuals use them to pull the sock onto their own foot.

If there isn't a better Sock Aid available, perhaps there are cheaper alternatives. Is it possible to find a wholesale supplier of inexpensive sock aids and offer them to my neighbors and community in Gratiot County at a discounted price?

Can I Buy Generic Sock Aids in Bulk for a Lower Price?

If you've shopped for lower half dressing aids before, you may be familiar with the bulky and unattractive options typically available. However, I came across a sock aid on AliExpress with fresh colors, which caught my attention. Although the price is only $3, there's a catch—shipping costs $25 for one item and doesn't decrease significantly for larger quantities.

For example, if I were to buy 15 of these colorful sock aids, the shipping cost would be $46.09, bringing the total to $100. In comparison, purchasing the same products from Amazon, where I bought the Official Sock Aid, would only give me about six or seven units. While AliExpress offers the option to buy in bulk at a lower cost, the extended delivery time of 15 to 20 days is a drawback compared to Amazon's faster shipping.

In summary, it's not worth buying a sock aid on AliExpress when compared to Amazon. [UPDATE June 2023] For individual consumers looking to purchase a single sock aid, it's better to explore Rehabilitation Advantage's Sock Aid, particularly the generic choice from their basics collection, which costs much less than than the Official, and not much more than the AliExpress on June 23, 2023. As a prime member, you'll likely enjoy one to three-day shipping within the United States. While the color options on Amazon are limited to white, it's a minor concern.

Unfortunately, my search for a suitable sock aid that can assist either me or an elderly person in putting on socks remains inconclusive. This is a frustrating experience shared by many caregivers struggling to help their loved ones with this task.

Alternative: The Sock Slider

The Sock Slider by Allstar Innovations takes an on-floor approach to helping an aging or disabled person get their socks on.

I previously explained why the three-pronged type might not be suitable for me, but I haven't personally tried it, so there may be potential benefits in being able to squeeze the prongs together. I'll keep you informed if I explore this option.

See Sock Slider options on AliExpress, to demonstrate these products are basically the same thing, both blue and plastic.

However, I'm confident that I initially chose the best type of sock aid based on reviews and my own research. Now, it's time for me to try a different type, specifically one with two ropes for self-use. I'm looking for alternatives that will make it easier for me to put socks on my dad.

I've come across other options that are cheaper than the Official Sock Aid but still suffer from the high price-to-shipping ratio on AliExpress. Even if I increase the quantity, the overall cost remains about $100. This poses a challenge for those trying to buy products in bulk from AliExpress to offer their communities and neighbors at a lower price.