What is a heel gore?
The heel gore is the diagonal line of a knitted heel pocket, which lets a sock cup the heel rather than twisting around the foot.
How a heel pocket is knitted
A circular machine normally knits round and round. To shape a heel, it switches to knitting back and forth over part of the needles, first narrowing and then widening the stitch rows. The meeting points of those rows form a diagonal line on each side of the heel: the gore.
A deeper gore makes a larger pocket that cups the heel more closely. A Y-heel adds a third gore line for an even more anatomical fit. A tube sock has no heel pocket at all, which is why it can twist on the foot.
Why it matters
- Fit: a well-shaped heel stops the sock rotating and bunching.
- Durability: the heel takes friction, so it is often knitted with a reinforcing yarn or terry loops.
- Comfort in low styles: in no-show socks, heel shape and a silicone heel grip keep the sock from slipping down.
For athletic and compression socks, specify the heel type on the tech pack, because it affects sizing and pressure.