Newcotte 6 Pairs Chess Socks for Adults Men Women Chess Lover Players Gifts

Why it's worth it

A six-pack of polyester crew socks with chessboard and piece patterns, one size fits most adults. It's the low-stakes gift for a gift exchange, a stocking, or the chess-obsessed kid in your house.

Not every chess gift needs to improve anyone's rating. Sometimes you're drawing a name at a club holiday party, or you need something to sit in a stocking next to the candy. Six different designs give the recipient something to actually choose between, and nobody has to know your chess knowledge stops at how the horse moves.

They land especially well with kids in scholastic programs. Owners buying for chess-obsessed children describe the socks getting worn constantly and drawing compliments, which is about the highest return you can get from a small gift. Kids in that phase want to signal the hobby, and clothing does that better than another book.

From our review of 6 gifts for chess players

What we like

• +Not every chess gift needs to improve anyone's rating
• +They land especially well with kids in scholastic programs
• +One size fits most is a feature here, not a compromise

What to know

• –They're thin. Owners describe them as neither flimsy nor substantial, and a few report noticeable shrinking after a handful of…
• –They're also polyester novelty socks, so set your expectations