Socks having integrated gripping systems

A stocking comprising:

• a knit sock;
• a first pattern of discrete external gripping surfaces disposed on an exterior surface of the knit sock, wherein the first pattern of discrete external gripping surfaces comprises a plurality of first gripping pods coupled to the exterior surface;
• and
• a second pattern of discrete internal gripping surfaces disposed on an interior surface of the knit sock, wherein the second pattern of discrete internal gripping surfaces comprises a plurality of second gripping pods coupled to the interior surface;
• wherein the discrete internal gripping surfaces are out of registration with respect to the discrete external gripping surfaces, such that the first and second patterns are configured to improve traction by producing a shearing vector between foot-to-sock frictional forces and sock-to-underlying surface frictional forces.