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It only takes one blister on the back of your heel to discover the importance of a good hiking sock. More than almost any other piece of gear in your kit, a quality hiking sock can make the difference between a fun day on the trail with friends and a crippling sufferfest that no amount of moleskin can fix. To help you avoid such a sufferfest, testers and myself tried socks on everything from day hikes to thru-hikes across the country to find the best hiking sock for your next adventure.
- Best Overall: Darn Tough Light Hiker Micro Crew
↓ Jump to Review - Best for Wide Feet: Wide Open Cushioned Micro Crew Socks
↓ Jump to Review - Best Made in the USA: Farm to Feet Damascus ¾ Crew Light Targeted Cushion
↓ Jump to Review - Most Comfortable: Happy Yak The Purist
↓ Jump to Review - Best No-Show: Feetures Merino 10 No Show Tab Cushion
↓ Jump to Review - Best for Moisture Management: Royal Robbins Venture Crew Sock
↓ Jump to Review - Best Synthetic: Swiftwick Maxus Zero Tab
↓ Jump to Review - Best Wool Alternate: Paka Performance 3/4 Crew Socks
↓ Jump to Review
How I Tested the Best Hiking Socks
I’ve tested dozens of socks from major brands like Balega, Swiftwick, Thorlo, Lorpen, Wigam, Royal Robbins, Farm to Feet, Icebreaker, Injinji, Orvis, Fox River, Wrightsock, and more. To find the best of the best, testers and myself have taken the best hiking socks on everything from dayhikes to trail runs to thru-hikes in a variety of climates and regions, from the damp foothills of the Cascade Range to the arid chill of the Rockies and the blistering heat of the deserts of Southern California. For this review, I considered features such as durability, moisture management, comfort, and fit. These picks had hundreds, some thousands, of miles put onto them over the course of one or more seasons to provide unique insight into the lifespan of each.
Hiking Sock | Price | Buy It | Warranty | Fiber Content | Made in the USA | |
Darn Tough Light Hiker | $24 | Men’s | Women’s | Lifetime | 54% nylon, 54% merino, 3% spandex | Yes |
Wide Open Cushioned | $25 | Men’s | Women’s | Lifetime | 63% merino, 34% nylon, 3% spandex | Yes |
Farm to Feet Damascus | $25 | Unisex sizing | Lifetime | 51% wool, 46% nylon, 3% spandex | Yes | |
Happy Yak The Purist | $60 | Unisex sizing | None | 80% yak, 20% acrylic | No | |
Feeture Merino 10 No Show | $20 | Unisex sizing | Lifetime | 48% nylon, 25% wool, 24% Tencel, 3% spandex | Yes | |
Royal Robbins Venture Crew | $22 | Unisex sizing | Limited lifetime | 56% polyester, 37% hemp, 7% elastane | No | |
Swiftwick Maxus | $17 | Unisex sizing | Lifetime | 52% polyester, 44% nylon, 4% spandex | Yes | |
Paka Performance | $24 | Unisex Sizing | 1 year | 57% nylon, 33% alpaca, 7% Tencel, 3% spandex | No |
OL’s best overall pick, among others, is based on a section hike of the 362-mile Oregon Coast Trail with five testers whose experience levels ranged form 500 miles of lifetime backpacking to 11,000 miles. We took seven pairs of the best wool-blend socks on that trek to determine which was the best wool sock. We additionally considered price and warranty policies in our selections.
Best Hiking Socks of 2024: Reviews & Recommendations
Best Overall: Darn Tough Light Hiker Micro Crew
Key Features
- Available Sizes: Men’s 5.5-17, women’s 4.5-11.5
- Fiber Content: 43 percent merino wool, 54 percent nylon, 3 percent spandex
- Lifetime warranty
- Made in the USA with some imported materials
Pros
- Comfortable
- High performing
- Great warranty
- Fits a wide range of foot sizes
Cons
- None that we’ve found yet
No surprise here, our top pick for the best wool socks, based on a testing trip along the Oregon Coast Trail, is also our best hiking sock pick: the Darn Tough Light Hiker Crew. The tightness of the weave is comfortable in beach grit and forest mud alike. It hugs your foot just enough to stay perfectly in place, but not so much to restrict movement or blood flow. It’s got plenty of ventilation out the top and a nice cushioned underfoot.
And when they eventually give out (no sock is truly built for life for a thru-hiker), Darn Tough will replace them (multiple of us had tested that part out, too). That takes the price tag of these socks from being on the steep side to a total steal. And plenty of day hikers may never need to replace them at all: A single pair can easily go for 800 miles or more.
Most of us on the Oregon Coast Trail had used Darn Tough Light Hikers before, and this trip reconfirmed our commitment to this sock. It’s one of the biggest no-brainer choices when I’m packing for a trip. They are such high-performers that they typically pull double-duty for me as everyday socks, too, and they are even what I wore on my first deer hunt.
Best for Wide Feet: Wide Open Cushioned Micro Crew Socks
Key Features
- Unisex sizing fits men’s 2.5-12, women’s 4.5-14
- Fiber Content: 65 percent merino wool, 33 percent nylon, 2 percent spandex
- Lifetime warranty
Pros
- Comfortable
- Great warranty
- Built to accommodate thicker calves and wider feet, up to 4E
Cons
- A newer product that we’re still testing
Darn Tough has created a new product line specifically for wide feet and thicker calves under a new banner called Wide Open. I shared a pair of their socks with Jac “Top Shelf” Mitchell, who has E width feet and calves worthy of a thru-hiker, and we were both impressed by the difference. Where the Darn Tough socks had been digging into her calves enough to leave a dent, the Wide Open equivalents sat comfortably without riding down.
Read Next: The Best Hiking Shoes for Wide Feet
We’ll be continuing to monitor the performance and durability of this sock to ensure it lives up to the Darn Tough standards we’ve come to expect, but if you’ve struggled with a too-constrictive fit from socks in the past, this is one to have on your radar now.
Best Made in the USA: Farm to Feet Damascus ¾ Crew Light Targeted Cushion
Key Features
- Available Sizes: Men’s 6-14.5, women’s 4-12.5
- Fiber Content: 44 percent merino wool, 52 percent nylon, 4 percent spandex
- Lifetime warranty
- Made in the USA with American wool
Pros
- Comfortable
- Uses U.S. wool in addition to U.S. manufacturing
Cons
- Padding on the upper was a touch much for our testers
While nearly all of the best sock brands are based out of the U.S., Farm to Feet takes this to the next level by sourcing the raw materials (merino wool, nylon, and spandex) from U.S. suppliers as well. That supports American workers and businesses, and cuts the overall carbon emissions by shrinking the distance raw materials travel to Farm to Feet’s North and South Carolina manufacturing facilities.
Farm to Feet’s Damascus sock is well padded on both the top and bottom. They are made from a high-performing blend of merino wool and nylon. For our testing crew, the elastic along the upper was a hair tight on our calves (serious backpackers rarely have skinny legs), and the extra bulk from the upper padding took up a noticeable amount of space in our shoes. While this sock doesn’t quite have the versatility of the Darn Tough Light Hiker, it’s an excellent mid to late season option. When the temperatures run even colder than that, check out Farm to Feet’s Kodiak.
Most Comfortable: Happy Yak The Purist
Key Features
- Available Sizes: Men’s 4-14.5; women’s 5-13
- Fiber Content: 80 percent yak cashmere, 20 percent acrylic
- No warranty
- Made in Mongolia with Mongolian wool
Pros
- Next-level comfort
- Retains heat better than similar-weight merino socks
- Wool alternative for those with allergies
Cons
- Less durable than other socks
- Pricey
The Purist turned me from a merino die-hard to a yak cashmere evangelist. Whereas wool fibers are naturally scaly, yak cashmere—the fancy term for the hair that is closest to the yak’s body—are smooth. They’re also completely hollow. This traps warm air inside to warm your feet and (merino fibers are semi-hollow) stay warmer for longer.
I tested these socks on a 250-mile section of the Colorado Trail, and they kept my feet warmer than wool socks and wicked moisture equally well. The only ding was that they were showing more signs of wear than my other hiking socks (although not enough to be retired from rotation). For those looking for the performance benefits of yak cashmere with greater durability, Happy Yak makes The Adventurist, which incorporates nylon. Air drying these socks also helps improve their lifespan (which you’re doing for your on-trail hand washes anyway, right?).
The only thing keeping The Purist from taking over my sock drawer is the high price ($60). For that reason, this sock usually stays in my pack until the last day of a trip. That’s when my feet need a little luxury to get through those final miles.
Best No-Show: Feetures Merino 10 No Show Tab Cushion
Key Features
- Available Sizes: Men’s 6-15.5, women’s 4-13
- Fiber Content: 43 percent nylon, 28 percent wool, 27 percent Tencel, 2 percent spandex
- Lifetime warranty
- Made in the USA with imported materials
Pros
- Doesn’t slip
- Great moisture management
- Light compression at the arch helped reduce fatigue
Cons
- Too warm for year-round use
Feetures’ Merino 10 is one of the few no-show socks that actually stays in place on all-day adventures, without slipping under the arch or tugging on the tab. The secret here is extra spandex woven into the arch for a fitted feel that, I was happy to discover, also helped my feet feel fresher over the long haul. The merino and thin weave ensured that moisture wicked out as soon as it built up and kept one tester’s feet dry on a drizzly day in muddy conditions.
This sock has a high nylon percentage, which makes it unusually durable. It only showed slight fraying under the balls of the foot and at the toes (back of the heel looks like new) after a full season of use in the Oregon Cascade Range. The tester said that this sock was just a hair too thick to wear on blistering trail runs during the height of summer, but that their feet appreciated the padding during the rest of the year.
Best for Moisture Management: Royal Robbins Venture Crew Sock
Key Features
- Available Sizes: Men’s 6-14.5; women’s 7-12.5
- Fiber Content: 56 percent polyester, 37 percent hemp, 7 percent elastane
- Limited lifetime warranty
- Made overseas
Pros
- Excellent wicking ability
- Textured feel is surprisingly refreshing
- Hemp is an eco-friendly wool alternative
Cons
- Holds onto more dirt and grime than other socks
- Prone to pilling
Hemp is not a traditional fiber for hiking socks, but the Venture Crew shows that maybe it’s time for that to change. On a humid overnight in Nebraska when the mercury broke 90, these socks kept the sweat away from one tester’s skin better than their merino counterparts. This is because the channels running down the fibers help move sweat away from the body unlike merino.
The texture on this sock is hard to describe. It isn’t soft—at times, it almost felt like it was exfoliating my skin—but it ranked high for comfort compared to traditional wool socks and ended up as a top choice to take on a section of the Pacific Crest Trail. My only complaint is that trail debris tends to hang onto the cuffs on longer treks, making trail laundry more of a chore than I’d like.
Best Synthetic: Swiftwick Maxus Zero Tab
Key Features
- Available Sizes: Men’s 3-15, women’s 4-16.5
- 52 percent polyester, 44 percent nylon, 4 percent spandex
- Lifetime warranty
- Made in the USA from imported materials
Pros
- Great skin feel for a synthetic sock
- Affordably priced
- Stay put fit on hikes and trail runs alike
Cons
- Some pilling after long-term use
- No merino wool content
After thousands of miles of hiking, I’m confident in saying that most people will be happy with socks that incorporate merino wool. The performance of these natural fibers for moisture management, temperature regulation, and odor control are outstanding.
But there are a couple of reasons why you might want to choose a synthetic sock. The first is cost: high-quality merino wool is just more expensive than synthetic materials like nylon and polyester. But a second, surprisingly common reason, is sensitivity to wool. While the merino wool used in the best wool socks is treated to minimize the scratchiness of the fibers, for some people these socks will still result in rashes or other skin irritations.
No matter: there are plenty of great synthetic options available. One of my favorites is the Swiftwick Maxus Zero Tab. After wearing it for hikes, trail runs, and as an everyday sock for months I’ve been impressed by its comfort and no-slip fit—even on the steepest trail runs. It’s even managed to resist picking up unwanted smells (at least for now). My only nitpick is that this sock pills more than the other (merino) socks in my lineup, suggesting some long-term durability issues.
Best Wool Alternate: Paka Performance 3/4 Crew Socks
Key Features
- Available Sizes: Men’s 6-13; women’s 7-15.5
- Fiber Content: 57 percent nylon, 33 percent alpaca, 7 percent Tencel, 3 percent spandex
- No warranty information
Pros
- Soft to the touch
- Comfortable when worn for multiple days
Cons
- Limited size options
- Doesn’t stay in place as well as other socks I’ve tested
Darn Tough’s hiking socks are great, and my go-to recommendation for just about everyone. The only exception to that is individuals who are allergic to wool, as the naturally occurring lanolin in wool can cause excessive itching. But the alternatives to wool weren’t always there, as too often the only other choices were synthetic (stinky) or wool alternatives like yak wool that were simply too pricey.
The Paka Performance 3/4 sock is an affordable option that bucks the trend. While the majority of the sock is nylon (necessary for durability), a full third of it is made up of alpaca wool, which has many of the same hollow-fiber thermoregulating, moisture wicking, and even odor protection qualities as its wool counterparts. During testing, both Assistant Editor Ashley Thess and I were impressed with how soft to the touch these socks were, and how they excelled at keeping smells at bay, even after multiple days of use.
Things to Consider Before Buying the Best Hiking Socks
While it’s tempting to grab any old pair of socks out of your drawer before hitting the trail, most socks designed for frontcountry life aren’t suitable for outdoor adventures. But sifting through all the different sock styles, from no-show to knee-high, and materials—merino wool, nylon, acrylic, spandex, Tencel, rayon, and more—can make the process of finding the best hiking sock daunting. Here are a few factors to consider before choosing a pair for your next hike.
Comfort
What makes for comfortable feet out on a hike can vary considerably. I considered a number of factors in the below picks, from moisture management (for hikers with sweaty feet), to merino alternatives (for hikers with wool allergies), to the quality of construction.
Conditions
There are very few climates where you’ll be able to get by with only one type of hiking sock for every season—for most, you’ll want to consider the types of conditions you’ll encounter before making a purchase. In the Pacific Northwest, for example, the mud and fog of the fall call for a sock that can keep the grit and grime out, while excellent moisture wicking is necessary during the hot and dry months of late summer.
Longevity
All hiking socks give out eventually, but some last considerably longer than others. The most durable socks are typically less soft and more expensive, so consider how important each of these factors are to you when making your selection.
Price Point
While an individual pair of hiking socks is (usually) affordable, small differences in price can add up when you need multiple pairs. That being said, I recommend aiming for a sock in the $20-$25 range for everyday hiking. The lifespan of these higher quality hiking socks usually justifies the higher price tag.
Read Next: The Best Hiking Underwear for Women of 2024
FAQs
Hiking socks can cost anywhere from $10 to $60, but the best hiking socks are typically around $20 to $25. Less than that and you are likely to run into durability issues, and you may notice more blisters than you would have otherwise seen. Higher priced socks typically come with extra cushioning, a specialized fiber (like my yak cashmere pick), fine-gauge merino wool, or some other unique performance benefit.
The best type of sock for hiking is one that wicks away moisture from your feet, as wet feet are prone to developing blisters—this is why the best hiking socks are almost never made out of cotton, which retains moisture. The go-to fiber for moisture wicking is merino wool, which has the added benefit of being naturally antimicrobial (so your feet are less likely to smell), but synthetic fibers can work just as well.
The best hiking socks for summer are the ones that will keep your feet dry. They can accomplish this by being unusually thin, so that moisture can escape easily, incorporating fibers that wick away moisture well, such as merino, or a combination of both. Something to consider is that in places where the ground heats up significantly during summer, such as the desert, thicker hiking socks can help prevent heat blisters from developing on the underside of your feet.
The best hiking socks for sweaty feet are the ones that wick away moisture quickly. Look for socks with a high percentage of merino (or a synthetic that is designed for wicking), and consider what kind of shoes you are planning to pair them with. If you are wearing trail runners, where moisture can easily escape, thinner socks may work better to keep your feet dry. In traditional hiking boots, which can become swampy in hot conditions, thicker hiking socks can help provide a buffer between your feet and the sweat wicking to the outside of the sock.
To find the hiking socks that will be the most comfortable, first consider your conditions. For cold-weather hiking, it’s best to choose heavyweight socks, while a midweight or lightweight sock would be more appropriate for the summer. If conditions are muddy or buggy, a crew height can help protect your legs. And if there are any stream crossings on your upcoming hike, the most comfortable socks will be the extra pair tucked into your pack.
Thin socks can be good for hiking in the right conditions. If you are wearing lightweight, cushioned shoes (such as trail runners) on a hot day, thin socks will wick away moisture faster than thicker socks. But if you are wearing hiking boots or low-cut hiking shoes, which tend to be made out of stiffer materials, you may find that the cushion provided by thicker hiking socks keeps your feet comfortable for longer and results in fewer blisters.
Socks that are made from 100 percent wool will tend to be less durable than those that are blended with more durable nylon fibers.
Modern wool socks are meant to be worn directly against the skin and should not be itchy. The exception to that is individuals with wool allergies, who will likely still experience wool socks as itchy.
Final Thoughts on the Best Hiking Socks
The above best hiking socks are all great choices for dayhiking and overnighters. Some, like the Darn Tough and Point6 socks, I even pack for multi-night trips and thru-hikes. You’ll typically want multiple pairs of hiking socks, so I recommend buying several different kinds to see what works best with your feet, your shoes, and the types of hikes you typically go on.
- Best Overall: Darn Tough Light Hiker Micro Crew
- Best for Wide Feet: Wide Open Cushioned Micro Crew Socks
- Best Made in the USA: Farm to Feet Damascus ¾ Crew Light Targeted Cushion
- Most Comfortable: Happy Yak The Purist
- Best No-Show: Feetures Merino 10 No Show Tab Cushion
- Best for Moisture Management: Royal Robbins Venture Crew Sock
- Best Synthetic: Swiftwick Maxus Zero Tab
- Best Wool Alternate: Paka Performance 3/4 Crew Socks