4pairs 71% Premium Merino Wool Crew Hiking Socks Made in Usa People Socks Women

Editors Choice

Darn Tough Light Hiker Micro Crew

The Darn Tough Light Hiker Micro Crew win our vote as the best hiking socks out there in 2022. These socks are true all-rounders. They boast great breathability, high-wicking fabric, and use plenty of springy cushioning. Together, these attributes ensure your feet will stay cool, dry, and comfortable even when your mileage on the trail hits double digits.

But what makes Darn Tough such a standout compared to their competitors?

Well, more than anything else, the most appealing things these socks bring to the table are their versatility and durability.

This is a medium-weight sock that offers enough insulation for cool conditions but enough breathability to keep things cool and sweat-free in warmer conditions.

They're also made with a winning blend of 61% Merino Wool, 36% Nylon, and 3% Lycra Spandex. Unlike many other blends we've tried, this three-fabric combo delivers on all fronts, making them durable, odorless after long days on the trail, comfy as hell, and stretchy enough to maintain their shape after multiple washes.

Bottom line: A versatile and high-performing hiking sock that excels in a wide range of conditions, the Darn Tough Micro Crew is our go-to garment for three-season hikes come rain, sun, or snow.

Preview	Product	Rating	Price
	Smartwool Men's PhD Pro Outdoor Crew Light Merino Wool Socks, Black, Large			Check Price on Amazon
	Darn Tough Hiker Boot Sock Full Cushion - Men's - (Charcoal, X-Large)		$22.00	Check Price on Amazon
	3 Pairs Thermal 80% Merino Wool Socks Thermal Hiking Crew Winter Mens Womens Kids, Black/Brown/Grey,...		$16.99	Check Price on Amazon
	4pairs 71% Premium Merino Wool Crew Socks Made in USA People Socks (Small-Medium, Small-Medium...		$39.90	Check Price on Amazon
	Injinji 2.0 Outdoor Midweight Crew Nuwool Socks, Charcoal & Black, Large		$21.00	Check Price on Amazon
	Smartwool Trekking Heavy Crew Sock Gray, L			Check Price on Amazon
	Icebreaker Merino Men's Hike+ Light Cushion Compression OTC Socks, Fathom Heather/Midnight Navy,...		$45.00	Check Price on Amazon
	Darn Tough (Style 1972) Men's Light Hiker Hike/Trek Sock - Taupe, Large		$21.95	Check Price on Amazon
	Merino Wool Hiking & Walking Socks 3 pack (Light Grey, US Women 11-13 // US Men 9.5-12.5)		$31.95	Check Price on Amazon
	KOLD FEET Women's Merino Wool Warm Casual Socks Thick Knit Winter Cabin Cozy Crew Socks Gifts 2...			Check Price on Amazon

Why Choosing The Right Hiking Sock Matters

After months of planning and training, your outdoor adventure has finally begun. Nothing but the open trail, the soft earth beneath your feet, and the sound of the wind rustling in the trees.

Hours later, your feet begin to ache as blisters form. Suddenly, your week in the great outdoors will be spent nursing blisters and hobbling around.

With the proper socks, this experience can be avoided, and your adventure properly enjoyed.

When choosing a great pair of hiking socks you should be focused on two things: keeping your feet warm and dry. Sweaty feet are a sure precursor to blisters, and inadequate insulation will lead to chilly toes.

Features To Consider When Buying Good Hiking Socks

Purpose

Trail Running

Weight is vitally important when you're going trail running. A few grams might not seem likely to make a big difference, but over a distance of many miles, it can add to leg fatigue. As such, low is the "weight" to go.

The other important factor to consider is cushioning and padding. Because impact is greater for runners, we recommend opting for socks with plenty of padding around the ball of the foot and heel for better impact absorption.

Hiking/Backpacking

The ideal weight and thickness of your socks will depend on the conditions you're hiking in. Lightweight socks are, of course, the best bet for warm weather, but you might want to go for a beefier pair with more cushioned soles if hiking in rougher terrain. In cooler conditions, midweight or even heavyweight socks will provide the insulation needed to keep your toes toasty.

Whatever the case, breathability, high-wicking capability, and quick-drying capacity should remain at the top of your list of priorities when choosing your hosiery.

Mountaineering

Again, ambient temps play a key role in determining suitability. As a general rule, however, socks for serious peak-bagging should be thick enough and tall enough to protect the shins from the cuff of your boots and provide enough insulation to keep feet warm if walking in snow or at higher, cooler altitudes.

Material Selection

The most important consideration in choosing the right pair of hiking socks is selecting an appropriate material. There are a multitude of different hiking sock materials, but we focus on the main two – wool and synthetics.

Hiking Wool Socks: Tried & True

Wool is a traditional choice for a more effective hiking or backpacking sock. The desirable properties of wool are its ability to wick moisture away from the foot, its ability to dry rapidly, and its ability to insulate the foot from cold and from friction. Not only do these properties prevent hot spots and blistering; wool's ability to keep moisture away from your feet will also inhibit the growth of odor-causing microorganisms. As such, wool naturally has antimicrobial properties.

A downside to wool hiking socks is the rough or abrasive texture of the material. Before the advent of synthetic blends and merino wool, hikers often wore a thin base layer sock beneath the coarser wool material. Today, hiking socks are designed to be worn as a stand-alone pair.

The tighter knit and naturally superior properties of merino wool make modern wool models as effective as any modern synthetic material available.

Modern Technology's Finest: Synthetic Materials

Synthetic materials are generally petroleum-based polymer chains, a typical example being polyester.

Synthetics offer the advantages of being lightweight, wicking moisture away from the skin without absorbing much moisture, and rapidly dispersing moisture and heat away from the body via evaporation. Furthermore, synthetics are efficient thermal insulators, keeping the wearer warm even through thin, lightweight layers.

The disadvantages of pure synthetic materials are that some wearers find skin contact with such materials uncomfortable or irritating and that synthetics are sensitive to heat. Pure synthetic models are more flammable than wool or cotton, which means caution must be taken when drying synthetic materials by an open flame.

Synthetic materials are popular among ultra-lightweight backpackers and hikers for their status as the absolute lightest available fabrics, but most hiking socks in today's market are made using a combination of wool and synthetic materials.

Lastly, synthetic hiking socks are more prone to retaining odors.

A Happy Medium: Wool And Synthetic Blends

Many of the best attributes of wool and synthetic materials come out when the two fabrics are combined. For this reason, the best option for you may well be a synthetic wool blend. Take all of these attributes into consideration when considering a material for your hiking socks.

Cotton: Is Rotten

The most common mistake made by hikers is the decision to hike in cotton socks. Cotton is a comfortable and affordable material, but in the demanding environment of hiking, cotton begins to fail.

Cotton absorbs water readily but does not dry out as quickly. As a result, moisture that is introduced to cotton tends to hang around. As the cotton dampens, the material becomes heavier, less elastic, and more abrasive. This results in the movement of the sock between the hiker's foot and boot. This movement and the associated friction is what causes hot spots, and later blisters, to form. While your cotton may work well in day-to-day life, they are best left at home for your hike.

Sock Design

Cut (Height)

No-show: These are meant to be worn with low-cut footwear like trail-running shoes and hiking approach shoes. In most cases, they provide minimal protection against skin-to-shoe abrasion and, of course, zero protection for the ankles.

Ankle: Just a little higher than no-show socks, ankle socks typically cover your ankle bone for more protection and several varieties offer more in the way of impact-absorbing padding in the soles.

Crew socks: Usually reach midway between your ankle and knee. They protect against scuffs from both the collars of boots and undergrowth on trails. The most versatile option out there, these can be worn with low-cut hiking shoes, mid-cut boots, and high-cut hiking boots alike.

Knee-high: These socks are best suited to mountaineering or winter hiking. They offer the coverage needed to keep your lower legs warm and ensure there's no gap for cold air to sneak in at the base of thermal pants. They also provide the added protection for your shins that's needed when wading through deep snow.

ProTip: On well-maintained trails, you can get away with ankle or no-show socks. Off-trail and in thick brush, crew cut, or knee-high socks will provide the protection your legs need, especially if you're wearing shorts.

Weight

Wool socks are usually categorized in specific weight. These are divided into lightweight, midweight, and heavyweight.

Lightweight: Relatively thin socks that prioritize wicking moisture away from your skin and providing comfort rather than warmth. They're also scantly cushioned at best in key areas like the balls and heels of your foot.

Midweight: Thicker than lightweight socks and a good fit for hikers with narrow feet or those whose feet have a low instep. Compared to their lighter counterparts, these socks provide decent padding in the heels and balls of the feet as well as scuff-protection on top of the foot and leg.

Heavyweight: As the name suggests, these socks are the thickest and heaviest option out there. This translates into both added warmth and more cushioned impact areas. These socks are made with long trips, tough terrain, and low temperatures in mind. As such, they're usually overkill for backpacking or hiking in warm weather.

Sizing

While this should be relatively straightforward, as we assume you know your shoe size. Slight differences between brands can mean that what may be a perfect fit with one brand, it may be a bit loose with another.

In addition, if your shoe size falls in between two sock sizes or in an overlap in size ranges, it is best to try them on before buying. This isn't always easy to do (especially shopping online), so you may consider buying one pair to try on before ordering the rest, or alternatively buying a pair in each size and returning the pair that is ill-fitting.

Remember, the best option is usually the smallest size that fits comfortably. Too large a sock can lead to bunching of the sock material, a common starting point for hot spots and blisters.

The Great Debate: One Or Two Sock Layers?

Most modern hikers find that one single pair of merino wool, synthetic, or wool-synthetic blend work just fine for all hiking needs. However, there is still considerable debate about which technique works best for preventing blisters. Before the advent of our modern tight-knit merino wool and synthetic varieties, hiking socks were made from the abrasive "scratchy" wool that often comes to mind when considering wool.

As a result, hikers in previous generations usually wore a thin liner sock layer beneath the scratchy wool outer layer to reduce friction between the skin and the wool. Today's socks are designed to be comfortable and smooth enough to be worn comfortably as a base and outer sock layer (a single layer), but many hikers still stick to the old wisdom of wearing a thin liner sock beneath the thicker hiking sock layer.

Ultimately, it is a matter of preference. Whatever you find most comfortable is probably the right strategy for you. Go for a short hike wearing just a single pair and pay attention to any hot spots or blisters that begin to form. If there seems to be an issue, consider trying a pair of liner socks underneath on your next hike.

The Results

Smartwool PhD Pro Light Crew

Most Comfortable

If you want to have a sock that offers both immense comfort and impressive durability, then it's hard to go wrong with the PhD Pro Light Crew.

The PhD Pro Light Crew are made with a combination of 62% merino wool, 36% nylon, 2% elastane. The synthetic-natural blend makes it very elastic and allows it to hold its shape well. The merino wool, as ever, gives it a soft texture that feels great against your skin and regulates foot temperature well throughout your hike.

Despite the name, the cushioning in this sock approaches the midweight level. It's very plush, pillow-like, and covers a wide area from heel to toe. It also features a compressive elastic band around the arch to help keep the sock in place and prevent any slippage.

The Pro Light uses less material over the top of the shaft to promote ventilation in high temps. It also wicks well and provides more than enough insulation for three-season hiking in most locations.

While this sock continues to insulate when wet, however, it does take a little longer to dry. As such, it's not the best bet for hiking in heavy rain or backpacking trips where you'll be hanging your socks in your gear loft to dry overnight.

• PROs

  • Comfortable hiking socks
  • Nicely cushioned
  • Durable
  • Superb thermo-regulation
  • One of the warmest socks for winter wanders
  • Available in Men's and Women's styles

• CONs

  • Slow to dry

Bottom-Line: One of the most high-performing lightweight merino wool hiking socks available, the PhD Pro are socks made with the needs of the year-round hiker in mind. All told, one of the best winter socks out there.

Darn Tough Boot Cut Full Cushion

Best Winter Hiking Socks

Darn Tough socks provide quality products with personality, and their boot cut full cushion model are a shining example of this. This is a heavier pair made with a wool and synthetic blend. They are advertised on the Darn Tough website as "[feeling] like a giant teddy bear hugging your feet." We have to agree with this statement.

Extremely comfortable and seem to fit nicely when referenced with the company's sizing chart. The brand is one you can feel good about, as Darn Tough has been producing quality socks in the USA for almost 40 years. For a domestic product made with reliable quality, the price is extremely reasonable.

However, they are very warm and can become too warm on a hot, sunny day. They are also heavy socks, adding a little extra weight for those hikers who want to reduce weight at all costs. Our pick as the best socks for cold weather.

• PROs

  • Warm, well-insulated hiking socks
  • Excellent fabric blend wicks moisture effectively and dries quickly
  • Fits nicely; very little movement of sock over foot
  • Durable and robust product from reliable producer

• CONs

  • Heavy add extra weight
  • Can overheat hiker in warm weather

Bottom-Line: All told, one of the best winter socks out there

DG Hill Thermal Winter Hiking Crew

Best Budget

DG Hill provides an excellent product with their Winter Thermal Wool Socks. At 80% Merino wool, these feature some of the highest wool content in their market. All that wool means that you get to take advantage of the wonderful properties of wool, including thermal insulation and moisture-wicking.

With the sock cushioning, they are comfortable, and the elastic ankles keep them from moving around too much while the hiker is moving. These are in our opinion the best value pair of hiking socks on our list.

These merino wool hiking socks are versatile and will keep the feet warm without being too heavy and stifling the feet in warm weather. However, these are not recommended for cold to very cold conditions.

• PROs

  • Quality product for good price
  • High Merino wool content
  • Moisture wicking and rapid drying
  • Versatile use in moderate temperatures

• CONs

  • Not ideal for extreme cold weather
  • Heavy for hot weather
  • Not as long-lasting as other brands

SmartWool Trekking Heavy Crew

Best Mountaineering Socks

If itch-free comfort, warmth, and high impact-absorption are your thing, then the SmartWool Trekking Heavy Crew Socks might just be the perfect option for you. These socks' high merino wool content and chunkiness make them ideal for three-season conditions, keeping you warm when temps are low and wicking well when you're working up a sweat.

The SmartWool Trekking Heavy Crew are made with 70% merino wool and 29% nylon, making them both super soft and comfy and highly durable. The 1% spandex content is a little lower than others in our review, but provides enough stretch for different foot sizes and for the socks to maintain their shape long term.

A heavy crew cut, this sock is ideally suited to hiking or backpacking in rugged terrain in cooler conditions. Its thickly cushioned sole also makes it highly efficient in absorbing impact, while the high merino content fends off odors and wicks amazingly well for such a beefy sock.

All that merino also makes this sock an excellent insulator that will keep your feet warm on winter/shoulder season hikes without compromising on breathability.

While these socks don't dry as quickly as others in our review, they do include one highly endearing, non-standard feature – arch support. While not a deal-maker, this add-on helps your gait and posture, keeps the sock in place, and provides additional support when carrying heavy loads.

• PROs

  • Warm and Comfortable
  • Durable
  • Cushions even when wet
  • Elasticized arch support

• CONs

  • Loses shape over time due to low elastane content
  • Slow drying
  • Shows some pilling after a while

Bottom-Line: With an elasticized arch brace and plush padding, the SmartWool Trekking merino wool socks are the best backpacking socks and one of the best socks for cold weather we've ever had the pleasure of putting our feet in.

Icebreaker Hike+ Compression OTC Socks

Best For Support

If you're planning on going on long multi-day backpacking trips and want optimal support for your feet, the Icebreaker Hike + Compression OTC should be on your shortlist. These socks offer all the benefits of merino wool while throwing in the added benefit of a compression-style fit and a more anatomical design.

The socks' fabric is a combo of 49% merino wool, 44% nylon, and 7% lycra. This blend makes the Icebreaker Hike + Compression OTC far stretchier and more durable than other socks in our review and provides a snug, tighter fit around your feet all the way to the calf.

What we love most about these socks is their "graduated compression" design, which helps encourage good circulation and enhances recovery whenever you stop for a rest.

The padding is a little on the light side, but this minor failing is made up for by a unique anatomical design that provides ample support in all the right places without ever being too bulky.

Let's not forget that the sock is still able to retain significant qualities of merino wool so it is still highly breathable and warm. It is also outstanding in moisture-wicking and good at preventing odor.

• PROs

  • Warm and comfortable hiking socks
  • Provides decent support without being bulky
  • Compression design promotes fast recovery
  • Quick-drying

• CONs

  • Cushioning a little on the light side

Bottom-Line: Breathable, warm, high-wicking, odor-resistant, and supportive to boot, the Icebreaker Hike + Compression OTC is ideal for buyers prone to foot or leg cramp who need extra support in their soles, arches, and calves.

Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew

Best Overall

The Darn Tough Light Hiker Micro Crew is a versatile great hiking sock that can be worn year-round in varying conditions. It combines comfort, style, and performance as well as providing plentiful light cushioning in all the right places.

The Darn Tough's hiking sock is made from 61% merino wool, 36% nylon, 3% Lycra spandex. This blend delivers on all fronts, bringing outstanding breathability, durability, support, and shape-maintaining stretch to boot.

Though classed in the lightweight category, this sock offers good cushioning from the toes all the way up to the calves. This, simply put, translates into simply oodles of comfort, and makes it ideal for day hiking, thru-hiking, and trail running alike.

The thinner fabric used in these lightweight hiking socks means it's more capable of shifting sweat and keeping feet dry & cool in warmer weather, even in intensive activities like fastpacking or trail running. This thin construction also provides decent ventilation in the underfoot area and gives the sock the ability to dry quicker than most woolen competitors.

• PROs

  • Fast-drying
  • Excellent support and ventilation in the underfoot area
  • Cushioned toes, heel, and Achilles
  • Available in men's and women's sizes

• CONs

  • Too thin for winter hiking
  • Lower height makes it incompatible with high-cut hiking boots

Bottom-Line: The Darn Tough Light Hiker Micro Crew is a superbly versatile hiking sock that pips its peers to the post as the best three-season sock out there on account of its outstanding performance in every metric. Our pick for the best overall hiking socks.

Injinji Outdoor Midweight Crew

Best Toe Socks

The Injinji 2.0 Medium Crew has an unique toe-sock design that might not be to everyone's liking, but it's ideal for feet prone to blisters and avoiding chilly toes.

This sock is made with 64% NüWool, 33% nylon, and 3% lycra. Although marketed as a midweight, its thin design and lack of padding actually makes it closer to the lightweight. Performance-wise, however, this thin design is a winner for warm temps, making the Injinji 2.0 highly breathable, quick-drying, and among the highest-wicking in our review.

In terms of durability and drying speed, this sock rank slightly above average, with only a few pilling problems a few months down the line detracting from its otherwise "steady-seven" report card.

And the downsides?

Well, the NüWool fabric used in this sock provides decent comfort but is not quite as soft to the touch as merino. Also, the Injinji 2.0 is not a warm sock. Though the individual toe pockets do bring added insulation to this frequently cited cold spot, they're just a little on the skinny side to keep the rest of your foot warm in cooler conditions in the shoulder seasons.

• PROs

  • Reduces chances of getting blisters
  • No toe seam
  • Great wicking properties
  • Quick-drying

• CONs

  • Light on insulation
  • Not as soft as other wool socks in our review

Bottom-Line: A quirky looking, comfortable wool sock that's perfect for feet prone to blistering but a little short on comfort compared to its pricier peers.

People's Socks Crew

Best Value

The People Socks Merino Wool Crew is the perfect option for hikers looking to stock up on their supply of high-performing woollen pair of socks without breaking the bank.

This cozy crew sock offers all the best things that merino brings to the table with very few of the downsides. It's high-wicking, fast-drying, breathable, and just about as comfortable as they- come.

This sock is made with 71% merino wool, 21% nylon, 7% polyester, and 1% spandex. This combo makes it not only soft and stretchy, but also a little more hard-wearing than many of its more expensive competitors.

As a midweight sock, the People's Socks Crew provides decent underfoot cushioning, while the concentration of elastane material near the arch and the heel ensure that it maintains its shape over time and isn't prone to slipping around inside your shoe.

The sock also excels in terms of warmth, packing more than enough insulation for three-season hiking and backpacking in most parts of the globe. It doesn't dry quite as quickly as other socks in our review, but this is a very minor failing given its solid performance in other metrics and friendly price tag.

• PROs

  • Breathable hiking socks
  • Budget-friendly
  • Long-term durability

• CONs

  • Not a standout in any performance category
  • Slower-drying than other options in our review

Bottom-Line: A budget-friendly sock that gives many more expensive options a good run for their money.

Danish Endurance

Best Summer Hiking Socks

The Danish Endurance Men's Wool Socks provide the perfect combo of breathability, comfort, and wicking capacity needed for hiking in higher temps.

The sock's fabric consists of 33% merino wool, 33% acrylic, 33% polyamide, and 1% elastane. This lower merino content means these socks aren't quite as soft to the touch as others in our review. It does, however, make them far more durable, rugged, and more likely to keep their shape in the longer term.

This sock's mid-calf length makes it ideally suited to hiking, backpacking, and even warmer-weather adventures above the snowline. It also boasts plenty of cushioning and compression along the arch and calf areas and has enough stretch to cling to your skin and prevent falling while you're on the move.

One of the most appealing features of this sock is the integration of "breathing" panels on top of the foot and along the front of the legs. This means that, even though it's beefier than other mid-weights on our list, it still provides plenty of breathability and ventilation on warm days.

• PROs

  • Highly breathable hiking socks
  • Long-term durability
  • Inexpensive
  • Integrated ventilation panels

• CONs

  • Not as soft as socks with higher merino content

Bottom-Line: A solid three-season sock that lacks the insulation and comfort of options with higher merino content but breathes well, is highly durable, and is our pick for the best hiking socks for summer adventures.

Hike Light Margarita Crew

Best Womens Hiking Socks

The Hike Light Margarita Crew Sock is a high-quality, high-performing sock that's ideally suited to summer and shoulder-season hikes and backpacking adventures.

This sock uses a blend of 62% merino wool, 36% nylon, and 2% elastane content. It is very soft to the touch and has an elasticized arch brace that ensures a nice, snug fit.

While it has the word 'light' in the name, the Margarita is a fraction thicker and heavier than others in its weight class, meaning it's perfectly well-suited to summer, spring, and hall hiking alike.

While a little light on padding and cushioning, the Margarita is a very comfy sock that scores highly in every other metric. It breathes and wicks well, offers outstanding durability, and dries just as quickly as any other sock in our review.

• PROs

  • Comfortable hiking socks
  • Durable
  • Warmer than other lightweights

• CONs

  • Short on cushioning

Bottom-Line: A super-comfortable lightweight socks that lacks cushioning but bests most other socks in its price range as regards performance in warm weather & our top pick as the best hiking socks for women.

KOLD FEET Women's Merino

Best Camping Socks

The KOLD FEET Women's Wool Socks are a highly versatile option that work well in a wide variety of weather and trail conditions.

With a fabric blend of 57% Polyester, 19% Acrylic,12% Wool, 11% Nylon, and 1% Spandex, one might argue that this sock is more of a synthetic than a woolen product. But don't be fooled by the specifics of the blend. Although low in merino content, this sock brings all the benefits inherent to merino—breathability, wicking, warmth—while adding the durability and resilience of non-natural fabrics.

One of the things most likely to endear buyers to this sock is the super-soft, terry-cloth feel to the interior fabric. It also provides plenty of cushioning throughout the sole and ankle area and is beefy enough to feel vaguely slipper-like in terms of both comfort and insulation.

There, are, however, a few downsides. The KOLD FEET's low merino content might not detract from its performance in most respects, but it does mean it's a little slower-drying than other socks in our review, and also less odor-resistant.

• PROs

  • Versatile socks (suitable for hiking and everyday wear)
  • Soft feel
  • Great compression
  • Warm and thick hiking socks

• CONs

  • Not suitable for long hikes in wet conditions

Bottom-Line: A superbly comfortable sock that isn't quite as trail-specific as other items in our list but is worth a try for those who prioritize coziness and durability.

If you are looking for a specific type of socks then consider reading the following guides:

• Best Compression Socks for Hiking
• Best Cold Weather Socks for Freezing Hikes & Campfires
• Best Socks for Sweaty Feet [2022 Edition]

Always be sure to be clothed correctly with our guides to hiking attire.

Last update on 2022-01-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

4pairs 71% Premium Merino Wool Crew Hiking Socks Made in Usa People Socks Women

Source: https://www.myopencountry.com/best-hiking-socks/

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