Best Hiking Socks

Best Hiking Socks

When you’re putting in miles on the trail, you’ll want to keep your feet protected and comfortable. The boots you wear play a major role in how good your feet feel while hiking, but it’s not the only thing to consider. The socks you choose to wear on your treks can be the difference between comfort and blisters. It’s important to find the best hiking socks for your trips.

It can be tricky finding the best hiking socks on your own. There are so many to choose from and you might not know what makes a good hiking sock a good hiking sock. So we decided to do the work for you. Below are our picks for the best hiking socks for backpacking.

Our Favorite Hiking Sock

SmartWool Hiking Crew Socks

SmartWool is a well known, trusted sock brand for good reason.  They were socks made for people who love being active in the outdoors. 

They are made with Merino wool which has a lot of benefits for backpackers. It is moisture-wicking, an important quality for all hiking clothing but even more so for socks in order to prevent blisters. Merino wool is also thermoregulating to keep you comfortable and are odor-neutralizing to keep you smelling fresh. 

This pair of socks has medium to light padding, perfect for hiking in warmer weather. The crew height is great to wear with boots, but you can find other varieties as well under the SmartWool brand.

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Second Best Hiking Sock

Danish Endurance Merino Wool Socks

Another tried and true brand is Danish Endurance. These socks were also designed with activity in mind. They are excellent at keeping feet dry and cool when you’re putting in work on the trail.

Also made of Merino wool, these have many of the same benefits as the SmartWool socks above. However, these also incorporate quite a bit of synthetic material as well. This is great for breathability and moisture wicking properties, but means your feet won’t be as warm in cold weather.

This pair has medium to heavy padding primarily in the heel and sole of the sock for cushion. The top features cooling mesh strips to add to the breathability. These are crew cut, but you can find a variety of styles on Amazon.

Best Sock For Cold Hikes

Alvada Merino Wool Socks

Winter treks and mountaineering requires special gear, including socks. If you plan on going hiking in the cold, you’ll want to get a couple of pairs of socks just for those hikes. Socks that keep your feet warm in freezing temperatures will usually be too warm for summer hikes.

These socks are built for winter trekking. They are made with 80% Merino wool, so they have the thermoregulating properties as the other two pairs of socks do. Merino wool’s ability to dry quickly means that getting snow in your boot wont ruin your day.

What makes these socks special is the high level of padding they have. These socks are thick to provide extra insulation from the cold ground. The fuzzy liner is incredibly comfortable as well, you might want to buy a few extra pairs to wear around the house!

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Best Hiking Socks for Women

EnerWear Merino Wool Outdoor Sock

If you need a dependable pair of hiking socks that are great for chilly temperatures and provide plenty of padding to keep your feet comfortable and free from blisters, these socks are hard to beat.

We consider these the best hiking socks for women because they check all our boxes for hiking socks and are also designed specifically with women in mind in both their shape and size. Our female hikers loved the perfect fit and fun styles! You’re sure to stand out with some of the wild designs EnerWear has to offer!

What makes these socks special is the high quality wool they are made with. They keep your feet dry and warm no matter what your hike has in store for you. It also has a seamless toe finish so you don’t have to worry about holes forming in those problem areas.

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Best Sock Liner

Terramar Thermasilk Over The Calf Sock Liner

If you have itchy wool socks or feet that get really sweaty, you might want to consider purchasing sock liners. The purpose of these are to add an extra layer between your foot and your hiking sock. This can keep them drier, cooler, or more comfortable.

These liners are made of silk, a classic fabric for sock liners. Silk does a great job at wicking away moisture. Your feet will feel drier and will be less likely to blister. Dry feet also means warmer feet in the winter. This fabric is also thin and smooth enough that wearing two pairs of socks won’t feel bulky.

Terramar’s socks are 80% silk, 20% nylon so they offer superior smoothness that will fit like a glove. They come in mid-calf and over the calf styles, so you’ll be able to find a pair that will work under whatever socks you have.

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Conclusion

To be comfortable on your hikes, you need to have comfortable feet. A good pair of hiking boots/shoes and a nice pair of hiking socks will make a big difference. If you’d like to learn more about how to choose a good pair of socks, check out this article where we go over hiking socks in greater detail. Otherwise, check out our other gear selection articles, like how to choose the right backpacking pillow and how to choose a backpacking sleeping bag!

_{Cover photo by Sébastien Goldberg on Unsplash}