Best Hiking Socks

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Home Hike

If you’re going to be on the trail all day, your feet will take a beating. While footwear is important, bad socks will ruin your day even with the best hiking shoes. Hiking socks need to be comfortable, moisture wicking, and durable. The right padding in the perfect places really help to prevent sore feet. Below are our top hiking sock recommendations to keep your feet happy on the trail.

Remember even the most advanced socks won’t overcome poor foot care. Yeah we know you wash between your toes but taking care of your feet while on the trail cant be skipped.

Trail Trialed’s Best Hiking Socks

1 Darn Tough Hiker Full Cushion

  • The Good: Lots of cushion for long days on the trail.
  • The Bad: Thicker and can be too hot in summer.
  • Fabric Blend: 66% Merino Wool, 32% nylon, 2% lycra

Need a hiking sock with lots of cushion for long days over rough trail? The Darn Tough Hiker Full Cushion is it, the best hiking sock around. It doesn’t matter if you hike in boots, hiking shoes or trail runners the cushioned footbed of the Darn Tough Hiker Full Cushion will leave your feet fresh even after the longest hikes. The midweight fabric is great for cooler mornings and some will wear them 4 seasons but more cushion also means more fabric that can be hot in the summer. The Merino wool wick’s moisture effectively and dries quickly should it get wet.

2 Smartwool Hike Ankle

  • The Good: Very comfortable and durable
  • The Bad: Run smaller for some individuals
  • Fabric Blend: 55% merino wool, 6% nylon, 36% recycled nylon, 3% elastane

The smart wool Hike ankle is a perfect option for hot summer days on the trail. The shorter height and targeted cushion allows for less material which allows feet to stay cooler. Breathability is unmatched due to mesh zones on the top of the midfoot. Hiking in trail runners or hiking shoes would be ideal since hiking boots may rub due to the shorter height.

3 Injinji Trail Midweight Mini-Crew

  • The Good: Prevents blisters between toes.
  • The Bad: Fabric around each toe takes some getting used to.
  • Fabric Blend: 58% nylon, 39% cool max eco made polyester, 3% lycra spandex

Tired of constantly finding a new blister or hot spot between your toes midway through a hike? We agree nothing will ruin a day on the trails quicker. The 5 toe design of the Injinji Trail midweight mini crew socks solves this. The fabric between your toes prevents skin to skin friction and wicks away moisture that traditional socks can’t. Injinji’s claim to fame may not be for everyone. While the toe design eliminates blisters it does take some time getting used to and can feel awkward at first. I you cant stand the idea of your toes being separated but still need blister relief be sure to size up your shoes or check out some foot shaped hiking shoes with a wider toe box. The toe design is also harder to put on if the feet are wet which means mid hike cold plunge stops need to be a little longer to dry the feet completely.

4 REI Co-op Coolmax Ecomade Lightweight Crew

  • The Good: Keep feet cool in the summer
  • The Bad: Run large compared to other socks
  • Fabric Blend: 77% coolmax ecomade polyester, 22% nylon, 1% spandex

While we absolutely love merino wool (as you can tell by our top selections) synthetic fibers will always hold less moisture on the hottest of days. The REI cool max ecomade lightweight crew is made of coolmax ployester yarn which will keep feet cool and dry on 10+ mile hikes even in the middle of summer. The light cushioning does provide a little extra comfort but not as much as some of the full cushion options.

5 Darn Tough Micro Crew Cushion

  • The Good: Versatile good for hiking and waring around town
  • The Bad: Thinner than some prefer
  • Fabric Blend: 37% nylon, 34% cool max polyester, ————–

The Darn Tough Micro Crew Cushion is another fully synthetic option. Again this sock does amazing in hot and humid climates where moisture wicking and quick drying are the most important factor when choosing footwear and really all apparel. The medium cushioning does a good job of reducing fatigue while not overheating or trapping moisture.

6 Smartwool Run Zero Cushion

  • The Good: Keeps feet dry and cool in the hottest weather
  • The Bad: Some hikers need cushion and these have none
  • Fabric Blend: 51% merino wool, 14% nylon, 31% recycled nylon, 4% elastane

If you prefer a natural and synthetic fiber mix in the summer the Smartwool Run Zero Cushion is the sock your looking for. Yes they have zero cushion but that increases breathability and this sock’s ability to keep feet cool even in the hottest weather. It is a performance running sock so it will fit on the smaller side. Don’t worry you can take your time hiking even if you wear this running sock. The largest drawback to the Smartwool Run Zero Cushion is the fact that many hikers and even runners prefer at least a little cushion.

7 Feetures Elite Light Cushion

  • The Good: Targeted compression provides support
  • The Bad: Thin and may wear quicker than other options.
  • Fabric Blend: 96% nylon, 4% spandex

Feetures Elite Light Cushion is a good synthetic sock for the trail or just a walk around town. Feetures included targeted compression to support feet where they need it most which can cut down on fatigue over the course of a trip no matter if its just a series of long day hikes or a 3 plus day backpacking adventure. The cushioning is light but is sufficient for most needs on the trail. Fully synthetic fabric is on the thinner side which does wonders to keep sweat at bay but has the possibility of wearing prematurely.