Sporting the proper footwear is essential to success in all outside adventures, nevertheless it’s particularly vital for mountaineering and backpacking. As hikers, our toes are the workhorses that carry the load and take essentially the most beating on the path. Our expertise has taught us that we’ve got to deal with our toes proper to maintain them in peak situation so we will see and do extra comfortably.
It’s regular to expertise some foot aches and pains, overheating, and sizzling spots/blisters after lengthy days of mountaineering, however we’ve discovered that sporting high quality socks (together with good sneakers/boots) makes a giant distinction in how lengthy we will hold our toes comfy and in fine condition on path.
Fast Suggestions
Take a look at this fast checklist of one of the best mountaineering socks in case you’re in a rush, or proceed scrolling to see our full checklist of favorites with in-depth evaluations.
- Finest total for high quality, consolation & sturdiness: Darn Robust Gentle Hiker Micro Crew Males’s / Ladies’s
- Breathable wool socks with a efficiency match: Smartwool Efficiency Hike Gentle Males’s / Ladies’s
- Finest price range no-show socks: Balega Hidden Consolation Unisex
- Finest worth heat wool socks: REI Merino Mountaineering Crew Unisex
- Finest toe socks: Injinji Path Midweight Mini Crew Males’s / Ladies’s
Mountaineering Sock Comparability Desk
WhaT’s Most Essential to You in a Mountaineering Sock?
FABRIC:
Socks made with polyester, nylon, and different artificial materials are breathable, moisture-wicking, and quick-drying, so that they’re nice for mountaineering. Additionally they are usually a bit extra sturdy than pure fibers, although they’ll tablet and maintain onto odors extra.
Wool is a pure fiber that’s glorious for managing moisture, evaporating odors, and maintaining you heat when moist. High quality merino wool is mushy and comfy and works exceptionally nicely when blended with artificial fibers.
Cotton collects and holds moisture, which might result in blisters (take a look at our The right way to Stop and Deal with Blisters submit for more information). We don’t advocate socks with any cotton content material for mountaineering, however they’re cheap and comfy for on a regular basis use.
CUSHIONING:
Cushioning impacts sturdiness, consolation, and heat. Ultralight cushion socks and liners are finest for working or mountaineering in low reduce sneakers. We sometimes want them as a result of they dry shortly and breathe nicely, however they’re not as sturdy as different socks. Some individuals use liners underneath different socks to assist forestall blisters.
Socks with gentle cushioning are comparatively skinny and have a great stability of breathability, moisture-wicking, consolation, and sturdiness.
Medium cushion socks are good for mountaineering in common to chilly climate. They supply a reasonable quantity of cushion within the heel and ball of the foot to guard your toes from influence.
Socks with heavy cushioning are the thickest and warmest. Many hikers discover them too cumbersome and sizzling for backpacking, however they’re nice for heat in camp, winter mountaineering, and mountaineering in boots.
HEIGHT:
Sock top comes down to private choice. No-show and quarter socks come to the ankle and are most appropriate with path runners or low-cut mountaineering sneakers. They’re fashionable when sporting shorts and supply one of the best airflow. However they go away your ankle uncovered to heel clipping, can accumulate particles, and should have to be pulled up periodically.
Crew socks come as much as about mid-calf and work nicely with nearly all footwear, together with boots. They have an inclination to remain up and hold particles out higher, in addition to supply some safety to your ankles. Crew socks are a bit of simpler to overheat in although, and you might get a sock tan in case you put on all of them summer time.
All the socks on this checklist are available quite a lot of heights, however we’ll define our favorites from every class beneath.
- Finest no-show socks: Balega Hidden Consolation (Unisex)
- Finest ankle/mini-crew/quarter socks: Farm to Ft Damascus (Unisex), Injinji Path Midweight Mini Crew (Males’s) (Ladies’s), Feetures Elite (Unisex), WrightSock Coolmesh II (Unisex)
- Finest crew socks: Darn Robust Gentle Hiker (Males’s) (Ladies’s), Smartwool Efficiency Hike Gentle (Males’s) (Ladies’s), REI Merino Mountaineering Crew (Unisex), Swiftwick Flite XT Path (Unisex)
Finest Mountaineering socks of 2023
Darn Robust Gentle Hiker Micro Crew
Finest total mountaineering socks for high quality, consolation & sturdiness
Worth: $24
Material: 54% nylon, 43% merino wool, 3% Lycra spandex
Top: Crew
Cushioning: Gentle
Professionals
- Lifetime guarantee
- Sturdy
- Breathable
- Moisture-wicking
- Odor-resistant
- Snug
- Don’t slide down
Cons
- Costly
- Hotter/much less breathable than some
Darn Robust Gentle Hiker Micro Crew Males’s / Ladies’s are comfy, versatile, and constructed to final. They’re woven very tightly, which provides them excellent sturdiness.
The Gentle Hikers are hotter and thicker than minimalist socks, however they’re nonetheless fairly breathable and the wool-synthetic mix makes them adaptable in heat or cool circumstances. Darn Robust socks are costly however nicely definitely worth the cash since they final without end and are backed up by a tremendous unconditional lifetime assure.
In case you’re on the lookout for extra cushioning and heat, Darn Robust’s Hiker Micro Crew (males’s & girls’s) and Hiker Boot Socks (males’s & girls’s) are additionally glorious.
Smartwool Efficiency Hike Gentle
Breathable wool socks with a efficiency match
Worth: $24
Material: 56% merino wool, 41% nylon, 3% elastane
Top: Crew
Cushioning: Gentle
Professionals
- Snug
- Breathable
- Moisture-wicking
- Odor-resistant
- Do not slide down
Smartwool’s Efficiency Hike Gentle Males’s / Ladies’s are among the finest all-around socks for mountaineering. They’re well-designed with a comfortable, anatomical match and padding solely the place you want it for glorious breathability. Although previous variations of the Efficiency Hike have lacked sturdiness, the third technology Efficiency Hike socks have harder wool within the heel and toe which considerably extends their lifespan (and Smartwool will substitute them in case you ship them in inside 2 years of the acquisition date). We advocate Efficiency Hike socks to those that want a sock that’s a bit lighter and extra breathable than Darn Robust’s, even when they gained’t final fairly as lengthy.
Farm to Ft Damascus
Finest sturdy socks designed for lengthy backpacking journeys
Worth: $22
Material: 51% merino wool, 45% nylon, 4% Lycra spandex
Top: Quarter
Cushioning: Gentle
Professionals
- Sturdy
- Lifetime guarantee
- Breathable
- Moisture-wicking
- Odor-resistant
- Snug
- Do not slide down
The Farm to Ft Damascus socks are made with 100% American supplies and development. Created with long-distance hikers in thoughts, these socks are constructed powerful and can final for lots of of miles. Moreover that, they’re assured for all times! Slight compression and distinctive focused cushioning within the heel and toe in addition to on prime of the instep assist forestall ache from shoelace stress, which is very good for lengthy, steep descents. We advocate the Damascus socks for rugged hikes and backpacking journeys in path runners or boots when minimalist socks aren’t fairly sufficient.
Balega Hidden Consolation
Finest price range no-show socks
Worth: $16
Material: 100% polyester
Top: No Present
Cushioning: Medium
Professionals
- Reasonably priced
- Snug
- Do not slide down
- Moisture-wicking
- Breathable
Cons
- Hotter/much less breathable than some
- Maintain odor greater than others
- Not as sturdy as some
Balega’s Hidden Consolation Socks are easy, frivolously padded, and comfy with soft tabs on the ankle that successfully hold them from sliding down. The plush padding throughout your complete sole makes them a bit hotter and fewer breathable underfoot than some. That mentioned, the Hidden Comforts are a wonderful, reasonably priced selection for these on the lookout for comfortable low-cut socks for on a regular basis use. Balega additionally affords their standard Ultralight No Present Socks (glorious ultralight really feel, however lack long-term sturdiness), Blister Resist No Present Socks (made with mohair fibers that resist friction), and Silver No Present Socks (nice compression and antibacterial properties). In case you’re on the lookout for a quarter-length mountaineering sock, we additionally actually love the Balega Enduro Quarter Socks.
REI Merino Mountaineering Crew
Finest worth heat wool socks
Worth: $18
Material: 79% merino wool, 20% nylon, 1% Lycra spandex
Top: Crew
Cushioning: Gentle
Professionals
- Good worth
- Snug
- Breathable
- Moisture-wicking
- Odor-resistant
Cons
- A bit too heat for summer time circumstances
- Can slide down with some footwear
The REI Merino Mountaineering Crew Socks are a wonderful worth since they’re made with premium high quality wool, however they value lower than these from different prime manufacturers. They’ve an ideal stability of heat and breathability, which makes them nice for lengthy days on the path or for sporting as sleep socks on tenting and backpacking journeys. In case you’re on the lookout for a cushty mountaineering sock with the efficiency of merino wool with out breaking the financial institution, you’ll be able to’t go mistaken with these. For summer time, we advocate REI’s Light-weight Flash Crew Socks.
Injinji Path Midweight Mini Crew
Finest toe socks
Worth: $16
Material: 58% nylon, 39% CoolMax polyester, 3% Lycra spandex
Top: Mini-crew
Cushioning: Medium
Professionals
- Helps forestall toe blisters
- Reasonably priced
- Snug
- Breathable
- Moisture-wicking
Cons
- Maintain odor greater than others
- Takes a bit of longer to placed on/take off
- Lack long-term sturdiness
Injinji’s Path Midweight Mini Crews Males’s / Ladies’s are among the hottest toe socks available on the market as a result of they’re reasonably priced, comfy, extremely breathable, and glorious for lowering friction between the toes. Since every toe is wrapped in wicking cloth, we discover that they do an excellent job of maintaining our toes dry on the path too. Toe socks might really feel a bit of unusual at first, however we predict they’re value getting used to in case you regularly wrestle with toe blisters.
Swiftwick Flite XT Path
Technical socks for mountaineering & path working
Worth: $27
Material: 38% nylon, 24% merino wool, 22% olefin, 13% polyester, 3% spandex
Top: Crew
Cushioning: Medium
Professionals
- Snug
- Sturdy
- Moisture-wicking
- Breathable
- Odor-resistant
- Do not slide down
Swiftwick’s Flite XT Path are among the first socks we seek for within the drawer for fast-moving adventures. They offer medium compression for tendon assist, they usually’re hardly noticeable as a result of they’re so comfortable. They’re the proper weight for practically all climate circumstances, and the combo of merino wool and artificial fibers give an ideal stability of thermoregulation and sturdiness. The only additionally has fibers that assist grip the within of your shoe to cut back slippage. The Flite XTs are a bit of dearer than others, however they’re strong performers for mountaineering and path working, and we anticipate them to final for a very long time.
Feetures Elite
Finest socks for cardio exercise in heat circumstances
Worth: $18
Material: 92% nylon and eight% spandex
Top: Quarter
Cushioning: Gentle
Professionals
- Reasonably priced
- Lifetime guarantee
- Snug
- Moisture-wicking
- Breathable
- Do not slide down
Cons
- Maintain odor greater than others
- Lack long-term sturdiness
Feetures is a model that’s better-known within the working group, however we love their socks for mountaineering too. Feetures’ Elite Gentle Cushion Quarter Socks are skinny, stretchy, and match snugly with compression in all the proper locations so the socks keep easy and wrinkle-free throughout cardio exercise. The Elite socks stand out finest in heat circumstances when wicking and air flow are essential.
WrightSock Coolmesh II
Double-layer socks for blister prevention
Worth: $15
Material: 70% Dri-Wright II polyester, 26% nylon, 4% lycra
Top: Quarter
Cushioning: Gentle
Professionals
- Helps forestall blisters
- Reasonably priced
- Breathable
- Moisture-wicking
- Very comfy
- Lifetime guarantee
- Do not slide down
Cons
- Lack long-term sturdiness
- Maintain odor greater than others
WrightSock Coolmesh II Socks are extraordinarily comfy and really feel like slippers in your toes. They’re skinny and minimal, and the double-layer system makes them glorious for stopping blisters. The draw back is that they’re constructed with skinny supplies they usually put on down pretty shortly within the heel and toe. We want the outer layer of the Coolmesh II was a bit harder, however for these with blister-prone toes, they may nonetheless be nicely value it.
Honorable Mentions
The next socks didn’t make our last checklist, however they’ve obtained quite a lot of good issues going for them. You by no means know, possibly certainly one of these socks would be the proper match for you.
- Point6 37.5: fully-cushioned wool socks that battle odor and don’t slide down
- Icebreaker Hike+:light-weight wool socks which can be good for thermoregulation
- Woolly Out of doors Air: reasonably priced wool socks which can be nice for on a regular basis use
Crucial Sock Issues
SUPPORT
Strategically-placed bands of compression across the calf, ankle, or arch of the foot assist socks keep in place and retains them from twisting and bunching. Compression additionally supplies assist to the muscle mass and ligaments to forestall circumstances like plantar fasciitis, which might make mountaineering extraordinarily painful. When you’ve got an current situation, a great pair of socks can work simply in addition to an Ace wrap or sports activities tape.
FIT
Your socks ought to match good. Not too tight, however not too unfastened.
SIZING
Gentle compression and a comfortable match help in your socks capability to successfully wick moisture, breathe, and keep wrinkle-free, however socks which can be too tight can limit blood circulate and restrict your toes vary of motion.
WASHING AND DRYING
Beware that socks with excessive merino wool content material are prone to shrink in case you put them within the dryer on excessive warmth. For finest outcomes, comply with the producer’s directions for laundry and drying your socks to keep up their cushion and keep away from miniaturizing them. We advocate washing wool merchandise inside-out on a cool or lukewarm washer setting with mild detergent, then air drying them on a clothesline or flat floor. In case you’re in a rush, the following neatest thing is to tumble dry your wool socks on low. In case you deal with them nicely, your wool mountaineering socks ought to final for a very long time.
HOW TO AVOID LOSING SOCKS
It’s an enormous bummer to have a pile of single costly mountaineering socks, however everyone knows how simple it’s to lose observe of them. We advocate utilizing a small mesh laundry bag as your sock-specific hamper and simply toss the laundry bag into the wash when it’s full. Soapy water will get by the bag and the socks will get clear, however they gained’t go lacking.
Extra Data
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Thanks for studying and pleased trails!