I've lost track of how many Smartwool hiking socks I've worn over the past fifteen years. I used to receive a new pair every Christmas, which came in handy since I hike more 1,000 miles every year. But it took years for each pair to wear out, so I eventually had Smartwool socks spilling out of my sock drawer. Based on my first-hand experience with the brand—and my experience stocking and selling Smartwool socks when I managed footwear at Appalachian Outdoors—I've created this short guide to Smartwool hiking socks to help you sort through the brand's best hiking socks for men and for women.
What are the best Smartwool hiking socks?
For typical hiking and backpacking conditions, men and women should start with the Hike Light Cushion Crew Sock, Hike Classic Edition Crew Sock, and Classic Mountaineer Maximum Cushion Sock. In order, these recommendations go from lightest to heaviest and coolest to warmest.
#1
Softest Darn Tough Hiking Sock
Smartwool Performance Hike Light Cushion Crew
My favorite Smartwool hiking sock, the Hike Light Cushion Crew is softer than most hiking socks, thanks to Smartwool's premium merino wool. Its smart design also features strategically placed cushioning, ventilation panels, and a special weave that adds durability in high-wear areas. With a blend of 57% Merino wool, 35% recycled nylon, 6% nylon, and 2% elastane, this sock offers a nice balance between comfort and durability. I wear my pair for 3-season hiking and also sleep in them while backpacking in colder weather.
#2
Old School Hiking Sock for Cooler Weather
Hike Classic Edition Crew Socks
This is the sock that launched merino wool blend hiking socks back in the '90s. The Hike Classic is a midweight Smartwool hiking sock that leans into comfort and durability. Thicker than the socks above, it runs warmer and lasts a little longer in my experience. (I've personally owned several pairs of these.) This sock has a pretty standard merino/synthetic blend—56% Merino Wool, 31% Recycled Nylon, 11% nylon, 2% Elastane—with a choice of several cushioning levels. For me, this is more of a cool to cold weather sock, but hikers who prefer thicker socks can wear it year round.
#3
Heavyweight Sock for Cold Temps
Smartwool Classic Mountainteer Maximum Cushion
This is the Smartwool sock for men and women who want to indulge in plush cushioning, soft merino wool, and extra warmth. With high merino wool content (74%) and maximum cushion across the entire sock, this is Smartwool's softest, warmest, and cushiest sock. This heavy-weight sock is made for high-elevation mountaineering missions in snowy, alpine conditions—and too warm for my tastes. But it's a cozy possibility for cold-climate hikers who want extra warmth and extra comfort.
How to choose Smartwool hiking socks?
The Smartwool website lists at least 65 different pairs of socks. If you don't want to pick one of the socks I recommended above, you'll need to sort through all your Smartwook options by sock series, weight, height, cushion, and material composition. Understanding each of those variables can help you divide and conquer the selection of Smartwool hiking socks at whichever store or webite you shop. Or, simply use the this sock finder on Smartwool's website.
Smartwool Sock Series
Slowly but surely, Smartwool has been reigning in its sock selection. Prior to 2025, you needed to choose between the normal Smartwool "Hike" socks and slightly more expensive "Performance Hike" or "PhD Outdoor" hiking socks. For 2025, those have been consolidated into a single "Hike" line up that's equivalent to its old "Performance Hike" line.
- Hike: socks with "Hike" (or "Performance Hike") are Smartwool's best hiking socks.
- Classic Edition: socks with "Hike Classic Edition" in the title are older, heritage styles with extra comfort
- Hike Second Cut: blend 50% merino wool with 50% recycled sock waste for a more sustainable hiking sock.
Sock Weight
The weight of the sock refers to the thickness of its yarn. Generally speaking, thicker hiking socks will be more durable and warmer on your feet—for better or worse. They also soak up more moisture.
Most hikers will choose a lightweight or midweight hiking sock. The weight mostly affects warmth and moisture absorption. Lightweight socks will keep your hiking feet cooler and drier, and midweight hiking socks will run warmer and absorb more sweat and water.
If you mostly hike in warm weather and/or sweat easily, choose a lightweight hiking sock to keep your feet cooler and drier. Midweights can work for all four seasons and add some durability. (For me, they're too warm for above freezing temperatures.) If you're a dedicated winter hiker, a heavyweight sock might make sense (but I stay plenty warm in a midweight myself).
I slept in Smartwool Hike Light Cusion Crew socks on the Tour du Mont Blanc
Sock Height
You can also choose your Smartwool hiking socks by height. The brand has nine different lengths—with 4 main lengths for hikers. From shortest to highest cut, Smartwool hiking sock lengths are
Traditional Crew-cut Smartwool Hiking Socks
Sock Cushion
Smartwool hiking socks include size different cushion options:
- Zero cushion keeps things as light and simple as possible
- Targeted cushion with only cushioning at the heel and toes
- Light cushion for a light layer of cushioning underfoot plus the heel & toes
- Full cushion has medium cushioning throughout the sock for added warmth and protection
- Extra cushion has heavy cushioning across the entire sock
- Maximum cushion for the warmest and most protective hiking sock
Sock Material
Smartwool hiking socks also vary by material composition. Most of the brand's hiking socks will have a mix of merino wool, nylon, and elastane—and, occasionally, polyester:
- Merino wool is a soft (not scratchy) natural fiber that's naturally odor-resistant, regulates temperature (in both hot and cool weather), insulates when wet, absorbs little moisture, dries relatively quickly, and improves the breathability of your hiking footwear. The downside is that merino wool is less durable and absorbs more moisture than synthetic materials.
- Nylon is a synthetic fiber that's not as soft as merino wool but adds structure and durability to the merino wool blend.
- Polyester is a soft, moisture-wicking, and quick-drying synthetic material that's sometimes added to Smartwool socks for added softness and moisture management.
- Elastane adds stretch and structure for a high-performance, foot-hugging fit for your hiking feet.
True sock geeks can pore over the Tech Specs of each Smartwool hiking sock to find their perfect blend of merino wool and nylon fibers. For example, a sock with 60% merino wool/40% nylon would be much softer and less durable than a sock with the reverse blend of 40% merino wool and 60% nylon. Going further, the 60% merino sock would absorb more moisture (sweat, snow, water) but insulate better when wet. The 60% nylon sock wouldn't insulate as well when wet but would wear drier and dry faster than the 60% merino sock.
More than 90% of my hiking socks are made with Merino Wool Blends
Should you buy Smartwool hiking socks?
Over fiften years of extensive hiking, I've never had a bad experience in Smartwool hiking socks. I now prefer Darn Tough hiking socks when I'm not testing other good hiking sock brands. However, Smartwool socks tend to be softer than comparable Darn Tough socks, and they last a long time, too—just not as long as Darn Tough. If you're not sold on Smartwool, please browse my other hiking sock brand recommendations.
I almost always own a couple pairs of Smartwool socks. At the very least, I prefer sleeping in Smarwool hiking socks on backpacking trips (for the softness). But I still hike in them, too, especially the Hike Light Cushion. I once let the owner of a well-known shoe store talk me out Smartwool. But the brand he recommended didn't stand up to Smartwool's feel or fit.
It's a great sock brand, thanks to the quality of its merino wool, which Smartwool sources from New Zealand. Plus, its respectable two-year warranty offers some piece of mind. If you want a soft hiking sock that helps regulate the temperature and moisture around your feet, you should have a good experience in Smartwool hiking socks.
