best hiking socks: which brand should you buy?

You can usually tell who the real hikers are by their socks. Newbies might balk at the thought of dropping twenty-five bucks on a pair of hiking socks. But experienced hikers know that's money well spent. The best hiking socks help stop blisters and also support the breathability of your hiking boots and hiking shoes. The best hiking sock brands are 

• Darn Tough
• Smartwool
• Minus 33
• FITS
• COOLMAX

I should know—I've personally hiked more around 15,000 miles in the past two decades, and these are the best hiking socks in my sock drawer. Here's more information on the best hiking brands. 

Best Hiking Sock Brands 

Darn Tough

Overall best hiking socks

Darn Tough is the brand that most outdoor industry professionals wear—including me. Darn Tough hiking socks hit hit the sweet spot with their blend of merino wool and synthetic fibers. The merino wool helps regulate heat and moisture while the synthetic fibers add stretch, structure, and durability. They're so durable that Darn Tough offers an insane lifetime guarantee. Yes, on socks.

My buddy Jacob sold me on the brand when he completed the thru-hiker's "Triple Crown"—the Appalachian Trail (2190 miles), Pacific Crest Trail (2650 miles), and Continental Divide Trail (3100 miles)—wearing just two pairs of Darn Tough socks. That's 8000 miles. In only two pairs of socks. And he's still wearing them.  

I've been wearing Darn Tough myself since 2020. Which Darn Tough hiking socks should you buy? My favorite lightweight hiking sock is the Darn Tough Light Hiker Micro Crew, and I wear the midweight Darn Tough Hiker Boot Full Cushion for long hikes and colder weather. 

Smartwool 

Softest hiking socks

Hikers can't go wrong with a pair of Smartwool hiking socks. They're not Darn Tough, but they are darn soft.

Smartwool socks run a little softer than the competition, thanks to the quantity and quality of the merino wool they've sourced from New Zealand. Merino isn't itchy—it's softer than synthetic fibers, resists odor, wicks moisture,  and insulates when wet. That means it regulates our temperature and moisture in all seasons. I've literally hiked in the same Smartwool socks at 110 degrees (Grand Canyon) and -15 degrees (Wisconsin). That's pretty wild. 

Smartwool socks won't be as durable as Darn Tough, but they have a solid, 2-year warranty. The Smartwool Performance Hike Light Cushion is one of my staples, and I've had a long-term relationship with the Smartwool Hike Classic Edition (light cushion).  

FITS

Alternative to Smartwool Hiking Socks

FITS may not have the name recognition of Smartwool. But they're right with them in terms of quality. In fact, I'll sometimes pick my FITS Light Hiker-Mini Crews over Smartwool and Darn Tough on days when my sock drawer is full. 

FITS set out to make the best-fitting socks in the world. Their nuanced fit—made to hug the contours of your feet and widen at your calves—may give them the nod over Smartwool. They also have a little more Merino wool content, too, which makes them a little softer than both Smartwool and Darn Tough. As a bonus, FITS are also made in the United States.

Having personally hiked more than 1000 miles in FITS hiking socks, I can vouch that they're indeed comfortable and cushioned without any extra bulk or creases around your foot. They also have a nuanced fit, which keeps them comfortably snug around your hiking feet. For me, their fit, added cushion, and slightly higher wool content makes them a comfortable choice for my hikes.

Minus 33 Hiking Socks

Alternative to Darn Tough

Based in Ashland, New Hampshire, Minus 33 Merino Wool revived an old wool mill to jump back into the high end Merino wool market. Minus 33 Merino Wool is similar to Darn Tough. Both companies are based in New England, and both of them are working to make durable outdoor socks with the perfect Merino-synthetic blends for peak performance. The fit and fiber blend of Minus 33 hiking socks is similar to Darn Tough, but Minus 33 socks cost $5-10 less than their DT counterparts. 

My Minus 33 hiking socks have held up well the past two years. I prefer the texture of the other brands, but Minus 33 is a high-quality alternative that can save you a few dollars compared to Darn Tough or Smartwool. If my Darn Tough hiking socks are dirty, I don't notice much of a difference when I wear my Minus 33 hiking socks. Their best-seller is the Day Hiker Crew Sock, which is heavy on the Merino wool content (75%) and light on price ($13.99). It would be softer and less durable than the Mountain Heritage series that I've been wearing—and hits a nice price point for Merino wool socks.

COOLMAX

Synthetic alternative to merino wool

If you're not a believer in merino wool, look for synthetic COOLMAX hiking socks under several brand labels, including Darn Tough and REI Co-Op. COOLMAX is a polyester fiber that wicks moisture away from your feet to evaporate. This not only keeps your feet drier than cotton socks, but also has an evaporative cooling effect. That makes COOLMAX hiking socks a solid choice for summer hiking.

Polyester is a big upgrade over cotton in terms of moderating the moisture and temperature inside your hiking footwear. The downside is that COOLMAX socks don't insulate as well as merino wool when wet and also absorbs funky foot odor over time. My wife is sensitive to many materials, including merino wool, and wears Darn Tough COOLMAX hiking socks or REI Co-Op Coolmax hiking socks to get many of the benefits of merino wool blends. 

merino-synthetic blends vs cotton socks

It doesn't make sense to buy the best hiking boots or hiking shoes if you're going to sabotage them with a cheap-ass pair of cotton athletic socks?!

You see, cotton absorbs moisture and dries slowly. That means hot, sweaty feet in summer—increasing your odds for blisters—and cold, wet feet in winter, which can lead to hypothermia (thus the saying, "Cotton kills"). Sweat- and water-logged socks also will wear away at the insides of your hiking shoes and hiking boots, reducing their lifespan. Plus, cotton socks reduce the breathability of your hiking footwear, especially waterproof hiking boots and hiking shoes. 

That's why smart hikers will gladly spend more for Merino-blend hiking socks. 

Merino wool is an impressive natural fiber taken from Merino sheep. This isn't the itchy wool of yesteryear. Merino fibers are longer, softer, and blend easier than the wool from other breeds of sheep. That makes Merino blends soft against the skin (not scratchy). 

Merino wool has several additional qualities that will keep your hiking feet happy. It

The downside is that Merino wool isn't the most durable fiber. So the best hiking socks will blend Merino wool with nylon to add some strength and durability. That mix will keep your feet drier and will help your hiking boots and hiking shoes breathe.

buy the best hiking socks

I'll skimp on a lot of outdoor gear. But I don't skimp on my hiking boots or hiking shoes. And I don't skimp on my socks, either. 

Do you think you've found the perfect pair of hiking socks?! If this post helped you decide, please consider buying them through the affiliate links above. Hiking Feet may receive a small commission (at no cost to you). These commissions fund this site (and compensate me for the hundreds of unpaid hours I spent creating free content to help you buy the best footwear for you.) If this site hooked you up, please consider hooking me up, too. Thanks, I appreciate it!</p>