Best Hiking Socks: Brand Reviews

Made in Vermont, Darn Tough is the brand most outdoor industry pros wear —including me. Darn Tough hiking socks stand out for their durability, including an absurd lifetime warranty. They blend moisture- and temperature-regulating merino wool with sturdy nylon to deliver a comfortable, long-lasting hiking sock. I just retired my first pair after five years. But that's nothing compared to my buddy Jacob, who compled the "Triple Crown" —the Appalachian Trail (2100 miles), Pacific Crest Trail (2650 miles), and Continental Divide Trail (3100 miles)—in just two pairs of Darn Tough socks! My personal favorite is the lightweight Darn Tough Light Hiker Micro Crew (see mens / womens). For harder backpacking trips in cooler weather, I turn to the thicker Darn Tough Hiker Boot Full Cushion (see mens / womens).  

Hikers can't go wrong with Smartwool socks. They're not Darn Tough, but they are darn soft. Smartwool hiking socks run a little softer than the competition, thanks to the quantity and quality of their merino wool. Merino isn't itchy —it's softer than synthetic fibers, naturally odor-resistant, and regulates moisture and temperature in all conditions. I've literally hiked comfortably in the same Smartwool hiking sock at 110 degrees (Grand Canyon) and -15 degrees (Wisconsin). The brand has a solid, two-year warranty. The Smartwool Performance Hike Light Cushion in a staple in my sock drawer (see mens / womens). 

FITS set out to make the best-fitting hiking socks in the world. Their nuanced fit—made to hug the contours of your feet, hold your heel, and widen at your calves—may give them the nod over Smartwool. I'll sometimes pick my FITS socks over my Smartwool socks on days when both are clean in my sock drawer. Having hiked more than 1000 miles in FITS, I can vouch for their nuanced fit and their super-soft feel against my feet. With their higher merino wool content, they wear out faster than Darn Tough, but I almost always own a pair of FITS hiking socks. My personal favorite (and the brand's best seller) is the FITS Light Hiker Crew. 

A new brand for me in 2025, Farm to Feet ticks all the boxes from comfort to fit to the brand's conservation efforts. Made in North Carolina, these socks have a snug fit, a merino-nylon blend, and sophisticated textures made possible by 200-knit machines that allow for finer knits. Their design includes small details that improve comfort and durability: added ventilation in high-heat zones, reinforcements in high-wear areas, and slight padding on top to cushion under the laces—lots of little details that add up to a quality hiking sock. So far, I've loved the feel of the Damascus 3/4 Trail Crew on my test hikes. Like Darn Tough, Farm to Feet socks are guaranteed for life. 

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 hiking socks are similar to Darn Tough hiking socks with a durable blend of merino wool and synthetic fibers, but Minus 33 models generally cost $5-10 less. When my Darn Tough socks are dirty, I don't notice much of a difference when I wear my Minus 33 Mountain Heritage hiking socks instead. Mine have held up well for three years—better than Smartwool. I prefer the texture of some other brands, but Minus 33 is a high-quality alternative to more expensive brands. Dial in your dream sock by selecting your preferred sock weigh, cushioning level, and height on the Minus 33 website (linked below).   

Also based in North Carolina, Wrightsock is a family-owned company that targets hikers who've had blister problems. It's best known for its double layer socks, which have a snug-fitting, moisture-wicking synthetic layer next to skin and a second, outer layer made with another synthetic or merino-wool blend. This design keeps your feet drier while shifting friction from your skin to the two layers rubbing together. Each double-layer sock comes with a "No Blister Guarantee"—if someone gets a blister in them, they'll either replace it or buy it back. These thin layers don't feel as durable as other socks on this list but I haven't tested them long enough to judge their durability. Wrightsock may be the right socks for hot weather hikes and for hikers who prefer synthetic hiking socks over merino wool blends.    

If you've got stinky hiking feet, the Silverlight hiking sock mixes several technologies to fight the funk. Its socks mix merino wool from New Zealand—which is naturally odor-resistant—with nylon wrapped with silver-coated threads to fight odor-causing bacteria. These mid-weight hiking socks fit snug and feature a high nylon count for added durability. Unlike other brands, they even label socks with a R and L specifically to fit your right foot and left foot. Silverlight socks are expensive and not as soft as most of my hiking socks. But I've had good luck with them over a year of use, alternating them with other sock brands on this list. 

icebreaker makes great base layers and uses that same, high-quality merino wool in its hiking socks. Most hikers prefer merino wool blends because they're naturally odor resistant and regulate moisture and temperature better than most next-to-body fabrics. The icebreaker Merino Hike+ Light has the weight and merino wool percentage I prefer for my warm weather hikes. 

Merino wool blends dominate the hiking sock market, but could alpaca hiking socks be better? PAKA is an interesting brand, founded in Peru, that creates natural clothing woven with alpaca fibers—including hiking socks. Like merino wool, alpaca fiber is naturally soft, moisture-wicking, and odor-resistant. At the same time, it's lighter and retains even less moisture, keeping your hiking feet drier on the trail. I'm currently testing the Paka Trail Crew socks (57% recycled nylon, 33% baby alpaca fiber, 7% tencel, 3% spandex) to learn if alpaca-blend hiking socks actually outperform merino-blend hiking socks.

injinji makes high-performance toe socks that some hikers swear by. Toe socks prevent skin-on-skin rubbage in your toes, which can cause blisters (especially if you buy your shoes too small or narrow in the toe box). injini also uses moisture-wicking materials, such as COOLMAX polyester and merino wool, to keep your feet drier (which also reduces blisters). I'm trying these for the first time in 2025, so I don't have personal recommendations. Injinj fans either wear a lightweight or midweight toe sock on its own for hiking or wear an ultralight liner toe sock underneath their normal hiking socks for blister prevention. 

REI Co-Op makes budget-friendly, entry-level gear—including hiking socks. Most REI Co-Op hiking socks feature a high merino wool content to keep hikers' feet much drier than the average athletic socks. However, they also feature a few synthetic COOLMAX socks for men and women who don't want merino-wool blends. My wife is a fan of the REI Co-Op COOLMAX hiking crews, a polyester hiking sock to keep her feet cooler. The average hiker will get good value out of a lightweight or midweight merino-blend hiking sock. Most REI hiking socks cost $15-25—significantly cheaper than the brands above.