You can usually tell who the real hikers are by their socks. Newbies might balk at the thought of dropping twenty to twenty-five bucks on a pair of hiking socks. But experienced hikers know that's money well spent. The best hiking socks—the ones made with Merino wool-synthetic blends—help you keep your feet drier. That helps prevent blisters and also supports the waterproofing and breathability of your hiking boots and hiking shoes. What are the best hiking socks? What brand should you buy?
- Darn Tough
- Smartwool
- Minus 33
- FITS
Darn Tough hiking socks
Darn Tough hiking socks have the best reputation in the outdoor industry. Their socks hit hit the sweet spot with their mix of Merino wool (for comfort, odor resistance, temperature & moisture control) and synthetic fibers (for durability & moisture wicking) to keep your feet as dry and comfortable as possible. I'd estimate that 90% of outdoor industry professionals wear Darn Tough hiking socks.
They're so durable that Darn Tough offers an insane lifetime guarantee. Yes, on socks.
My buddy Jacob (pictured above) sold me on the brand when he told me that he completed the thru-hiker's "Triple Crown"—the Appalachian Trail (2190 miles), Pacific Crest Trail (2650 miles), and Continental Divide Trail (3100 miles)—in the same two pairs of Darn Tough socks. That's 8000 miles. In only two pairs of socks. And he's still wearing them.
You can usually tell who the real hikers are by their socks. Newbies might balk at the thought of dropping twenty to twenty-five bucks on a pair of hiking socks. But experienced hikers know that’s money well spent. The best hiking socks–the ones made with a blend of Merino wool and synthetic fibers–help you keep your feet and footwear drier. That helps prevent blisters and also supports the waterproofing and breathability of your hiking boots and hiking shoes. What are the best hiking socks? These are the best brands for hiking socks, based on my outdoor industry experience and my personal experience hiking 1000+ miles a year:
Here are a few pro picks to help you choose the brand and cut that will work best for you:
best hiking socks
Darn Tough: best hiking socks
Darn Tough hiking socks have the best reputation in the outdoor industry. Their socks hit hit the sweet spot with their mix of Merino wool (for comfort, odor resistance, temperature & moisture control) and synthetic fibers (for durability & moisture wicking) to keep your feet as dry and comfortable as possible.
They’re so durable that Darn Tough offers an insane lifetime guarantee!?! Yes, on socks.
My buddy Jacob (pictured above) sold me on the brand when he told me that he completed the thru-hiker’s “Triple Crown”–the Appalachian Trail (2190 miles), Pacific Crest Trail (2650 miles), and Continental Divide Trail (3100 miles)–in the same two pairs of Darn Tough socks. That’s 8000 miles. In two pairs of socks (and he’s still wearing them).
Now the hard part: What are the best Darn Tough hiking socks?
That’s mostly a matter of personal preference for choosing the right thickness and height. Here are some brand highlights from lightweight to midweight options:
Darn Tough Light Hiker Micro Crew
Light Hiker Micro Crew: 54% nylon, 43% merino wool
The Light Hiker Micro Crew is the lightweight option for hikers who want a light sock that extends just above their boots. With less Merino Wool than other DT socks, the Light Hiker won’t be as soft, but it should be more durable and quicker to dry. This may be the best DT sock for the “less is more” crowd who cares more about weight and drying times.
Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew Cushion
Specs: 61% Merino Wool 36% Nylon 3% Lycra Spandex
The Micro Crew Cushion is another standout for Darn Tough. This is many hikers’ go-to hiking sock–and probably the first one I’d recommend to people who haven’t worn Darn Tough. With 50% more Merino Wool than the Light Hiker Micro Crew (above), this sock should be softer on your feet and adds a little more cushion underfoot to soften each step on the trail.
Darn Tough Boot Hiker Boot Cushion Sock
Specs: 64% Merino Wool, 33% Nylon, 3% Lycra® Spandex
The boot cushion sock is the softest Darn Tough hiking sock. It’s got a softer texture (due to higher Merino Wool content) and feels softer underfoot, too, with a little more cushion than the options above. A touch heavier and thicker than the socks above, this mid-weight is what I usually wear for hard day hikes and backpacking trips that will be hard on my feet. It’s also my go-to sock for winter hikes (but Merino wool is comfortable year-round).
Smartwool hiking socks
Smartwool is another premium brand that makes some of the best hiking socks on the market. Sourcing their Merino wool from New Zealand, these are comfortable socks that regulate temperature, resist odor, and wick moisture to keep your hiking feet happy.
Smartwool can’t match Darn Tough’s lifetime warranty; however, they offer a solid two-year 100% satisfaction guarantee. They generally contain more Merino wool than comparable Darn tough socks. That means Smartwool generally feel softer than comparable Darn Toughs–which may give them the edge in comfort. At the same time, they’re not quite as durable as Darn Toughs due to their higher ratio of Merino wool to synthetics.
What are the highlights of Smartwool’s sock line up?
Smartwool Hike Light Crew
This is a lightweight hiking sock that’s softer than Darn Tough’s lightweight crew since its got 50% more Merino wool. It’s a good pick for hikers looking for a lighter, faster-drying option for their day hikes or backpacking trips. This is the Smartwool hiking sock that I wear most often for my regular day hikes. Produce Specs: 69% Merino Wool, 30% Nylon, 1% Elastane
Smartwool PhD Outdoor Light
The PhD Outdoor Light is a lightweight sock with more Nylon in its weave for better durability and faster drying times. This sock will wear drier and last longer than the Smartwool Hike Light above. Specs: 56% Merino Wool, 41% Nylon, 3% Elastane
Smartwool Medium Hike Crew
This is Smartwool’s traditional, mid-weight hiking sock for hikers and backpackers who want a little more sock for protection, insulation, and/or durability. The tradeoff is that Smartwool’s Medium Hike lineup will hold a little more moisture than the lightweights above and take a little longer to dry. Specs: 66% Merino Wool, 33% Nylon, 1% Elastane
best alternatives to Darn Tough & Smartwool?
Darn Tough and Smartwool dominate the hiking sock market. And that’s well deserved. Both brands make excellent hiking socks. I’ve never had an issue with either brand, and I’ve hiked more than 10,000 miles in them over the past ten years.
But there are a couple other brands that are worth checking out–just to be different or to support quality US brands that don’t get as much attention.
Minus 33 Merino Wool
Based in Ashland, New Hampshire, Minus 33 Merino Wool revived an old wool mill to jump back into the high end Merino wool market. Like the established brands I recommend, their socks strike a balance between the softness and odor resistance of Merino wool and the durability of synthetics. Minus 33 offers a deep selection of heights, weights and colors with a hiking sock lineup that features lightweight and micro weight merino in six different heights, three different cushion levels and five colorways (click here to see their complete inventory).
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. I don’t have a ton of miles in the brand, but Minus 33’s Mountain Heritage hiking socks seem as if they’ll approach the quality of Darn Tough at the very least. Minus 33 Merino Wool can’t match Darn Tough’s ridiculous warranty–they offer a two-year guarantee (like Smartwool). On average, though, they cost at least $5 less than the comparable Darn Tough sock.
I’ve had a good experience in their Mountain Heritage Light Cushion Boot Wool Socks (61% Merino Wool, 23% Nylon, 15% Stretch Nylon, 1% Spandex) and Mountain Heritage Full Cushion Boot Wool Socks- Microweight (60% Merino Wool, 24% Nylon, 15% Stretch Nylon, 1% Spandex). So far, those Mountain Heritage socks (Minus 33’s high performance line) have performed on par with my Darn Tough and Smartwool socks (looking and feeling more like Darn Tough).
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.
FITS
FITS may not have the name recognition of Smartwool. But they’re right with them in terms of quality. In fact, I’ll sometimes reach pick my FITS Light Hiker-Mini Crews on days when my sock drawer is full–over Smartwool and Darn Tough.
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 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 more nuanced fit than Smartwool and Darn Tough, 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.
| Merino Wool | 65% |
| Nylon | 27% |
| Polyester | 6% |
| Lycra | 2% |
why wear the best hiking 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 and cold, wet feet in winter. That can lead to hypothermia (thus the saying, “Cotton kills”).
Meanwhile, wet socks will wear away at the insides of your hiking shoes and hiking boots–and may compromise your waterproof-breathable membranes, too.
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’s
- temperature regulation in both hot and cold weather
- naturally odor-resistant
- naturally moisture-wicking (to keep your feet drier)
- insulates when wet (unlike cotton)
The downside is that Merino wool isn’t the most durable fiber. So the best hiking socks will blend Merino wool with synthetic fibers to add some strength and durability. That mix will keep your feet drier and will help your hiking boots and hiking shoes breathe.
For me, a $20-25 hiking sock with a Merino/synthetic blend offers surprisingly good value. Rotating pairs, mine generally last 2-3 years of heavy hiking (1000 miles/year). Temperature-wise, I’ve worn the same Merino blend socks on 100+ degree hikes (Grand Canyon) and below zero hikes (Wisconsin).
are you ready to buy 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.
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!
