The Best Wool Socks of 2024

Consider these the Goldilocks of the wool sock world. The Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew sock ($25) hits that sweet spot with durability and comfort — no matter who wears them. The fit is just snug enough to feel supported while logging hours on the trail, as our tester discovered during an overnight backpacking trip in Colorado’s Mount Massive Wilderness. But they aren’t too tight, so you never feel like your feet are turning into stuffed sausages. It’s a fine line, and Darn Tough walks it well (probably in these socks). 

We felt slight cushioning along the Achilles tendon and beneath our feet, but the sock wasn’t bulky or cumbersome. We climbed 4,000 vertical feet over 10 miles on our backpacking trip, and the cushioning never once folded or bunched in my boot. we typically prefer a thinner sock for that very reason, but never once cursed the padded gods while wearing the Darn Tough socks. 

And, we like the cut. Like most hikers, we usually opt for a higher-cut sock that keeps grit and sand out of my shoe. But, we don’t love the look of shorts and socks reaching halfway up to our knees. The Hiker Micro Crews sit about 4-5 inches above a low-cut boot and just barely above a midcut. This is just enough to ward off dirt while still maintaining (a few) style points.

Durability is always tough to test with a limited window of time, but we’ve worn the Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew sock routinely for over two months and there is nary a snag or pilling to be seen. They’ll eventually give out — all socks do — but that’s where Darn Tough’s incredible lifetime warranty steps in. We’ve actually traded in other pairs in the past, and it’s not lip service: Darn Tough will send you a new pair.

You get a lot of bang for your buck with the Minus33 Boot Liners ($18). Not only do they perform well and feel good, but you can bring them with you for almost any activity — and they won’t break your budget.

While the price tag is lower than every other sock in this guide, the merino wool-to-nylon ratio is the second highest. The Boot Liners boast a whopping 61% merino wool which means they are less reliant on synthetic (and cheaper) fibers like nylon. But they still have a nice, snug fit. Our tester wore these socks while hiking in Colorado’s Roaring Fork Valley and mountain biking in Little Book Cliffs, and they were comfortable no matter what we did. 

And, they more than passed the stink test. During testing, we wore them for seven days straight, including three days of camping, four mountain bike rides, and two lunchtime hikes. With all of that dust and sweat, our tester still able to take a big whiff without grimacing (in the name of testing, of course). Bonus: Due to their thinner construction and lack of padding, the Boot Liners can also pull double duty in the winter with a second pair of burlier socks. Year-round use, for the win.

If there is a slight tradeoff, it’s the ten-inch cut. Our tester is 5’5”, and the Minus33 Boot Liners hit slightly awkwardly, right above the base of the calves. This isn’t a deal breaker, as you can just tug them down a pinch, and all is right. But it’s worth noting.

If you’re anything like us, you have a massive pile of lonely single socks sitting somewhere in your closet. Like us, you plan to reunite those socks with their partners … one day. Like us, chances are good that your reunion tour will never happen.

That’s the beauty of the Smartwool Hike Second Cut socks ($22). Socks are one of the most commonly tossed apparel items, so Smartwool aims to combat that by requesting folks send in their singles. From there, they turn those companionless foot covers into new socks like the Hike Classic Second Edition. Not only does this clear out your closet, but it also saves thousands of socks from landfills. 

Of course, it’s only brilliant if we love them — and we do. The weave feels slightly rougher than the Hike Classic without recycled fabrics, but it’s barely noticeable and doesn’t cause extra chafing or hot spots. And the cushioning is just enough padding to add more comfort when standing all day.

The Smartwool Hike Second Cut socks have a slightly looser fit, which is especially noticeable around the arch and toes. It’s not sloppy, and our tester praised the extra wiggle room for preventing blisters between her tootsies. But, some long-distance hikers may prefer a snugger performance fit.

Move over, merino. Alpaca wool is beginning to claim the limelight. Unlike our other top picks, the Paka Performance socks use Alpaca wool in place of merino. While Alpaca is lesser known in the United States, many say the performance capabilities are superior. Alpaca is slightly less itchy than sheep’s wool and thanks to its hollow fibers, it actually dries faster too. 

During testing, we fell in love with the Paka Performance ¾ Crew socks ($24) due to their sheer versatility. There is light cushioning beneath the foot (with a little bonus underneath the heel) so they fit closer to a liner than a thick sock. Because of this, we could use them while hiking, trail running, and mountain biking. With a little bit of spandex in the mix, the Performance socks nicely hug your feet but don’t feel like compression.

Paka weaves in a breathable mesh along the top of the foot, which changes the pattern and adds noticeable ventilation. With equal-sized fibers, Alpaca is warmer than merino, but we found these socks to breathe exceptionally well during a shoulder-season desert mountain biking adventure in Moab. Temps soared to 80 degrees and our tester’s body heat crept higher, but her tootsies were surprisingly void of sweat.

Bonus: We like the ¾ length too. When worn with low-cut hiking or biking shoes, the top of the sock sits about three inches above the cuff. It’s enough for protection but works much better for the bike than taller socks.

We divide the sock-wearing world into two categories: those who love toe socks and those who think they hate them but haven’t actually tried them. The Injinji Outdoor Midweight Mini-Crew Sock ($21) checks a lot of boxes with a massive 71% merino wool, a breathable weave, and a permanent farewell to blisters and chafing.

The Outdoor Midweights quickly became my go-to wool sock for trail running because they literally eliminated blisters between our tester’s first and second toe. After years as a ballerina, her feet are funky and often blister in this location as her feet swell inside her shoes. But adding the toe socks into the mix changed the game; she hasn’t seen a hot spot since. 

We really like the cut as the socks sit just above the ankle bone. This keeps grit out but doesn’t feel like you’re wearing pants on a hot summer day. Speaking of which, these injinjis dry quickly. Our tester stomped through a streambed while hiking near Hagerman Pass and was pleasantly surprised to find dry feet about 30 minutes later.

If your feet run chilly, take note: Injinji Outdoor Midweight Mini-Crew Socks run cold. Since each individual toe is isolated in its own pocket, you can’t share heat between toes. During warmer months, this is a non-issue. But as someone with Reynaud’s and terrible circulation, our tester noticed a chilled effect during cold, shoulder-season months.

Who doesn’t love a colorful sock? And it’s even better when it performs as well as the Ortovox Alpine Light Comp Mid ($35). With light compression, a good chunk of wool, and a snug fit, the Alpine Light socks became a favorite for backpacking and burlier day hikes.

Uniform compression throughout is weaved into the socks so they fit like a gentle hug: not too tight, but definitely not loose. Ortovox claims the compression prevents fatigue, but we didn’t notice any performance benefits like that. However, the secure fit felt great in boots and we never saw a hot spot — even after some late-season snow sloshed inside our shoes and caused annoying friction. 

We loved wearing these Ortovox socks in warm weather since the wraparound mesh patterning on the foot breathes incredibly well. It did get a bit warm around the calf, but these felt routinely delightful in summertime high alpine conditions.

The Ortovox Alpine Light Comp Mid socks are available for men and for women with three fun color patterns for each. And, each sock has an ergonomic fit with a designated left and right foot. If you pop them on the wrong feet like we did, you’ll definitely notice.