The Best Hiking Socks of 2023

With more than 1,200 reviews, these socks still held a 4.8-star rating. We’ve found Darn Tough’s hiking socks have the perfect balance of warmth and wicking properties and the best quality in terms of price. The Darn Tough Quarter Cushion socks ($22) have light cushioning and a blend of merino wool, nylon, and spandex.

Collectively, we have put down hundreds of miles in our Darn Tough Quarter Cushion socks. They aren’t too thick, yet provide enough padding to remain comfortable and prevent rubbing and slipping when in use.

Customers rave about these socks’ great fit, durability, and comfortable performance across activities like hiking, biking, and running. Many reviewers also commented these were their socks of choice for backpacking and thru-hiking. Plus, all of Darn Tough’s socks are made in the U.S. and carry an “unconditional lifetime guarantee.”

I’m always a fan of socks that perform well, but look cool in casual situations. With fun color options and an athletic feel, the Feetures Elite Lite Cushion ($20) is a perfect example.

With their anatomic (Left and Right) specific design and targeted compression, I wore these socks running, cycling, and hiking, and wasn’t afraid to show them off at the brewery after. The thin material is dense, giving them a surprising amount of cushion for the weight. I also really liked the seamless design, which added comfort.

They moisture wicked well, but in less breathable shoes (think waterproof hiking boots), my feet did get a little damp. The sizing was on point, and though all feet are unique, the fit is about as comfortable as any sock I’ve owned.

I tend to go through socks pretty quickly, and after wearing these on a weekly basis for two months, they’ve yet to show any significant wear. Overall, the Feetures Elite Light Cushion is a great hybrid option for forays on and off the trail. Plus, they’re a great value. $20 for a quality crew-cut sock is tough to beat.

If minimal cushion and a lightweight feel are what you’re looking for, you can’t beat these ultralight socks ($18) from REI, made with an eco-friendly recycled polyester blend. The socks have seamless toe construction (essential for many hikers), as well as reinforced heels, toes, Achilles, and footbeds to prevent wear and tear over time.

If you want crew-height protection on the trail but also want something lightweight, the REI COOLMAX Ultralight Tech Socks might be the ones for you. Customers love the fit and feel, and many noted how great they are at keeping your feet dry.

The only con? For some, the reinforced areas in the sock made these feel a little thicker than “ultralight.”

The Balega Hidden Comfort ($16) is a go-to running sock for those who prefer the no-show style. They manage to provide a cushioned feel while also wicking moisture well, and I had no complaints when wearing them in a range of outdoor conditions.

Personally, no-show socks aren’t my favorite. They tend to sag in the back over time, and unless I’m running on pavement, I prefer the feeling of protection over my ankles. That said, these socks performed admirably.

I wore them on several overnight trips into the mountains, and I found them perfect for the uphill where my feet were getting hot quickly. The no-show height made them more breathable, and my lower legs felt cooler as a result.

While billed as a running sock, I’d recommend these to any no-show lovers engaged in high-output pursuits. For the ounce-counters on the trail, you’ll certainly save weight with the Balega Hidden comfort socks.

We cross-checked customer ratings across multiple brand sites and retailers, and the Darn Tough Micro Crew Socks ($25) won the slot for the highest-rated hiking socks. With an average overall rating of 4.7 stars over 2,000 reviews, these socks provide a great fit, comfort, and medium cushion.

We loved testing these socks season-round, but they’re especially great for hiking in summer and fall. They provide enough warmth in cooler weather but great wicking properties when the temps are up. They come in the standard crew height to protect you from rocks, prickly brush, and more, for men and women.

Customers rave about these socks for their all-day comfort, durability, and fit. They aren’t the lightest in terms of weight but were more durable than most we tried day in and day out. Darn Tough also has a lifetime guarantee, so if the socks you choose aren’t just right, or if your favorite pair fails after a few months or years, the brand will replace them.

Smartwool’s lightweight merino wool ski socks already have our vote, but what about socks for summer? The Smartwool Hike Light crews are a great choice at $24. The merino wool, nylon, and elastane blend socks are made in the USA, have flat-knit toe seams, and come in four sizes.

Depending on the amount of colored yarn in each style, this sock’s amount of merino wool ranges from 60% to 70%, which we noticed prioritized softness, comfort, and breathability. We also found the sizing was accurate (didn’t provide too much compression and didn’t slip on the calf).

The original light hiker socks come in four muted colors in men’s and women’s sizing, but of course, Smartwool offers lots of bright and bold patterns to choose from as well. Our editors’ favorites to rock on the trail are the Hike Light Margarita or Hike Light Striped crew socks.

Swiftwick is definitely a newer player in the outdoor sock market, but it’s doing great things. The brand makes hiking and running socks as well as cycling socks, fitness socks, and more. The Pursuit Seven ($22) merino wool, nylon, and spandex blend sock came out less than 2 years ago and has already garnered a lot of praise from hikers everywhere.

The socks are mid-calf height and offer medium cushion, with a reinforced heel and toe to maximize durability. When our editors tried them on, we liked the fit, comfort, and smooth-to-the-touch feel of the seamless knit construction. (This sock is 63% wool).

When hiking, we also noticed the ventilation “channels” knit into the upper of the sock for better breathability in hot weather. The Pursuit Seven comes in four sizes.

Swiftwick also just launched the Pursuit Hike collection for men and women, which is a similar style but a more technical, “drier” hiking sock (thanks to the addition of olefin fibers). The Pursuit Hike collection also has varying cushion options. We are still in the process of testing these new ones out.

In the warmer months, we noticed these socks got a bit hotter than our top two choices on this list.

The days of polyester and nylon socks are over. Now socks are made with everything from 3D-engineered knit to hemp, yak wool, and more.

The material breakdown of the Bison Sock ($32) from United By Blue is unusual yet effective. Yes, these socks are pricey. But the comfort and durability are worth it, especially if you have yet to find a pair of hiking socks you love.

The Bison Trail socks have a blend of nylon, spandex, and, of course, bison down. Similar to wool, bison down fiber is naturally temperature-regulating and odor-wicking, but unlike wool, it’s softer and warmer as well. (We definitely agree on the warmer part.) So these crew trail socks — with a flat toe seam and reinforced sole — are a great year-round option.

While mainly a running sock brand, Rockay has recently expanded to socks designed for cycling and hiking as well. We’ve been testing the Flare running socks while trail running and the Razer socks for hiking.

The Razer Socks ($28) have a compression sock-like fit and a performance light- to medium-level of cushioning. For us, these socks were definitely breathable and didn’t slip down, although they fit a little differently. 

But the biggest difference between these socks and others we tested is these are the only ones made entirely of 100% recycled materials. That’s right — no animal wool. Rockay uses a blend of 51% Econyl regenerated nylon, 45% recycled polyamide, and 4% recycled elastane.

We only had them in testing for about a month, so can’t speak to the product’s long-term durability, and we’ll plan to update this review as we test further. But they do come with a lifetime guarantee. And they are a good price.

We found these socks run slightly small. If you are at the largest end of the size range, consider sizing up.

The WRIGHTSOCK Double Layer Silver Escape Crew ($25) is perfect for those who are going to be on the trail for a while and are averse to the stink (who isn’t?).

In testing, I did my best to get these socks sweaty, trudging up scree and sand with a heavy pack. WRIGHTSOCK claims the silver-lined fabric reduces the buildup of odor, so after wearing them I’d leave them to dry out in the sun. I was skeptical, but in the end they lasted a few days before I could smell even a hint of odor.

Performance-wise, I can see why these socks are a hot choice for long-distance hikers. They have the feel of a wool sock and are efficiently warm, but were far more breathable than I expected.

If you like the feel of a thicker, burlier sock and expect to test the limits of your socks’ durability and stink resistance, the Double Layer Silver Escape should be at the top of your list.

If you think toe socks look weird and haven’t given them a try, I think these socks are a perfect excuse to expand your mind. The Injinji Liner Crew ($12) is remarkably comfortable, and the performance matches the feel.

The main benefit of toe socks is blister prevention, and in testing these socks it proved to be true. Because the material prevents the toes from rubbing together, I had zero blisters after forays where I normally would have had hot spots in multiple places. Apart from that, the COOLMAX Ecomade polyester feels like a dream on your feet, and they dry extremely well.

In hot temperatures, these socks wicked moisture with the best. With the high water flows in the Sierra this Spring, they got soaked when I stepped in a pool through a stream crossing, and I was amazed at how quickly I felt them drying out on their own.

The one caveat to toe socks (even the best designed), is their durability. Perhaps because the toes have more points of contact at the ends of the feet, you really have to make sure your toenails are cut. Otherwise, you may end up with a small hole forming after just a couple months of use. That said, they’re only $12, and they’re made of recycled materials, so you can restock guilt-free.

Overall, I’d recommend the Injinji Liner Crew to anyone putting in long days who prioritizes comfort and blister prevention. They’re also incredibly light, making them an easy addition to ultralight kits.