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The Best Hiking Socks of 2024

Good socks can make or break your hiking adventure. If you plan to hit the trails, make sure to grab a quality pair of socks first.

the best hiking socks of 2023(photo/Andrew Potter)
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Hiking lesson number one: Any time you hit the trail, be sure to grab a solid pair of hiking socks first.

Socks are critical to keeping feet dry and comfortable. Whether you’re camping, hiking, or backpacking, socks perform a critical role in your overall comfort. Luckily, we’ve got you — and your feet — covered.

For this review, we looked for socks that offer a good balance of breathability, cushion, stretch, and durability. Then we checked each brand’s sock performance through online reviews across multiple platforms.

To choose the best of the best, we ranked each sock on quality, feedback from our testing, and the volume of positive reviews from other users.

Scroll through our picks for the best hiking socks of the season, and be sure to check out our comprehensive buyer’s guide, comparison table, and FAQ section.

Remember, socks are tricky. No one sock is going to fit and serve everyone’s needs, but the ones on our list are by far the most popular, most tested, and most trusted.

Editor’s Note: We refreshed our guide on March 21, 2024, for spring to include the REI Co-op Merino Lightweight Flash Socks and the CEP Run Compression Mid Cut 4.0. We also included additional info about compression socks, moisture wicking, and cushioning in our buyer’s guide.

The Best Hiking Socks of 2024


Best Overall Hiking Socks

Darn Tough Hiker Quarter Cushion Socks

Specs

  • Material 61% merino wool/37% nylon/2% spandex
  • Height Quarter/ankle
  • Cushion Medium
  • Moisture wicking Yes
Product Badge The Best Hiking Socks of 2024

Pros

  • All-around performance
  • Lifetime guarantee

Cons

  • A bit pricey if you’re not willing to take the time to cash in on the warranty
Best Budget Hiking Socks

Feetures Elite Light Cushion Mini Crew Socks

Specs

  • Material 96% nylon/4% spandex
  • Height Mini crew
  • Cushion Light
  • Moisture wicking Yes
The Best Hiking Socks of 2024

Pros

  • Really cool design options
  • Highly versatile

Cons

  • Users have reported fading after a few washes
Best Lightweight Hiking Socks

REI Co-op Merino Lightweight Flash Socks

Specs

  • Material 45% merino wool/44% nylon/8% polyester/3% spandex
  • Height Crew
  • Cushion Light
  • Moisture wicking Yes
The Best Hiking Socks of 2024

Pros

  • Breathable
  • Exceptional moisture wicking
  • Soft on the skin
  • Durable

Cons

  • A bit pricey
Best No-Show Socks

Balega Hidden Comfort Socks

Specs

  • Material Polyester
  • Height No-show
  • Cushion Medium
  • Moisture wicking Yes
The Best Hiking Socks of 2024

Pros

  • Ideal for running, breathable, quick-drying

Cons

  • Not the warmest
  • No-show option is limited to a certain user group
Best Compression Hiking Socks

CEP Run Compression Mid Cut 4.0

Specs

  • Material 86% polyamide, 14% spandex
  • Height Crew
  • Cushion Targeted compression
  • Moisture wicking Yes
The Best Hiking Socks of 2024

Pros

  • Exceptional moisture wicking
  • Lightweight
  • Compression optimizes blood flow
  • Stylish

Cons

  • Prone to snagging
  • Not ideal if you’ll be taking them on and off throughout the day

Best of the Rest

REI Co-op Merino Wool Lightweight Hiking Crew Socks

Specs

  • 77% COOLMAX EcoMade polyester/22% nylon/1% spandex
  • Height Crew
  • Cushion Ultralight
  • Moisture wicking Yes
The Best Hiking Socks of 2024

Pros

  • COOLMAX material performs great and is extremely lightweight

Cons

  • “Ultralight” claim seems like a stretch as far as cushioning is concerned

Darn Tough Micro Crew Hiking Socks

Specs

  • Material 61% merino wool/36% nylon/3% Lycra spandex
  • Height Crew
  • Cushion Medium
  • Moisture wicking Yes
The Best Hiking Socks of 2024

Pros

  • Lifetime guarantee
  • Tried and true

Cons

  • Not the lightest, but makes up for it in virtually every other category

Smartwool Hike Light Crew Socks

Specs

  • Material 69% merino wool/22% recycled nylon/8% nylon/1% elastane
  • Height Crew
  • Cushion Light
  • Moisture wicking Yes
The Best Hiking Socks of 2024

Pros

  • Exceptional warmth-to-breathability ratio

Cons

  • As with any wool socks, not ideal for people with exceptionally hot feet

Swiftwick Pursuit Seven

Specs

  • Material 63% merino wool/ 37% nylon
  • Height Mid-calf
  • Cushion Medium
  • Moisture Wicking Yes
The Best Hiking Socks of 2024

Pros

  • Smooth, seamless construction is very comfortable.
  • Technically sound

Cons

  • Not the best for really warm conditions, or people whose feet run hot

United by Blue Bison Trail Socks

Specs

  • Material 64% merino wool/17% bison down/16% nylon/2% polyester/1% spandex
  • Height Crew
  • Cushion Light
  • Moisture wicking Yes
The Best Hiking Socks of 2024

Pros

  • The Bison down is truly unique, and meets an outdoor niche yet to be explored

Cons

  • A lot of money for a pair of socks

WRIGHTSOCK Double Layer Silver Escape Crew Socks

Specs

  • Material Inner layer: 65% Dri-WRIGHT ll polyester/26% nylon/5% silver/4% Lycra spandex; Outer layer: 68% Dri-WRIGHT ll polyester/24% nylon/8% Lycra spandex
  • Height Crew
  • Cushion Light
  • Moisture wicking Yes
The Best Hiking Socks of 2024

Pros

  • Silver lining is unique and up to the task of reducing odor

Cons

  • A bit warm for a “light” cushioned sock

Injinji Liner Crew Socks

Specs

  • Material Inner layer: 75% COOLMAX EcoMade polyester / 21% nylon / 4% Lycra spandex
  • Height Crew
  • Cushion None
  • Moisture wicking Yes
The Best Hiking Socks of 2024

Pros

  • Ideal for reducing blisters
  • Extremely soft feel

Cons

  • Toe socks tend to have durability problems for some users

Best Hiking Socks Comparison Table

Hiking SocksPriceMaterialHeightCushion
Darn Tough Hiker Quarter Cushion Socks$2161% Merino wool/37% nylon/2% spandexQuarter/ankleMedium
Smartwool Hike Light Crew Socks$2469% Merino wool/22% recycled nylon/8% nylon/1% elastane CrewLight
Darn Tough Micro Crew Hiking Socks$2561% Merino wool/36% nylon/3% Lycra spandexCrewMedium
REI Merino Lightweight Flash Socks$2045% Merino wool/44% nylon/8% polyester/3% spandexCrewLight
CEP Run Compression Mid Cut 4.0$1686% polyamide, 14% spandexCrewTargeted compression
REI Co-op Merino Wool Lightweight Hiking Crew Socks$1877% COOLMAX EcoMade polyester/22% nylon/1% spandex
CrewUltralight
United by Blue Bison Trail Socks
$3264% Merino wool/17% bison down/16% nylon/2% polyester/1% spandexCrewLight
Swiftwick Pursuit Seven
$2263% Merino wool/ 37% nylonMid-calfMedium
Feetures Elite Light Cushion Mini Crew Socks
$2096% nylon/4% spandexMini CrewLight
Balega Hidden Comfort Socks
$16PolyesterNo-showMedium
WRIGHTSOCK Double Layer Silver Escape Crew Socks
$25Inner layer: 65% Dri-WRIGHT ll polyester/26% nylon/5% silver/4% Lycra spandex; Outer layer: 68% Dri-WRIGHT ll polyester/24% nylon/8% Lycra spandexCrewNone
Injinji Liner Crew Socks$12Inner layer: 75% COOLMAX EcoMade polyester / 21% nylon / 4% Lycra spandexCrewNone
(Photo/Andrew Potter)

How We Tested Hiking Socks

Our testers tried out socks of every material, cut, size, and style on the market. We tested the socks on this list over the course of many months of day hiking, backpacking, winter hiking, walking, and more. We paired socks with camp slippers, hiking shoes, and mid to tall hiking boots to compare feel and fit.

Our two primary hiking sock testers are Mary Murphy and Andrew Potter — two highly experienced hikers with high sock standards. During testing, Mary and Andrew paid careful attention to fit, comfort, durability, wicking, and overall value.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Hiking Socks

Hiking socks in action. (photo/Mary Murphy)

The first step in the process is choosing the correct hiking socks for your preferred activities and your budget. Do you do a lot of backpacking and want socks with more support and cushion? Or do you mainly enjoy fast and light endeavors? Do your feet run hot or cold?

Decide how often you’ll be hiking, and what features are most important to you. If you hike a lot, the more durable, the better. If your feet run hot, stay away from wool. 

The two main variables to consider are your physical constitution and the types of activities you’ll be engaged in.

Materials

an assortment of Smartwool, Darn Tough, REI, and Swiftwick hiking socks
Hiking socks laid out for testing; (photo/Mary Murphy)

If your feet run cold, wool socks (like the Smartwool Performance Hike Light) are a great choice. Generally, wool is considered the warmest, yet most breathable option for outdoor gear.

If your feet run hot, or you’ll be hiking in high temperatures, consider something with a mix of materials and excellent moisture-wicking properties. The REI COOLMAX Socks are a great example, made with a combination of polyester, nylon, and spandex.

Activity

Obviously, we’re focused on hiking. But that could mean a two-hour excursion or a two-month trek. Some people take their time, and others hustle. Luckily, certain socks work better for each type of jaunt, and some work well enough for them all.

If you’re thru-hiking, you’ll want to look for durability, long-term comfort, and exceptional technical function. In that regard, there aren’t many better options than the lineup from Darn Tough. The REI Co-op Merino Wool Lightweight Hiking Crew Sock is a perfect example. They last long enough that the company offers a lifetime warranty, and the performance is there to match. They’ve long been considered the best, and we agree.

If you’re curious about trying out toe socks, the Inijini Liner Crew Socks are a solid choice; (photo/Andrew Potter)

If you’re into fast-paced endeavors, a lighter, streamlined, running-inspired sock will probably better suit your needs. On this list, the Swiftwick Pursuit Seven and Balega Hidden Comfort are perfect examples. Both have a compression feel, wick moisture extremely well, and dry out quickly..

Moisture Wicking and Breathability

For just about all types of hiking, and especially fast-paced endeavors, moisture wicking and breathability are essential. Moisture wicking pulls moisture away from the feet and promotes evaporation. Breathability helps expel trapped heat. As you can imagine, these factors go hand in hand.

Merino wool is a wonder fabric when it comes to the combination of warmth and breathability, whereas synthetic fibers tend to wick moisture better. The REI Co-op Merino Lightweight Flash offers an optimal blend of nearly half Merino and half synthetic fibers, so it’s a great choice if you’re looking for a compromise.

If your feet sweat profusely and you’re keen on high-output activities, we’d recommend something like the CEP The Run Compression socks. Their moisture-wicking properties are exceptional, and your feet will thank you after a long day.

Compression Socks

As mentioned above, compression socks improve blood flow, can aid in injury prevention, and are useful as a rehabilitative tool post-hike. If you’re an outdoor athlete and haven’t given them a try, we’d recommend giving them a shot both on and off the trail.

Because they have a very tight fit and can leave weathered footwear feeling loose, they aren’t optimal for casual hikes (unless you’re trying to keep plantar fasciitis at bay). If you’re wearing performance footwear, expect to sweat, and are planning on your feet and ankles taking a beating, they’re ideal. That said, we all have unique feet and needs. CEP’s compression lineup comes in a variety of stylish colors, so you may find yourself wearing them as your everyday socks to aid in recovery.

Cushioning

Cushioning is a tricky subject because more cushioning doesn’t necessarily translate to more comfort. Our shoes provide the primary source of padding from the ground, but socks with no cushioning at all can leave us with hot spots and blisters.

The heel and ball of the foot are the primary areas where at least some cushioning is needed, and every sock on this list addresses those to some degree. Thicker socks with higher wool content tend to provide more cushioning underfoot, whereas tighter, performance-oriented socks tend to have less.

While running or moving quickly, we’re more prone to use the muscles in our feet to brace us, which means we actually require less cushioning. Cushioning is more important for long-distance hiking where the impact is less but remains consistent throughout the day.

FAQ

What are the best hiking socks?

The best hiking socks that won out for us in testing were the Darn Tough Hiker Quarter Cushion and Smartwool Performance Hike Light Socks.

For a cheaper option, consider our best budget pick, the Feetures Elite Light Cushion Mini Crew Socks.

Should hiking socks be thick or thin?

This is partly based on intended activity and use and partly based on preference. Thicker socks with medium to heavier cushioning might feel more comfortable in a traditional hiking boot, while a light-cushioned sock might feel better in a lightweight or low-hiker. If you plan on doing a lot of hiking in the fall and winter or on longer-length trails, consider thicker socks (both for support and warmth).

What hiking sock material is best?

This is really a preference, and materials vary widely by brand and sock style. However, we’ll say we had the best performance and durability from socks with a merino, nylon, and elastane (or spandex) blend, where the merino is the higher material content (50-60%).

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