Socks may be the last thing you think of when it comes to hiking gear, but they play a huge part in keeping our feet happy on the trail. The wrong pair of socks can lead to blistered, sweaty feet, and no one wants that! We’ve been testing quite a few different brands and styles. Read on to see how they stacked up.
Thorlo XWCU Experia
The lightest of all the socks we tested, the Experia line from Thorlo is designed to provide cushioning only where it is needed, and reduce knit where it isn’t needed. The Experia line comes in two heights, micro mini-crew and standard crew, and is available in a synthetic or merino wool/silk knit.
The Experia line is great for people who don’t like a lot of sock when they are hiking or trail running. We tested these on shorter hikes with low-cut hiking shoes. The padding in the heel and ball of the foot provided plenty of cushioning, and the combination of merino and mesh sections helped wick away moisture to keep feet dry. With padding to a minimum, these paired well with low-cut hikers and trail runners, where thicker hiking socks don’t pair as well.
Overall, after getting used to the zoned cushioning, the Experia socks were great for light hikes and trail runs. On warmer days, these performed really well, helping to keep feet cool even when the temperatures weren’t. MSRP $16.99/pair.
Point 6 Trekking Tech Heavy Crew
We first featured Point 6 in our Ski Sock Roundup earlier this year. We also have had a chance to test their merino wool/nylon/spandex blend hiking sock on the trails. These were comfortable and soft against the foot, due to the 100% compact spun merino wool against the skin. Ventilation panels provide breathability and a minimal toe seam doesn’t cause any hot spots on long hikes. After multiple wears and washes, these held up well and kept their shape. MSRP $21.95/pair.
Darn Tough Vermont Hike/Trek Micro Crew
These super dense hiking socks from Darn Tough are built to last. Made with merino wool, nylon, and lycra, they hold their shape, breathe, and can handle long hikes and still look brand new after multiple washes. Even with the advanced yarn blends, the Hike/Trek Micro Crews are what one could call a classic hiking sock, and one that will hold up for many, many hikes. MSRP $16.95/pair.
Icebreaker Hike Mid Crew and Mountaineer Mid Calf
The brand behind the BaaCode (where you can trace the wool from your product to the farm in New Zealand where it was harvested) has been putting a lot of energy into strengthening and expanding their sock lineup. The Hike Mid Crew are heavier hiking socks, designed for longer hikes or multi-day treks. Keeping your foot wrapped in merino wool helps to wick away sweat and keep odors at bay, always nice after a long day of hiking. For backpacking trips, these would be one of my go-to pairs of socks as they keep their shape even after a long day on the trail, allowing for multiple days of use. A bit more expensive than other socks on the market, but worth the extra bucks. MSRP $18.99/pair.
The Mountaineer Mid Calf socks got by far the most vigorous testing of the bunch. Training hikes and three days in a pair of plastic mountaineering boots on Mt. Rainier will really show you how well a sock will hold up. They provided plenty of cushion, and the merino wool helped manage moisture well, no small feat for being trapped inside plastic boots, which by nature, do not breathe. When others in the team were complaining about stretched out socks and sweaty feet, the Mountaineer Mid Calf socks kept their shape. I’ve worn other mountaineering socks before but never was quite as impressed as I was with the Icebreaker socks. Priced competitively with other mountaineering socks on the market at $23.99/pair.
Bridgedale X-Hale Trail Diva
The X-Hale Trail Diva socks are one of Bridgedale’s most popular, and it’s easy to see why. Though they are a lightweight sock, they have targeted cushion areas to pad and protect feet from blisters in your boots on long days on the trail. Made with a blend of mostly synthetic yarns (Nylon, Endurofil, and Lycra), they remain soft and durable because of the added addition of Merino wool (making up 27% of the yarn blend). The over-the-ankle cut allows you to wear these socks with a variety of different hiking boots and shoes, which was great for hikes on hot days that required a taller boot for support and stability (and a mid-calf sock would be too hot in the sun). Initially skeptical of the lower percentage of Merino wool (personal preference for Merino wool socks), I was pleasantly surprised by there durability and performance. MSRP $16.95/pair.
Product samples provided by the manufacturers for review purposes.
Thanks for the list, this is good information to know. Socks and boots are the 2 most important gear on a hike, the difference between having a lot of pain or not.
These socks are very high tech, I remember when I was in bootcamp our drill instructors made us change socks during hikes but I never did.