Updated July 2024
How to choose the best hiking socks
In a nutshell: The best socks for hiking include merino wool socks, lightweight merino blend socks, and socks with added cooling technology for warm weather hiking.
Very few things have the power to spoil a day of hiking quite like sweaty feet and painful blisters. Just like your hiking boots, your socks can make or break your experience, so take care to choose the best hiking socks before you hit the trail. Some of the most popular options are merino wool, merino wool mixed with silk, moisture wicking performance yarn, and extra-lightweight knits—each with different properties for different types of activity and weather.
Best all-around: Merino wool hiking socks
If you only buy one type of socks for all your hiking and backpacking, go with merino wool hiking socks. And before you start imagining the itchy wool sweaters of your childhood, think again—merino is naturally incredibly soft and itch-free.
The benefits of merino wool make it the perfect choice for hiking socks. First, merino wool is temperature regulating, with porous fibers that trap heat to keep your feet toasty in cold weather, and draw away sweat in warm weather. It’s also breathable, water-repellent, and naturally antimicrobial—a trifecta of natural superpowers that helps stop odor in its tracks. Even better, merino wool is biodegradable and renewable, making it planet-friendly as well as practical.
That said, you don’t need (or want) 100% merino wool hiking socks, since they won’t hug the foot to keep your socks in place and prevent blisters. Instead, look for at least 30% merino wool hiking socks, like Fox River Socks’ merino wool socks, which include nylon for durability and a small percentage of Spandex for stretch and flexibility.
An ideal merino wool hiking sock should also have extra design features to make your journey as comfortable as possible. For instance, Fox River Socks offer arch support, smooth toe seams, a knit designed to reduce bunching, and reinforced heel and toe areas to help your socks last.
Best warm weather hiking socks: Lightweight knit socks
If you’re hiking in the heat or doing especially high-intensity activities like trail running, you’ll want the best lightweight hiking socks you can find. Look for breathable mesh, with vented panels on top of the foot and/or around the forefoot.
These socks come in a variety of cushioning options depending on your preference. However, light cushioning is the most popular weight for hiking socks, since it strikes a good balance of breathability and comfort without being bulky. They’re versatile enough to wear with sneakers for long walks and for occasional warm-weather hikes.
Fox River Socks’ lightweight socks with a percentage of merino wool are engineered to keep your feet cool. A merino/silk blend is a great option here, with silk enhancing the socks’ breathability and adding an extra-luxurious smooth feel.
If you prefer to avoid merino wool entirely, you can also look for moisture wicking performance yarn with technology specifically crafted to keep your feet dry and cool. For instance, Fox River Socks’ COOLMAX® yarn is perfect for warm weather hikes—it’s constructed from a blend of recycled, sustainably made synthetic materials and includes exclusive Wick Dry™ technology to move moisture away from your skin quickly and efficiently.
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How hiking socks should fit
Once you choose the right type of hiking socks, the next step is getting the correct fit—which includes figuring out the right sock height as well as the size. Hiking socks commonly come in ankle, quarter, and crew heights.
Crew socks have a 10- to 12-inch cuff and are the most popular type of socks for hiking. They cover a few inches above the ankle bone to protect your skin from brush and dirt, but leave most of your leg free to breathe.
Ankle socks and quarter crew socks (which cover a little bit of the ankle) can be another good choice, depending on your footwear. They offer less skin and blister protection than crew socks, so they work best with lower-profile shoes and hiking boots.
To find the right sock size, you’ll generally reference your shoe size. If you’ve sized up in your hiking boots, make sure to go by your true street shoe size, rather than the size of your boots. As you shop, reference the brand’s sizing guide to find the sock size that corresponds to your shoe size.
Picking the right size is crucial, since too-big socks can rub and cause blisters, while too-small socks can slip down as you walk. When you try on a pair of hiking socks, you’ll know you have the right fit when:
- The socks fit snugly but don’t feel constricting—you can wiggle your toes freely
- The socks hug your entire foot and ankle, with no bunching or wrinkling
- Your heel sits inside the heel cup
The best hiking socks are made to take a beating, so whatever pair you choose should last you through miles and miles of trail. (And if for any reason your socks don’t hold up as you expected, Fox River Socks offers a lifetime satisfaction guarantee.)
Whether you’re suiting up for a simple walk, a day hike, or an extended backpacking trip, start with the best hiking socks to make sure your adventure gets off on the right foot.