The best hiking socks

• Hiking socks are a critical part of your outdoor kit and should be chosen with the same level of care dedicated to other gear like base layers, a rain shell, or hiking boots.
• The best hiking socks offer enough support and comfort for long days on the trail, keep you warm when temperatures drop, and are built for durability.
• Our top pick, Darn Tough's Merino Wool Hiker Boot Socks, are extremely comfortable, offer a snug yet flexible fit, and are tough enough to last for hundreds of miles of trekking.

When I was sixteen, I spent three weeks trekking across much of northern Spain. It was a formative experience that cemented a lifelong love for hiking and the outdoors. Among the wisdom I gained during that long-ago journey was a gem I keep with me today: Don't be cheap when it comes to buying hiking socks.

Within the first few days of my trek, my feet had multiple blisters caused by the abrasion of my boots rubbing through thin socks. My feet were covered in open sores in just my first week and every step was agonizing — it was difficult to push on. It was then that I learned (the absolute hardest way) of the benefit of a reliable hiking sock.

In the nearly two decades since that trip, I've logged hundreds of miles over mountains, across trails, on roadsides, and elsewhere — and I've bought and tested many pairs of hiking socks. Finding the right pair of hiking socks not only means choosing a pair that's comfortable and fits properly, you'll also want to consider the materials, construction, and conditions beyond your feet.

What to look for when shopping for hiking socks

Here are a few general notes about materials to keep in mind while shopping. First, avoid 100% cotton socks whenever possible. Stick to blended options containing some combination of wool or acrylic. I also recommend avoiding socks made of any one single material. Though people swear by wool or acrylic, blends were created for a reason.

In cold weather, wool helps keep you warm. In wetter conditions, a good percentage of acrylic keeps you drier and many artificial fibers, such as PrimaLoft, keep you warm even when wet. In any condition, you want something with stretch material to keep the sock fitting snugly.

To help narrow down which pair of hiking socks is right for you, we've compiled the following list of our favorites currently available from brands like Darn Tough, Bombas, and Smartwool.

Here are the best hiking socks you can buy:

• Best hiking socks overall: Darn Tough Merino Wool Hiker Boot Socks
• Best hiking socks for cold weather: Fox River Cold Weather Explorer Socks
• Best stylish hiking socks: Bombas Hiking Socks
• Best hiking socks for warm weather: Smartwool's PhD Outdoor Light Hiking Crew Socks
• Best odor-blocking hiking sock: ScentLok Elite Sport Crew Sock

Updated on 5/5/2020 by Rick Stella: Expanded the introduction copy to include a section on how to shop for hiking socks and what to look for, updated the copy for each pick and focused on our own in-house testing, checked the availability of each pick, and updated the prices, formatting, and links.

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