Our Favorite Hiking Socks: Baselayers for your feet

I’ve had a lot of people ask me recently about hiking footwear, mostly hiking boots.  Nothing ruins a trip outdoors faster than bad or ill-fitting footwear (except for maybe inclement weather, or hostile wildlife, or giardia, the list goes on).  But really, the base of your footwear is so important.  Think of socks like baselayers for your feet, all of the same things are as important as if you were buying base layers for your body: snug but good fit (not so tight it’s uncomfortable), made of performance materials like merino wool, preference for seams (or zippers in base layers), etc.

Good socks are a must, and I’ve tried many.  When picking socks, there are several things to consider: how much cushion do you want, ankle height of your shoe or boot (ankle sock vs. crew sock), sock material based on season or weather (wool vs. nylon vs. cotton), and maybe most importantly - are they the right size for you?  Omg one of my best tips is to find a sock brand you like, find which size fits you best, and stick to it.  Believe me, just like any other piece of clothing (especially for women), a size Large is not the same across manufacturers.  

You may also consider if you want seamless socks, arch or achilles support, reinforced toes or heels, or odor resistance. 

A few fan favorites generally are Darn Tough, Smartwool, Injinji, and Ice Breaker (but there’s so many to choose from, maybe too many).

Injinji are what you might refer to as ‘toe-socks’, meaning there’s sock around and separating each toe.  These are a popular choice for many people, but really good for those that suffer from toe blisters.  As it states on their website, one of the benefits of toe socks are the ability to absorb excess moisture more efficiently.  They sell socks by ‘weight’ such as “base layer” and “midweight”, ‘height’ such as “crew” or “over the calf”, and by ‘activity’ such as “running” or “hiking”.

icebreaker has been around since 1995, starting in New Zealand, making performance apparel with premium merino wool.  The sustainable sourcing of their merino wool is a cornerstone of the company.  Today they sell all types of clothes, including merino wool socks, and they have a 1 year manufacturer warranty. Socks are sold for activities including dress or lifestyle, hiking, running, and skiing.

Smartwool is similar to icebreaker, however, I’d argue that Smartwool offers more variety (in the sock department).  Especially when it comes to different levels of cushion.  Smartwool is my sock of choice, and I prefer zero cushion, but they offer several options like ‘targeted’, ‘light’, and ‘full cushion’.  They sell socks for activities such as “biking”, “hunting & fishing”, and “running”.  Also when it comes to fashion, and it always does, Smartwool has the cutest socks (objectively).  Smartwool also provides a “Sock Finder” application to help people decide which socks could be right for them.

Darn Tough is very popular.  They offer many styles and patterns, but may be most known for their lifetime warranty.  I personally know more people that prefer Darn Tough over any other sock for the outdoors.  Some activities socks are sold for include “tactical”, “ski & snowboard”, and “hiking”.  They also provide several heights, and a “Sock Finder” application.

If you take anything from this, I implore you to make sure your socks are taller than the ankle height of your shoe or boot.  Socks sliding down, bunching, rubbing = ugh; and “ugh” can mean blisters if not just general annoyance; and blisters can quickly become more than a nuisance.  

Also, I wear a women’s 10 in shoes, sometimes 10.5-11, and a “Large” size ‘might’ include 10.  Make sure the sock size range is inclusive of your size - I find that if the size range goes ‘up to a 10’ but no further, the socks might be tight and ill-fitting depending on material etc.

Wearing the perfect socks for you might not fix all of your problems, but wearing bad socks can quickly become one of your biggest problems.