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You’re amped up and ready to hit the trail with your hiking essentials—but something’s not right. Those cotton socks won’t do you any good inside a pair of hiking boots. If you go that route, you can expect chafing, sweating, and general discomfort while you’re on your adventure. No, what you need, my friend, is a good pair of hiking socks.
The types of socks that are best for hiking vary on a lot of factors. So, what makes a great hiking sock? First and foremost: what it’s made out of. Most quality hiking socks blend wool with a few other fibers to create the perfect mix of comfort, dryness, and durability. A few blends to look for include nylon, polyester, or spandex. Are bamboo socks good for hiking? We can’t say no—if they’re blended well with some wool.
Read More: Best Socks for Men
Next: cushioning. Should hiking socks be thick or thin? Well, we will say that your hiking socks cannot be paper-thin. Your optimal sock cushioning will always depend on the climate you’re hiking in. If it’s blazing hot out, you can probably get away with thinner cushions (though we still wouldn’t recommend no cushion at all). Fall and winter hikes require some cushioning for both warmth and added comfort—and if you’re going the distance in the dead of winter, we recommend heavy-duty, heavily-cushioned socks.
Lastly: your sock length. The length of your socks will almost always depend on the height of your hiking boots or shoes. Big boots for long treks require long socks with lots of cushioning; for a spring run on the trail, you can definitely get away with ankle-length socks. We’re big fans of playing it safe when in doubt and going with the midpoint: crew-length socks. They fit above the ankle bone to provide adequate protection from your boots.
Still not sure where to start? No worries, we’ve got you covered. Here are the 14 best hiking socks for hitting the trail.
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