3. Craghoppers Expert Trek Socks

Best budget hiking sock: Looking for value? This is our favourite sock for those on a budget

Price: £13
Weight: Midweight
Cushioning: 4/5
Warmth: 4/5
Best for: Three-season hiking

These socks from travel and outdoor brand Craghoppers are proof that good socks don’t need to cost an arm and a leg. 

With a high Merino content, recycled synthetic fabrics and a lifetime guarantee, there’s plenty to like here. Expect padding across the sole, heel and toes, a seamless toe box to prevent any irritation and strategically placed air channels for ventilation. There’s a good amount of cushioning and plenty of arch support too. 

We’d class these as a good three-season option for anything from country walking and casual use through to hillwalking and long-distance backpacking.

Full Specifications 

Fabric blend: 38% Merino wool, 38% polypropylene Dryarn, 23% polyamide, 1% elastane.

Buy the Craghoppers Expert Trek:  £11 at Decathlon.co.uk 

4. Helly Hansen Technical Alpine Socks

Best warm walking sock: Chosen as the best socks in our tests when it comes to cosy warmth for winter excursions

Price: £30
Weight: Heavyweight
Cushioning: 5/5
Warmth: 5/5
Best for: Mountaineering, skiing, snowboarding

If you’re looking for super warm socks for outdoor use then you won’t find many socks that are warmer than Helly Hansen’s Technical Alpines. 

They feature terry loops throughout the lining. These are raised loops of yarn that provide padding, comfort, and additional insulation, absorbing impact, providing extra cushioning, and enhancing the sock’s overall comfort and durability. 

These really are some very chunky socks that feel luxuriously thick and warm. They’re also long, going right up to just below the knee with padding across the front. This adds comfort in ski, snowboard and mountaineering boots and a big extra boost of insulation up the legs when you’re wearing hiking boots.

In mild conditions, these socks will be overkill for most people, but during our tests during a very cold trip to the Cairngorms – when snow had just arrived for the season – we were very glad to have them. 

Full Specifications

Unisex fit / S-XL / 36% Merino Wool 36% Acrylic 24% Polyamide 4% Elastane / terry loop cushioning / high cut comes up the calf / built-in shin protector.

Selected for our Outdoor 100 23/24. Read our full Helly Hansen Technical Alpine review.

Buy the Helly Hansen Technical Alpine:  £30 at Hellyhansen.com 

5. Inov-8 Trailfly

Best multi-sport sock for hiking: We found these socks from British running brand Inov-8 to be ideal for those who like to taking a fast and light approach.

Price: £25
Weight: lightweight
Cushioning: 2/5
Warmth: 2/5
Best for: Trail running, multi-day hiking

The Trailfly is actually designed as a running sock and it’s definitely well-made for that use, but we’ve also found that it possesses some virtues that are useful for hikers too – particularly those who like to feel fleet of foot on the trail.

Many hikers these days, particularly thru-hikers, like to hike in trail shoes as they’re often lighter and less tiring to walk in than hefty boots. They can also allow ventilation in hot weather and will dry faster than boots when wet, making them suitable for environments where you might encounter water crossings or wet conditions. With such an approach, thick walking socks don’t really make sense as once they get wet they can stay wet. These socks from Inov-8, however, are made from a synthetic weave that won’t hold water and that will dry out quickly.

During our tests, we also found the Trailflys didn’t feel too hot in warm weather and they had good durability, retaining their shape after many uses. As you might have already gathered, these aren’t socks for cold weather hiking but they’re perfect for summery conditions.

Full Specifications

Fabric blend: 68% recycled polyamide, 29% polyamide, 3% Lycra.

Buy the Inov-8 Trailfly:  £24 at Ellis-brigham.co.uk 

6. Falke TK2 Explore

Best sock for long distance hiking: Our choice for multi-day thru hikes and backpacking trips

Price: £28
Weight: Light to midweight
Cushioning: 3/5
Warmth: 3/5
Best for: three-season hiking

These are three-season socks that are quite light and thin, though they’re still nicely padded in the places where you want padding to be. The construction also incorporates handy panels where ventilation is prioritised, meaning hot air can escape.

There’s Merino in these but the content is low at 16, so synthetics make up the bulk of the construction. We found that this made them faster-drying compared to some of the Merino socks in this round up, but they were also slightly less soft and cosy. 

From our experience, these make for a good option for any three-season hikes in cool to warm temperatures. If you like a highly padded sock, you might want to look elsewhere. If lighter socks are your bag, then these are a good option to consider.

Full Specifications

Fabric blend: 36% Polypropylene, 33% Lyocell / 15% Polyester / 15% Polyamide / 1% Elastane.

Buy the Falke TK2:  £21 at Amazon.co.uk

Best of the Rest

7. Darn Tough Fastpack Micro Crew

Price: £27
Weight: 110g
Cushioning: 3/5
Warmth: 3/5
Best for: lightweight hiking and fastpacking in mild to warm weather

We might’ve already included a Darn Tough product in this list but we thought that this product was well worthy of inclusion. It’s very similar to the Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew, which got our best in test, but it’s just a little lighter and a little more breathable and, as such, we’ve found it to be an excellent sock for hikes in warm weather. 

Darn Tough have neatly zoned the thickness of the weave. So you get comfortable padding underfoot but a thin, breathable weave up top. 

​​Like most of Darn Tough’s socks, the Fastpack Micro Crew uses a blend of Nylon, Merino Wool and Lycra Spandex. This, we found, results in a sock that wicks moisture really well, that dries reasonably quickly and that just feels very comfortable to wear. It has a decent odour resistance too and there are no niggly seams to reduce any potential flashpoints for blisters.

Full Specifications

52% Nylon, 45% Merino Wool, 3% Lycra Spandex.

Buy the Darn Tough Fastpack Micro Crew:  £27 at Amazon.co.uk 

8. Quechua SH500

Price: £15 (x2 pairs)
Weight: Mid to heavyweight
Cushioning: 4/5
Warmth: 4/5
Best for: Three-season hiking

This is a good pair of socks from Decathlon’s own brand, Quechua. They’re warm and very supportive and the technical construction brings zoned ventilation and padding in all of the right places. For instance, you’ve got terry looping on the toes, heel and shin and then air channels up the ankle to allow moisture vapour to escape. 

The bulk of the materials are synthetics, with Polyamide and Polyester bringing durability, insulation, a fast drying time and wicking qualities to the table. 28% wool content is quite low and that could be the reason why these come at a fairly modest price. If your feet tend to get quite smelly, you might want to look for socks with a higher wool content as wool has excellent odour-fighting qualities and the same can definitely not be said for synthetics, unless they come treated with a silver-ion treatment such as Polygiene.

Still, these are good value socks for people who want a pair that offer warmth and durability.  

Full Specifications

Fabric blend: 40% Polyamide, 28% Wool, 23% Polyester, 6% Silk, 3% Elastane

Buy the Quechua SH500:  £15 at Decathlon.co.uk

9. 1000 Mile Fusion Walk Sock

Price: £18
Weight: Mid to heavyweight
Cushioning: 4/5
Warmth: 4/5
Best for: trekking and hiking in spring, autumn and milder winter conditions

1000 Mile’s walking socks feature a unique double-layer design that’s intended to offer superior blister prevention and enhanced comfort for prolonged walks and hikes. We’ve tested these Merino-based socks extensively and can attest to their performance. Do they prevent blisters? Our crew haven’t had any problems. That being said, our feet are used to high mileage and we can’t say whether newbies would be immune to any problems. 

The other thing that’s interesting about these socks is that they have a lining made from a fabric called Tactel. This is a nylon microfiber that we found to be very comfortable against the skin and also excellent at wicking away moisture, keeping your feet feeling fresh over the course of a hike.

Using these socks during a trip to the snowy mountains of the Cairngorms, they performed exactly how we wanted them to and they were perfect for the cold conditions we had. On hot days, they’re a little on the warm side, however. They’re generally quite bulky and heavy socks, so bear in mind that a couple of pairs will take up a fair bit of space in your hiking backpack or travel luggage.

Full Specifications

Fabric blend: 30% Merino wool, 46% nylon, 23% cotton, 1% elastane.

Buy the 1000 Mile Fusion:  £15 at Amazon.co.uk 

10. Smartwool Hike Full Cushion

Price: £27
Weight: Midweight
Cushioning: 4/5
Warmth: 4/5
Best for: Three-season hiking

Smartwool’s popular Hike collection has socks of various different thicknesses. These are the thickest and most cushioned. From our experience using them over the last few months, we’ve found these to be excellent for hikes in cooler weather, particularly in spring and autumn and on bad weather days in summer. On hot summer days, they can get a bit warm due to their thickness, while they’re also not quite thick enough for full blown winter conditions either (you’d want the Mountaineer Max for that kind of stuff). Having tested these, we’d say they’d be an ideal companion on an alpine trek where you’ll want warmth and moisture wicking performance but also good cushioning and padding. 

Said cushioning and padding is excellent. In our tests, these were very comfortable to wear and made hikes over hard and rocky terrain just that bit easier. There’s terry looping throughout most of the sock which creates a very cosy feel. It’s only absent on the top of the foot where ventilation is, quite rightly, prioritised over padding. 

The Merino content is high at 63% meaning that you get a silky soft feel when you pull these on – plus all the other benefits of Merino. We’ve used a number of Merino socks and baselayers from Smartwool and we’re always left impressed by the material quality.

Full Specifications

Fabric blend: 63% Merino,  7% Nylon, 28% recycled Nylon, 2% elastane.

Buy the Smartwool Hike Full Cushion:  £22 at Amazon.co.uk 

11. Bridgedale Midweight Merino Endurance

Price: £23
Weight: Midweight
Cushioning: 4/5
Warmth: 4/5
Best for: Three-season hiking, backpacking

Bridgedale are out and out sock specialists. In fact, they’ve been making socks from their factory in Northern Ireland since the First World War. This pair from them, the Merino Endurance (formerly known as the Trekker) stands as one of their best sellers. Here at Outdoors Magic, we’ve become well acquainted with them and have many years of use in them. Our verdict? They’re good, reliable hiking socks that hold their shape and padding over time extremely well. The Merino content in them isn’t as high as some of the other socks in this round up, but they do still feel comfortable. One of our testers hiked the Beacons Way switching between two pairs of these socks and he reported that no blisters were had. They did, however, get a little bit smelly after being worn while wet – as most socks will. 

Although Bridgedale describe these as “all-season” we’d say they’re not quite warm enough for winter mountain use. We’ve found they’re warm enough for low level hiking in winter but you’ll want something burlier if you’re heading high up onto frozen mountains.

Full Specifications

Fabric blend: 26% wool , 18% Merino Wool , 38% Nylon polyamide, 17% polypropylene , 1% Lycra.

Buy the Bridgedale Midweight Merino Endurance:  £24 at Millets.co.uk 

Why You Should Trust Us

For this guide, I’ve tested socks from over twenty different brands and, at a minimum, have walked over a thousand miles while wearing them. I live out in the countryside, so I have trails all around me that I’m always wandering, but I also do a lot of long-distance hiking, so some of these socks have been tested out on demanding excursions, including on the Cambrian Way, the Beacons Way, the West Highland Way and the Fjällräven Classic.

The main selection process for this top 10 happens in conjunction with our Outdoor 100 and our Green Gear Guide. For the former guide, we pick out what we deem to be the best outdoor gear of the year and for the latter, we pick gear that demonstrates a good degree of sustainability. If a pair of socks makes it into either one of these guides, they’ll go on to qualify for this list too. Other socks also can make the cut in this list of they really standout – perhaps if they catch our eye at a trade show or pick up a major industry award.

How to Choose a Pair of Hiking Socks

The ultimate hiking socks blend quality materials that strike a balance between comfort and performance. They’re all about cushioning in the right places, seamless toes to prevent blisters, and clever ventilation for breathability on the trails. A snug fit and arch support keep feet happy, while top-notch moisture management ensures dryness. Then there’s the insulation value too; cold feet definitely aren’t comfortable feet. 

Material choice significantly impacts hiking experiences, determining whether feet endure discomfort or enjoy support and ease during outdoor adventures.

Merino wool offers excellent warmth and breathability, moisture-wicking properties, and natural odour resistance, ensuring feet stay dry and comfortable across various temperatures. Synthetic blends like nylon and polyester bring durability and quick-drying features to the table, maintaining resilience throughout extended hikes. 

The finest hiking socks often boast a blend of Merino wool and synthetic materials. Brands like Smartwool, Darn Tough, and Icebreaker excel in creating socks that combine the natural benefits of Merino wool – such as breathability and odour resistance – with the durability and quick-drying properties of synthetics like nylon or polyester. This blend provides the best of both worlds: the comfort and temperature regulation of Merino wool coupled with the added strength and moisture management of synthetic fibre. The best hiking socks, from my experience over many long distance trails, tend to have about 60% Merino Wool with Polyester/Nylon and elastane making up the rest of the materials. 

Cushioning & Thickness

Considering sock thickness is crucial as it directly impacts foot comfort and protection: thinner socks provide breathability and are ideal for warmer conditions while thicker ones offer enhanced cushioning and insulation for rugged trails and colder climates. When shopping online for socks, check the product description for terms like “ultralight” or “heavyweight” indicating thickness.

If you like thick socks, 1000 Mile is a good brand to consider. They’re renowned for their unique dual-layer construction, designed to reduce friction and prevent blisters by effectively moving moisture away from the skin. On this page, the Helly Hansen Technical Alpine is another good example of a thick, heavyweight sock. If you like hiking socks that are thin, the Inov8 Trailfly socks in this round up should suit. Want something in-between? Darn Tough are a safe bet there. 

Seamless Construction

Opt for socks with seamless toe closures. Trust us, your toes will thank you later after a long day of hiking. It reduces the risk of blisters and hot spots, ensuring a smoother, more comfortable experience during extended wear, especially on long hikes where foot friction can lead to painful rubbing and blisters.

Examining the sock closely is the best way to determine if it has a seamless toe closure. Look for a lack of visible stitching or a smooth, uninterrupted finish at the toe area. Seamless socks often have a rounded or slightly tapered appearance at the toe, without any raised seams that might cause friction or irritation. Some brands might also explicitly mention “seamless toe” in the product description or in the features list. All of the socks in this round up have seamless toes. 

Construction

The best hiking sock manufacturers have machinery that lets them construct socks with variations in their weave right across the foot. This means they can create more padding and protection in certain places and more ventilation in others. Ventilation panels are commonly found on the top of the foot, around the instep, and sometimes on the sides or at the arch. 

The areas that typically benefit most from padding in hiking socks are the heel and the ball of the foot. These regions endure the most impact and friction when wearing hiking boots, especially when traversing uneven terrain or downhill sections. 

You sometimes also see arch support typically applied through specialised knitting techniques or added fabric density in the sock’s arch region, providing a snug yet comfortable fit that helps distribute pressure more evenly across the foot.

A Bad Experience I Had With Hiking Socks

When I walked the Cambrian Way about five years ago now, I took two pairs of socks with me, both of which were a model made by Teko. These socks had a high Merino content mixed with synthetics and I’d always had good experiences with them, but on this trip the waterproof membrane in my boots failed about a week in and this subsequently meant my feet would get drenched even just from the dew on the grass in the mornings. Eventually, things started to smell very bad and I developed some nasty food problems with my skin becoming overly supple from the constantly damp environment.

The thing is, there was nothing wrong with the socks – they had Merino for warmth and sweat wicking and Polyamide for durability – but the problem was my footwear. What I’m ultimately saying is that sometimes, you can have the perfect pair of socks but you’ll still have problems if you pick the wrong footwear. And it works the other way round too!