Find the right pair of hiking socks and they can be the difference between excruciating blisters and pain-free walking. They’ll keep you cool in hot weather and warm in cold weather, they’ll manage moisture when you sweat, they’ll provide support to your arches and ankles and prevent rubbing in potential flash points. They can, it’s fair to say, make or break a day out walking on the trails.
But how does one find the perfect pair of walking socks? It can be tricky, that’s for sure, especially given there’s a bewildering amount of choice out there. Have no fear though – we’ve got you sorted. We’ve been testing socks for years and years here at Outdoors Magic with dozens of pairs assessed since our foundation in 1999, and we’ve compiled our research into this list of the 10 different pairs that we rate, covering all different types of options, including socks for light trails and socks for backpacking through to socks for mountaineering and winter use.
Looking for a pair of walking boots too? We’ve compiled a similar test, assessing the best walking boots on the market at the moment.
Our Team’s Hiking Sock Picks
What should you look for when buying your next pair of socks? This group test highlights the best walking socks around for men and women, comparing features, performance and overall value.
-
Best Overall Hiking Sock: Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew
- Runner up: Arc’teryx Mid Crew
-
Best Sock For Warmth: Helly Hansen Technical Alpine
-
Best Budget Hiking Sock: Craghoppers Explore
-
Best for Long-Distance Hiking: Falke TK2
-
Best Waterproof Sock: Sealskinz Briston All Weather
The Expert
I’ve been reviewing outdoor gear for various outdoor magazines for over 10 years and in that time I’ve served on the juries for the ISPO Awards, Scandinavian Outdoor Awards and the OIA Awards in the UK. I’m primarily a hiker and got my first gig as an outdoor journalist after writing about one of my first big adventures when I walked the 1000-mile perimeter of Wales. I can tell you that I got through a lot of hiking socks on that trip. Since then, I’ve gone on to tread plenty more long distance trails, including the Cambrian Way and West Highland Way, and I dabble in a bit of trail running too.
How We Tested The Products
I personally tested all of the socks you can see here on this page. There were actually a lot of other socks tested but they didn’t make the cut – so what you see here is my curation of the best options I’ve tried. The process of selection goes back three years, though you can rest assured that all of the socks that have been chosen are still available on the market.
In my tests, I put at least 20 days of hiking into each pair of socks, usually with a heavy hiking backpack. The winners, for example, were worn on hikes within the Cairngorms of Scotland. Others were worn on my various adventures in my homeland of Wales and also in the Lake District, Peak District and on dog walks with my Border Terrier on the Wiltshire Downs. I wear hiking socks just day-to-day (because why not?) and therefore all of these socks have just been generally lived in over the past few years.
With each pair I look for comfort, obviously, and I also assess their durability, warmth, wickability, breathability and drying time. Then there’s the smell test too. Fortunately, all of the socks that I selected for this round-up passed there!
1. Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew
Best Merino wool walking sock: This was the top pick overall in our tests
Price: £25
Weight: Midweight
Cushioning: 3/5
Warmth: 3/5
Best for: Three-season hiking, backpacking, day-to-day wear
The first and most important thing to know about Darn Tough is that they offer an excellent lifetime warranty on their products. If you have any kind of problem with them, you can simply swap them out for a new pair – no receipt needed. There’s a lot to admire there.
We’ve tested out a lot of Darn Tough’s socks here at Outdoors Magic over the years and we can confidently say they’re one of the most reliable sock brands out there. Our favourite pick from them chops and changes quite regularly, but right now it’s the Hiker Micro Crew that’s top of the pile.
It’s the durability, fit and comfort that has impressed us and with its 61% Merino, 36% Nylon and 3% Lycra construction we find it has just about the ideal blend of materials that we look for. Our testers generally find that it’s possible to wear these socks for a couple of days without smell building up. They also dry reasonably quickly.
Having tested the Hiker Micro Crew quite extensively now, it’s remarkable how well the material has held up. After weeks of wear, you genuinely do still get that “new sock feeling” when you pull these on after each time they’ve been in the laundry. One year of testing and we would say that the material has bobbled a little, but that hasn’t affected the performance or comfort at all.
Full Specifications
Micro crew height / midweight / 21.5cm average from heel to cuff / anti-slip fit / Merino wool / made in Vermont / lifetime guarantee / available in men’s and women’s versions and multiple colours.
Selected for the Outdoor 100 2023/24. Read our full Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew review.
Buy the Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew: £25 at Alpinetrek.co.uk
2. Arc’teryx Mid Crew Synthetic
Our runner up for best walking sock following our tests
Price: £22
Weight: Lightweight
Cushioning: 2/5
Warmth: 2/5
Best for: Summer hiking, trail running and cycling
What we liked: cool, quick drying, good quality, long lasting
What we didn’t like: light on padding, thin
These were a close second for the best overall socks in our tests and it was the versatility that had us feeling impressed. Our testing period with these has lasted over a year and they’ve been used for everything from day hiking and backpacking through to cycling and trail running. They’ve served as a useful day-to-day sock too – we’ve had them in the black colour which fits in just as well with a pair of suit trousers as it does with a pair of hiking shorts.
And they’ve held up remarkably well after that year of testing. In fact, they feel – and smell – pretty much good as new. They still have that nice stretchy, close fit and never slide down the ankle. There’s been no wear and tear of bobbling either.
These are fully synthetic and therefore they wick moisture well and dry very quickly. Smells do build up fairly quickly, however, and that’s the main downside here. We’d love it if Arc’teryx teamed up with someone like Polygiene to add anti-odour defences to their fibres. That would really improve these.
They’re on the thin side and there’s not really any pronounced padding. As such, these are very breathable and cool to wear in hot conditions but not a great option if you’re looking for cold weather warmth.
Fabric blend: 71% Polyester, 26% Nylon, 3% Elastane
Buy the Arc’teryx Mid Crew Socks: £22 at Arcteryx.com
3. Sealskinz Briston All Weather
Best waterproof sock: This came out tops out of the waterproof socks we’ve tested recently
Price: £32
Weight: Midweight
Cushioning: 4/5
Warmth: 4/5
Best for: Three-season hiking, backpacking
Sealkinz are one of only a small handful of brands that have managed to crack the art of waterproof socks. We began testing these for our Outdoor 100 back in 2022 and since then we’ve had good use out of them – and the waterproofing has held up.
Related: Best Trekking Poles
Related: Best Waterproof Trousers
They feature a waterproof hydrophilic membrane that’s sandwiched between a durable and insulating nylon and an internal bamboo lining. There’s also a silicone-like gripper at the cuff that keeps the sock up while also blocking out moisture from entering at the top. In our tests, we found the Briston All Weather socks to be comfortable and warm – though not as warm as some of the other socks here in this round up. The inner liner felt comfy against the skin and seemed to wick away moisture well. On hot days, these socks did get a bit clammy, as any waterproof garment would.
We’ve worn these socks on wet hikes in non-waterproof trail shoes and have found it to be a great combination. The trail shoes keep you feeling light-footed and agile but your feet are kept from feeling cold and soggy.
Full Specifications
Fabric blend: 90% Nylon, 10% Elastane outer layer / Aquasealz waterproof membrane / 36% Merino Wool, 36% Acrylic, 18% Polyester, 5% Elastane, 4% Nylon inner layer.
Read our full Sealskinz Briston All Weather Socks review.
Buy the Sealskinz Briston All Weather: £32 at Amazon.co.uk
4. Craghoppers Expert Trek Socks
Best budget hiking sock: Looking for value? This is our favourite sock for those on a budget
Price: £10
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: £10 at Craghoppers.com
5. 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. Read our full Helly Hansen Technical Alpine review.
Buy the Helly Hansen Technical Alpine: £30 at Hellyhansen.com
