That’s why we spent 25 hours researching 65 sock choices. Then we took to the paths of Vancouver, British Columbia, climbing for greater than 75 hours, 160 miles, and 350,000 steps in 18 pairs of socks.
Ultimately we decided that the ladies’s and males’s Darn Powerful Mild Hiker Micro Crew Mild Cushion socks are the most effective climbing socks for most individuals. Backed by a lifetime assure, these wool socks supply the perfect mixture of consolation, sturdiness, and cushioning.
Our choose
The perfect mixture of consolation, sturdiness, and cushioning in a flexible top.
The identical nice versatile sock as the ladies’s mannequin, however in numerous colour choices.
The Darn Powerful Mild Hiker Micro Crew Mild Cushion sock is available in each ladies’s and males’s fashions and is essentially the most versatile climbing sock we examined. Its micro-crew top is taller than an ankle sock however a couple of inches shorter than the common crew sock, rising simply above the highest of a typical pair of climbing boots.
The Darn Powerful Mild Hiker is constructed with extremely breathable merino wool, nylon, and Lycra spandex, which suggests your ft gained’t really feel sweaty throughout summer time hikes. The sock’s form-fitted toe and underfoot padding make it particularly snug too. And whereas these socks are among the many most sturdy we examined, Darn Powerful’s unparalleled lifetime guarantee will prevent in a pinch: You possibly can ship again any merchandise, at any time—even when it’s only a worn-out sock—and the corporate will change it free of charge.
Runner-up
Taller than most crew-length socks, this gentle, tight-knit sock has cushioning the place it’s wanted.
The identical taller sock as the ladies’s mannequin, however in numerous sizes and colours.
The Farm to Toes Damascus Crew Mild Focused Cushion sock, which is available in ladies’s and males’s variations, is a good second-best choice if our prime choose is out of inventory. The Damascus can also be an awesome choice when you plan to hike off-trail usually and wish further shin safety, as this sock comes up greater on the shin than many of the different fashions we examined.
The Damascus is extraordinarily light-weight, extremely breathable, and loaded with padding across the toe, alongside the heel, and throughout the highest of the foot. The tight knit (a mix, like our prime choose, of nylon, merino wool, and Lycra spandex) retains microgrit from attending to your foot. Plus, these socks are additionally assured for all times ought to the material ever put on skinny.
Additionally nice
This midlevel cushioned sock for ladies is the most effective artificial choice for many climates and terrains.
This artificial males’s sock is ideal for day climbing in most climate.
In case you’re in search of a non-wool climbing sock, we predict the Darn Powerful Coolmax Hiker Micro Crew Midweight Mountaineering Sock, which is available in ladies’s and males’s choices, is your best option. This artificial sock has midlevel cushioning, which suggests it’s extra padded across the heel and toes than the opposite light-weight non-wool socks we tried.
It’s additionally breathable: Whereas carrying the Coolmax Micro Crew in sizzling summer time climate, our ft stayed dry and sweat-free. The shorter micro-crew top makes the Coolmax Micro Crew appropriate for each boots and footwear, too. And like all Darn Powerful socks, this mannequin comes with a lifetime guarantee.
Additionally nice
This sock has breathable mesh vents that can preserve your sizzling ft dry in summer time climate.
Simply as breathable as the ladies’s model, however in numerous colours and sizes.
The Icebreaker Hike+ Mild Crew sock (which is available in each ladies’s and males’s fashions) incorporates gentle cushioning and has ventilated areas alongside the foot, making it sock for hikers with sweaty ft. These socks had been among the many softest we examined, they usually had been additionally the one pair that match anatomically. Meaning higher breathability, with extra space round your foot within the boot. Word that these socks confirmed indicators of wear and tear extra shortly than the opposite fashions we examined, and in contrast to the remainder of our picks, Icebreaker’s socks don’t include a lifetime assure—as an alternative, they’ve a one-year guarantee towards manufacturing or materials flaws.