As you know, your socks play a major role in keeping your feet dry, warm, and comfortable throughout the day. Of course, your shoes do matter as well, but you still need a good pair of socks to go with your favorite pair of boots or sneakers, right? Socks form a kind of buffer between your feet and your shoes, absorbing sweat, preventing blisters, and keeping your footwear fresh for weeks and months to come. Thus, you may want to start paying more attention to your socks and consider them an important item of clothing rather than a disposable accessory.
Whether you’re an outdoors person or an indoors only kind of guy, you’ll most likely benefit from buying a pair or two of wool socks. They work great for hiking or camping thanks to their ability to absorb sweat and still keep your feet dry and warm, but they can also keep your feet comfy indoors, replacing slippers or making your evenings on the couch with a good book particularly cozy. Either way, you won’t regret your purchase because wool socks are usually very durable, warm, and pleasant to wear.
In this review, we have rounded up some of the best wool socks available.
Smartwool PhD Pro Mountaineer Socks
These socks are available in a multitude of colors and sizes, allowing you to find the one pair that works best for you. They were designed keeping the anatomy of the human foot in mind, which is why every pair of Smartwool Mountaineer socks comes with special cushioning at the ball and the heel. This makes these socks particularly suited for runners because they provide additional support for your feet and help prevent injuries.
The socks go over your calf and stay in place, thanks to the Elite Fit technology designed by Smartwool. With Elite Fit, the Smartwool Mountaineer socks also stretch nicely and provide a comfortable fit regardless of the particular unique form every foot has. They are made from high-quality wool, which means that they can keep your feet warm and dry even during an intensive run on a cold winter morning.
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Icebreaker Merino Hiking Crew Socks
The Hiking Crew socks by Icebreaker are made from high-quality merino wool combined with nylon to achieve the best fit and temperature management. They are fairly thin, not much thicker than your typical everyday sock, and that makes them a great option for just about any type of shoe you can imagine. They provide a comfortable fit with minimal, yet noticeable cushioning.
Icebreaker Hiking Crew socks may not be your primary choice for running or jogging, but they are pretty hard to beat for long walks or hikes (as implied by the name). Many satisfied customers also say that they switch to wearing these socks on a daily basis after initially buying them for sports or outdoor activities. Icebreaker Hiking Crew Socks are reasonably priced, warm, and they also manage to keep your feet fresh and odorless for hours, which seals the deal for many people. The only issue you could have with these socks is that they might feel too tight if you have large calves. But other than that, you’re bound to love your new pair of Icebreaker hiking socks.
Injinji 2.0 Outdoor Midweight Crew Nuwool Socks
The Injinji socks may look a little funny if you’re not used to socks with toes, but wait till you wear them. We bet you won’t want to take them off because they are so soft and comfortable! The Outdoor Midweight Crew socks are a great choice for anyone who wants to do something fun outdoors during the cold months. Equipped with additional padding for stability and support, these socks can be used for running, cycling, walking, hiking, and playing just about any winter sport imaginable. They are going to keep your feet warm and prevent them from getting blisters through contact with your shoes or boots.
The Injinji Outdoor Crew socks are so comfortable that you may want to start wearing them daily after trying out a single pair. They are well suited for that, too, thanks to the comfortable fit and thin but sturdy sock fabric. Also, the toe sock design makes sure that you don’t get blisters even if your toes are situated so close that they can’t help but rub against one another.
J.B. Icelandic Arctic Trail Winter Sock
All previous socks on our list do a very good job at keeping your feet warm during moderate climate winter months. But what if you live in an area where average winter temperatures can get extremely low? These socks might still be enough for you if you just need to get to your workplace from your car, but they probably won’t cut it if you need to spend multiple hours outside in the freezing cold. Fortunately, there is a pair of J.B. Fields socks that can save your feet from getting frostbite even in the toughest climates.
J.B. Arctic Trail socks are 85% wool, which makes them very warm and helps them protect your feet from extreme winter temperatures. They feel rather rugged, so you may want to wear an additional liner sock underneath them for a more comfortable fit. However, even if you wear them on your bare feet, they are still going to keep your feet much warmer and dryer than most other socks available on the market. Available in two-pair saver packs, these socks are a must-have for anyone who lives in a tough climate with particularly cold winters.
Wigwam Merino Wool Comfort Hiker Socks
If you need a lightweight, durable pair of wool socks for hiking or other outdoor activities, these socks by Wigwam may be just what you need. Made from merino wool combined with synthetic materials, Wigwam Comfort Hiker socks are warm, soft, moisture-absorbing, and attractively priced. They have an additional layer of cushioning that protects your feet from injuries and plays an important role in the conservation of warmth.
These socks don’t itch, stretch nicely to embrace the form of your feet, and don’t fall down into your boot, thanks to the original blend of natural and synthetic materials. Worn with comfortable boots that provide proper insulation, these socks can make you forget about cold, wet, smelly, and blistered feet. Just pull on a pair of Wigwam Comfort Hikers and enjoy your hiking trip!
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Darn Tough Hiker Full Cushion Socks
As the name suggests, Darn Tough socks are made to last and provide your feet warmth and comfort even in the most extreme use cases. The Hiker Full Cushion model is no exception to the rule, so these socks can help you hike for days without having to worry about your feet getting cold, blistered, or otherwise uncomfortable.
Made from top quality merino wool, Darn Tough Hiker socks have antibacterial and antimicrobial qualities, which prevent your feet from getting rashes and fungal infections. Because there’s no room for bacteria in a Darn Tough Hiker sock, there’s also little to no smell, so you can spend hours or even days in these socks without having to tolerate an unpleasant odor.
The tight knit in these socks makes sure that they feel soft and smooth. The areas that tend to get worn out the most get some additional padding to ensure the most comfort for you and a longer life for your sock. The seamless toe design takes care of your toes and allows them to stay blister-free even if you spend hours walking. All in all, the Darn Tough Hiker socks are a good choice for all your hiking needs, and thanks to their antibacterial qualities, you may want to consider wearing them on a daily basis.
Rockay Accelerate Anti Blister Running Socks
If you’re into running or jogging, you know how important it is to take care of your feet. While running, they can get injured or blistered very easily, and it is mostly up to your footwear and socks to protect them. Rockay is a company that takes foot safety and comfort very seriously, so they have designed the Rockay Accelerate unisex sports socks line, which aims to help runners keep their feet in good condition.
These socks may not necessarily be your first choice when it comes to preserving warmth (although they do a fairly good job at that, too), but they are an amazing accessory for dedicated runners. Made from organic merino wool, Rockay Accelerate socks offer a high degree of compression and extra padding to support your feet and keep them from blistering. Every sock model undergoes excessive testing before it is released to the general public, so you can be sure that you’re getting a high-quality, well-designed product.
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Native Planet Barrow Merino Wool Hiking Socks
Native Planet socks are made from Climayarn fabric, which is known to have excellent temperature regulation qualities. Climayarn combines merino wool and polypropylene to achieve excellent warmth retention in cold environments and prevent overheating in warmer ones. This means that the Native Planet Barrow socks are quite versatile and can be worn throughout the year.
Another great feature of Climayarn is its ability to absorb moisture and get dry again quickly. Thanks to that, Native Planet socks can be worn on multiple consequent days with little to no feet odor, which can come in very handy for longer hikes. The Native Planet Barrow model also offers advanced cushioning capable of reducing stress on your feet and helping you enjoy your walks and hikes without worrying about your feet.
Cloudline Merino Wool Light Cushion Trekking Socks
According to Cloudline, they have a unique formula for the softest wool socks available on the market. This is quite a statement to make, but numerous satisfied customers do praise their Cloudline socks for being extremely soft and comfortable. The Cloudline Light Cushion Trekking Socks are meant to be used for outdoors activities, including hiking, biking, walking, or running. However, they are very comfortable and lightweight, which makes them a good option for your daily sockwear.
The top-quality merino wool used for these socks makes them warm, durable, and quick to absorb moisture. The additional layers of padding and cushioning reduce the stress on your feet and make the socks last longer even with intensive wear.
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Pure Athlete Midweight Ski Socks
We have seen a number of socks suitable for hiking, running, or everyday use, but what if you want to go snowboarding or skiing? Pure Athlete has you covered with their line of diverse ski socks. The Pure Athlete Midweight model combines high-quality with affordability to bring you one of the best skiing socks around. These socks are made from merino wool, which allows them to keep your feet warm and dry even in the most extreme usage scenarios.
Also, the Midweight ski socks also have special padding that is aimed at reducing tension between ski boots and your feet. Thus, they provide a particularly comfortable fit for winter sports boots, which may sometimes be a little rough. As a bonus, they are available in multiple fun designs, so you can pick a pair that you really like instead of simply going for one of the basic colors.
DG Hill Thermal Merino Wool Socks
These socks are very versatile, thanks to the enforced heel design, which provides extra support for your feet both indoors and outdoors. You can pull on your pair of DG Hill Thermal socks and wear them at home all day long, or combine them with a good pair of hiking boots and explore the wilderness.
These socks are very popular due to their high-quality and attractive price, and it seems like they can be used for just about any purpose – hiking, running, cycling, walking, going to work, or chilling at home. These socks can handle whatever you throw at them. Given the fact that they are available in three-pair saver packs, it is easy to understand why so many people go for the DG Hill Thermal socks and end up loving them.
Stance Conifer Park Sock
The Conifer Park sock by Stance was designed for extreme skiers and snowboarders, so it has heavy cushioning to reduce the stress on your feet and joints and provide a comfortable fit with any winter sports boot. The Conifer Park socks are made from merino wool and rely on several unique Stance technologies for additional perks, such as Toe Box Oven, providing additional toe padding for warmth and blister protection, and Air Channel Cushioning, making these socks even more breathable and comfortable than most other merino wool socks.
If you are keen on owning socks with a sense of style or simply enjoy winter sports, the Conifer Park socks will definitely be up your alley, boasting several fun and cozy-looking designs that make you think of winter and Christmas time.
People Socks Premium Large Wool Crew Socks
When developing these socks, People Socks shifted their focus to durability without compromising comfort, and the result of their efforts turned out to be a pretty great pair of socks. These socks are meant to be worn on a daily basis without any emphasis on a particular sport or activity. However, this doesn’t mean that they won’t do a good job cushioning and warming up your feet on your next hike.
People Socks Premium crew socks are a simple yet high-quality product for people who value minimalism and comfort. They come in saver packs with four identical pairs of socks, which make them even more readily suitable for daily wear. Throw in the attractive price, and you can see why people choose People Socks.
Kakuetta Trail Wool Hiking Socks
The final product on our list was created by Kakuetta Trail, a company that specializes in wool socks. Their wool hiking socks are premium products that rely on multiple custom technologies to provide the most comfortable fit and the best user experience. You can wear them daily and wash them dozens of times without fearing that they are going to shrink, stretch, lose their elasticity, or simply fall apart.
The customized cushioning provides optimal arch and heel support, so your feet don’t get tired too fast, and your socks get to live longer because of the additional padding in areas that are most likely to wear out. Kakuetta Trail even offers to give you your money back if you buy a pair of their socks and don’t like them, so why not treat your feet to a pair of nice premium wool socks today?