Best hiking socks 2026: top choices for comfortable walking

Never underestimate the importance of a good pair of hiking socks. The best allow you to trek effortlessly for miles; the wrong pair leaves you hobbling back to the car park. 

We've tested hiking socks from bestselling brands, including Darn Tough and Bridgedale, to find out whether they live up to their reputations. We found two pairs that impressed enough to be Best Buys, alongside a Great Value pick.

With prices ranging from £10 to £42, our testing also reveals whether it's worth spending more. 

We test hiking socks both objectively and subjectively. While we evaluate a sock's fabric strength, breathability and drying time, a panel heads to the hills to assess real-world comfort and support.

Where to next?

Discover inspiring destinations, recommended by our in-house travel experts. Know the best places to go, who to book with and how to pay less.

Join Which? Travel

The hiking socks we tested

All the hiking socks we tested are listed below. 

Only logged-in Which? members and free account owners can view the hiking socks test results.

Register for free to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations.

All the hiking socks we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.

Only logged-in Which? members and free account owners can view the best hiking socks from our tests.

Register for free to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations.

Bam 3/4 Twist Walking Socks

Men's available from Bam (£24); women's Bam (£24) 

Blend 54% bamboo viscose, 13% Merino wool, 20% recycled polyamide, 10% polyamide, 3% elastane

Sizes One size 

Washing instructions Wash at 30°C or below; do not tumble dry

Need to know Not unisex; weight (men's medium size) 101g; no other colours available; true to size

Bridgedale Hike Midweight Merino Performance Boot

SQUIRREL_TEXT_50030220 in women's sizes

Blend 38% nylon, 26% new wool, 18% Merino wool, 17% Endurofil, 1% Lycra

Sizes S, M, L, XL

Washing instructions Wash inside out at 40°C or below; tumble dry on low

Need to know Not unisex; weight (men's medium size) 82g; other colours available; lifetime guarantee; true to size

Danish Endurance Classic Hiking Crew Socks

Blend 38% Merino wool, 30% acrylic, 30% polyamide, 2% elastane

Sizes S, M, L, XL

Washing instructions Wash inside out at 30°C or below; do not tumble dry 

Need to know Unisex; weight (medium size) 68g; other colours available; true to size

Darn Tough Light Hiker Micro Crew Lightweight Hiking Socks

SQUIRREL_TEXT_50030290 in women's sizes

Blend 61% Merino wool, 36% polyamide, 3% elastane

Sizes S, M, L, XL, XXL 

Washing instructions Wash inside out on a cold cycle; tumble dry on low

Need to know Not unisex; weight (men's medium size) 58g; other colours and designs available; lifetime guarantee; true to size

Decathlon Quechua Adults’ High-rise Wool Hiking Socks, Hike 900 

Available from Decathlon (£20)

Blend 66% polyamide, 18% wool, 7% polypropylene, 5% polyester, 4% elastane 

Sizes S, M, L, XL

Washing instructions Wash at 30°C or below; do not tumble dry

Need to know Unisex; weight (medium size) 55g; other colours available; 2-year warranty; true to size

Find out which walking boot brands we recommend for your hikes in our guide to the best walking boots

Falke TK Compression Stabilizing Trekking Socks

SQUIRREL_TEXT_50030237 in women's sizes

Blend 39% polypropylene, 28% virgin wool, 26% polyamide, 7% elastane

Sizes S, M, L, XL

Washing instructions Wash at 30° or below; do not tumble dry

Need to know Not unisex; weight (men's medium size) 65g; other colours available; size runs small

Injinji Outdoor Midweight Crew

Blend 75% Merino wool, 22% nylon, 3% Lycra spandex

Sizes S, M, L, XL

Washing instructions Wash delicate on a cold cycle; do not tumble dry

Need to know Unisex; weight (medium size) 77g; other colours available; size runs small

Regatta Merino Wool Hiker Sock

Men's available from Regatta (£20); women's Regatta (£20)

Blend 50% Merino wool, 25% acrylic, 20% polyamide, 5% elastane 

Sizes M, L 

Washing instructions No washing instructions

Need to know Not unisex; weight (men's medium size) 68g; other colours available; true to size

Sealskinz Raynham Waterproof All Weather Mid Length Sock

Blend 36% Merino wool, 36% acrylic, 18% polyester, 5% nylon, 5% elastane 

Sizes S, M, L, XL

Washing instructions Wash at 40° or below; tumble dry on low

Need to know Unisex; weight (medium size) 107g; waterproof; other colours available; size runs large

Smartwool Classic Mountaineer

Blend 74% Merino wool, 25% recycled nylon, 1% elastane

Sizes S, M, L, XL, XXL

Washing instructions Wash inside out on a warm cycle; tumble dry on low

Need to know Unisex; weight (medium size) 101g; other colours available; size runs large

How we test hiking socks 

Many free-to-access websites review hiking socks using just one tester and base scores on their preferences. These sites may also receive hiking socks free of charge, directly from manufacturers.

Which? tests are different. Our hiking sock scores are based on a panel of testers' findings as well as objective measurements and ratings, and brands can't buy their way into our testing. We select the most searched-for hiking socks and we pay for every single pair we test.

We also regularly revisit the hiking socks on sale to see if there are any more popular models that need testing.

Fabric strength: how well does the fabric handle stretching, abrasion and washing?

Every sock is seam-stretched, sanded and shrink-tested to determine which pairs are made to last.

• Component strength: We repeatedly tug on areas of stitching. The best return to their original shape; the worst become permanently splayed.
• Abrasion: Holes on the heel are a disaster. Using light-duty sandpaper, we scrape the inside and outside of the heel to find out which pairs will end up looking like a sieve.
• Shrinkage: It's infuriating when clothes come out of the washing machine three sizes too small. We put all the socks through a cycle and record which shrink. 

Breathability: how well does the fabric allow moisture to escape?

• To measure a sock's breathability, we wrap the heel around the top of a glass containing boiling water. Another glass is placed on top, face down, with a humidity probe inside. Then, we time how long it takes for the probe to reach 99% humidity. 
• The most breathable socks are porous: the probe hits peak humidity in no time. The worst struggle to allow the steam to penetrate. 

Drying time: how quickly does moisture evaporate?

• We soak each sock in a basin of water, then leave them to dry. 
• The best completely dry in four hours; the worst remain drenched. 

How we choose hiking socks

To keep our reviews 100% independent, we never accept free product samples from manufacturers or brands. Instead, we buy each pair of hiking socks we test, including from Darn Tough, Bridgedale, Injinji, Smartwool and more.

They span a range of prices, from £10 to more than £40. We found two Best Buy models alongside a Great Value pair that punches above its price.

Meet our hiking sock experts 

A six-person panel tested hiking socks in diverse and distinct environments around the United Kingdom. 

Here are three of our experts, and where they tested the socks:

• Danny headed to the Scottish Highlands with his hoard of hiking socks. Lochs were snapped (with no Nessie sighted, unfortunately), crags climbed and cairns followed. For the sake of the test, he even put his body on the line. Hordes of midges bit him to smithereens, leaving his skin red raw and with the same texture as braille. 
• Joel hiked close to home in the shifting topography of the South Downs. He intrepidly scaled a chalk escarpment, then roved through the soft, rolling hills of the downland plateau. All the while, socks were ruthlessly, but fairly, assessed.
• Louise spent the weekend in the Peak District comprehensively putting the socks through their paces. Windswept, heather-covered moorland was traversed, streams in deep valleys were dipped into, Bakewell tarts greedily eaten and quaint countryside pubs frequented (well, testing works up a hunger... and a thirst!).

What kind of socks should you wear for hiking? 

Socks are often an afterthought in daily life. Most of us simply pick up the pair that sits at the summit of the mound in our sock drawer. 

Do this with hiking socks at your peril, however. Wearing the wrong socks can turn a pleasant hike into hiking hell. 

When choosing a hiking sock, therefore, bear these aspects in mind:

• Cushioning: Look for localised ribbing around the heel and ball of the foot, which stabilises and supports your foot. There isn't a specific material that does this better than another.
• Moisture wicking: Helps to pull sweat away from your skin, keeping your feet cool and preventing blisters. Merino wool, synthetic blends and bamboo all do a good job here – just avoid cotton. 
• Thickness: This largely depends on the weather. Lightweight socks are better for summer walks, midweight for mild conditions and heavyweight for winter. The material doesn't really matter: for instance, Merino wool socks, depending on their thickness, can be good in all climates. 
• Length: You can buy ankle, crew and knee-length socks. This depends on your preference and the boots you're wearing – you'll need a crew-length sock for most hiking boots, for example. 
• Odour resistance: Most hiking sock materials are pretty odour resistant – except cotton. 

Are Merino wool socks good for hiking?

Merino wool is a fantastic hiking sock fabric. As a natural fibre that comes from the Merino sheep, it's notably finer and softer than traditional wool.

It's moisture-wicking, meaning it draws moisture away from the skin, keeping your feet sweat-free and making your socks less likely to rub. 

Plus, the fibres are brilliant at temperature regulation. In summer, they're breathable and dissipate heat rapidly. In winter, they trap the heat, keeping your feet toasty.

It's more nuanced than 'more Merino is better', though. 

While some of our best-performing socks contain a high percentage of Merino, so do some of our worst.

Log in or register for free to see our favourite Merino wool sock, and the ones you should steer clear of.

Are bamboo socks good for hiking?

Bamboo socks are an eco-friendly alternative to a market dominated by woollen fabrics and synthetic blends.

Here are some advantages and disadvantages of bamboo hiking socks:

Pros

• Odour resistant
• Moisture wicking
• Comfortable
• Grows fast, requires less water to grow than cotton and doesn't need pesticides  
• Vegan – it's not an animal product like wool

Cons

• Slow drying time
• Fabric isn't that strong

We tested one bamboo sock: log in or register for free to see how it performed.

How do I choose the right size of hiking socks?

Most of the time, sizing is pretty straightforward: simply choose the sock that corresponds to your shoe size.

However, since socks typically use size bands - like sizes 6-8 for medium - if a brand runs large or small it can be tricky to pick the right one if you're on the boundary.

Our six-person panel (made up of three women and three men) found that certain socks uniformly ran small or large.

The Falke TK Compression and the Injinji Outdoor Midweight Crew both ran a little small, whereas the Sealskinz Raynham and the Smartwool Classic Mountaineer ran large. All other socks fit true to size for our panel.