Is it really necessary to wear wool socks for hiking? Wool is not the only material used to make hiking socks, but it is certainly the most common. Let’s see if you really need wool hiking socks and what are the alternatives?
The best hiking socks are made of wool, with a material composition of 40-60% wool. The best type of wool for hiking socks is merino wool because it is a good insulator, is comfortable, can absorb a lot of moisture and stays dry to the touch.
Merino wool is the material most often used in hiking socks. Other types of wool and synthetic materials are also used for hiking socks. Let’s take a look at why merino wool is so popular.
Do I need wool hiking socks?
Wool socks are a must-have for any hiker who likes to go on hikes of 3+ hours. Wool is such a popular material because it gives you maximum comfort during your hike.
Due to its thick fibres, it cushions steps and reduces friction between the foot and the hiking boots (which reduces the likelihood of blisters). Wool is great for keeping the foot dry for longer. Merino wool, for example, absorbs up to 70% of its weight and still remains dry to the touch.
Comfort is very important when hiking, which is why many hikers wear two pairs of socks. Read here whether this is a good idea.
It is also a misconception that we get very hot in wool socks. Wool is an excellent insulator, which means that it keeps us warm in cold temperatures, but when it’s hot, it makes sure that the heat gets to us later.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Very comfortablje and reduces friction between the foot and the hiking boots | Costs more money compared to other materials (polyester, nylon) |
| Very absorbent material (absorbs up to 70% of its weight and still remains dry to the touch) | Need more careful care |
| Very good isolator (keeps us warm in cold temperatures and makes sure, we get hot later) | |
| Keep us comfortable and prevent blisters while hiking |
Wool socks can also be worn for shorter walks, but their benefits are most noticeable on longer walks. For 1-2 hour walks, you can easily wear socks made of other materials, which are usually more affordable.
Alternative materials for wool hiking socks.
| Benefits | |
| Polyester/CoolMax | Made of recycled plastic, it dries quickly, is elastic and fits the foot well. |
| Nylon | Unlike polyester, it absorbs sweat, dries just as quickly and fits the foot well. |
| Bamboo | A natural material that absorbs sweat and dries quickly. It does not trap odors and is nature-friendly. |
Why is cotton not good for hiking?
Cotton is not the best material for sportswear because it absorbs moisture quickly, but dries slowly and when it absorbs moisture it becomes too damp. Which is not the best for hiking socks as the foot needs to be as dry as possible at all times. With socks that have a high cotton percentage, our feet would have been soaked after just a few kilometres. So we would be walking the rest of the hike in soaked socks, which is a perfect condition for blisters.
High percentage cotton socks are fine for leisure wear when we don’t sweat much or for short walks. If our feet sweat a lot and we have a wet feeling between our toes, it is better to change socks (and if possible, wash our feet to clean the skin of bacteria). You can read more reasons why normal socks are not suitable for hiking here.
What percentage wool should hiking socks be?
The percentage of wool in wool hiking socks should be 40-60% wool. The rest are synthetic materials that give elasticity and ensure faster drying. If you want warmer socks, choose socks with a wool percentage higher than 60%.
Although they are called wool socks, the wool content is 40-60%. The rest is made up of synthetic materials (polyester, nylon and elastane), which help to make the hiking sock more elastic and quicker drying. Synthetic fibres are also thinner compared to wool fibres, so wool socks are not as thick as if they were made from 100% wool.
But not all synthetic materials are the same. After studying the material composition of the most popular brands of hiking socks (Darn Tough and Smartwool). Their best socks contain nylon instead of polyester. Nylon has the advantage that it absorbs sweat whereas polyester does not. Therefore, wool socks containing nylon absorb more sweat and keep the foot drier for longer than if you were wearing wool socks containing polyester.
Darn Tough Men’s Hiker Merino Wool Micro Crew Socks Cushion – Best in The World
Darn Tough Men’s Hiker Merino Wool Micro Crew Socks Cushion
Materials: 63% Merino Wool 35% Nylon 2% Lycra
Size: S, M, L, XL, XXL (I’m wearing L size, the size of my feet is 12 US/46 EU)
Package size: 1 pair
Reviews: 4.8 stars of 7.150+ reviews
This is one of many helpful reviews on Amazon: “I’ve heard about these socks for a while, but never wanted to pull the trigger on buying a pair because of the price. Yikes! But the lifetime guarantee pushed me over the edge finally and I’m glad I got them. They fit perfectly, kept my feet warm while skiing in the alps in the dead of winter, and haven’t showed any signs of wearing out. I won’t stock my sock drawer full of Darn Tough, but I’ll definitely get another pair in the future. Just need to start saving up again!“
You can buy this socks 100% risk free. If these socks wear, tear, or develop holes, Darn Tough will replace them. No strings. No conditions. Because of the quality and the guarantee, Darn Tough is one of the best-selling hiking socks in the world.
You can buy your own pair of socks on Amazon by clicking on this link.
Smartwool Men’s Hike Light Cushion Crew Socks – High Quality Merino Wool Hiking socks
Materials: 56% Merino Wool/13% Nylon/28% Recycled Nylon/3% Elastane
Size: M, L, XL (I’m wearing L size, the size of my feet is 12 US/46 EU)
Package size: 1 pair
Reviews: 4.8 stars of 180+ reviews
These Made in USA walking socks will make walking on concrete as comfortable as possible. They are made of merino wool, which means that these socks are very soft, comfortable and absorb a lot of sweat. Merino wool stays dry to the touch even though it absorbs a lot of sweat.
If you spend a lot of time on your feet, I would advise you to invest in socks that are made from merino wool. The most popular and well-known brand that makes such socks is Smartwool. However, they are very high quality and long lasting.
This is one of many helpful reviews on Amazon: “I’ve been wearing various Smartwool socks for a decade.
Their socks last long, are comfort and clean nicely. Recently bought some new Light Cushion crews to refresh inventory for summer wear and absolutely love these.”
You can buy your own pair of socks on Amazon by clicking on this link.
DANISH-Endance merino wool hiking socks – Best Value for Money
Materials: Merino wool
Size: XS, S, M, L (I’m wearing L size, the size of my feet is 12 US/46 EU)
Package size: 3 pack
Reviews: 4.5 stars of 29.000+ reviews
DANISH-Endurance makes great sports socks that rival the biggest brands in quality. Their advantage is that you can buy their socks at a very competitive price compared to their competitors.
The quality/price ratio is simply unbeatable, as confirmed by the more than 30,000 positive reviews on Amazon.
This is one of many helpful reviews on Amazon: “They feel great in my work boots. When I slip them on they conform securely around the shape of my feet. Quality is great. Cotton socks are for those who just don’t know any better. When looking for wool socks I wanted to make sure they weren’t too hot and thick. These are perfect; light, sturdy, and dry.”
You can secure your DANISH-Endurance socks by clicking on this link.
If you like comfortable socks and love hiking in the mountains. Then I recommend you read which are the best hiking socks.
What is the best wool material for socks?
The best wool material for socks is merino wool. Merino wool is a good insulator, is comfortable, can absorb a lot of moisture and stays dry to the touch. In addition to merino wool, ordinary wool or alpaca wool is also used.
Pictured above are hiking socks with a high wool content – 40% alpaca wool and 45% merino wool. Alpaca wool is added to merino wool because it is softer and more comfortable on the skin.
You can buy the alpaca wool socks shown in the picture here (dodaj link).