Wool Hiking Socks

The right pair of socks can mean the difference between a blister-free hike and a painful day on the trail. Whether you’re looking for a warm-weather breathable sock for summer hikes or a heavyweight option for cold-weather backpacking trips, we have the best wool hiking socks to meet your needs.

Wool is the preferred sock material of outdoor enthusiasts because it insulates and wicks moisture well, and dries faster than synthetic fabrics like cotton. Today’s merino-wool hiking socks are almost always blended with other materials like nylon and spandex for increased durability, improved drying times and to help hold the sock’s shape.

In addition to insulating and wicking moisture, merino-wool hiking socks also have antimicrobial properties, which means that they don’t retain odors as much as other fabrics. In fact, the best merino-wool hiking socks don’t smell at all and can be worn for multiday hiking or backpacking trips without stinking up your shoes or boots.

Our top merino-wool hiking socks include the Smartwool Classic Mountaineer Classic Edition Maximum Cushion Crew Socks and the REI Merino Wool Lightweight Hiking Crew Socks. These socks are a great value, providing the comfort and temperature regulation that our testers expect from a merino-wool sock. They also have the added benefit of being RWS (Responsible Wool Standard) certified, which ensures that sheep are treated humanely.