What are the Best Summer Hiking Socks?

Choosing the ideal summer hiking socks from a sea of options in the market can be a tough ask, but this will go a long way to ensure that you’re not complaining about overheating, blisters, and discomfort under your socks the next time you set out on summer hiking trip.

A fancy pair of boots, unfortunately, won’t be enough; trekking for hours-on-end on uneven and rugged terrain without the appropriate pair of socks will have you regretting why you didn’t take that beach vacation instead.

The best summer walking socks should be fast drying, antibacterial, and able to keep your feet cool in the hot conditions.

They should also be durable to allow you to use them for multiple days and long-distance expeditions without giving in to wear and tear.

We can’t leave out breathability and ample cushioning to provide the needed comfort to your feet. To find a pair that ticks all the boxes, you might have to get your hands dirty by conducting extensive due diligence.

Luckily, we are here to ensure that it doesn’t get to that!

The following are the best summer hiking socks you can find on the market today, but first, lets check out the Buyer’s guide, and what you should be looking out for ideally.

Best Summer Hiking Socks- Buying Guide

The following features should be given priority whenever you go shopping for a functional pair of socks that will prove crucial for your upcoming trek under the hot sun:

Style

There are four different styles of hiking socks available; no-show, crew, ankle, and knee-high. Although knee-high socks are normally built for use in the winter, the other three prove to be more suitable during the summer months.

Crew style socks are the most common kind of hiking socks; these rise to the mid-calf and fit easily inside the average hiking boot. They provide the needed protection from skin-to-boot abrasion.

Ankle socks reach just above the ankle and come in handy when you are wearing low or mid-cut boots, as well as trail running shoes.

Finally, no-show socks remain hidden inside most shoes and offer little to no protection from friction between the skin and boots. These are best worn with light and low-cut shoes on relatively shorter trails.

Cushioning

Cushioning refers to the thickness of the sock and how well it can protect your feet from the pounding impact of activities such as backpacking and running.

Typically, the more cushioning in a sock, the warmer it’s going to be. In this regard, the best summer hiking socks don’t tend to be heavily cushioned. These are usually thin, lightweight, and are suitable for shorter hikes.

They are also breathable and fast-drying but less long-lasting compared to thicker brands.

Socks with slight cushioning are best for summer hikes since they absorb sweat from your feet and offer protection in crucial areas like the ball of the foot and heel without making your feet overheat. Medium cushioned socks are ideal for intense hiking or mountaineering and are applicable in the majority of climate conditions.

Materials

Most summer trekking socks feature a blend of different fabrics to offer the ideal balance between durability, comfort, warmth, and breathability.

Nevertheless, depending on what you are after, a predominance of a certain material might prove to be more important to your needs. Wool is the most commonly used material in the manufacture of hiking socks given its property to keep your feet cool when it’s hot and warm when it’s cold.

Aside from managing the temperature, wool also offers natural antibacterial qualities and rejects odour better compared to other fabrics.

Synthetic-based fabrics such as nylon and polyester are normally used alongside wool to boost the drying time.

These kinds of materials wick moisture and prove to be exceptionally durable.

Elastics such as spandex are occasionally mixed with other fabrics to deliver a sock that maintains its shape even after getting stretched during strenuous and intensive activities.

These are also used to increase traction when walking with the socks, as well as maximize comfort while keeping blisters at bay.

Fit

The right fitting sock is important when it comes to hiking in the summer. This goes a long way to ensure that you remain comfortable throughout the hike.

An ill-fitting walking sock will tend to slide down the calf after every few minutes of trekking and this can be nudging and discomforting. Manufacturers use elastic materials such as spandex to deliver the perfect fit of a sock. These can conveniently stretch when it’s needed and hug tight around your foot.

When searching for the appropriately fitting sock, you need to know your foot size. If your foot is between sizes, you might want to size down to avoid excess fabric inside your shoes that can bunch up and lead to blisters.

To find the right sock, look for a snug option but not overly tight fit. Typically, you’ll now a sock fits you right when the heel cup is in line with the heel of your foot.

ArcticDry Waterproof Socks

One of the best summer hiking socks you can wear today comes from ArcticDry! Their Ice Blue waterproof socks have all the qualities to make for a stress-free adventure in the blistering heat.

The socks not only look charming but are stacked with features that avid hikers look for in a hiking sock.

Firstly, the socks are 100% waterproof so you won’t have to worry about getting your feet wet when you stumble upon those occasional mud puddles that are yet to dry after the winter season. Secondly, they have a triple-layer construction that not only maximizes durability but also provides shock absorption when you are trekking on rough terrain.

Coolmax material has been used on the inner layer of the sock to enhance breathability, so if your feet get sweaty when the sun shines, this will be a good solution for you.

Porous construction allows for a free flow of air in and out of the sock to keep your feet fresh at all times.

Ample padding, especially on the heel area ensures that you remain comfortable the whole time you’ll be hiking.

The socks also fit tightly (but not too tightly) around your foot for a comfortable fit.

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Smartwool Men’s Phd Outdoor Medium Crew Socks

According to Smartwool, these are their best-selling pair of socks, and from the sterling reviews they get on both Smartwool and Amazon, we can assume that it is true. The Phds come with a Virtually Seamless toe and a mesh venting design to allow for optimal breathability in the hot sun.

The socks are medium cushioned to keep you comfortable while providing the right conditions for the sock to remain breathable. A 4-degree Elite Fit System has been used on the sock to make for flexibility in all the right places and helps to keep them in place inside your boots.

The sock’s material composition features merino wool that has been used alongside Smartwool’s patented ReliaWool technology to offer strategic cushioning at high impact areas of your foot. The merino wool further offers natural antibacterial properties to keep your feet and hiking boots from stinking after a long trek on the trail.

Icebreaker Men’s Hike Med Crew

Hiking in the summer requires a sock that maximises breathability while still providing enough cushioning to ensure your feet remain comfortable in those never-ending hikes. This is exactly what you get from the Icebreaker mid crew socks, alongside comfort that has been provided through double-up cushioning centred around high-impact areas of your foot such as the balls of your feet and heels.

The sock’s construction combines a breathable merino wool fabric with a stretchy and flexible Lycra material. This not only helps to keep your feet cool in the scorching sun but also makes for a great fit. The seamless toe prevents situations where the material bunches, helping to prevent blisters. It doesn’t matter how far your hiking adventure takes you, these socks will be there to serve you diligently all through the way.

Darn Tough Men’s Hiker Micro Crew Cushion Sock

The Darn Tough Hikers are very popular among outdoorsmen seeking a thrill in the summer, as well as mountaineers and trekkers. This is a credit to the high level of comfort they offer, which originates from a high-quality material construction. The sock is composed of 61% of merino wool, 36% nylon, and 3% spandex.

The merino wool fibre is exceptional at wicking moisture and regulating temperature to keep your feet comfortable in the unforgiving summer heat. It is also pretty breathable and offers antimicrobial capabilities that keep your feet from stinking.

The nylon fibres have been used to enhance durability whereas the spandex stretches appropriately to allow for the right fit.

Furthermore, the sock uses True Seamless technology to prevent chafing and abrasion, making them super comfortable to wear. Mid-level cushioning on the underside of the crew style socks protect your feet from hard impacts.

You can also find these amazing socks in seven different colours!

DANISH ENDURANCE Merino Wool Hiking Socks

Danish Endurance is a brand that requires no introduction when it comes to the manufacture of hiking gear and accessories. These socks live up to the level of quality that we’ve come to expect from this impressive brand. They have a mesh lining on both sides of the calf to enhance breathability and keep your feet fresh all day long.

Merino wool has been to construct the sock, which offers natural cooling and heating properties, as well as useful antibacterial attributes to keep your feet and healthy and odourless.

Although these socks will be great for the hot summer months, their heating and cooling capabilities ensure that they can be used all year round.

You can’t deny the importance of comfort if you’ve ever gone hiking before. This has been addressed by the plenty of cushioning and padding on the socks.

You’ll have little to no chance of developing blisters no matter how treacherous the hiking trail is. The socks are also conveniently unisex, so whether you a man or a woman, using these socks won’t be an issue.

You can find the Danish Endurance hiking socks in different sizes and multiple cute colors to fit your many preferences. If you’re an animal lover, you’ll be glad to know that the process of sourcing the wool was animal-friendly. Overall, you get a high-quality and versatile pair of socks that can be used by hikers, trekkers, mountaineers, runners, etc, that was designed to assist you in achieving your highest potential in the outdoors.

Bridgedale Coolfusion Light Hiker Sock

If you’re looking for some of the best summer hiking socks, the Coolfusion Light Hiker socks might just do it for you. These socks are not only charming in appearance but also come with a breathable design to keep your feet fresh in the hot temperatures. A mesh-lining on the exterior of the sock allows for the free circulation of air in and out of the socks.

As a result, your feet remain cool during the whole time you’ll be hiking in the warmer climates. The socks have been constructed using Bridgedale call fusion that is known to contain technical and natural fibers stitched up in such a way that enhances ventilation.

Aside from the ventilation and breathability, there is adequate padding to cushion your feet when hiking in rocky and other hard surfaces.

The ample padding makes the sock suitable for a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking, biking, running, etc. Lycra elastane has also been used to giver the sock its elastic qualities for a snug and comfortable fit.

Finally, you get a one-year guarantee from the manufacturer to show that you’re great a great deal for a good price.

Conclusion

Hiking in the summer months allows your skin to soak in some sun as you enjoy the open spaces. However, this can turn into a nightmare if you don’t have the right attire and gear needed for such an expedition. One crucial thing that you need to have is a good pair of socks and in this case, they should be specifically designed for use in hot conditions.

This article considers everything that you would want in a practical sock and takes a look at some of the best summer hiking socks currently available in the UK market. If you’re planning to go hiking this summer, the discussed models will make a great choice for your footwear needs.