Green Garden Best Hiking Socks for Trail Running Shoes 2023 – GWC Mag gwcmagNovember 3, 2023029 views Buyer Considerations For Choosing The Best Hiking Socks Crew Height Socks vs Ankle Height Socks On balance, we think micro-crew is the most usable height for hiking socks, and doubly so for backpacking. They work great with trail runners, and especially when paired with shorts. That’s because crew height protect against minor scuffs and scrapes from brush in high exposure zones, reduces the likelihood of skin contact with poison oak or similar, guarantees the tongue or heel tab of a shoe/boot won’t rub directly on ankle skin, fully close off the gap below pant cuffs even during large movements, keeps your calves and Achilles a bit warmer on cool days, slightly reduce sunscreen use when paired with shorts, accommodate gaiters more comfortable, and perhaps most importantly, provide a fabric surface that can be treated with permethrin to ward off mosquitos and ticks. Thus, you will note that all of the socks in this guide are crew height. That being said, there are many scenarios when quarter height is superior. In the event that your trail destination has minimal brush, zero ticks, few mosquitos, you don’t wear gaiters, temps are in 70+ Farenheight, and your shoe’s tongue and heel tabs don’t rise up or bother you, then quarter height socks are actually superior. While it sounds like a laundry list, that combination of environmental traits is actually quite common. The fact is that ankle height socks are lighter weight and cooler which is preferable to carry, and quite preferable to wear in hot weather. What’s more, personal preferences matters. If you simply prefer hiking in quarter height socks and hate crew height, then you should act on that. Wear quarter height and it will end up okay. However, we always recommend against “no-show/low-cut” height socks, as they expose low ankle skin to the top of the shoe which can create chafing or uncomfortable rubbing by the 10th, 20th, or 30th mile. We also don’t see the point of full crew height socks, that much extra coverage simply is beyond what’s necessary. If you’re backpacking, perhaps the best system would be one pair of crew height and one pair of quarter height. That way, you get the best of both worlds! Sock Height Power Rankings Micro Crew Quarter Traditional Crew Low Ankle The Right Amount of Cushion With some exceptions, the best hiking socks are constructed light cushion. We strongly encourage you to avoid heavy cushion for use with trail runners. Again, it’s just overkill. Cushion is code for extra fabric (usually terry loops) beneath the forefoot and heel, and sometimes the arch. A little goes a long way. If the soles of your feet hurt after a long day, consider hiking in shoes with thicker, cushier midsoles, instead of relying on additional sock fabric. The upside of cushion, is that it creates a thick buffer against areas that tend to rub, helping to mitigate hotspots. It provides a comfier footstrike with every step. The major downside is that cushion means extra fabric material which absorbs sweat. Sweaty feat are more prone to blistering. Thus cushion can backfire, causing more harm than good and worsening the problem it is designed to prevent. What’s more, trail running shoes are often so comfortable that cushion is not even required. Zero cushion socks are great too, especially in hot weather. However, unlike light cushion which serves everyone well, you should make sure to test zero cushion socks in the exact shoes you’ll be hiking in before taking them out on any serious jaunts. Should You Choose Toe Socks? Toe socks from brands like Injinji are steadily gaining popularity and are definitely worth considering. The primary benefit is that they prevent skin-on-skin contact between toes, thus reducing rubbing, and decreasing the likelihood of blisters. And like the widened toe box in a pair of Altra shoes, toe socks allow the foot to naturally splay out to subtly increase balance. On the flip side, they’re a bit of extra work to take on and off and take a bit of getting used to. But on the whole, we really like them! Test Which Are The Best Hiking Socks For You While many aspects of selecting the best hiking socks are universal, other are much more subjective. The best hiking socks for one person may not be the same for another. It largely depends on your body and what you find comfortable. Thus, we encourage you to try multiple pairs. Consider yourself to be a lifelong sock tester, on the quest to never get another blister. However, once you achieve blister free status, you might as well stick with that pair for a while. Conclusion to the Best Hiking Socks For Trail Running Shoes While this guide to the best hiking socks might offer somewhat unconventional advice given that we recommend against traditional hiking socks, we’re confident that our approach is superior and that you are better off pairing running socks with trail running shoes. That’s because they’re lighter weight, cooler, less moisture absorbent, quicker to dry, more comfortable in warm weather, and are designed to pair together. Lastly, if we’ve learned anything from testing hiking socks, it’s that perhaps more than any other gear, preferences are subjective. People’s preference tends to vary more than with items like jackets or pants. If you have a pair of socks that you love and that keep your feet comfy but aren’t on our list, don’t stop wearing them. We have not tested every single sock and you know your own feet better than we do. Our selection is largely based on our own preferences and experience. Try out some our favorite best hiking socks, and your feet will thank you for it! Happy trails!