Socks for Long Hikes and Hunts

[Jason]

What are you guys using for a good hiking or boot sock and what’s your preference in materials?

[WapitiTalk1]

Easy one sir. Merino wool. 

[jrebel]

Smart wool hunting tall sock....wear them year round and they are awesome.  In colder weather I will double this sock up or wear a thicker smart wool liner under them.  I have a couple pairs that are two years old and still going strong. 

Here is a link to the sock. 

https://www.smartwool.com/shop/mens-hunt-medium-camo-crew-socks-sw001349?variationId=880&gclid=Cj0KCQjwg7KJBhDyARIsAHrAXaG_BxdB5BMgXxwFniuyDrwZTPmrnY7RUZl08ur8PBWqN8vV98ZuYMgaAi3qEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

[Jason]

Easy one sir. Merino wool.

Not as easy as one thinks. There’s so many blends with different % of merino wool and other materials.

[Duckslayer89]

Darn tough socks hands down. I use to wear smart wool and they don’t compare. They last a crazy long time. I do like the smart wool black merino liner socks though underneath. But often times I end up just wearing the darn toughs.

[WapitiTalk1]

DT and Smartwool are both a MER wool blend socks you wild bohemians. 

[Jason]

Darn tough socks hands down. I use to wear smart wool and they don’t compare. They last a crazy long time. I do like the smart wool black merino liner socks though underneath. But often times I end up just wearing the darn toughs.

These are the ones I’m looking at.

https://www.rei.com/product/887221/darn-tough-hiker-boot-sock-cushion-socks-mens?sku=8872210006

[Taco280AI]

Was about to mention REI has 25% off Darn Tough

[jrebel]

Not all merino / smart wool are made the same.  I have purchases some of the cheaper socks off of Camofire and they were horrible.  The elastic on the calf would retain a memory and after the second or third trip out, they would slowly creep down around your ankle.  I really like over the calf socks for that very reason. 

I will need to try the darn tough over the calf socks.  The smart wool socks I posted are not overly thick so if it is cold out, most would need to double them up.  Smart wool makes a heavier sock but again...it does not have the elastic qualities I like to keep the sock up around my calf. 

[High Climber]

Danner makes a good pair of hunting socks surprisingly. I like their over the calf medium weight

[Jason]

Not all merino / smart wool are made the same.  I have purchases some of the cheaper socks off of Camofire and they were horrible.  The elastic on the calf would retain a memory and after the second or third trip out, they would slowly creep down around your ankle.  I really like over the calf socks for that very reason. 

I will need to try the darn tough over the calf socks.  The smart wool socks I posted are not overly thick so if it is cold out, most would need to double them up.  Smart wool makes a heavier sock but again...it does not have the elastic qualities I like to keep the sock up around my calf.

I had the same issue with socks I purchased off of Camofire a few years back. The would start heading towards my toes as the day went on. Very uncomfortable.

[Duckslayer89]

Not all merino / smart wool are made the same.  I have purchases some of the cheaper socks off of Camofire and they were horrible.  The elastic on the calf would retain a memory and after the second or third trip out, they would slowly creep down around your ankle.  I really like over the calf socks for that very reason. 

I will need to try the darn tough over the calf socks.  The smart wool socks I posted are not overly thick so if it is cold out, most would need to double them up.  Smart wool makes a heavier sock but again...it does not have the elastic qualities I like to keep the sock up around my calf.

I had the same exact problem with smart wool. IMO darn tough blows them away in durability and comfort.

Those socks you posted are same I use basically, I would pull the trigger

[Special T]

Hunting and hiking are 2 different needs. Once upon a time I wore down a lot of boot leather.  For long hikes with packs, especially cross country... polypropylene thin socks and wool over that. Perfect combo of abrasion resistance and water /sweat wicking.  I always had 3 pair of poly. They rinse out nice for those really long adventures and dry easily.

[X-Force]

I’m cheap, Costco wool poly blend… rotating 2 pair over a 4 or 5 day hunt.

[huntnnw]

pretty hard to beat Darn tough socks