Injinji Liner Crew Review

Normally we prefer natural fabrics for their superior wicking ability, comfort, and warmth. However, the wizardry that has produced these synthetic socks left us impressed. The Injinji Liner Crew is made from 75% CoolMax fabric, a polyester specifically designed to wick away moisture and enhance breathability. This combines with 21% EcoMade nylon, a stretchy fabric produced from 97% recycled material. The other 4% is Lycra, adding to the stretchy, foot-hugging capabilities of this liner sock.

Performance Comparison

Comfort

This sock fits like a glove, literally. It hugs the foot and wicks away moisture, even from between the toes. Its strengths are wicking and breathability. The 200-needle-count stitching lends durability despite the thinness. The result is that your foot (and toes) will stay dry and comfortable over the miles. The main drawback is that there is no cushion. You may want to look for a different sock if you're carrying a lot of weight.

Synthetic socks are ordinarily inferior in the warmth category. We found the unique blend of the Injinji Liner to be better than other synthetics at retaining warmth, whether wet or dry. Due to the higher nylon and lycra content and high needle count, this sock also maintains its shape on the feet and toes. In fact, because it hugs the foot so well, it almost felt like we weren't wearing a liner when tested under a thicker sock. It's more like a second layer of fuzzy skin.

Wicking and Breathability

Due to the unique blend of synthetic materials and construction, the Injinji socks excel in this category.

While this sock does not integrate ventilation stitching or paneling like other lightweight award winners, the type and thinness of the material support wicking and breathability. And, because the sock goes between the toes, it wicks away moisture from the whole foot. A common complaint with synthetic socks is a tendency to wick well from where the sock contacts the skin but leave sweat between the toes. The toe sock remedies this well and will provide superior blister prevention, whether used on its own or under a thicker sock.

Warmth

No doubt about it, this sock is thin. It's not designed to keep your foot warm in cold weather by itself. However, it will help keep your foot warm under a thicker sock by wicking away moisture from the skin, especially if used with wool which will further wick the moisture out and away. While the Injinji Liner can be worn alone in warmer weather and is warmer than we expected, it's meant to be a liner for a reason.

While not suitable for cold weather as a stand-alone sock, we did find that this liner was relatively warm when wet, especially compared to thicker, more cushioned socks in the lightweight category. The Injinji Liner also provided decent warmth as a sleeping sock (when dry) and when lounging around the cabin after a long day.

Durability

Due to the thinness, the Injinji Liner is not the most durable sock in the lineup. That said, they'll last a long time if used as intended, as a liner under a thicker sock. If you wear them on their own or walk around “barefoot,” you can expect them to wear more quickly. And, due to the 200 needle count stitching and synthetic material, they are relatively durable for such a thin sock.

One feature that supports this category is the cost. This liner is quite affordable, so you can buy a couple of pairs for the price of most other award-winning socks. They're also extremely lightweight. You could easily throw two pairs in your pack without even noticing and wear one as a liner on the trail, and save the other pair to lounge around or sleep in after a long day.

Drying Speed

This sock performed the highest in our drying speed tests. Lay them on a rock in the sun, and these puppies will be dry as a bone in no time. The synthetic fabrics and thinness combine to this effect.

In our tests, this sock took less than an hour to completely dry in 70-degree weather — much faster than any other sock we tested. When hiking in flip flops, we noticed that the sock also dried quickly on the foot. This makes it a good option for hiking in warm, wet conditions. If the needle got below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, they weren't quite as comfortable when wet. We'd recommend a medium-weight sock for those types of conditions.

Should You Buy the Injinji Liner Crew?

There are three conditions in which we would recommend this sock. The first is as a stand-alone sock in warm weather, wet or dry. The second is if you need a sock to wear with flip flops (an especially stylish option). Or three, if you need a liner under a thicker sock in any condition. This could either be in cold weather under a thicker sock or for blister protection underneath a more cushioned sock in warm or hot weather. If you think any of these scenarios sound like something you'll encounter, scoop this well-priced puppy up.

What Other Hiking Socks Should You Consider?

The Injinji Liner Crew is an excellent choice for an ultralight or liner sock, and it's also a great choice if you are prone to blisters. The Darn Tough Light Hiker Micro Crew is a great lightweight option if you need something that will offer comfortable cushion over miles with weight on your back. The Wigwam Hiking Outdoor Pro is a warm and cushioned synthetic option. Whatever your needs, you should be able to find a sock to suit your adventure among our impressive list of award-winning socks.