How We Tested Hiking Socks

We put each pair of our tested socks through the wringer. From the high mountain peaks of Colorado, Alaska, and Peru to the deserts of southern Utah to the coastal redwood trails of California, we hiked, backpacked, boarded, and ran backcountry trails to test the limits of each contender. We tested in all types of weather through a wide range of temperatures, from the hottest days of summer to the coldest of winter nights. In addition to field tests, we performed in-lab tests to determine performance differences. Each sock was rated based on its comfort, warmth, breathability, durability, and drying speed. Below we outline the specific tests for each.

Comfort

When considering comfort, we compared the level of cushion, the amount of compression paneling, relative fit, and overall coziness. The testing was simple. We tried each on, slept with them, hiked in them, and compared their properties. We even wore different socks on each foot to compare the relative cushioning and hiking capabilities side by side.

Wicking and Breathability

To test breathability and wicking capabilities, we wore each pair while performing high and low-intensity activities. Trail running in each sock in warm weather was the best tell-tale sign of wicking and breathability. Wearing different socks allowed us to see which foot felt hotter or less comfortable. We ran through the high Peruvian Andes, the jagged Colorado Rocky Mountains, and on lonely, hot desert trails. We also took the socks skiing to determine how well they wicked away moisture in cold environments.

Warmth

This was measured using two sub-metrics: wet warmth and dry warmth. For wet warmth, we soaked each sock in water, put it on, and walked around in the cold to evaluate if the model held its warm. For dry warmth, we stood around on cold winterish nights or slept in the socks to note whether our toes stayed warm. We also wore different socks on each foot to get a specific comparison.

Durability

To test durability, we looked at relative wear and tear over roughly 60 miles of testing. This included compression of cushioning, holes, pilling, misshapen fabrics, etc. We even hiked around in bare sock feet on the pavement (yikes!) to determine which were most susceptible to sole wear. We noted the quality of fabric before and after this testing period. Products that demonstrated little to no wear scored high, while those that showed obvious wear scored low.

Drying Speed

Our drying tests were two-fold. First, we took each sock into the field and got it soaked. We then put them on rocks to dry out. This provided us with real-field-based data that yielded decent results but not objective ones. So we confirmed our outdoor tests with a much more objective in-lab test. Each sock was soaked, wrung out, hung on a line, and weighed every ten minutes to determine the relative amount of moisture in the sock. This allowed us to determine which socks dried fastest, which held the most water, and which dried the slowest.