Socks
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Darn Tough Mid-weight Hikers (Amazon Link)
Backcountry.com link for awesome sock designs and their 3 pair bundle!
Price- ~$25 - $27
Weight- ~2.6 oz (pair)
These socks have been a hiking staple of mine for years now. They're the one of my two part backpacking sock system, Darn Toughs combined with a thinner liner sock. This had been the key to thousands of miles of mostly blister free hiking. After day of wet feet or particularly loose or worn out shoes, or maybe a continuous 160 mile stretch of trail with no recovery days, I've found the occasional blister inevitable but this sock system has kept it to an absolute minimum, even under extreme conditions.
And who makes warranty claims on their socks? I do! Darn Tough Vermont offers a lifetime warranty on every pair of socks they sell. I mail them in as I wear them out and have store credits waiting for me when I need my next pair. They are available in tons of colors if that's important to you, and they come in all the standard height selections like crew and quarter-crew.
The Good- They provide excellent cushion, impressive long-term durability, and an unmatched unconditional lifetime guarantee. Because they are a merino wool blend, they also keep your feet warm even when wet and stay significantly less stinky than the average sock after being worn for five days straight.
The Bad- They will eventually thin out or develop holes under intense thru-hiking mileage (though the warranty completely covers replacements). Additionally, the thicker midweight cushion means they hold onto moisture a bit longer than ultra-thin synthetic socks.
(Me displaying my Darn Tough sock, frozen solid somewhere in New Mexico. After thawing they still fit great! That's what I expect from Darn Toughs!)
Injinji toe sock liners (Amazon Link)
Backcountry.com link for a better price and their 3 pair bundle!
Price- ~$13 - $17
Weight- ~1.3 oz (pair)
These are an integral part of my long-distance hiking sock system. Loved by some and equally hated by others, toe socks are literally like gloves for your feet, with each toe wrapped in its own little sleeve. These socks are made from CoolMax, giving them exceptional moisture wicking abilities and making them silky soft. I never go backpacking without them.
The Good- They work brilliantly for blister prevention by creating a friction-reducing, two-layer system when paired with an outer sock like Darn Toughs. They stop your toes from physically rubbing against each other during high-mileage days and are excellent at wicking moisture away from your skin. Even if you have to ford a creek, they dry surprisingly fast and remain relatively comfortable when wet.
The Bad- They don't last forever. You can expect to replace them every 250 to 300 miles under the intense demands of a thru-hike, though they will last much longer with standard, less extreme outdoor use.
(a rather broken in pair worn by Moose near our home in Washington State)
Wright Socks
(Amazon Link)
Price- ~$15 - $18
Weight- ~1.6 oz (pair)
These are and have been Bugs' favorite hiking socks for many years now. They feature a unique "double-wall" construction right out of the package, which means there is no need to hassle with managing a separate liner sock and outer sock system.
The Good- The built-in double layer does a fantastic job of absorbing friction to prevent blisters. They are also much thinner than a traditional Darn Tough or similar merino blend sock, making them an excellent choice for hotter climates or hikers who struggle with warm, sweaty feet. They are also highly budget-friendly upfront.
The Bad- They don't have the same long-term lifespan as a heavy-duty merino wool sock, meaning they will wear through a bit faster (though the lower price tag means your total sock cost mile-by-mile ends up balancing out to be roughly the same).
(Above- Bugs showing off a new pair we had delivered all the way to Almaty, Kazakhstan. They're that good.)
