Crew-length socks are traditionally worn when hiking, as they keep higher boots from rubbing against your ankle. However, if you’re wearing low-top shoes, consider socks that stop just above the cuff, as these will help keep your feet cooler.

A hiking sock is crucial to prevent blisters. A hiking sock, unlike a wimpy, stinky cotton sock, won’t constantly rub against the back of your foot and provides significant protection against rubbing that your boot might cause.

The best walking socks 2021

1. Smartwool Hike Light Cushion Crew Sock.
2. Darn Tough Light Hiker hiking sock.
3. Rockay Flare Quarter Socks.
4. Finisterre Last Long Original Sock.
5. Smartwool PhD Light Margarita Mash-Up Hiking Socks.
6. Sealskinz Waterproof All Weather Ankle Length Sock.
7. Icebreaker Merino Hike+ Medium Crew Socks.

Best All-Round Walking Socks: Smartwool Light Crew Hiking Socks. Best Running Socks for Long Walks: Rockay Flare. Best Performance Walking Socks: Smartwool PhD Medium Crew. Best Light Walking Socks: Icebreaker Multisport.

An important rule to remember about sock length, is that the sock should always come up to just over the top of your chosen footwear. If the sock is too short, the boot will rub your ankle, if the sock is too long then your feet will get too warm, and the sock is more likely to slip down.

The best socks for walking and hiking in 2021

• SmartWool Hike Light Crew Socks.
• Bridgedale Heavyweight Merino Endurance Socks.
• Rockay Razer Trail Socks.
• Bridgedale Coolmax Liner Socks.
• SealSkinz All Weather Socks.
• National Trust Hiking Socks.
• Jack Wolfskin Hiking Pro Classic Cut Socks.
• 1000 Miles Wool Fusion Socks.

The main reason why most hikers wear two pairs of socks is that they want to avoid any blisters. Blisters can be one of the most annoying things that could happen when you are hiking, and most hikers will go to great distances to reduce the risk of getting blisters.

Layering up on your socks takes care of the two biggest reasons, friction and moisture. When you wear two pairs of socks, instead of the 1 sock rubbing against your foot, the two socks rub against each other instead, eliminating friction on your foot.

Double-layer socks can prevent blisters by reducing friction and wicking away moisture. You can also wear two pairs of socks, which is a common tactic for hikers. The inner sock or inner layer of the sock should be of sweat-wicking fabric.

In fact, when it comes to hiking shoes, you should order up a half-size. That said, they shouldn’t be too loose anywhere in the shoe except for your toes. If your foot is sliding around inside your shoe even when they’re tied tight, that’s not a good fit (also a recipe for blisters and skinned feet).

If you don’t have at least a half-inch (1.3 centimeters) between your longest toe and the end of the shoe — approximately the width of your finger — try a larger size. Be sure the shoe is wide enough. Walk in the shoes before buying them. They should feel comfortable right away.

With a proper fit, your heel should be locked in place inside the boot to prevent friction and the blisters it engenders; your toes shouldn’t hit the front of the boot while going downhill (the number one cause of blackened toenails); and there should be minimal extra space around your foot, though you should have …

Hiking boots should fit snug everywhere, tight nowhere and offer room to wiggle your toes. Try them on at the end of the day (after feet swell) and with the socks you plan to wear. Know your size. It’s best to have your foot’s length, width and arch length measured on a specially calibrated fit device at REI.

Short Answer: Yes, you can hike in running shoes. Trail running shoes are the best type of running shoes to hike in and are often recommended by experienced hikers. Road running shoes won’t perform as well as trail runners but can still work.

And they do actually stretch to fit somewhat but the narrow toebox is going to an issue for many runners with wider feet.

True to past experiences with European sized footwear, the Salomon fit small way small. In order to get the appropriate fit, both width-wise and length-wise, I found the need to increase the size to 11.5, a full size up, before the boot became truly comfortable!

If your toes or the sides of your feet are painfully crunched, the boot is too narrow. If you can slide your foot from side to side inside the boot, then the boots are too wide and may cause blisters on the bottom and sides of your feet.