What are the best socks for hiking?

Great hiking socks are critical. Do yours deliver in all these important areas? Learn how to pick the hiking sock that is smart for your trip.They must be comfortable, wick moisture, protect against shear, support your natural posture, keep your feet at a good temperature, distribute pressure, promote circulation, absorb shock, and be tough. That's no small order.They are almost as important as your boots and shoes when it comes to your comfort. Things to consider...
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Blood Flow: This is the circulation of blood through the foot. A decrease or cut-off in blood flow can be caused by unyielding fabrics in hiking socks. Acrylics in combination with other fibers and a terry weave can help with this and shear.Moisture: With exertion one foot can sweat 1-2 pints of vapor/fluid per day. That's why wicking technology in hiking socks is so important. Without it bacteria and fungus can become a problem. Hungry yet? ;-)Position: If your hiking socks don't help to maintain correct anatomical alignment this can cause premature fatigue. Correct posture also helps to correctly position your foot in your boot or shoe to make it feel like it's an extension of your body.Pressure Areas: Pressure can cause discomfort and lead to damage if it's not addressed. A good example of this is a bedsore. Most people hopefully won't experience pressure to this degree, but it's something you want to keep in mind when looking at hiking socks. Padding is especially important around bony areas like the heal and ball of the foot.Shearing Force: This happens when your tissue is moving in opposite directions, like when jumping over a stream, or descending a steep slope. Part of your skin is moving one way and the tissue under it another, this causes a tearing action just under the surface of the skin. This is the most common way of getting blisters.Temperature: Good hiking socks need to be appropriate for their intended use, from a warm weather day hike to a week-long mountaineering trip. Once in their appropriate environment they should maintain a consistent comfortable temperature.Like a shoe or boot your hiking socks should be matched to the type of hiking you'll be doing.Liners: Thin socks called liners are made to be worn under your hiking socks next to your skin so they can wick the moisture away and keep your feet dry. They also can help prevent chafing and increase warmth by wicking when used under heavier hiking socks.Light-weight hiking socks: like Thorlo CoolMax light hiker socks at zappos.com (link opens new window) (Zappos has a great reputation) are usually made with wicking materials, provide cushioning, and shear protection at the least. They can also add noticeable support. As their name implies they emphasize breathability over warmth and are made for trail hiking and light-weight backpacking in warm weather. You can wear them with or without liners.Mid-weight: Mid-weight socks are thicker and provide more cushioning and add insulation for moderate to cold conditions. You'll probably want to wear a liner with these for added chafe protection and to enhance wicking.Extreme/Mountaineering socks-like SmartWool Mountaineer socks. (Click on the picture to open a new window to REI, one of the best service-oriented outdoor stores I know of. They also carry Thorlo.)These are the thickest because they're insulated for warmth and highly cushioned for shock and impact on long journeys. They're made for extremes in cold and rugged terrain. The difference in each of the above's padding is created by the type of yarn/fibers, fabric density, and resilience. And believe me the extra padding makes a huge difference over the long-haul.As your feet sweat (sorry, true hikers don't "perspire" ;-) ) regular cotton socks absorb moisture causing them to stick. This causes more friction to damp feet, which are more fragile than when they're dry. Add in impact, shear stress, and increased weight from hiking gear and it increases the chances of getting blisters. That's why socks that wick are a good idea.While cotton has its place and is comfortable for mild walks, it provides little protection or insulation when wet. There are definitely better fabrics for hiking socks. Cotton shouldn't be used around the foot but is OK at the top of the sock collar to absorb running moisture like Thorlo®. Considering how abusive hiking can be to your feet it's a good idea to give them all the protection you can. Although great fitting boots and shoes go a long way toward keeping your feet healthy, socks add another level of comfort and protection that hiking boots or hiking shoes alone can't.Silk is light-weight, has a nice feel, wicks moisture, and is a natural insulator. Its limited durability though means it is best when combined with other materials rather than a 100% silk sock.Synthetic materials like Coolmax®, Capilene®, or polypropylene (the same stuff Polar Fleece is made of) do a good job of wicking moisture away from the skin. So they're often combined with other materials into hiking socks.Cold Feet: Although regular 100% wool is a good choice if your feet are usually cold, it can wear quickly, be scratchy, take awhile to dry, and sometimes smell funky when used by itself. But when you combine it (along with its ability to retain heat even when wet) with other materials Merino wool (a finer grade of wool they make nice men's suits out of) can be a great ingredient for a hiking sock. Since the right complementary materials help to soften, reinforce, and wick. Smartwool® makes some good Merino wool socks that provide moisture control in addition to blister resistance.There are also a number of synthetic materials like Thermastat® or Hollofil® that wick and insulate well but are soft to the touch.Warm Feet: If your feet are always warm in the summer I'd look into synthetics like Coolmax®. Consider the light-weight hiking socks if they fit your needs.Your socks should fit snuggly so that your hiking boots and/or shoes interact like a system not an afterthought. If your socks bunch or are so loose they're sloppy, you're not going to enjoy your trip.Since they're relatively light you may want to carry a couple of different pairs even for day trips, and definitely multiple pairs for longer hikes. Hiking socks are an important piece of your equipment used for camping and hiking.To Summarize: Great hiking socks wick away sweat, cushion impact, and protect against shearing forces especially at the heel, ball of the foot, and toes. The type of hiking you'll be doing will dictate what type of sock you should wear just like your footwear. Hiking socks are extremely important to your overall comfort.My favorite socks are Thorlo®. They wick well, discourage shear, absorb shock, and address all the areas critical to comfort. My first pairs lasted me at least 7 years. I've heard stories about people completely submerging their feet unavoidably underwater, soaking their socks, and then continuing for 4 miles without getting blisters. I wouldn't want to do that in cotton hiking socks. :-)