When you buy a pair of Merino Wool Hiking Socks it is important to choose the right thickness (weight), height (length of the sock), and fiber content (what is the sock made of) for your Camino. All brands of socks are not equal. Some people like walking in thicker socks, some in thinner socks, some prefer longer socks, while some prefer short socks. Here we show you how to choose the best hiking socks for your Camino de Santiago pilgrimage.
Walking nine different Camino de Santiago routes the best hiking socks that we have used were all merino wool or wool blends. We have tried and tested the most popular socks on the Camino de Santiago. Merino wool socks keep your feet dry, and blister-free, and prevent smelly feet. For long-distance walks, the right shoes are a very important item on your Camino de Santiago packing list, but to keep blisters away we learned the importance of wearing the right type of socks.
Socks are very important when walking the Camino de Santiago and can have a huge impact on the comfort of your feet and blistering.
See our Guide to the Best Shoes for Hiking the Camino de Santiago, discussing hiking shoes, trail shoes, and hiking boots in detail.
Stingy Nomads participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and other affiliate programs. If you click on the link and purchase the item or make a booking, we will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost. Thank You for supporting us and assisting us to produce quality, free content.
Our top sock choices for the Camino
Our YouTube video on the best shoes for the Camino de Santiago
What is Merino Wool?
Merino Wool is made from a specific sheep breed called the Merino sheep. This sheep has very thin and soft fibers within its fur resulting in improved thermoregulation, moisture resistance, and odor resistance when compared with other wool.
Choosing the Best Merino Wool Hiking Socks
There are some important sock features to consider when choosing your socks that will make a big difference walking the Camino de Santiago. These can be found on the packaging or webpage of all good socks.
- Sock Brand
- Fiber content (what is the sock made of)
- Thickness (weight)
- Length
- Shoe size
We tested and compared some of the best hiking socks on the market today.
Some popular merino wool socks we tested for hiking the Camino. – Mid Weight Darn Tough, Light Weight Darn Tough, Injinji Mid Weight Merino Wool Toe Sock, Injinji Merino Wool Sock Liner, Danish Endurance Mid Weight light grey
Top Merino wool sock Brands
All Merino Wool socks are not the same. The location and age of the sheep that the wool came from make a big difference in the wool quality. It is important to buy socks made of the wool percentage that is best suited for your Camino.
Reputable manufacturers usually use better-quality merino wool. Good Socks – brands that use good quality merino wool include Darn Tough, Silverlight, Smart Wool Socks, and Danish Endurance. If you live in North America Darn Tough socks is a good brand that is easy to purchase.
The Darn Tough Guarantee – All Darn Tough socks are guaranteed for life. They say – No strings, No Conditions, For Life. I have talked to pilgrims who have returned their socks and got them replaced no questions asked. Anything will break if you push it far enough, so I will not return a pair of socks with a hole after walking more than 1000 kilometers wearing it, but apparently, you can!
In Europe, we can recommend Danish Endurance for good quality merino wool hiking socks.
On the Darn Tough packaging, it clearly states that the socks are unconditionally guaranteed for life.
Choose the right type of socks for Your Camino
The Camino de Santiago is not a single route it is a network of pilgrimage routes that start in different places across Europe and finish in Santiago de Compostela. The routes are very different each offering its challenges. Here are the socks we recommend for different Camino Routes.
- For long hikes, when doing through hikes, like the Camino Frances, Camino del Norte, Via de La Plata our prefered socks are midweight high Merino Wool content socks. The soft, comfortable,Darn Tough Micro Crew Cushion Hike-Trek Merino Wool socks work very well.
- If you prefer a thinner sock, the Darn Tough Vermont Light Hiker Micro Crew Light Cushion (43% Merino Wool), is an excellent sock with sufficient padding. Light and strong with a thin layer of cushioning along the base of the foot.
- Very sweaty feet – go for a high Merino Wool content (63%) – Darn Tough Micro Crew Cushion Hike-Trek Merino Wool Sock, soft, breathable, high Merino wool content
- Need extra cushioning (70% Merino wool) – Smartwool Classic Mountaineer
- Wearing boots – very well-rated full-boot sock (a bit longer), great cushioning, 66% Merino, Darn Tough Vermont Men’s Merino Wool Boot Socks Full Cushion
- Looking for a pair of socks in Europe? Danish Endurance Premium Outdoor Hiking Socks (38 % Merino wool) are an excellent international option.
Darn Tough – Hiker Micro Crew Midweight socks With Cushioning. An excellent soft, breathable, high Merino wool content sock, perfectly suitable for any Camino route.
Merino Sock Weight for Hiking
The weight of the sock is determined by the thickness and padding. Sock weight is classified as light, mid, or heavyweight. A lightweight sock is a thin sock, a heavyweight sock is a thick sock.
- Lightweight – a thinner, more low-profile sock without much padding, some low-profile socks are padded on the soles.
- Midweight – socks of medium thickness with additional padding and protection. Warmer than lightweight socks.
- Heavyweight – a full profile, thick, warm socks.
Thick or Thin Socks?
We prefer hiking in medium weight socks. Walking thousands of kilometers on many different Camino routes we found the balance between padding, comfort and temperature of medium weight merino socks to work the best for us. I have compared a Darn Tough light weight sock with a Darn Tough medium weight sock over the same distance and found my feet to sweat less in the thicker medium weight sock. When I removed the socks my feet were a bit wet with the light weight sock and completely dry with the medium weight sock. The thicker sock had a higher merino wool content and was more efficient at wicking away moisture from my feet.
Comparing a mid-weight and light-weight sock, my feet were less wet in the thicker mid-weight sock.
Sock Height
Hiking socks come in different heights, from ankle height to just below your knees. Height will be determined by your type of footwear and by the terrain that you are hiking. Your socks should at least cover your shoes to protect your feet from chaving by your shoes. So longer socks if you wear boots.
The longer the sock the more water it can remove from your feet. So by helping movement of moisture from your feet out into the air longer socks help to keep sweaty feet dry.
- 1/4 Length – these are short socks coming up to just above your ankle bone. Good to wear with shoes or boots.
- Micro crew – only Darn Tough produces this length of sock, somewhere between 1/4 length and a crew sock.
- Crew socks – the most popular hiking sock-length just below your calf muscle, offer more protection than a quarter-length sock.
- Boot socks – reach mid-calf, about 12 inches in length
Merino Wool Content of Hiking Socks
Walking any of the Camino Routes merino wool socks is an excellent way to keep your feet dry and odor-free throughout the day. Very few hiking socks are 100% Merino wool, since the material is not very durable, and synthetic materials often dry quicker. This is why Merino wool is usually mixed with synthetics. For the Camino, we prefer to use socks that contain 30-60% Merino wool. These socks dry quicker and are more durable. On long Camino routes like the Camino del Norte and the Camino Frances durability is very important. Even if you walk in the summer months you will probably have some rainy days this time of the year making quick-drying socks important.
Wearing Smart Wool Merino socks in boots.
Best Merino Wool Socks for Sweaty Feet
Merino wool socks are great for people with sweaty feet. If your feet sweat a lot, wear a sock with a higher Merino wool content (50-75%), these socks will absorb more water and stay dry even when your feet sweat.
For sweaty feet, a higher sock is more efficient at removing moisture. The longer sock has more material drawing water away from your feet.
Hiking in winter with waterproof boots and socks with 50-75% merino wool content is recommended. Even though they are less durable and water resistant; breathability, thermoregulation, insulation, and odor resistance will be better.
Danish Endurance makes fantastic Merino wool socks that we have been very happy with walking the Camino de Santiago.
Injinji Five-Toe Socks
Injinji’s five-toe design socks for hikers are very popular on the Camino de Santiago. The idea is that wrapping each toe individually prevents friction that can cause blisters and hotspots. It also keeps your toes free for a natural fit that feels better. Some walkers say they have been walking thousands of blister-free kilometers and love them. This is a matter of personal preference and many who try the toe socks say they just can not get used to them.
Injinji Crew Merino Wool Hiking Socks and Merrel Moab 3 Hiking Shoes.
Merino Wool Toe Socks – Like other hiking socks, the Injinji toe socks are available in models made from different Materials. The most popular Injinji socks are made mostly of synthetic Coolmax material. They are however also available in a merino wool version, which we prefer – Injinji Liner Crew Merino Wool Socks
The two ways most pilgrims on the Camino wear Injini toe socks are either by layering or only wearing a medium-weight toe sock.
The liners are thin and are often worn under another pair of socks such as the Darn Tough Merino Wool Socks. If you wear the liners under a pair of socks check that you have shoes with a large toe box to ensure your feet are comfortable. I love my Merrel Moab 3 Wide Hiking Shoes. The large toe box offers more than enough space to comfortably wear liners and socks.
The Injini Trail is a good medium-weight crew sock for walking the Camino de Santiago.
More information to find the perfect sock
Sock length best options – to eliminate chafing very low-cut socks are not really popular for following in the footsteps of St. James. Crew height socks are a great length, sitting right below the calf muscle. Micro-crew is a sock length made by Darn Tough socks, these socks are shorter than your typical Crew height, they sit somewhere in between your ankle and mid-calf. Boot-height socks are about an inch or 2 higher than crew socks, reaching up to just below halfway up your calf.
Fabrics – socks are usually made from a combination of materials, wool regulates temperature well, keeps your feet from getting sweaty and provides cushioning. Polyester is a synthetic material that dries quickly, insulates, wicks moisture, and wicks moisture. Nylon adds durability to the socks and can help improve drying times. Silk is a natural insulator, comfortable and lightweight, but it is not very durable. Spandex helps socks hold their shape minimizing wrinkling.
Cushioning – Light cushioning, usually relatively thin socks, with some light cushioning in key places like the heel and ball of the foot. Good for hiking in warm conditions, prioritize moisture wicking and comfort over warmth. Medium cushioning, a good amount of cushioning in important spots like the heel and ball of the foot. Good for hiking and backpacking with enough warmth for use in moderate to cold conditions. Heavy cushioning, thick warm socks, provide good cushioning, usually too warm for warm weather hikes. Can take a long time to dry.
Why we Love Merino Wool Socks
My first pair of Merino wool socks were quite thick and I was amazed at how dry they were at the end of a 30-kilometer walk with hardly any bad odors! Some of the other types of synthetic hiking socks I hiked with, on comparable hot days, were very smelly after a long day in my hiking shoes. This amazing natural material pulls this moisture away from your skin. Merino wool can stay dry to the touch even after absorbing 30% of its weight in moisture. It is really a great thing that these socks do not get smelly. The fibers have natural antibacterial properties keeping bacteria and fungi away which results in foot issues. Merino wool fibers also have a tight microscopic structure that prevents odor-causing materials from being absorbed.
What Causes the Appearance of Blisters?
A blister is a raised portion of skin that fills with fluid. Blisters form when layers of skin separate due to friction and pressure and fill with fluid. High temperature and moisture can intensify blistering. Doing long hikes, such as the Camino Frances, your shoes can cause friction, together with sweating can cause blisters to form. Shoes that do not fit properly, wrinkled socks, and wet feet are the main causes of blisters.
How do Socks Prevent Blisters on Long Walks?
To minimize the forming of blisters, keep your feet dry and try not to have chafing in your shoes. Hiking socks are designed to prevent chafing, dry quickly, protect your feet, and wick moisture away from your feet. Good hiking socks are made of merino wool or a wool synthetic hybrid. Well-fitting socks with good padding and breathability protect your feet and prevent slipping and blistering.
Tips to Limit Blisters
Keep your feet dry – changing your socks at least once a day is a great way to do this. Dry your feet and put on a clean, dry pair. You can hang the first pair you were wearing from your backpack on a sunny day.
Dry your shoes – newspaper is a fantastic way to do this. If you arrive at the Albergue on the Camino de Santiago and it is raining this is your best option. Stuff as much newspaper as you can tightly into your shoes. Exchange with dry paper after a couple of hours and leave for the rest of the night. Walking the Camino Primitivo in a lot of rain worked like magic.
Apply Duct tape over dressings on particularly bad blister sites
Walking the Camino de Santiago is not easy. Having the right equipment will definitely help you to complete this amazing venture. Little things can make a big difference. The most important part of packing is definitely choosing a good backpack and hiking shoes. Great socks, taking care of your feet, and blister prevention are very important.
Questions or Comments?
Got any questions or comments? We would love to help! All questions and comments will be answered by us personally in Buy Me a Coffee. Click below and ask away.
Feel free to support our site by buying us a coffee!
The pretty half of Stingy Nomads, responsible for all our land adventures (hiking, climbing, walking the Camino) and following them write-ups. Alya loves walking since she was a child, she prefers to walk 1000 km with a backpack rather than to do a 10 000 km road trip (actually any road trip). Alya is a big fan of Latin America, the Spanish language, and dancing. Every time we go away she desperately misses our dog Chile.