The 3 Best Toe Socks For Hiking and Backpacking So You Can Live Blister-Free
Toe socks are comfy, come in all different materials, let your toes splay naturally, pair perfectly with barefoot hiking shoes and barefoot sandals (or conventional shoes) and yes, can even prevent blisters. We’ve worn plenty over the years and these are the best toe socks for hiking, trail running, backpacking and more. Bonus: They’re all more sustainable (and vegan, which means they don’t contain wool).
What are the Main Benefits of Toe Socks for Hiking, Backpacking and Trail Running?
If you’re new to toe socks or minimalist footwear, you might be wondering what the benefits of toe socks are. There are a few reasons you might want to make the switch.
Comfort
Frankly, I think toe socks are more comfortable than conventional socks. That’s largely because I’ve been wearing barefoot shoes and toe socks for years so my toes like to splay inside and outside my shoes. I don’t like them to feel like they’re being squeezed together. I want full freedom of motion and only toe socks offer that. Plus, they keep individual toes from feeling all sweaty and stuck together.
Balance
Studies shoe that wide toe splay can boost balance on uneven surfaces like trails and even enhance push-off power in performance athletes. I’m not a performance athlete (most people aren’t), but everyone can benefit from better balance. Toe socks let your toes splay wider than conventional socks, thus increasing balance.
Fewer Blisters
The biggest selling point for toe socks is often the promise of fewer blisters. Indeed, while I’ve never suffered too badly from blisters between my toes, friends have. And they’re not the only ones who say switching to toe socks totally changed the game for them. That’s because toe socks create a fabric buffer between sweaty skin that can rub, creating hot spots and blisters.
The Best Toe Socks for Hiking and More
Injinji: The Best of the Best for All Trends and Seasons
Our favorite socks of all time are from Injinji. We’ve tried plenty, from cozy ski socks to lightweight liner socks, which are a fave during hot weather hikes. The Ultra Run socks (crew and no-show) are comfortably padded and soft and the best toe socks for running long distances. The Trail Midweight Hiking socks are a perfect option for extended adventures. We’ve worn pretty much every crew style for hiking, backpacking, trail running, even mountain biking.
We also love that the socks are available in a wide variety of colors and patterns, including an artist series. The socks are also designed differently for men and women to help ensure the best technical performance. One ding: we tend to rub holes in the big toe faster than in other socks, but with a quick darn they’re good as new. They do come with a one year warranty. They’re made of 62% COOLMAX® EcoMade Polyester (which is crafted with recycled materials).
UYN: The Plant-Based “Synthetic”
A brand that’s newer to the U.S. market is one we quickly became fans of. All UYN apparel is made of plant-based materials but performs like highly technical synthetics and feels awesome on skin. We love their hiking shirts and base layers, but UYN also makes toe socks. In fact, they’re excellent toe socks for running thanks to their snug fit, breathable design and great moisture management.
They are available in a crew and half-crew height. The material is slick and slipped around a bit inside of shoes that weren’t super snug, but they were breathable and comfortable for hours of wear. Take note, though: they may fit smaller toes best. Our average-sized toes would occasionally work their way out of their individual sleeves.
Bahé Flow Five-Toe Grounding Sock: The Organic Option
This barefoot grounding shoe brand (read our review of Bahé technology here) also makes toe socks. There’s only one option, but it’s a solid one. It’s made of 55% organic cotton, polyester and a touch of stainless steel thread to boost grounding efficiency when wearing grounding shoes.
Because they’re mostly cotton they’re not as well suited for extended hikes or wet weather (read why cotton isn’t a good choice in some conditions), but we love them as everyday socks, short hikes and mountain biking since they’re crew height.
Bottom Line
Whether you weren’t even aware toe socks were still a thing or found this article because you were hunting for the perfect hiking socks to reduce blisters, we hope you found a suitable option here. So gird your feet in something more comfortable and functional on your next outdoor pursuit and wander on.
Toe socks are excellent for running, including trail running. They can reducing the chance of blisters, but also increase balance and push-off power to a small degree.
Toe socks are excellent for hiking. In addition to reducing the chance of blisters, they also can increase balance, particularly when paired with barefoot or minimalist shoes with wide toe boxes.
A blister happens when there is friction on skin, often between a shoe and skin or skin on skin. Any moisture-wicking socks will help prevent shoe-caused friction and blisters, but conventional socks can’t prevent blisters caused by your toes rubbing together. Toe socks can, which can prevent blisters from forming in those areas.
