The material is important

Even the best hiking boots cannot be saved when choosing an inappropriate pair of socks. In particular, we have to pay attention to the material in order to ensure the right comfort even during long-term movement in the field. It doesn't really matter if you choose a natural or synthetic material. It is important that the chosen socks wick moisture away from the foot and transfer it further to the boots, where the appropriate membrane should take care of it.

The most suitable materials in this sense include merino wool, which is unrivaled in that it can warm even when wet. However, synthetic materials such as polyester are second to it in terms of moisture removal from the body.

Forget about the cotton itself, which absorbs moisture, but doesn't take it further away anymore, and you have to spend the rest of the day with wet feet involuntarily. And then you can get the worst of it with some illness. Cotton, on the other hand, can be well combined with the aforementioned polyester, in which case it increases the wearer's comfort. Sometimes elastane is added as an admixture, which is not so breathable, but on the other hand, its minor proportion further increases the comfort of wearing socks.

Other selection factors

However, outdoor socks, including those from spring to autumn, also have other specific functions that improve their properties when worn. These include, for example, a special design solution for the right and left foot or a comfortable cuff that prevents folding down.

We haven't actually mentioned yet that the right outdoor socks should be high and not just ankle-high. They should cover the foot, including the ankle, under the entire boot and mediate the transition between boots and trousers. In addition to wind not blowing on your bare skin, this has at least one other advantage – you make it harder for ticks to access your skin.

You will also appreciate the reinforced, seamless toe. Especially if you are going to walk tens of kilometers every day. The toe is the weakest link in most socks – the toe is the first to peek out of a worn sock. And most of us have long since forgotten how to patch, so such a sock is then doomed to be thrown away. However, quality outdoor socks are resistant to abrasion, not only in the toe area, but also on the heel, which is reinforced, which further increases the lifespan of the socks.