Good socks go unnoticed. Bad socks ruin the trip. Here we explain what thickness, cushioning, height and wool percentage mean, and present seven models we recommend — compared on material, construction, intended use and price, drawing on our experience from the shops in Tromsø.
In brief
- Choose thickness to suit the boot, not the temperature. A sock that is too thick for a well-fitting boot will squeeze your foot and make you colder.
- For hiking in mountain boots: a midweight sock with cushioning and a shaft that goes above the boot cuff. Darn Tough Hiker and Icebreaker Hike+ Medium are made exactly for that.
- For extreme cold and stationary use: a thick sock with terry or loops on the inside — Darn Tough Hunting Heavyweight, Aclima Hotwool or Devold Nansen.
- Darn Tough carries a lifetime guarantee from the manufacturer — you can bring the socks to our shops and we will handle the guarantee with the supplier. That explains the price of around 500 kr a pair.
- For everyday use, a three-pack from Devold is the most economical option: 329 kr for three pairs.
How do you choose the right thickness?
Manufacturers generally use the same terms:
| Thickness | Characteristics | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Liner / ultralight | Thin, no cushioning | Inner sock under a thicker sock, running, summer |
| Light (lightweight) | Thin with or without light cushioning under the foot | Everyday use, light trail shoes, cross-country skiing |
| Mid (midweight) | Cushioning under the foot or throughout the sock | Mountain boots, year-round hiking, work |
| Thick (heavyweight) | Full terry/loops, lots of air | Winter boots, hunting, ice fishing, rubber boots, the cabin |
Remember that warmth in the foot comes from air and circulation. If a thick sock makes the boot tight, you squeeze out the air and restrict blood flow to the foot, making you colder than you would be in a thinner sock. When buying winter boots, try them on with the sock you intend to wear.
What does cushioning mean?
Cushioning is terry knitting on the inside of the sock — small loops that provide softness, insulation and moisture absorption.
- No cushioning: thin and close-fitting. For those who want maximum contact with the boot.
- Cushioning under the foot (cushion): terry in the sole, heel and toe. The most common choice for hiking.
- Full cushioning (full cushion): terry throughout the entire sock, including over the instep and up the leg. The warmest option, and best in stiff boots that press against the shin.
How high should the sock be?
The rule is simple: the sock should reach higher than the boot. The cuff edge of a mountain boot will chafe against bare skin.
- No show / quarter: trainers and low casual shoes.
- Micro crew: just above the ankle — low and mid-cut trail shoes.
- Crew / boot: mid-calf — mountain boots, safety boots and winter boots.
- OTC (over the calf): to the knee — alpine skiing, ski touring and rubber boots.
How much wool should the sock contain?
No good hiking sock is 100% wool in the areas that wear. Nylon or polyamide provides durability, and elastane ensures the sock keeps its shape and does not slip down. The hiking socks in the table below contain between approximately 60 and 80% wool. Everyday socks often contain around 50%. Socks with a very high wool content are wonderful in a sleeping bag or at the cabin, but wear out more quickly inside boots.
Wool retains warmth even when the sock is damp, and resists odour. That is why we recommend wool over cotton even in summer. How to dress the rest of your body is covered in the layering guide.
Seven wool socks we recommend
Compared on material, construction, intended use and price. None of them has been named a test winner — they meet different needs.
| Model | Brand | Wool content / construction | Suited for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiker Micro Crew Midweight With Cushion | Darn Tough | 61% merino, 36% nylon, 3% elastane. Midweight, cushioning under the foot, micro crew | Trail shoes and mid-cut boots, most of the year | 489 kr |
| Hiker Boot Midweight With Full Cushion | Darn Tough | 66% merino, 32% nylon, 2% elastane. Midweight, full cushioning, boot height | Mountain boots, heavy pack, long trips | 535 kr |
| Hunting Boot Heavyweight With Full Cushion | Darn Tough | 79% merino, 19% nylon, 2% elastane. Heavyweight, full cushioning, boot height | Hunting, winter boots, rubber boots, stationary cold-weather use | 579 kr |
| Hike+ Medium Crew | Icebreaker | 60–65% merino with nylon and elastane (varies between model years). Medium cushioning, anatomical fit, crew | Trail and mountain boots at a lower price | 329 kr |
| Nansen Wool Sock | Devold | 80% wool, 18% polyamide, 2% elastane. Heavyweight, dense knit, ribbed shaft | Cold days, winter boots, the cabin | 299 kr |
| Hotwool Socks | Aclima | 70% merino. Heavyweight, loops on the inside, minimal seams over the toes | Winter and cold feet | 320 kr |
| Daily Merino Medium Sock 3pk | Devold | 52% merino, 25% acrylic, 21% polyamide, 2% elastane. Terry sole, reinforced toe and heel | Everyday use, work and short trips — three pairs in the pack | 329 kr (3 pairs) |
Two more worth mentioning: Norrøna trollveggen heavy merinoUll Socks (429 kr, 55% merino, made for mountain boots) and Aclima Liner Socks V2 (170 kr, 68% merino) — a thin inner sock that can be worn alone in mild conditions or under a thicker sock when it is cold.
You can find the full range under women's socks, men's socks and junior socks.
What is the Darn Tough guarantee?
Darn Tough knits their socks in Vermont, USA, and offers what they call an unconditional lifetime guarantee: if you wear a hole in the socks through normal use, the manufacturer will replace them. According to Darn Tough, no receipt is required, but the socks must be sent in, and the guarantee does not cover socks that have been altered (dyed or cut) or sold as seconds.
If you have bought Darn Tough socks that have worn out, you can hand them in at our shops at Jekta or Veita in Tromsø. We handle the guarantee with the supplier, so you do not need to send anything to the USA yourself. If you live elsewhere in the country, you can post the socks to us — get in touch first and we will explain how.
Are they worth 500 kr? Our view: for those who walk a lot, yes. The knit is denser than on most other socks, they sit snugly around the foot without slipping, and the durability is the reason many customers come back for pair number two and three, says Karsten in the shop. If you go hiking four times a year, an Icebreaker Hike+ or Devold Nansen does the same job for 300 kr.
Our tips for Northern Norwegian conditions
- Autumn hiking in mountain boots: medium thickness with cushioning (Hiker Boot or Hike+ Medium). Keep a dry pair in your pack — wet bogs are the rule, not the exception.
- Winter, low activity: thick sock (Hunting Heavyweight, Hotwool or Nansen) in a boot with room to spare. Optionally a liner underneath, so you can swap it out if you get sweaty.
- Skiing and ski touring: thin to light, tall sock. Ski boots are tight, and a thick sock will give you cold toes.
- Work in safety shoes: medium thickness with cushioning. The three-pack from Devold will last a working week.
- Rubber boots: tall and thick. Rubber does not breathe, so the wool must manage the moisture.
How to make your socks last
Turn the socks inside out before washing, use a wool programme and wool detergent, and skip the fabric softener. Dry flat or hanging, not in a tumble dryer unless the care label says it is fine. Keep your toenails trimmed — it is the most common cause of holes at the toe. More on washing and storage in the guide to caring for wool.
Sources
- Darn Tough – Lifetime Guarantee — the lifetime guarantee and what it does not cover
- Darn Tough – Hiker Micro Crew Cushion — materials, cushioning and production in Vermont
- Devold – Nansen Wool Sock — materials and construction
- Aclima – Hotwool socks — 70% merino and terry on the inside
- The Woolmark Company – Washing Merino wool socks — washing wool socks
- Devold – Lag på lag-prinsippet — wool that retains warmth even when damp
Last checked 19.10.2026.
