Your favorite hiking socks?

Hmm, here I am having a hard time. I just tried the new Smartwool PhD socks, thought they were too thick around the toes and too warm for this time of year.

You have any favorites that seem just right?

Lisa :)

smartwool has a bunch of thinner socks that work. I have a bunch of dahlgreen ones (I think? they have a pic of an alpaca on them)

I just tend to get thick wool socks.

I actually really like the Smartwool PHD-something or others that I bought. But I find their sock names and lines to be really confusing, and they offer soooo many different styles that it's hard to say exactly which PHD-somethings I have.

Alpaca socks - the extreme hikers from Americas Alpacas are lightweight, dry easily, and not itchy. I love mine! Just don't put them in the dryer or they will felt. You can likely get them at your local alpaca farm during National Alpaca Farm Days September 26 & 27.

Link to National alpaca farm days (find a farm near you...) http://www.nationalalpacafarmdays.com/default.html

Link to Americas' Alpacas (to buy the xtreme hiker sock if you can't find a farm near you) http://americasalpaca.com/

I am a huge fan of both Teko and Balega. Teka has socks (including wool) for a variety of sports. Balega is more centered on running but their trail running socks might be perfect. I love both brands

http://www.tekosocks.com/index.html
http://www.shopatron.com/home/index/423.0.1.1

I find that I'm only buying SmartWool socks for skiing or casual wear, but I'm going to invest in some Teko ski socks this winter.

I know TE carries Balega but not sure which models.

I wear thin wool socks in the summer, thick wool socks in spring and autumn, and double wool socks in the winter for walking/biking more than an hour outdoors.
wool cushions really well, I never get blisters. Cotton/poly socks will rub raw spots on my feet on a long walk. It also breathes well in the heat, and insulates well in the cold.

I wear a thin sock liner made of polypro with a wool sock, usually Columbia or some other cheap brand, on top. The polypro wicks away a lot of the sweat and the double sock keeps me from getting blisters.

Dahlgren alpaca day hikers and backpackers! They are fantastic-- never a blister. They also last a little longer than smartwools do.

I have a couple pairs of LL Bean's socks that I rather like.

A gal at REI had me try on the Wigwam hiking pro lite socks. I hiked over thirty miles with them and they are incredible! Not a sock I would have considered!

Lisa

I like Darn Tough socks for hiking. They're more durable than SmartWool and made in the USA. (SmartWool, you have to read the label on each pair, which doesn't work too well when you're buying mail order.)

I prefer the softer SmartWool socks for running though. Haven't tried too many other brands. I'm looking to try wool Injinjis but haven't found them yet.