Camping means spending time outside. Immersed in nature. Hiking or fishing. Or just cozying up around a campfire. So, whether it’s winter or summer, keeping our feet dry, comfortable, and blister-free is always crucial to a good time. And that means choosing the right socks for camping can make a world of difference.
Any seasoned camper will tell you how important having the right socks is to camping. No matter what you’re doing, having socks that stay in place and wick moisture away from the feet is essential to avoiding blisters and skin problems. If you’ve ever made the mistake of wearing socks that slide down and/or bunch up, you’ll know how annoying it can be. This is especially true for activities that depend on your ability to be on your feet, like hiking or fishing. Thermal regulation is another issue to consider when it comes to choosing the right socks for camping. The right winter socks will keep your toes toasty and warm. However, the best camping socks for summer will be able to wick moisture away while keeping your feet cool.
Are there multi-purpose socks that can do it all — a single-solution sock? Not in our experience. Therefore, we researched the perfect socks for camping in five different categories: summer camping, winter camping, heated winter, hiking, and fishing socks. So, your sock search could be over. We’ve done the research, and these are our results.
Best Summer Camping Socks
Darn Tough Men’s Coolmax Hiker Boot Midweight with Full Cushion Hiking Sock
Summer camping socks need to do three things: They need to keep your feet cool, dry, and cushioned. Darn Tough Coolmax socks do all that, plus they’re made with anti-slip technology to keep them from slipping or bunching. One of the best features of Coolmax hiking socks is that they take care of your feet, meaning you can wear them all day in your hiking boots without blisters — even on the hottest summer days.
Part of the secret to this is their truly seamless technology. No seam will ever chafe your hardworking toes. The other part is the vegan synthetic yarns they’re made from. These Vermont-made socks are so long lasting that Darn Tough every pair comes with an unconditional warranty.
Best Winter Camping Socks
Sealskinz Raynham Aquasealz™ Waterproof All Weather Mid Length Sock
Winter camping can often mean having wet, soggy socks and cold toes by the end of the day. Aquasealz waterproof, all-weather, mid-length socks ensure your feet stay dry and warm. They have unique technology for a sock. Aquasealz socks have three layers (including a mid-layer of merino) that wick body generated moisture away while keeping water out. The result is that feet stay dry and toasty whether you’re slopeside or sipping hot toddies around the campfire. Washing Aquasealz is easy too: Just toss them into the washer and dryer with your other clothes. Reviewers love that these socks keep feet warm and dry, even under challenging conditions.
Best Heated Winter Socks
Fieldsheer Pro Merino Heated Socks Inisex
Many of today’s RVs come all ready for four-season camping. This means you can take advantage of the peace, serenity, and fun activities that are all part of winter camping. However, watching the Northern Lights is even more enjoyable when your toes are toasty and warm. Fieldsheer pro merino heated socks make sure your feet stay toasty and warm for up to 10 hours on a single charge of their 3.7 Volt Lithium-ion battery.
These heated socks are made from a merino/poly blend that gives them the ability to wick moisture away from the feet and resist odors to keep feet happy and cozy all day into the evening. One of the drawbacks of heated socks is that the wire-like heating element that makes them so cozy it gets uncomfortable after a while. But Fieldsheer pro merino heated socks boast slim internal heating elements that are so well cushioned that you don’t even know they’re there.
It takes three to four hours for batteries to fully charge via a universal USB charging port. That makes charging easy. Bluetooth connectivity through an app on your mobile device makes it simple to choose from three heat settings while you’re wearing them. It’s nice to be able to adjust the temperature setting, particularly if the day starts out cold in the morning, but warms by early afternoon.
With all of their benefits here’s no getting around the fact that if you want your toes to bask in the ultimate warmth and comfort of these heated socks, you’ll have to pay for the privilege. However, for those RVers who love winter camping, it’s well worth the price.
Best Hiking Socks
Darn Tough Men’s Merino Wool Hiker Midweight Hiking Socks
Camping means opportunities to go hiking for many people. Whether we’re hiking a short distance or going on a multiday trip into the backcountry, our feet do most of the work. Any seasoned hiker will tell you good footwear helps you to stay upright and avoid injury. But the experience of having socks that slide around and bunch up in your hiking boots can make you wish you stayed home. That being said, Darn Tough merino wool hikers are made to make your feet so happy, that the rest of your body will follow suit.
Darn Tough merino wool hiking socks are made with temperature regulating merino wool that wicks moisture. This means your feet stay comfy and dry all day long — no matter what the temperature is. However, they have enough nylon and lycra to help them last for many years on the trail. As a matter of fact, Darn Tough is so confident about their socks’ longevity, they offer an unconditional lifetime replacement warranty on them.
With that being said, it’s important to follow Darn Tough’s instructions when it comes to washing your merino socks to get the most wear out of them. Here’s what they say: “Machine wash in cold water on gentle cycle with socks inside-out. Do not bleach. Tumble dry on low or hang dry. Do not dry clean.”
Best Socks For Fishing
Grundéns Boot Sock Thermal
If fishing is one of your favorite camping activities, but have problems with chafing and blistering from your boots, you’ll love Grudéns boot socks. These Merino Boot Socks are made to resist slipping around and bunching up in your boots. They’re made with 38 percent merino wool content. So, they are very insulating, as well as moisture wicking and antimicrobial.
In addition, Grundéns puts nylon reinforcement in the heels and toes of these socks, so they’ll last for a lifetime. The company is so confident about the durability of their boot socks that they guarantee them for life with a lifetime replacement warranty. That’s really saying something about the company’s confidence in their product’s longevity. Grundéns boot socks’ above average thermal properties make them best suited for fly fishing in cold water but reviewers also love them for ice fishing.
The Takeaways
It’s important to look after your feet, no matter what you like to do when you’re camping. Merino socks are well loved by campers for their breathability and amazing temperature regulation. Sock manufacturers include a little nylon or polyester in their Merino based yarn to add durability and supportive comfort. The most comfortable socks for camping have cushioning around foot bed pressure points and elasticity to give them a great fit.
Leave a Reply