Smartwool socks are my go-to hiking sock. They’re comfortable, durable, wick away moisture, are lightweight, and have some pretty cute patterns available. Everything a girl spending time outdoors needs and wants! Made from Merino wool, they are a little more expensive than the standard 6 pack of socks you’ll find at your local Wal-Mart or Target, but one pair of these socks will outlast all six of the other brand.
My point? They’re worth it.
What is Merino wool and what makes it so special?
According to Wikipedia, “The Merino is an economically influential breed of sheep prized for its wool. The breed originated in Spain, but the modern Merino was domesticated in New Zealand and Australia.”
Merino wool has exceptionally fine fibers, which make it the softest wool available, enabling the fibers to bend far more than your standard coarser wool. Wool is also a great insulator, can absorb a high amount of moisture (unlike cotton socks) meaning it dries much more quickly, and wool fibers also naturally have antibacterial properties making them odor resistant.
So what does this mean for you? When it’s cold out your feet will stay toasty and when it’s warm out they will stay breathable. Wool can hold up to a third of it’s weight in moisture before feeling wet to the touch, meaning your feet will feel dry even when they sweat. And due to it’s natural odor resistant fibers, you can wear and re-wear your Smartwool socks multiple times before needing to wash them.
Practicality meets comfort? Yes please!
Fun Fact for my environmentalists out there – Much like our own human hair, Merino wool is made out of Keratin and is completely biodegradable. Eventually, when it is disposed of it will break down, releasing vital nutrients back into the soil as it decomposes, acting like a fertilizer.
Smartwool has socks for running, hiking, biking, hanging out around the house, everyday wear, business attire, etc. If you’ve got the outfit, they’ve got the sock to match!
Check out these Smartwool Socks, and keep in mind that they are all available in a variety of color options!
Smartwool Women’s PhD Run Ultra Light Micro Socks (Light Gray)
Smartwool Women’s PhD Outdoor Light Micro Socks (Light Gray)
Smartwool Women’s PhD Outdoor Light Mini Socks (Glacial Blue)
Smartwool Women’s Rosey Posey Crew Socks (Bordeaux Heather)
Smartwool Women’s Cozy Cabin Crew Socks (Deep Navy Heather)
Smartwool Women’s Dazed Dandelion Sleuth No Show Socks (Black)
Did you see a pair that caught your eye? Check out all the whacky colors, designs, and patterns? Let’s say you’ve found yourself a new favorite pair of Smartwool socks – cool in the summer, warm in the winter, shin high, ankle length, or no show – now what?
Let’s be sure you know how to properly wash and dry your Smartwool socks. They will take care of your feet for years if you take care of them!
How to wash wool socks?
- Turn socks inside-out.
- Machine wash on gentle cycle in warm or cool water.
- Use mild soap; no bleach or fabric softener.
- Tumble dry on low setting.
You can absolutely hand-wash your Smartwool socks and let them air dry, in fact this is the preferred method. It’s how I’ve taken care of several pairs of mine while out traveling abroad, either camping or staying in hostels. Smartwool makes everything easy-peasy!
Do you own a pair of Smartwool socks? What are your thoughts? Do you have a favorite? Share them in the comment section below, I’d love to hear from you!
As an avid outdoorsman with a love and respect for nature it is sometimes hard to find a place suitable to clean your socks while out in the wild. I would never clean my socks in the same place that I get my own water, not only for my own sake, but for people and animals further behind me that wish to have clean water to enjoy. One of the features that I truly love is that the Merino wool socks can absorb up to a third of their weight in moisture before feeling wet to the touch. Happy feet… Read more »
Glad to see ya back, Justin! Super agree with your statement, “Happy feet are the secret to staying out on the trail” – no doubt! The odor resistant is a must for me, I don’t always have the time to wash my socks and lay them out under the sun to dry!
I absolutely love these socks! They are cute and the way they are shaped makes it look as if they won’t fall half way down your foot when your half way through your hike. I do have one concern for all the vegans of the world, are the animals hurt when making these? Just curious.
As always though, I love your articles and can’t wait to read more.
Nope! No harm to the animals! Just the usual sheering 🙂 They fit snugly and comfortably, so no slippage! Thanks for reading and sharing, as always it’s great to hear from you!
Very interesting. I actually did not have any knowledge of Merino wool. What is really impressive about wool is that it can hold up to a third of its weight before feeling wet to the touch. I actually like the first pair, I think they look really cool. Thanks for sharing.
Right!? I thought so too! Cotton is soooo yesterday! 🙂
I own several pair of Smartwool socks and I love them! They are super comfortable, cushiony (not sure if that’s a word), and did I mention I love them? We do a lot of hiking in Arizona, and these socks are the best. I never get blisters and my feet don’t get sweaty (okay, TMI). It looks like they have a variety of designs available, but I will stick to my boring gray ones. One thing I learned from your post is that Merino wool is made from Keratin, so it’s biodegradable, that’s really interesting, I had no idea. Anyway,… Read more »
If “Cushiony” isn’t a word, it should be! I don’t ever get blisters with mine either, and I find that if people do, it’s not the sock’s fault but the fit of the shoes/boots. Thanks for sharing!