Best Hunting Socks for 2024 Tested And Reviewed

Are you looking for the best hunting socks?

Well you've come to the right place!

We have reviews of all the top hunting socks written by real hunters, not some computer geek looking to sell you socks.

Here's the deal...

As hunters, we need socks that are going to keep our feet warm and dry.

We have put together a list of the best socks that we use on a daily basis, complete with reviews.

Top 8 Best Hunting Socks

The biggest surprise in our testing of the best socks for hunting comes from the Darn Tough Hunter Extra Cushion Socks.

I wore these socks on a bow hunt for whitetails in Ohio last November. I was crossing a creek and slipped off of a rock and my right foot went into the water. The water was deeper than the top of my Gore Tex hunting boots and my boot quickly filled with water.

The air temp was 30 degrees and the water was extremely cold as well. I thought that my hunt was over and I was going to have to go back to camp and change socks and dry my boots.

I sat down and took off my boot and dumped the water out. I took off my sock and repeatedly wrung it out until most of the water was out. Keep in mind the sock was still wet.

I put the sock and the boot back on and continued to my tree stand. By the time I reached my stand, my right foot was as warm as my left!

I notoriously get cold feet, so I was sure that once I had been sitting for a while, my right foot was going to be freezing. To my amazement, I was wrong! The temperature got up to around 35 degrees and my feet were toasty warm!

I couldn't believe it! I am still wearing this same pair of socks almost six months later and they are still like brand new. 

RELATED: Best Rain Gear For Hunting

Here's a great video about how to choose the best socks for hunting.

How I Chose The Best Hunting Socks

I tried and tested over 20 different pairs of socks under different conditions. I also tested the different socks in a number of different hunting boots, including rubber boots that I wear when bowhunting, Gore-Tex boots that I wear when still hunting and walking, heavy insulated boots that I wear in the late season and lightweight boots that I wear elk hunting in the early season.

I rated each sock on its moisture wicking ability, so that my feet stay dry, its warmth, comfort, durability and price.

Below you will find the socks that performed the best in each category.

Best Hunting Socks: Reviews And Recommendations

We have worn these socks on numerous hunts over the last year and they perform very well.

As you can probably tell, we are a big fan of the over the calf design.

This design helps keep your calves warm, while helping to keep the sock from sliding down.

The fit is nice and snug and they do wick the moisture very well.

What customers say: "Customer for life. Slowly will convert all socks to darn tough. Wore over the calf for 4 years on the weekends from Nov to May. Wore a whole in one, sent in the paperwork and socks. Absolutely free pair credited to my account, shipping and all! Told all my friends and family. Best socks I’ve ever owned! By far." Jason B.

Why You Should Consider The Darn Tough Socks For Hunting

• Comfort - We have yet to test a more comfortable, form fitting hunting sock than the Darn Tough Hunter. 
• Warmth - As described above, these socks are unbelievably warm, even when wet!
• Durability - Darn Tough Vermont socks are some of the most durable socks that we have tested.
• 100% Made in the USA - Darn Tough Socks are still made in Northfield Vermont, with all of their wool coming out of the family owned mill.
• Guarantee - Their unconditional lifetime guarantee is simple. If your socks are not the most comfortable, durable and best fitting socks you have ever owned, return them for another pair. No strings. No conditions. Socks guaranteed for life.
• Value - How can you put a price on a guarantee like that. Guaranteed for life means that you may never have to buy another pair.

We encourage you to buy from Darn Tough. They are an American company with American workers that deserve your business. 

Buy American Made!

What Makes Farm to Feet Ansonville the World’s Best Socks?

With the Farm to Feet 100% satisfaction guarantee, you have absolutely nothing to lose! Get a pair of Farm to Feet Socks Today! Your feet will thank you and you will be supporting American Workers!

The Smartwool PHD socks are another close runner up for best socks for hunting.

In all honesty, you can't go wrong with any of the top 3 top hunting socks.

One of the reasons that the Smartwool socks are not rated higher is because even though they are made in the USA, they are made with imported merino wool.

We prefer to buy socks that are made in the USA with American wool.

What customers say: "My husband is a hunter and hunting guide and spends countless hours outside in single digit temperatures. He has tried many different socks and after one cold day without cold feet at all, we are swapping out a drawer full of socks for these Smartwool PHDs. We immediately ordered more pairs of them. The hunt is over (for socks, that is!)" Buck

Why You Should Consider The Smartwool PHD Socks

Not every hunt calls for warm socks. There are many times that you will need high quality cushioned, lightweight socks when the temperature is warm.

Think about sitting in a tree stand during early bow season, or chasing rutting elk up and down mountainsides.

These times call for the Darn Tough CoolMax Hunting Socks.

These socks fit great, are blister free and wick moisture away to keep sweaty feet dry and comfortable.

What customers say: "I've been wearing DT socks as a hiking sock for over 12 years. They are, by far, the best socks I've ever worn. For the last few years I've worn them everyday. I've always claimed they wore like iron with the comfort of a close friend. Recently I went through my collection of DT socks with the intention of disposing of a few pairs that were worn thin or had holes. At the trashcan I recalled their lifetime guaranty... Why not try it? Within ten days I had brand new socks. You can't go wrong with DT socks. Great socks, great comfort and great service." Doug B.

Why You Should Consider The Darn Tough CoolMax Socks

• Comfort - These socks fit perfectly and hug your feet tightly to prevent slipping and bunching, which means no more blisters!
• Warmth - These socks are made from 39% CoolMax, which wicks moisture away from your skin to keep your feet dry and comfortable. They are not intended to keep your feet warm.
• Durability - We have pairs of these socks going on 5 years old that are as good today as the day we bought them. 
• 100% Made in the USA - Darn Tough Socks are still made in Northfield Vermont.
• Guarantee - Their unconditional lifetime guarantee is simple. If your socks are not the most comfortable, durable and best fitting socks you have ever owned, return them for another pair. No strings. No conditions. Socks guaranteed for life.
• Value - Yes, they are expensive, but the fact that they last for years and are guaranteed for life provides an incredible amount of value.

The Farm To Feet Ely socks are one of our favorites when we don't require heavyweight socks for cold weather.

The Ely comes in both lightweight and midweight versions.

We find these socks ideal for all conditions except for really cold weather.

These socks are considered unisex, so they are great socks for both men and women.

We really like the over the calf design. If you are not a fan of the over the calf design, keep reading, we are going to recommend some mid calf hunting socks below.

What customers say: "I wore these socks on a 10 mile hike to Boulder Lake and my feet stayed dry all day. The minute I put them on I knew they were quality socks by the feel of the material and the fit. I did like that you could not feel any seams as well." Carl S.

Why You Should Consider Farm to Feet Ely Socks

The SwiftWick Pursuit Hike Six socks are ideal for hunters who do a lot of hiking. We would consider these to be the best socks for elk hunting, when you are following bugling elk up and down mountains.

They are also ideal for upland bird hunters that are covering miles in search of pheasants and chukars, or maybe grouse hunting in the north woods.

What we really like about these socks is the combination of materials.

They are 63% merino wool, 18 percent nylon, 15% Olefin and 4% spandex. It is the combination of merino wool and olefin that provides the moisture wicking capabilities that makes this sock special.

Dry feet are a priority for hunters that do a lot of hiking in a day.

We love the contoured fit with the Y-shaped heal and the seamless toe box.

What customers say: "Best socks I've ever owned. I wore these socks on a September bow hunt for elk in the mountains of New Mexico and they performed flawlessly, keeping my feet dry and blister free after travelling miles in a 12 hour day" Kyle R.

Why You Should Consider SwiftWick Pursuit Hike Six Socks

Darn Tough Hunter Boot Socks

The Darn Tough Hunter boot socks are our choice for the best boot height hunting socks. We know that some of you don't like the over the calf socks.

If that describes you, these are your socks.

They come in both cushion and full cushion and are a midweight sock.

What does cushion and full cushion mean?

We explain below:

These socks are 64% merino wool, 33% nylon and 3% lycra for a superior moisture wicking and fast drying sock.

They also feature a seamless design for a very comfortable fit.

The first time I wore them, it was almost like wearing nothing at all.

What customers say: "My absolute go to socks for all of my hunting trips. Got close to 6 seasons out of them from chasing turkeys to elk. Once they started to wear out I sent them back and Darn Tough warrantied them! Can’t say enough good things about these socks and this company." Kevin V.

Why You Should Consider The  Darn Tough Hunter Boot Socks 

Fox River Wick Dry Maximum Medium-Weight Military Socks

Do you know that you can sweat as much as a pint of perspiration out of your feet everyday?

If you have sweaty feet, you know how hard it is to keep your feet warm.

It goes something like this:

You are walking in the woods to your tree stand and your feet begin to sweat. By the time you get to your destination, your socks are soaked. As soon as you stop, even with the best hunting boots, your feet begin to get cold.

These Fox River Wick Dry socks can help tremendously and here's how.

Fox River Dry Wick Maximum Socks are made with 70% polypropylene, which wicks moisture away from the skin and keeps your sock and feet dry.

When the temperature really drops these make great sock liners under the best wool socks.

Why You Should Consider The  Fox River Wick Dry Maximum Military Socks 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the warmest hunting sock?

The warmest hunting sock is going to be those that are made out of wool, and merino wool is one of the best choices. In our experience, the wool socks from Darn Tough and Farm To Feet are the warmest hunting socks you can buy.

Do Smartwool socks keep your feet warm?

Yes Smartwool socks keep your feet warm, but they are not as warm as the options from Darn Tough and Farm To Feet.

Are merino wool socks good for hunting?

Yes merino wool socks are good for hunting. Merino wool is warm, moisture wicking, lightweight and naturally odor resistant, everything that you look for in a quality hunting sock.

What is a disadvantage of using merino wool?

A disadvantage of merino wool is its durability. 100% merino wool socks are much more delicate than some other materials, but the benefits of merino wool outweigh the disadvantage.

Should I wear two pairs of socks when hunting?

You should only wear two pairs of socks when hunting if the first pair is a moisture wicking sock liner. You want to avoid sweaty feet at all costs if you want to keep your feet warm.

RELATED: What Is The Hunter's Most Important Item Of Clothing?

Final Thoughts

Warm, comfortable feet are so important for staying warm while hunting. Nothing will ruin your hunt faster than cold, wet feet. That's why it is so important to buy good, quality socks for hunting.

We have provided you with a very high quality list of socks to choose from.

These socks are ideal for stocking stuffers and Christmas gifts for hunters in your life.

You cannot go wrong with any of the brands above, but if you want the absolute best, you will not do better than the Darn Tough Hunter Socks.

Most of the top rated socks are made from merino wool. Merino wool is used by all of the best clothing manufacturers because it simply outperforms other hunting materials, which is why we recommend merino wool for the best hunting base layers.

Please be careful of some of the articles on the internet that are clearly not written by hunters and are trying to sell you off brand socks that they make more money from.

We are real hunters that wear these socks everyday and have an intimate knowledge of how these socks perform.

Each of the socks listed above come with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Some for your lifetime and some for 2 years. All of these socks should last a lifetime if cared for and stored properly.

Either way, you can buy the socks that you think you will like and simply return them if you are not satisfied for any reason.

If you have Raynaud’s Syndrome or poor circulation and you are looking for a solution for keeping your feet warm, check out our top picks for best heated socks for hunting and our top picks for warmest hunting boots.

From all of us here at Deer Hunting Guide, we thank you for your support and thank you for buying American made!

SEE ALSO:

Best Hunting Pants 

Best Hunting Bibs

Best Gear For Hunters

Please leave your comments below.

References:

1. What is Merino Wool and How is it Made? Retrieved from https://www.woolmark.com/fibre/what-is-merino-wool/
2. American Sheep Industry Association. Retrieved from https://www.sheepusa.org/
3. Darn Tough Socks Family Owned Mill. Retrieved from https://darntough.com/pages/darn-tough-vermont-community