How to wash and dry your hiking socks.

Choose your exact model for its wash temperature and drying method. Follow a different instruction on your own pair’s label if its construction has changed.

Starting example: Darn Tough Men's Hiker Micro Crew Midweight Cushion.

Darn Tough Men's Hiker Micro Crew Midweight Cushion

Wash inside out on a cold, gentle cycle. Use low tumble heat or hang dry. Avoid bleach and dry cleaning.

Open the care instructions

See this model’s construction and fit

Separate removable layers

Take a removable liner out of its outer sock so you can wash, inspect and dry each component. Built-in double layers, such as the Wrightsock Adventure, stay together. The liner guide explains how those constructions differ.

Plan for a pair that dries slowly

Care instructions tell you how to dry a sock, not how many hours it will take. Airflow, humidity and water left in the fabric change when it is ready. Use a conservative estimate in the trip rotation planner, then try a slower scenario before deciding how many pairs to pack.

Follow the waterproof model’s instructions

Runton’s listed care allows a 40°C wash and low tumble or drip drying. Do not replace those directions with an assumed wool-only routine. Its membrane and cuff seal also change how water gets in; the wet-trail guide explains why a dry spare still matters.

Keep a return separate from a wash

Many ordinary returns require an unworn, unwashed pair. Decide whether to keep a new fit before washing it. The brand guarantee and returns lookup separates that return decision from a later fault or wear claim.