Wear a pair you have tested
Size it from the brand’s chart and try it with your shoes before the hike: heel in the heel pocket, flat toes, cuff above the collar. A new sock on a long hike is how blisters start.
Pick one thing that matters
Need no wool? Use the wool-free list. Hot day? A light, low sock. Cold or wet? A thicker sock with a taller cuff. Otherwise, the sock that fits your shoes best is the right one.
Carry a spare when it makes sense
A spare pair weighs very little. Carry one when you expect wet trails, stream crossings or a long day, and keep it in a bag so it stays dry.
Keep the spare for its job
If it is your dry change, do not use it as a second walking pair halfway through. Swap when your feet are soaked or something rubs.
Wash it the right way afterwards
Turn the pair inside out and follow the maker’s instruction: some merino socks can tumble dry low, others must dry flat. The care lookup has each model’s own instruction.
If a spot starts to rub, stop early: the blister guide has the routine.
