Smartwool Mountaineer Classic Over-the-Calf
Heavy merino cushion, over-the-calf
4.7 on Amazon (1,107 ratings)
The warmest sock worth carrying, and the reason people sleep through a night at Lobuche — far too hot for anything below 4,000 m, so it is a single dedicated pair, not your daily sock.
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Do not buy this if: Treks that top out below 4,000 m, or anyone whose boots are already a snug fit.
Not every route needs it. These are the ones where our guides would put it on your list.
Everything else we recommend in socks, including the ones we think suit a different trekker.
Best overallDarn Tough Hiker Micro Crew Cushion
Take three pairs and you can wash one, dry one and wear one for a fortnight — the price per pair is high enough that people talk themselves into cheaper socks and regret it around day four.
Best blister preventionInjinji Liner Crew Toe Socks
Solves toe-on-toe rubbing that no amount of tape fixes; you have to accept an extra layer of warmth and the two minutes it takes to get them on.
