The three pairs that do a whole trek
Darn 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.
Skip it ifNothing, honestly. If the budget is tight, buy two pairs of these rather than five of anything else.
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The rest of the shelf
Best blister preventionWorn under the main sock, for people who blister between the toes
Injinji 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.
Skip it ifYou have never had a blister between your toes. Sort your boots first; this is a fix for a specific problem.
WarmestThe one thick pair you keep clean for the pass and the summit day
Smartwool Mountaineer Classic Over-the-Calf
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.
Skip it ifTreks that top out below 4,000 m, or anyone whose boots are already a snug fit.