20 Best Socks For Ultra Running (2023 Updated)

I wasn’t so sure about wool socks at first, figured they’d be itchy and hot. Darn Tough has figured out how to make a high quality Merino wool sock feel soft and comfy just like a cotton sock. I can walk for hours on trails in waterproof boots, no sweat or discomfort.

I can run for miles on the street, no sweat or discomfort. These socks in particular are ultra thin, but they don’t feel like ultra thin quality. It’s still a top notch quality sock, just ultra thin.

What I mean, and it’s hard to explain in this review, is the sock is still a top quality piece of material stitched together just right and doesn’t cut any corners because it is ultra thin. I have six other pairs of Darn Tough socks to compare these to, a couple others are also ultra thin.

They are rad. My feet stay warm when it’s damp and chilly outside, yet I don’t have those big bulky socks we’re all used to wearing to keep our feet warm. Another thing I thought was made up was how they don’t stink or have an odor.

Sure enough, this is true too. I can wear these socks for hours, and sometimes more than one day, and they still don’t smell bad. Sure, they smell like I’ve been wearing them for two days but it isn’t s gross stinky smell that makes you cringe.

I’m fairly certain one could consider these socks one of the wonders of the world. They are great and will leave you too wondering. how did they do this?.

I bought two pairs of the Quarter Midweight Hiking Socks. I purchased these assuming they fell into the category of “buy it for life” type items. Obviously no sock truly is, but from reading other reviews (many of which are rave ones) and knowing the brand has a strong following, I was very confident is spending a premium for these socks.

Unfortunately they really fell short of my expectations. One pair had multiple small holes within the first couple of months. The other pair, while no holes appeared, has worn quicker than expected. To be fair, I have rather large feet – size 12W – and am fairly active, but still thought the quality was lacking for the price paid.

I would caution those with wide feet that these socks fit extremely snug to the point of discomfort when first putting them on. That discomfort subsides after a walking in them for a bit, but still is not ideal.

I wish I had a better experience like so many have, but the socks I received did not meet the high standards I believed Darn Tough represented.

Gonna try to add a little truth to my adoration here. I love all my Darn tough socks. I have a whole family of them now, everything from old, worn, shabby ones to the newest batch. I only sent one pair back and I didn’t follow the correct procedure so I haven’t yet cashed in on the lifetime guarantee.

But no matter. My life wouldn’t be the same without my DTs. Every once in awhile I end up resorting to a pair of something else from the back of the drawer with holes in the bottoms. Ugh. Desperation.

Despair. That said, I want to add a couple of caveats. Sizing and Gender. I’d like to see more options for a truly perfect fit. They’re fine for me, mostly. But I have serious bunions so I order large women’s sizes and sometimes wonder if mens small or medium would be better.

BUT men’s don’t have anywhere near the range of colors and designs. There’s a Gender quandary for you to wrestle with. And it goes to your question of which gender do I choose. I said “other” but really I’d prefer to answer “neither” and/or “both”.

Part of the problem I have with rating systems like yours (and most) is getting boxed in, not being able to say what’s really true. Back to sizing. These and the other DT socks I have, all of them, are too tight.

Some are just a tiny bit too tight and a few are almost too tight to be good. But hey, like family, I love them anyway. So I can’t truly say any of them are perfect. Since I order a size bigger than what you recommend, they are too long.

I encourage you to add that as a review option under “how do they fit?” I’m having a hard time imagining that anyone would say they are “too wide”. Aside from the bunions, I have pretty skinny feet and ankles.

They work great for me but I have friends who I can’t recommend them to because they would definitely be too tight. I’d like the option of a wider size without having to get them too long. As far as “Comfy” goes, I love having cushion in the bottoms and wonder if there would be enough other people that would welcome cushion on the front sides, ie.

Bunion cushion, to consider that. And where do I wear them? You might want to add the option of saying where “Other” is – to bed on cold winter nights, all over the house with my slippers, walking, driving, after swimming in a cold VT swimming hole, to Quaker Meeting where we take our shoes off and wiggle our Darn Tough toes to show off our favorite pairs.

There, I think I’ve said all the fussy stuff I can think of. Thanks for your wonderful socks. I really do love them all.

I really love the way these socks fit (no show tab ultra-lightweight). I normally buy the female socks, but also have bought the mens because I like the color (darker mixed blues). My shoe size is female 7.

5. The women’s size small is on the snug side for me, but still ok. I prefer women’s size medium for a little extra stretch. I also wear the mens small(for colors not available in women’s), however, it’s a touch longer than my foot.

Although mens’ is a tad long on me, the stretch of the sock helps pull to conform to my foot, and makes it not noticeable in my day to day wear. I like that these socks wick moisture. It’s difficult wearing other socks I own made of other materials after wearing these- no comparison on keeping my feet dry.

This company provides quality! Love the cushioned tab top- it prevents my shoe rubbing me. I machine wash on a “wool” setting, and hang dry. I will continue buying this product probably until this is all I have in my sock drawer.

I love Darn Tough! I’ve purchased dozens of pairs of socks from them, including quite a few of these quarter-height hikers. So I’m very sorry to report that the last couple generations of socks have devolved: from an anatomically correct foot-enveloping embrace, to what can only be described as a snake with an L-bend.

And this snake is not forgiving: it has abs of steel. In the latest generation of 1/4 hikers the distance from heel to the front of ankle — where the tongue of a shoe goes — is so small, and made with such inelastic material, that I feels like a tourniquet.

After about 30 minutes of “I’m sure it will be fine; it’s just a snug new sock” hobbling-around, I had actual bruises across the top of my foot. Not just dents, but purpling gnarly bruises. This is the XL sock, rated “up to 14 1/2”.

I wear a solid 14, and have somewhat high arches. The older versions of this sock had a better shape and more elastic material, so fit well. This latest generation is a walking excuse to lose your feet.

These socks are definatly better than most, but unfortunately I’m just not very impressed with them. The black looks really solid on mine right now which is nice. These are a slight different style than I usually get, but they are very similar and I like them about as much.

I’ve bought darn tough socks before and absolutely loved them. I don’t know if something changed in the last few years or what. The ones I got a few years ago are actually a bit big for my feet, but these ones seem too short (and maybe slightly narrow for my very wide feet).

That might be why they don’t seem quite as comfortable or cushy to me. They also don’t seem to prevent as much smell (still more than my other socks though. It could be just me. I don’t know. Overall they are solid, but not as great as they have been in the past for me.

I also slightly prefer the hight my my micro crews personally, but that’s just preference.

Very comfortable and durable. Darn Tough socks are the only kind I wear. I have completely destroyed “other” new socks just putting them on for the first time; any that survive are usually destroyed within a month.

I had one pair for each day of the week. I destroyed every pair, and was extremely happy with the entire return process. My new socks are holding up very nicely. Now instead of being depressed as I watch my socks fall apart, I can happily go about destroying them during the course of my daily life with absolute peace of mind.

Each day brings me closer to that blissful feeling of putting on brand new socks. My seven pair rotation usually lasts me about nine months. I switch between these and the RTR work socks, depending on what I’m working on that day.

Perfect socks for just about anything. I can wear them to work or hike or just casually and probably need to get some more low cut ones for athletic endeavors. This brand is a revelation. I have previously purchased from Balega and Grip 6 but these just have a tighter weave and don’t retain moisture as much.

It’s odd but awesome to have dry feet. I am sticking with thin weight versions because I’m into minimalistic zero drop shoes. The fit is perfect for large (American size 11. 5 to 12). My feet don’t smell when I wear these and they feel dry every time so far.

That hasn’t happened for any other brand. I’m sold on buying more pairs once I can convince the wife that it’s necessary. Also I appreciate how they take care of the military and first responder community.

I’ll be back.

These are amazing socks. Because these socks have high wool content, I always line dry—they dry out very quickly and feel like new. Their unique “deep heel” design means they conform to my foot perfectly and I never have problems with them sliding down into my shoe.

I usually wear a 10. 5 shoe so I was worried about sizing but the XL fits fine with no extra bulk. I wear these for running and for casual summer wear and they do both jobs well. My feet can get pretty sweaty but these wick moisture away and my feet don’t get overheated in them.

As far as thickness goes, these feel like a liner sock I’d wear for hiking. which is perfect for shoes that fit well and for summer wear. I can’t wait to buy a few more pairs!.

The light runner, no show sock is definitely a great sock. It has added cushioning sewn into the heels and balls of the feet for added comfort. They are serious when they say “no show. ” I don’t know if I’ve ever bought no show socks before – these come up just below the tops of my sneakers and I don’t think you could see them if you were looking from the side.

I wore them all day and felt great. Again, the additional cushioning felt great in shoes and when I got home. I am not a runner, so I cannot speak to the “runner” portion of the name of the socks. I would buy more pairs of these to have more summer socks.

I was put onto FITS socks by a friend and decided to try one pair out. Loved them. Suddenly one pair became many and I will slowly be replacing all my socks with FITS. I think I found my brand. The ultra light runner socks are of the same high quality I found in other FITS socks.

They fit perfectly and, most importantly, don’t have that sticky feeling after a days use like with cotton socks. The ultra light runners are now my go-to for the gym and running. I was surprised they don’t got hot being wool and all but rather they stay cool and dry.

I bought these socks to go hiking. I was wise enough to try them first. They sloshed and slide all over my foot which would make blisters. These are unisex socks and I ordered the S/M which should have fit.

I wear a woman’s size 9 medium shoe. Very disappointed because otherwise they are great. I will be giving them away.

I really like the first pair I got last year but the ones I received this year are just ok. They run a bit big the quality is just eh…and I cannot say that I really see a value in these over UA or Hanes/ FOTL.

Pricey and not really worth it. Also thank you to Merrell for being supportive of public servants and the military.

Great Socks! This socks are great value! I have 2 pairs and I use the for running, cycling, hiking and I just can’t bring myself to spend $7 on a pair of mediocre socks again. Very comfortable and one of my fav things is that they have a higher back “lip” above the heal to protect against blisters (and it feels great tbh).

Definitely getting more!.

have been using the Lo Cut socks (white) for golf for a number of years. Fabulous wearing and comfortable. Unfortunately UA are only selling the white Lo Cut online and charge $12 for postage. That makes the 3 pack too expensive and I have started looking at other brands in the shops.

Why would UA only sell the Black ones in-store and not the white as well. Hope they aren’t making up the big margin from the expensive post charge. Pity!!!.

Just want to say these socks do have a logo on the top of the sock. I purchased these as a school sock where no logos are allowed and didn’t see one in the product pictures but unfortunately they do have a big visible logo so no good for what I wanted them for.

Nothing against the actual sock but poor representation of what the sock actually looks like.

I ordered these by mistake in biggest size (I’m 14 US). I meant to order the short size that are about 2 cm higher. I wore the socks for a few runs but they get pulled down into my under armour shoes during a run and become uncomfortable.

It’s my fault for choosing them but they aren’t the best sock if you’ve got big feet especially compared to the other styles of UA socks that I have (about 12 pairs), I gave them to my wife who has a smaller foot and she likes them.

So I haven’t been the best about reviewing, I spend enough money on clothes and gear from REI and plenty of other outdoors and hunting stores that I really should start reviewing more gear. I first found Smartwool over 10 years ago when I got myself a baselayer midweight quarter zip, shirt.

I love it, and to this day it’s one of my favorite articles of clothing, miraculously holding shape and integrity after all these years. That said, I’ve always liked their products, and obviously R&D pulls their weight for the entire merino industry.

I just put these socks on half an hour ago, and I can already tell I’m going to love them. I’m about to go buy another couple pair during my errands this morning. I can’t imagine these will give out too quickly, so long as they’re taken care of.

Merino doesn’t need to be washed after every use, I frequently wear my merino socks for a few days total. After I have worn them (except for some brands that need a little dryer shrinkage love) I drape them over the side of my hamper to air-out, and will reuse them after a day with a different pair.

These socks (along with some more cheaply made ultralight merino socks) will be in my daily work, and workout routines going forward. Keep up the great work Smartwool! If I have any problems with these, I’ll quickly change my star rating, and update the text with the issues.

This will be your new go-to running sock. They are very comfortable, hugged my ankle perfectly and stayed in place throughout the various activities I used them for. I have worn these to the gym, while taking my dog for a walk, running errands and at work where I am on my feet all day.

I am looking forward to the miles I will get out of these training for my half marathon this summer! The targeted cushioning prevented the dreaded foot fatigue I can sometimes get if I am not wearing appropriate socks for extended activity – and they do all of this without smelling (you have to appreciate the antimicrobial properties!).

I have absolutely nothing to complain about with these socks – they are a very good quality sock. After constant wear and washing they have held their shape and have not started pilling. Do your feet a favor and get yourself a pair of these socks – they are guaranteed to become a staple in your foot wardrobe #SmartwoolLove!.

I am a Smartwool fan and have many pairs of their socks. But these socks are not up to their usual high standard. The first problem is sizing. I am a Euro 45, which falls between L and XL on the sizing chart.

I purchased two pairs of the XL. It was a mistake. They are so large the heel ends up in the middle of the ankle. The second problem, these socks do not grip your feet. As a result they slide down below the heel to your instep when in use.

I forlornly hoped, they might shrink in the wash, but no luck, they are still too large all round. Clearly, a large size might have been better, but their very thin construction, they are advertised as thin, indicates a lack of foot grip might still be there.

Disappointing. Luckily, I purchased a pair of Balega Hidden Comfort Socks, in Large, at the same time that turned out to be perfect. I should have bought two of those!.

I recently ordered three pair of the light runner low socks. I have owned other Fits products in the past and love the feel of these. Through my error, I ordered XL’s. When I tried on my purchase, they felt too small.

It was after I contacted Fits customer service that I learned I had ordered the wrong size. Because they’re color coded, the rep determined my old socks to be XXL. The new socks were exchanged promptly and at no charge for shipping for the larger size.

That is fantastic customer service. Thank you A loyal customer.

I bought these running socks to replace some worn out pairs. I’ve known Fits are great socks for while, and couldn’t be happier with these. They’re soft, fit really really well and just feel great on my feet.

I doubt I’ll buy any other brand from here on out.

First time I ever saw these was in Aspen. My whole family bought them. We fell in love with them. When we got home we found ourselves always wearing these and not the other socks we had. We told all our family’s about them ( i know y’all are thinking seriously lady they are just socks.

but they are not!. ). I guess thats why they picked the name Fits because the DO and don’t slip down! Who knew buying socks on vacation would be such a big deal!.

Fit, softness, comfort, fit. Without trying it, you already notice that it is a quality sock. In the absence of trying it, happy with the purchase. I had already had another model and this one looks even better.

Like these so far. Very comfy and a good size – I’m a EUR44 and went for the large. Will see how durable they are in time and cope with repeated washing.

Great fit and comfort thanks to padding. Slightly higher on ankle than previous model, overall excelent sock.

I’ve tried a few brands of merino wool socks. Most were “okay” but something about them just didn’t jive. Whether it was the super high price or the fit or available styles/colors. I first bought Cloudline on Amazon a few years ago.

Figured I’d give them a try. Well, they turned out to be the best yet! No crazy designs. No ridiculously high priced socks. Just a great fitting sock for a reasonable price. I always get the medium cushion for the amazing softness and comfort they provide.

They hold up much much longer than a traditional cotton or cotton/blend sock. Not itchy at all , in case you had doubts about wearing a wool sock. They are definitely warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

Never thought I’d be writing a review about socks, but they just feel so good on your foot. They are a little more expensive than a standard box store sock. But sooooo worth it. As long as Cloudline is around, I’ll be buying my socks exclusively from them!.

I think this is as good as it gets for socks with such high wool content. Deserves 5 stars as wool socks and I’ll buy more. They do not smell even after multiple wearings. I got caught in cold winter rain on 2 runs and they performed excellent.

I took off one point because they’re recommended for running. To me, these socks are a bit too loose and sloppy for serious running. You can size down (I’m a 9. 5, 10. 5 in running shoes and bought the LG) but without a lot more nylon, I don’t think they’re elastic enough to hole on tight to the feet.

I own other running socks (including fox river and darn tough) and they’re a lot more tight and compressive. Also, be aware that this isn’t really ultra-thin like the darn tough ultra lights. They’re equivalent to the thin darn tough and fox river socks.

I have to wear compression socks for medical reasons. I had a dozen or so pairs, but only one pair of Cloudline socks. I also have toenails that would do well as chisels if I ever got stranded on the proverbial desert island.

In consequence I’m forever getting holes in my socks and having to get them darned. Except, it occurred to me recently on sorting out a clean pair to wear, that I’d never had to have my one pair of Cloudline socks repaired.

So I bought two more pairs, and they’re even more comfortable than the original pair, owing to some improvements in the manufacture made since my first purchase. So when I get tired of taking my other socks to the repair shop (which can’t be long in coming) my new pairs will definitely be Cloudline.

Nifty low waste packaging, really like the reusable elastic band! The color I got (medium grey) looks pink on the website but is much more saturated and is a really beautiful purple. Got a women’s large for my size 10.

5 feet and the fit is generous which I liked. Toe room is important. So far used on several treadmill runs and a snowshoe hike, they keep my feet cool, dry and warm – How is that even possible? SmartWool Sock Magic.

The tab on the back didn’t slip down into my sneakers like some of my “bargain” socks, and the cushion at the toe and heel was really comfortable. This pair easily climbed to the top of the sock drawer hierarchy as the top pick, and now I’m going to be sad when they are in the wash and I have to pick a different pair.

Going to add another pair or two to my mothers day wish list. #runon #SmartwoolLove.

I recently got the Wild Horse 7s and wanted to find a good sock for the rocky, sandy and loose gravel trails I run on in the desert. These keep sand and rocks from entering my shoes, even though the wild horse 7s do a good job at that alone, and the feel is amazing.

These socks put compression where I want it on my foot, and adds an extra cushion where I want it as well. The price for one pair of socks had me kinda on the fence, but now that I have them I can see justifying purchasing another pair.

They seem real breathable too, so that’s great for the high heat I experience, albeit at the time of this review its spring and yet to be 110 here. Still think it’s worth the while in getting 2 pairs.

They are way better than the no shows I use for off trail runs in my Epic React flyknit 2’s. The no shows are fine for that environment though. I guess I’m saying get the right sock for the right run, and these are awesome for trail runs.

overall design seems to be good, function not so much…however, as others have said, socks run really small…small rip in heel first time i put them on…also, i washed them before i ever wore them and one of the socks has a weird bunch on the bottom….

A bit tight on the lower calf for me but otherwise good.

These make your toes feel cooler (temperature wise) and keep you dry. You may think that these socks make your toes warmer than regular socks because each toe is individually wrapped up, but that’s not the case.

By isolating each toe, it prevents body heat transfer between your toes which reduces your overall temperature. It is such an odd feeling when you have been wearing regular socks your whole life. In a weird way, it makes your toes feel like they are free like never before.

It’s kinda’ a trip. You just have to try them. Sizing: I usually wear men’s size L in socks, but with these I wear size M. My shoe size is US men 9. 5 to 10. My feet are particularly prone to getting sweaty, way more than the average person.

I have a condition called plantar hyperhidrosis, which is the medical name for excessively sweating feet. I have to avoid socks that have any cotton content, and I have to wear breathable shoes. With super breathable shoes I can wear the socks all day and I see stay totally dry.

I run in Altras for the wider/more natural foot box. I was very hesitant to try these socks because I thought the fabric in between the toes would be annoying or cause rubbing. Just went out for 13 miles and they were great! No irritation at all.

And I could feel my toes spread more naturally- especially on the downhills. It was 75 and humid out and I didn’t notice any excessive moisturizer either. I wish I would have tested these sooner. Will be getting more.

I wear a size 9 running shoe and got the small sock which says it goes up to 8. 5, but the small fits perfect. Snug, but not tight at all.

I like how these feel. I bought them because I saw a recommendation for toe socks because they are good for your toes and reduce various feet issues. I LOVE having them on. But the slight difficulty in getting all your toes in the right slot is a bit of a pain.

I find myself wanting to wear them but then once I think about getting them on I say, eh, regular socks will do. Then sometimes I make an effort to wear them and am usually glad I did. Great idea and great product in theory.

In practice you need to want to wear them!.

I was always having something wrong with my feet after long runs, blisters, soreness where rubbing due to sweaty feet had occurred but since wearing 1000 mile run anklet I’ve seen a massive difference.

They are padded in the right places and absorb moisture well. Much happier feet now 😀.

These socks are great for running, trail running, and mountain biking. Great fit, and look good too. Highly recommend these socks

1000 Mike socks ordered. Have purchased before to prevent blisters, which they do for the most part but a more realistic name would be 500 mile socks.

I wear a EEEE width running shoe. But as good a running shoe I buy, I still had a major problem with the big toe on my left foot. I even have a podiatrist trim the nail on that toe, but the inflammation continues to the point I would try toe spacers and cortisone cream.

I saw the UltraGlide and decided to give them a try. But, from the beginning that toe pain went away. And the toe spacers are on the shelf. I surmised the socks were the problem the last 5 years. I immediately ordered more UltraGlide, of different colors so I could easily keep them in pairs.

The fact that the left sock is made differently from the right sock must be the secret to the success for me. I am now doing my 5 miles every morning pain free. Hallelujah!.

These socks are synthetic, and extremely hot and slippery. I wear HOKA running shoes, and I slide around on the inside of my shoe. The synthetic ‘wicking’ of these socks make my feet sweat even more.

Very uncomfortable. Minor point: the socks are labeled ‘right’ and ‘left’. This is super annoying early in the morning when I am trying to put them on in the dark. I usually get it wrong, and later in the day realize that I have them backwards.

Can’t really tell until I look at the label. Why bother? But it does irritate my OCD to have the wrong sock on the wrong foot.

I have always struggled with getting blisters in my shoes no matter the size, width, what have you. When I learned that having pure cotton socks can cause blisters I was turned on to this brand. I absolutely love these socks, they have the best colors and are so soft and I have not gotten a single blister while walking long distances or running in my shoes.

Life changing for me!.

Never got this product. so this is not ubout the product, but the service

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