The 7 Best Vegan Hiking Socks


Best Vegan Hiking Socks

Your feet are the most important thing to take care of while you’re on the trail. A blister on your foot is the quickest way to completely shut down a hike or at the very least, make the journey much less enjoyable. And while most hikers do their due diligence when picking out the best hiking boots for them, many more completely overlook their sock choice.

This, however, is a huge mistake that we’re going to help you avoid by giving you our favorite vegan hiking socks.

In fact, most of you on this article right now are probably here for one of two reasons. You had a bad experience with poor socks, or you’re listening to the advice of someone who had a poor experience and is trying to save you from their mistake. It’s definitely a mistake you don’t need to make twice though with so many great vegan hiking socks available.

What makes a good hiking sock?

A good hiking sock does two things really well: they protect your feet by keeping your feet dry and warm. Some materials like cotton hold moisture and moisture in your boot leads to chafing and blisters. This is great way to have a miserable time on the trail. Secondly, especially depending on the elements you’re in, keeping your feet warm is also really important for all the obvious reasons.

What is the difference between a vegan hiking sock and a non-vegan sock?

Generally speaking, wool. Most non-vegan hiking socks are made with wool, usually somewhere between 40 to 60% wool. The good news is there is an awesome variety of vegan hiking socks that uses only synthetic materials like polyester, nylon and spandex. The other good news is you don’t have to sacrifice quality to go vegan.

The Reviews

What makes our reviews different? We pour through thousands of reviews of each sock from over a dozen different websites over the course of three days. Then, we purchase some of our favorites and try them out ourselves. At that point we start putting together this list.

Recommending a sock you’re going to love is really important to us.

While we are an affiliate site, meaning if you click on and buy a sock we will earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you), we are not endorsed or influenced by any of the companies that we have listed here. We’re here to help hikers, not companies.

These recommendations are in no particular order.

Sock Cut Made In: Gender Colors Available Price for 3 More Info & To Purchase
Darn Tough Coolmax Micro Crew Vermont, USA Men’s & Women’s Gray/Black, Olive 62.85* More Info
Thorlos Kx Max Cushion Crew North Carolina, USA Men’s & Women’s Black, Grey, Dark Blue, Khaki, Pewter 32.26 More Info
Dig Bamboo Socks Crew United States Unisex Black, Pink, Purple, Red 23.90 More Info
Wrightsock Escape Crew North Carolina, USA Unisex Over a dozen colors 54.00* More Info
Sunew Bamboo Socks Crew ?** Unisex Black, White, Navy Blue, Grey, Wine Red 16.99 More Info
Three Street CoolDry Crew China Unisex White, Black, Black w/grey & gold stripe 35.98 More Info
Thirty48 Light Hiking Socks Crew Designed in California. Made in Taiwan Unisex Brown/Grey, Purple/Grey, Brown/Pink, Grey/Grey 29.99 More Info

*Not sold in a three pack. We multiplied single sock price x 3

**We could not track down where these socks are made. If you know, let us know, and we’ll update here.


Darn Tough Coolmax Micro Crew Cushion Socks

Materials: 37% Nylon, 34% Coolmax Polyester, 26% Acrylic, 2% Lycra, 1% Other fiber
Cut: Micro Crew
Made In: Vermont, USA
Gender: Made in Men’s and Women’s
Colors Available: Gray/Black, Olive
Vegan Only Company?: No. Darn Tough makes socks and only socks. They do make other socks made with Merino Wool.
Price for a pair of X-Large socks: 20.95 (as of 4/2/2021)

Pros: The Darn Tough Coolmax hiking socks were hands down the highest rated socks almost everywhere we looked. Whether from other hiking experts or from user reviews from multiple outdoors websites, these socks were generally top of the class.

There’s a good reason for that too. Darn Tough is a third generation family owned business that makes socks and that’s it. The attention to detail and the quality of these socks really shines. The Coolmax polyester moves moisture away from the skin and helps keep your feet dry. Performance fit meaning no slipping, bunching or blisters. Naturally antimicrobial: Repels bacteria and odor.

Unconditionally guaranteed for life.

Cons: Pricey. Over twenty bucks a sock will cause almost anyone pause. Darn Tough offers a lifetime guarantee for every sock they make, although you will have to cover shipping sending it back.


Thorlos Kx Max Cushion Hiking Crew Socks

Materials: 87% Acrylic, 11% Nylon, 2% Elastic
Cut: Crew
Made In: Statesville, North Carolina
Gender: Men’s and Women’s
Colors Available: Black, Grey, Dark Blue, Khaki, Pewter
Vegan Only Company?: No
Price for a 3 pack of X-Large socks: 32.26 (as of 4/2/2021)

Pros: Designed for, you guessed it, max cushion and comfort! Everything about the Thorlos Max Cushion socks is meant to make these the most comfortable socks you’ve ever put on your feet. The padding is specifically designed for hiking in an effort to reduce blisters, pain, pressures and moisture. The instep and arch is also cushioned for a better, more supportive fit. Even with all this extra cushion, the ventilation on the top of the sock works well enough to keep your feet cool, even in the summer.

Synthetic design prevents absorption of odor-causing bacteria that can be trapped within fiber cores.

Cons: Fit tends to run small size-wise. May want to consider ordering one size up if you’re “in between” on sizes.


Dig Bamboo Fiber Socks

Materials: 75% Cooldry Moisture Wicking Fabric, 22% Polyester, 3% Elastane
Cut: Crew
Made In: United States
Gender: Unisex
Colors Available: Black, Pink, Purple, Red
Vegan Only Company?: No
Price for a 3 pack of socks: 23.90 (as of 4/2/2021)

Pros: The thing we may like best about these socks have nothing to do with the socks themselves. We’re big fans of Dig Bamboo’s ONE TREE ONE TREE Program. For every pair purchased they plant a tree! Pretty cool.

These Dig Bamboo socks do an amazing job with odor-control and moisture wicking and keeping your feet cool and dry. Multiple reviews positively commenting on the durability of these socks with many socks going strong after a year of use.

Great customer service.

Cons: Most of the negatives we saw was people struggling with the fit. Bamboo socks shrink quite a bit when washed, but will stretch back out afterwards.


Wrightsock Escape Crew Socks

Materials: Inner Layer: 70% Dri-Wright II Polyester, 26% Nylon, 4% Lycra
Outer Layer: 68% Dri-Wright II Polyester, 24% Nylon, 8% Lycra
Cut: Crew
Made In: Burlington, North Carolina
Gender: Unisex (You may see these listed in men’s sizes. They are actually unisex.)
Colors Available: Over a dozen color varieties including: Ash, Azure Blue, Black, Coffee, Granite, Trail Green, Pink, Red
Vegan Only Company?: No
Price for a single pair of socks: 18.00 (as of 4/2/2021)

Pros: Super durable. These Wrightsock Escape socks are going to last you awhile. Received high marks for moisture control and comfort. control. These also may be the best socks on our list for cold weather.

No need to buy additional sock liners as these socks basically have them already built in.

Cons: Some feel the socks are too tight near the calf and others had issues keeping the inner liner “aligned”.


Sunew Bamboo Socks

Materials: 80% Bamboo/ 15% Polyester/ 5% Elastic
Cut: Crew
Made In: N/A – We had a really tough time finding information on Sunew as a company.
Gender: Unisex
Colors Available: Black, White, Navy Blue, Grey, Wine Red, Dark Grey
Vegan Only Company?: No
Price for a 3 pack of X-Large socks: 16.99 (as of 4/2/2021)

Pros: One of two pairs of socks that use Bamboo as their primary material. (Bamboo is amazing by the way. How are we not growing more of this stuff?) If you’ve never tried Bamboo socks before you’re in for a treat. Bamboo socks are crazy soft, it’s like not even having socks on your feet.

Bamboo is very stretchy which leads to really great compression and a nice snug fit. They also receive good marks for keeping your feet dry and have enough cushion. Finally, bamboo fabric is naturally antibacterial and anti-odor.

Cons: A little thin for cold weather. While most love the compression that these socks bring, some find them too snug.


Three Street COOLDRY Hiking Socks

Materials: 75% Cooldry Moisture Wicking Fabric/ 22% Polyester/ 3% Elastane
Cut: Crew
Made In: Through our research, we believe Three Street socks are made in China
Gender: Unisex
Colors Available: White, Black, Black w/a grey and gold stripe
Vegan Only Company?: N/A
Price for a 3 pack of X-Large socks: 35.98 (as of 4/2/2021)

Admittedly we have less in-depth information on Three Street, but with the limited information we gathered through our research Three Street does show a lot of promise.

Pros: Three Street puts an emphasis on it’s moisture wicking ability and it’s ability to quickly dry after a day out on the trail. It does this through it’s CoolDry fabric and it’s breathable mesh instep.

Arch compression provides support and stability and helps give the socks a great fit.

Cons: They’re one of the more expensive socks on our list.


Thirty48 Light Hiking Socks

Materials: 85% Acrylic (faux) Wool/ 12% Anti-Bacterial Wicking Poly/ 2% Spandex/ 1% Nylon
Cut: Crew
Made In: Designed in California. Made in Taiwan.
Gender: Unisex
Colors Available:
Vegan Only Company?: No
Price for a 3 pack of X-Large socks: 29.99 (as of 4/2/2021)

Pros: Thirty48 takes pride in what they call their combination of science and technology when it comes to performance socks. Their light hiking socks wick away moisture, allows your foot to breathe and provide support where needed.

Reinforced heel and toe guard to provide cushion and durability. Anti-Bacterial nylon resists bacteria colonization, reducing the risk of unpleasant odors and infection.

Cons: Not made in the USA. Durability may be suspect. Read multiple reviews of the socks wearing out too soon.


Final Thoughts

We hope this helped you find a pair of vegan hiking socks that work for you! Whether you’re vegan or are just wanting to pick up some cruelty-free gear or maybe even just something a bit more eco-friendly, there is a pair of socks here that you’ll love.

Ryan H

I love hiking and being outdoors with Jen and our two rescue dogs, Chompers and Mia. I also enjoy a good weekend trail run. I'm also really enjoying sharing some of the knowledge we've learned along the way here on Zenful Hiking!

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