We Walked for Miles to Test the Best Walking Socks From Asics, Saucony, and More

Best Overall

Asics Cushion Quarter Running Socks

$14 at Amazon View on Asics.com View on Pgatoursuperstore.com

Key Specs

Material: Polyester, spandex | Length: Ankle | Sold As: 3 pairs | Moisture-Wicking: Yes | Thickness: Thick | Cushioning: Medium

Who They're For

Best if you prefer a thick, well-cushioned sock for cozy comfort, especially if you live in a colder climate.

Why We Love Them

Given their high-quality and budget-friendly price, Asics' Cushion Socks could have doubled as our best budget pick. But the socks earned a perfect score of 5 out of 5 in all of the key categories we tested for, making them an obvious choice for our best overall slot. The socks excelled compared to all other socks we tested—even their more expensive counterparts.

We also loved the socks’ comfy cushion and moisture-wicking materials, great for added support and blister protection. They kept our feet warm and cozy without any overheating or excess sweating. This pair is also super budget-friendly, making it an even better value. Snug but not too tight, the pair provided the perfect fit.

Potential Flaws

• Asics' Cushion Socks may be too thick for those in warmer climates or those prone to sweaty feet.
  

Best Budget

Saucony Performance Athletic Socks

$28 at Amazon

Key Specs

Material: Polyester, spandex | Length: Ankle | Sold As: 8 pairs | Moisture-Wicking: Yes | Thickness: Thin | Cushioning: Medium

Who They're For

People who have issues with sweaty feet will appreciate the cool comfort of these walking socks.

Why We Love Them

These Saucony Women's Performance Heel and Tab Performance Socks are not only budget-friendly, but we found that these socks helped us say goodbye to sweaty feet. Our feet remained cool and comfortable with each step and stride in these delightfully comfortable walking socks.

We also appreciated that these socks provided enough cushioning to keep our feet stress-free, but did not bunch or feel bulky in our shoes. Plus, we were pleasantly surprised that we remained blister-free even after long walks in these socks.

Available in an eight-pack, the Saucony Heel Tab Socks come out to less than $2 per sock—an amazing overall value. And they also excel in quality and comfort.

Potential Flaws

• Although we found the socks to be generally comfortable, the heel tab did hit at an awkward spot on the ankle, so it might not be the perfect fit for everyone.
  

Best for Sweaty Feet

lululemon Power Stride Sock

$38 at Lululemon

Key Specs

Material: Nylon, elastane | Length: Ankle | Sold As: 3 pairs | Moisture-Wicking: Yes | Thickness: Thin | Cushioning: Minimal

Who They're For

Best if you have sweaty feet, prefer a thin and lightweight sock, or live in warm weather.

Why We Love Them

lululemon’s Power Stride Socks are super lightweight, making them the perfect choice for those with sweaty feet. Plus, they’re made from breathable, moisture-wicking materials for added odor and blister prevention. They’ll keep you cool and comfortable, even in the hottest summer months. The socks are supportive but not overly thick or padded. And we appreciate the added support in the ankle and heel areas.

In fact, these lululemon socks are one of the most comfortable pairs of socks we have ever worn—so comfortable that they felt like a second skin during long, sweaty strolls. With a perfect fit, these socks offer solid stretch and comfortable compression. The lightweight, versatile socks are great for gym and everyday wear—similar to the leggings the brand is known for—in addition to walking.

Potential Flaws

• These socks are on the higher end of the price spectrum.
• While these socks keep your feet cool and comfortable, they may not be suited for winter months or cold weather.
  

Best for Long-Distance Walks

Wrightsock Endurance Crew Sock

$20 at Fleetfeet.com View on Wrightsock.com

Key Specs

Material: Polyester, nylon, Lycra | Length: Crew | Sold As: 1 pair | Moisture-Wicking: Yes | Thickness: Thick | Cushioning: Medium

Who They're For

People who spend a lot of time walking or tend to log a lot of miles will appreciate these cushioned and supportive socks that protect against blisters.

Why We Love Them

When you’re walking for miles, comfort, support, and blister protection are essential. That’s why Wrightsock’s Endurance Crew is perfect for long-distance walks. Impressed by its fit and comfort, we found the socks to have plenty of arch support and cushioning without any uncomfortable bunching in the shoe.

On a long-distance trek, you need support in all the right places—this pair delivers just that. The socks are also double-layered, which provides extra padding and protection against blisters.

Potential Flaws

• The one downside of this feature is that it may lead to hot spots, especially for those with sweaty feet or when walking in warmer climates.

Best for Cold Weather

Stance Crew Socks

$20 at Amazon

Key Specs

Material: Wool, polyester, nylon, elastane | Length: Crew | Sold As: 1 pair | Moisture-Wicking: No | Thickness: Thick | Cushioning: Medium

Who They're For

Anyone who is a fan of winter hikes will appreciate these comfy, cozy socks that work overtime to insulate your feet and keep them blister-free.

Why We Love Them

Don’t let the winter months put a stop to your outdoor activities. Instead, choose a quality pair of socks that will keep your feet warm on cold weather walks. We found Stance’s Staple Divide Socks to be comfy and cozy without feeling too thick or bulky.

Wool works to insulate the feet, while other performance materials make the sock breathable—keeping your toes comfortably warm. These socks are super comfortable and kept our feet blister-free after miles outside in the crisp climate. 

Potential Flaws

• We loved that the socks are insulated for cold weather, but wearing them in warm weather was a sweaty mistake. 
• These socks don't have much padding—but they're still super comfortable.
  

Most Versatile

Balega No-Show Running Socks

$16 at Amazon $48 at Zappos $16 at REI

Key Specs

Material: Polyester, nylon, elastane | Length: No-show | Sold As: 1 pair | Moisture-Wicking: Yes | Thickness: Thin | Cushioning: Medium

Who They're For

Avid walkers, runners, or weightlifters looking for a high-quality sock that will last will fall in love with these comfy and breathable versatile socks.

Why We Love Them

Great for walking, running, working out, and even all-day wear, Balega’s Hidden Comfort No-Show Socks were an easy choice for our most versatile pick. The socks are cushioned yet breathable (which is a balance that can be hard to find). We appreciate that the socks can tolerate most activities and outdoor weather conditions. 

The socks’ contoured fit provided comfort, while the heel tab helped with blister protection. Delivering support in all the right places, these socks felt comfy and cushy. And the top mesh construction allowed for optimal ventilation and breathability, regardless of climate. 

Potential Flaws

• The price per pair is rather high, but for a versatile, high-quality sock, we think these socks are worth the investment.
  

Best for Travel

Bombas Marl Ankle Socks

View on Bombas

Key Specs

Material: Cotton, polyester, rubber, spandex | Length: Ankle | Sold As: 1 pair | Moisture-Wicking: Yes | Thickness: Thick | Cushioning: Medium

Who They're For

Anyone planning to travel or a walking adventure would be wise to snag a pair of these comfortable and supportive walking socks.

Why We Love Them

We appreciated how comfortable and supported we felt walking miles in Bombas’ Ankle Socks. We found these socks to be the perfect companion for all of our adventures. We found them to be comfortable, durable, and top-notch quality.

The socks deliver cushioning to areas of the foot that often require additional support, like the heels and toes. It’s important to have this kind of foot support while traveling because you never know how long or far your journey will take you. Soft enough to wear to sleep, we found these socks to feel like mini blankets for the feet.

Potential Flaws

• Although the socks are extremely cozy and comfortable, they don’t offer great breathability or ventilation, making them less suitable for warmer weather.

Best Wool

Darn Tough Micro Crew Sock

$24 at Amazon $24 at Darntough.com

Key Specs

Material: Nylon, wool, spandex | Length: Crew | Sold As: 1 pair | Moisture-Wicking: Yes | Thickness: Thick | Cushioning: Minimal

Who They're For

People who enjoy the outdoors—especially in colder weather—will fall in love with these wool performance socks that work double-time to keep feet warm and dry.

Why We Love Them

Whether you’re traveling to the mountains, hiking the backcountry, or living in a cooler climate, a quality pair of wool socks is essential when dressing for cold weather walking. Darn Tough’s Light Hiker Micro Crew Socks feature a combination of wool and performance materials that kept us warm and dry on all of our chilly outdoor adventures. 

Snug but not too tight, these socks provided cozy comfort without excess overheating. We also appreciate that while not super cushioned, the socks deliver enough support for long, hilly walks.

Potential Flaws

• These socks are undeniably expensive, but we think it's worth it because of the socks' long-lasting durability and lifetime warranty. 
• It is important to note that Darn Tough’s socks may be too thick for hot climates—when worn in warmer weather, our feet did overheat.
  

Best Cushioned

Thorlos Max Cushion Ankle Socks

$21 at Amazon

Key Specs

Material: Acrylic, nylon, elastic | Length: Ankle | Sold As: 3 pairs | Moisture-Wicking: Yes | Thickness: Very thick | Cushioning: Maximum

Who They're For

These socks are ideal for anyone who wants cozy comfort combined with good shock absorption from their cushioned walking socks.

Why We Love Them

Socks with extra cushion often provide additional protection for high-impact areas, good shock absorption, plush comfort, and welcoming warmth. Thorlos’ Max Cushion Distance Walking Socks feature thick padding in the heel, forefoot, and top of the arch—helping to reduce blisters, pain, and pressure. 

During test walks, we felt secure and supported in these socks because of their extreme cushioning. The heel part especially had a very thick and supportive cushion which was really comfortable. Ideal for outdoor walking during cold winter months, we like these socks for snug warmth and cozy comfort.

Potential Flaws

• Because these socks are thicker than other options, we did find that they felt a little bulky and may not be suited for warmer weather.
• These socks are expensive, but we think they're well worth it for their heavy-duty, durable design.
  

Best for Hiking

Darn Tough COOLMAX Micro Crew Socks

$24 at Amazon $24 at REI $24 at Darntough.com

Key Specs

Material: Polyester, nylon, spandex | Length: Crew | Sold As: 1 pair | Moisture-Wicking: Yes | Thickness: Thick | Cushioning: Medium

Who They're For

Those who frequently hike or take long walking adventures will fall in love with these comfortable and warm socks the help prevent blisters, keep the feet dry, and stay in place.

Why We Love Them

Whether your next outdoor adventure includes hiking or backpacking, choose a pair of socks that will prevent blisters and hot spots and won’t slip down or bunch up. Darn Tough’s Coolmax Socks do just that; they’re also super cozy, comfortable, and cushioned.

We found this pair of socks to be a perfect fit for any hiking boot—added thickness provides light warmth, and the crew height prevents uncomfortable chafing. While insulated, these socks will still keep your feet dry and temperature-regulated. The thickness and cushion are also great for additional support while hiking on rocky trails and hilly terrains. 

Potential Flaws

• While the price per pair is high, we still think the durable, protective, and supportive socks are worth every penny.
  

Best for Hiking Runner-Up

Smartwool Hike Light Ankle Socks

$22 $20 at Amazon $22 at Zappos View on Smartwool.com

Key Specs

Material: Merino wool, nylon | Length: Ankle | Sold As: 1 pair | Moisture-Wicking: Yes | Thickness: Medium | Cushioning: Light

Who They're For

These socks are ideal for people who wear low-cut hiking boots or do a lot of walking and are looking for a wool sock that stays in place.

Why We Love Them

From the moment we donned these walking Smartwool Hike Light Cushion Socks, we fell in love with the fabulous fit, with no extra fabric bunching up or uncomfortable seams. We also love that this sock comes in so many different sizes, which is probably why it fits so well. Too many times, walking socks come in limited sizes.

We also appreciate that these socks stay in place no matter whether we were wearing sneakers or boots, or just wearing the socks by themselves around the house. And, the noticeable arch support comforted our feet while keeping them warm and cozy.

Potential Flaws

• There was some pilling on the bottom of the sock, but not enough to affect our passion for these walking socks.

Best Compression

CEP 3.0 Compression Running Socks

$60 $51 at Amazon View on Marathonsports.com

Key Specs

Material: Polyamide, spandex | Length: Knee-high | Sold As: 1 pair | Moisture-Wicking: Yes | Thickness: Thick | Cushioning: Medium

Who They're For

People looking for quality compression socks will appreciate that these socks provide just the right amount of compression without being too restrictive.

Why We Love Them

Compression socks help circulate blood flow from the feet to the heart while working to reduce excess swelling that often results from hours of sitting or standing. Whether you spend long days sitting at a desk or live a highly active lifestyle, you may benefit from a pair of quality compression socks like CEP’s Athletic Compression Run Socks. 

Comfortable but not constrictive, we love that these compression socks provide just the right amount of cushioning and support in all the right places. And we didn't get any blisters while wearing these socks. That said, it is important to note that while rare, compression therapy can create adverse side effects in people with diabetes, neuropathy, and other health conditions. If you have any concerns, check with your doctor before wearing compression socks.

Potential Flaws

• Our feet did get rather hot and sweaty during a 2-mile walk in 90-degree weather, but this wasn't a deal-breaker.
• Despite the super high price per pair, we highly recommend this pair for those looking for quality compression socks. 
  

Best Waterproof

Sealskinz Mid Length Sock

$47 at Amazon View on Sealskinzusa.com

Key Specs

Material: Polypropylene, wool, acrylic, nylon, polyester, elastane | Length: Mid-calf | Sold As: 1 pair | Moisture-Wicking: Yes | Thickness: Very thick | Cushioning: Medium 

Who They're For

Anyone looking for waterproof socks that not only wick away moisture but also repel water will appreciate these cozy yet durable socks.

Why We Love Them

Waterproof socks have dual action—they wick away excess moisture from the inside and repel water from the outside environment. So whether you deal with sweaty feet or walk in damp areas, Sealskinz’s Mid-Length Socks are a great option. 

We love that these socks feature a unique three-layer construction for optimal insulation, durability, and moisture control. We also appreciated that these socks conformed to our feet and provided just the right amount of cushioning during test walks. But, these socks are best for cold weather, providing an extra layer of warmth and coziness to the feet.

Potential Flaws

• Used in warm weather, these socks may generate some excess heat inside the shoe. But because of their thick three-layered construction and waterproofing design, your feet will remain dry and blister-free.

Most Breathable

Nike Everyday Plus Cushion No Show Socks

$22 $19 at Nike.com $22 $16 at Macy's $22 at Kohls.com

Key Specs

Material: Polyester, cotton, spandex | Length: Low | Sold As: 3 pairs | Moisture-Wicking: Yes | Thickness: Medium | Cushioning: Medium

Who They're For

People who are looking for a breathable, versatile pair of walking socks that prevent odor and stay in place will appreciate these comfy socks.

Why We Love Them

We appreciate the great fit these Nike Everyday Socks provide. They are not overly tight and yet still stay in place. While testing these socks, they kept our feet warm even during the colder months, and the heel lines up perfectly with the toes without any uncomfortable seams—a rare find in some walking socks.

We appreciate the heel support and extra cushioning these socks provide as well as how they kept our feet as dry as possible when running or doing any heavy-duty activities. Plus, the band around the arch provided just the right amount of compression and gave us great stability during our long runs and squat workouts. We also loved that the knit pattern helped with ventilation and odor prevention.

Potential Flaws

• There is not much to dislike about these socks, but we would like to see more colorways, especially since the white can get dirty more easily.

Best Fit

Alo Half Crew Throwback Sock

$28 $19 at Alo

Key Specs

Material: Nylon, Lycra, cotton | Length: Half crew | Sold As: 1 pair | Moisture-Wicking: No | Thickness: Medium | Cushioning: Medium

Who They're For

Anyone who prioritizes the fit of their socks and wants to avoid loose or baggy socks will find these Alo socks the perfect pick.

Why We Love Them

These Alo Yoga Halfcrew Throwback Socks are a dream—the fit is soft and close, but not so much that they leave marks or hurt our feet. We especially liked that these socks fit like fluffy gloves for our feet that kept them free of blisters. Plus, the toe-through-the-heel fit cupped around the contours of our feet perfectly.

As a bonus, these socks offer great padding on the bottom of the foot and all around. We also appreciated the height of the sock, too—it's a perfect half-crew length that hits above our ankle for warmth without going all the way up the calf. And the socks hold their shape well without becoming loose or baggy.

Potential Flaws

• If you need a sock for stability while walking, these probably aren't the ones for you. But if you have a neutral foot and a neutral gait and your shoes are supportive, then these are great socks.
• These socks also lack a compressive arch. They do function well without it, but if this kind of support is a priority for you, you may want to pick a more supportive one on our list.