Smartwool have long been one of the market leaders in merino wool clothing and accessories, so it’s probably no surprise that they have produced an excellent hiking sock using those expertise. The Hike Full Cushion Crew is a meaty sock, using a whopping 61% merino wool in its construction, backed up with recycled polyamide for extra moisture management and enhanced durability. Smartwool’s IndestructawoolÔ technology has been developed by the company using premium quality yarns to knit high wear areas of the socks optimally to increase their longevity, without sacrificing the fit, comfort or on-trail performance of the sock.
Lara Dunn’s verdict
Smartwool have long been one of the market leaders in merino wool clothing and accessories, so it’s probably no surprise that they have produced an excellent hiking sock- Ethical
- Comfortable
- Hardwearing
- Good-looking
- Might feel too chunky for lighter footwear
| Quick specs | |
|---|---|
| Price | £26.99 |
| Weight | 92g |
| Materials | 61% merino wool/23% recycled polyamide/14% polyamide/2% elastane |
| Features | Mesh zones for breathability, virtually seamless toe, indestructawoolÔ technology for enhanced durability in high wear zones |
| Sizes | EU34-45/UK2-10.5 |
| Versions available | Men’s available |
| Brand site | www.smartwool.co.uk |
The levels of warmth and cushioning offered by the Hike Full Cushion Crew are immense. It’s definitely not a sock for hot summer use and can feel too chunky when worn with a lighter weight pair of boots or shoes. The cushioning at the Achilles tendon and heel areas is particularly good, protecting what can be a real problem area for walkers, especially women who can sometimes struggle with having slimmer heels and the ensuing boot movement this can cause. The fit is reliably good, the socks staying put in use with no annoying migration.
With this level of merino, there are no issues with all-day wear, and indeed they’d be fine for several days of wear if wash facilities were unreliable. The interior looping of the yarn makes them superbly soft and comfortable to wear, washing very well, to return them quickly to a nearly-new state, ready to be enjoyed again. However, thanks to the high wool content and their thicker than average nature, they don’t dry as quickly as some of the more synthetic-heavy options.
In addition to the quality and comfort offered by the Hike Full Cushion Crew socks, the ethics behind them is impressive too. The company uses merino wool that ensures animal welfare, is striving towards greater durability of its garments and continues to increase its use of recycled content. These may just be the perfect balance of comfort and sustainability.
Tested by Lara Dunn
Lara has worked in outdoors media since the late 90’s as a writer, reviewer, and an editor in her own right across adventure travel and cycling titles. She has hiked, cycled, climbed, scrambled, trekked, ambled, and swum all over the UK and further afield.
