Rohan was founded by a husband and wife team in Yorkshire way back in 1972. They have been creating world class hiking gear for over 45 years and pride themselves on following the five principles of effortless travel; protective, lightweight, packable, easy-care and versatile.

Rohan’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Mission is driven by their strong commitment to human rights, promotion of animal welfare and striving to always understand their environmental impact. Rohan’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Mission is driven by their strong commitment to human rights, promotion of animal welfare and striving to always understand their environmental impact.

‍

Danish Endurance’s mission lies in helping people take their endurance goals to the next level by giving them high quality products. These hiking socks were developed with the help of Rasmus Kragh, the first Dane to climb Mount Everest without using supplementary oxygen, so you’ll be walking in the footsteps of a legend.

Danish Endurance’s products are designed in Denmark and produced in factories in Portugal, where fair working conditions are ensured. Their wool comes from animal friendly sources.

Danish Endurance’s socks contain merino wool, so you’ll benefit from their temperature regulation and odour reducing properties.

‍

Storm Bloc produce a range of functional, technical low-cost socks. These are the cheapest we’ve seen that still contain wool. They're not the best hiking socks out there but a good option if funds are limited.

The Storm Blocs contain an arch support to help prevent tired feet, and the Blueguard anti-abrasion technology is knitted into high-wearing areas for better durability.

Founded in 2010, Stance are a relatively young company who claim to have turned hiking socks from something that had been largely taken for granted into one of the world’s most exciting accessories in just a few years. With a focus on relentless innovation, Stance socks can now be seen adorning the feet of adventurers in over 40 countries.

Stance's Feel360 technology is designed to keep you on the mountain or the trail for longer, whatever the weather. The yarns are twisted to increase resilience to wear and tear, and the socks contain reactive fibres that promote effective wicking and help regulate temperature.

Smartwool have been developing socks since 1994, when their founders simply wanted to be able to ski for longer without getting cold tootsies. They claim to be the first company to produce performance merino wool ski socks, forever changing what outdoor enthusiasts put on their feet.

The light cushioning makes them ideal for hiking, running, cycling or skiing or on and off road. A good choice for ultra-runners and fast packers, these are great looking socks that will help you add a dash of style when out on the trail.

‍

Finisterre’s story started in 2003 from a need for warm surfing gear for hardy surfers braving the cold British coast, and they didn't want to compromise the environment. Finisterre are now a certified B-Corporation, meaning they technically do more good than harm.

These are a good multi-purpose sock for runners, hikers, cyclists and surfers.

Falke is a well-established German company with a reputation for quality outdoor gear. Blending luxury with functionality, Falke are committed to sourcing the finest materials whilst respecting the ancient traditions of the people who hand-make them.

With extra-strength cushioning and merino wool mix, these socks are designed for tough mountain adventures. Left and right cushioning, along with a specially cushioned toe box, ensure a great fit with good protection against hot spots and blisters.

The triple-layered structure allows for a good regulation of temperature with effective wicking properties to help keep feet dry, warm in cold conditions and cool when it’s warm.

‍

Injinji are a California based company who describe themselves as innovators, adventurers and lovers of all things active. They claim that their unique design properly aligns the toes which helps promote proper balance and posture. Injinji socks may take some getting used to but we have known people who will not now use any other brand. If you’ve not worn Injinji toe socks before, fit each toe into their sleeve before pulling on the remainder of the sock. Be patient and allow your feet time to adjust.

This is a midweight sock which is designed to fit comfortably into anything - trail shoe, running shoe or boot. A specially designed arch support gives a secure and stable fit while the dual welt band holds the socks into place – nothing worse than having to keep stopping to pull socks up!

A mesh top offers breathability and helps keep your feet cool on warmer days.

‍

1000 Mile have been producing performance and technical socks for over twenty years. The 1000 Mile socks are described as a ‘sock within a sock’. They are based on a double layering technique; an inner layer that wicks away moisture while moving with the foot, and an outer layer that moves with the boot. The two layers are designed to reduce the friction against the skin that causes blisters.

The merino wool outer layer and Tactel inner layer help maintain a comfortable foot temperature. Tactel is a speciality fibre that is soft, breathable and lightweight. It has good wicking properties and is quick drying.

The arch bracing gives additional support while the fully padded heel protects the Achilles Tendon – extra handy if you suffer from Achilles problems.

‍

Darn Tough is a family owned American business that prides itself on their values, prioritising families and celebrating differences. They are committed to being equal opportunities employers, addressing social and racial injustices.

It’s the fine gauge knitting techniques that give their socks their toughness – you’ll have to try hard to wear out these bad boys.Darn Tough’s True Seamless undetectable seam fusion gives an ultra-smooth feel for ‘put them on and forget about them’ comfort

Another one from the Bridgedale stable, the Bridgedale HIKE are designed as a lightweight sock for day walks. The sock is kept in place with an engineered women’s specific fit, and the zonal padding system gives extra cushioning for support and comfort for those long days out on the hill.

The stretched ribbed cuff provides a looser, less restricted fit around the calf whilst still keeping the socks in place, while the flat toe seam means there is no bulky stitching that could irritate the toes and cause blisters.

Sealskinz have been making extreme weather gear for over 25 years. Their attention to detail, rigorous testing and use of premium materials allows adventures to happen whatever the weather. Sealskinz are the go-to socks when the weather closes in and things get epic.

Each sock is hand-tested for waterproofness; Sealskinz claim they have the highest sustained waterproof durability of any other sock out there.

The Extreme Cold Weather Sock will keep you comfy and dry in the coldest of temperatures, whilst the three-layer construction with its unique hydrophilic waterproof membrane moves moisture from the skin using osmosis techniques.

The Sealskinz feels much more like a normal sock than other waterproof socks available – traditionally they can be rather stiff, rubbery and uncomfortable.

Another offering from Smartwool, this is a tougher sock for gnarlier adventures and extended treks.

Their 2 Degree fit system includes elasticated arch and ankle support to keep the socks firmly in place and the 4-degree Elite Fit system gives a performance-orientated fit with extra flex at the ankle joint.

Mesh vents give good breathability and help dispel moisture, while extra-heavy cushioning keeps feet warm when ice climbing, mountaineering or backpacking.

From the highly respected Falke range, these lightly padded socks are designed to be worn with walking shoes, trail shoes and sandals rather than hiking boots.

Additional silicone fibres on the inside of the socks prevent them from slipping, which can be more of a problem with low-cut socks. An extra heel bar helps reduce friction, reducing the chance of blisters.

These socks are designed for warmer, gentler hikes although the wool mix offers better warmth than other socks of this type.

The Darn Tough light hiker cushioned sock is ideal for hikers who require a little less cushioning. With half the wool weight of their cushioned socks, these offer a lighter weight performance whilst still delivering the quality you would expect from this brand. And of course, don't forget their life-time guarantee!

True Seamless construction helps reduce friction and bunching, keeping your feet blister free, while Darn Tough’s fine gauge knitting gives these socks the brand’s legendary durability and their ‘put it on, forget it’s on’ feel.

They're also naturally antimicrobial – repels bacteria and odours, great when you need to get another day or two out of them.

Craghoppers came into existence in 1965 when their two founders set out to produce gear for the harshest of outdoor adventures. They decided to test it on the ultimate expedition – an ascent of Mount Everest. As signatories to the UNFCCC Fashion for Global Climate Action, Craghoppers are committed to net zero emissions by 2050. Recycled products are used in their packaging and they are active members of the Ethical Trade Initiative.

These socks contain synthetic fibres rather than wool so would be a good choice for vegan hikers. They're ergonomically designed to deliver cushioned support to heel, toe, sole and calf for comfort, and also incorporate Craghoppers’ NosiLife anti-insect treatment – could these be the best hiking socks for Scottish hiking?

‍