Australian Hiker

Rating

Wilderness Wear Merino Yak Mountaineer Sock Review

My testing of these socks was a bit of an accident given Wilderness Wear sent me two pairs of socks as part of another purchase we made. In all honesty they sat in my sock draw over the warmer months and it was only when I needed a warm sock I decided to give them a go. It’s also rare that I ever wear thick socks usually sticking to a thinner sock with cushioning under the heel and toe area but I like to keep the rest of the sock on the thinner side. Spoiler alert; I have come to love these socks and if I need to wear a thick sock, then these are my first choice!

Now these socks are also a bit unique as they contain Yak ‘wool’ and while this is a rarity, Yak wool is on par with cashmere as a soft warm natural material. For me these socks felt very comfortable and soft whereas other thick socks with higher levels of synthetic material don’t provided this degree of comfort. At this stage there is only one colour which is ‘black and tan’ but if you don’t care about having multiple colour choices then this is a minor issue.

This is a 3/4 sock height that in addition to keeping you warm also provides plenty of protection in the harshest of conditions. The sock fits really well and is very comfortable. The stitching on this sock, like the rest of the Wilderness Wear range, is pretty well invisible which is a big bonus that minimises rubbing that can contribute to blistering. The sock is made from 60% ‘Pure Australian Merino’, 25% Yak, and 10% nylon and 5% elastane which help the natural fibres to keep their shape if they get wet.

When you go to the Wilderness Wear website you’ll see that the small size is listed a ‘female’ sock and the medium and large sizes are ‘male’ but its worth noting that this is a unisex sock and the size label has male and female sizes on them. Usually I would wear a large sock having a size 15 US wide foot but I found the medium sock, which is aimed at size 9-12 men, worked out fine for me. Even the small sizing didn’t feel to restrictive. So look at the specific sizing rather than S, M or L and ignore that the sock is being sold as a male or female sock to get the right size.

These socks feel pretty good in temperatures to 17º Celcius without causing any sweating which was a surprise as I expected to sweat a much lower temperature. If you are one of those hikers who like warm toasty feet, then this is the sock for you.

At AUD $55.00 RRP these socks sit within the typical price range for a heavy duty high cushioned sock and you get what you pay for. These socks are a very high quality very comfortable sock and if you are after a sock that will suit you in extreme cold to warm conditions then this is a really good choice.

We Like

• If you are looking for a sock that will keep you warm when it is cold or in the snow then these will do the job
• Exceptional padding underfoot
• Invisible seam construction that minimises the chance of blisters
• Reinforced heel and toe for support and durability
• Feel very nice to wear

We Don't Like

• I’m not a fan of 3/4 length socks; but that’s just me and you may love long socks
• These are warm socks and won’t suit all seasons
• A very warm sock but also one that will work, until the temperature starts getting too hot so avoid in summer

Best Uses

• Great heavy weight sock for hiking in cold weather or for those of you who feel the cold
• Great if you prefer a generous sock length

Buy One

You can purchase the Wilderness Wear Merino Yak Mountaineer Socks from Wilderness Wear

Disclosure:  We may earn a small commission, at no additional expense to you, if you click through and make a purchase. Please note that our affiliations do not influence, in any way, the independence of our reviews. If we don’t like a product, you’ll hear about it from us!

Investment

AUD$55.00 RRP

Other Versions

Wilderness Wear produces a wide range of socks and garments for hiking and other outdoor activities. We have a reviewed many products in the range which you’ll find on our gear page

Wilderness Wear Merino Yak Mountaineer Socks

Wilderness Wear Merino Yak Mountaineer Socks showing 3/4 length

Wilderness Wear Merino Yak Mountaineer Socks showing inside of the sock

Disclaimer

This review was done with product provided by Wilderness Wear

Last updated

3 August 2025

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