Smartwool Hike Light Cushion Crew Men’s Socks
Socks
Rating
| Rating: | 8.5 / 10 |
| Warmth | 1.7 / 2 |
| Comfort | 1.8 / 2 |
| Durability | 1.8 / 2 |
| Breathability | 1.6 / 2 |
| Value for Money | 1.6 / 2 |
Smartwool Hike Light Cushion Crew Men's Socks Review
It’s been a number of years since I’ve worn Smartwool socks and recently I had the opportunity to test a few models. When I was asked what socks I was interested in trying my criteria included, medium cushioning, a sock height not far above the ankle, and a lightweight upper to give me the underfoot protection I needed but at the same time didn’t create overheating which is one of the biggest contributors to blister creation.
I opted to test out the Smartwool Hike Light Cushion Crew Men’s Socks first given this model was squarely aimed at the hiking fraternity. This sock also comes in a female version with the only real difference being a slight variation in sizing and colour range.
Upfront I have spent much of my life working outdoors, often in cold conditions, and as a result I have a reasonably high tolerance to cold. As such I prefer my socks on the thinner side rarely ever wearing thicker socks even in very frosty or snowy conditions. What this means is that socks like the Smartwool Hike Light Cushion Crew Men’s Socks which would be a typical choice for most hikers, often end up being on the ‘too warm’ for me. Sure enough after wearing these socks over a period of weeks with breathable trail runners I found these socks to be too hot for me for several reasons.
The underfoot cushioning which Smartwool classes as ‘light cushion’ ended up being too thick for me. The sock upper material was certainly thinner as expected which I found to be optimal for my needs. The strange thing for me with this sock was the length which was classed as ‘Crew’ in length but in all reality, its pushing the boundary on what could be described as a 1/2 length sock. My preference on sock length is just over the ankle but not by much.
Material wise these socks are 56% Merino Wool, 11% Nylon, 31% Recycled Nylon, 2% Elastane with the synthetic components creating a sock that hugs the foot in all the right places through the what Smartwool calls 4 Degree elite fit system. The seaming on these socks is almost invisible so combined with the mainly high grade merino, they are very comfortable to wear.
Colour wise these socks aren’t going to offend anyone having a modern but muted pattern coming in four readily available colours, all of which I would be happy to wear. Price wise these socks sit at just under AUD $42.00 RRP which is typical for a sock of this quality but keep an eye out for cheaper prices that will often appear.
As comfortable as I find them to wear, for me this sock is too warm and I’m only likely to wear them in very cold conditions. For the average hiker though I can see them sitting in that ‘sweet spot’ and unless you’re also like me preferring your socks on the cooler side, this is one well worth considering.
We Like
- Comfortable underfoot with good cushioning
- 4 Degree elite fit system for a dialed-in, performance-oriented fit that hugs the foot and doesn’t move around
- Additional body-mapped mesh zones for added breathability
- Virtually seamless toe for enhanced comfort
- Mesh ventilation zones provide optimum moisture management and maximum breathability
- Good range of modern but muted colour patterns
We Don't Like
- For me personally it’s a bit on the warm side
- I prefer a shorter length of sock with this one bordering on being 1/2 length sock
Best Uses
Good all round outdoor sock and excellent for those wanting a supportive merino sock without the excessive heat. The average hiker will love this sock unless you prefer your feet own the cooler side
Smartwool Hike Light Cushion Crew Men’s Socks – Deep Navy colour
Smartwool Hike Light Cushion Crew Men’s Socks – Military Olive colour
Smartwool Hike Light Cushion Crew Men’s Sock – Medium Grey colour
Smartwool Hike Light Cushion Crew Men’s Socks – Charcoal colour
Smartwool Hike Light Cushion Crew Men’s Socks (Deep Navy colour) showing length on Tim’s legs. For socks that are supposed to be ‘Crew’ height these ones are on the long side
Buy One
You can purchase the Smartwool Hike Light Cushion Crew Men’s Socks from Wildfire Sports
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Investment
AUD $44.99 RRP
Other Versions
Smartwool produces a wide range of socks and outdoor clothing
Disclaimer
This review was done with product provided by the Australian supplier for testing
Last updated
18 March 2024