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Travel + Leisure

These Wool Socks Survived a 24-hour Travel Day—Plus, 6 More Pairs We Love

Whether for lounging, embarking on a cold-weather endeavor, or hiking in warm temperatures, wool socks are always my top choice. I personally love wool socks from Smartwool and Ibex for all types of trips and adventures. Wool is known to be far superior when it comes to a do-it-all material. With its moisture-wicking properties and ability to regulate temperatures, wool is an ideal material for socks. Since the fibers are particularly travel-friendly, we tested 15 pairs of wool-blend socks. We evaluated them for comfort, fit, quality, and breathability. From sightseeing to sitting on a plane, these are the wool socks that impressed us most with a high-quality feel and comfortable fit. Credit: L.L. Bean The Adults' Merino Wool Ragg Socks earned top points in our tests, landing them as our best overall pick. We wore these socks for more than 24 hours straight during a long-haul flight (and extra-long travel day) to Europe. After clocking more than 20,000 steps in one day while wearing these socks, we noticed that they maintained their shape well, with minimal shrinkage or stretching. Their stretch added to the comfort level, and we found them to be fantastic at temperature regulation. We appreciated that they stayed in place and didn't bunch up. Though they are on the thicker side, it's important to decide what kind of shoes you will use them with regularly. Even when our feet became warm, they did a great job of keeping moisture away, so our feet didn't feel sweaty. We also really like that they come in a two-pack. After a short time of wearing the socks, there were some loose threads, but nothing excessive. The Details: S-XL | Crew length | 77 percent Merino wool, 21 percent stretch nylon, 2 percent Lycra elastane blend Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Smartwool These running socks performed so well that our testers used them for everything from daily runs and hikes to a half-marathon. We found them to be very soft and extremely comfortable to wear, with no blisters, hot spots, or bunching, perfect for high-impact activities. Since they are crafted from about half Merino wool and half synthetic fabric, they are breathable yet stretchy, which is key for runners. Light cushioning maximizes comfort and support in the arch of your foot, while keeping its thin profile. The ankle height works well for running shoes or low hiking shoes. We appreciated that our feet didn't feel sweaty, even on longer runs, thanks to their moisture-wicking properties. They've also held up over time, staying true to their size after several washes, with no shrinking or stretching evident. The Details: S-2XL | Ankle length | 55 percent Merino wool, 43 percent nylon, 2 percent elastane Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Falke We love the luxurious feel of the Falke Cosy Wool Socks, as well as the numerous color options they come in. The material is super soft and breathable, and it kept our feet dry and odor-free. Made from a blend of wool, cashmere, and synthetic fabrics, we found them to be exceptionally soft and breathable, making them ideal for a cozy day at home in pajamas. We did notice small signs of pilling and some stretching out after a couple of washes, making them more appropriate for casual lounge wear. We think these would be the perfect pair of socks to slip on during a long-haul flight when you want a touch of coziness and luxury. The Details: Sizes 5-7.5 to 8-10.5 | Crew length | 31 percent wool, 27 percent rayon, 24 percent polyamide, 18 percent cashmere Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: ONDO No-show socks have a reputation for not staying put, but we found that wasn't the case with the Ondo Merino Wool No Show Socks. The fit was superior, and we found them to have fantastic breathability with impressive odor control. While these socks are very thin, their standout feature is their ability to stay in place, so you don't have to keep pulling them up. This is thanks to the sticky grip on the back of the sock that worked effectively during our real-world testing. We appreciated the reinforced toe, which should help with their longevity. Combined with their moisture-wicking capability as well, these proved to be the perfect pair of discreet socks to wear with comfy flats to slip-on sneakers. During our tests, we noted that they run large, so you may want to size down. The Details: XS-XL | No-show length | 67 percent Merino wool, 27 percent nylon, 6 percent spandex Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Icebreaker $21 $15 at Amazon View on The Icebreaker Merino Lifestyle Crew Casual Wool Socks earned high praise for being very comfortable when worn for long days in a variety of settings. We wore them for everything from commuting to hiking or biking, and they performed well. During our tests, we found that they were durable with high-quality construction that maintained their shape even after several washes. We liked the fit and appreciated that they stayed up. While they are more suitable for colder temperatures, we found them to be breathable, and they didn't leave our feet sweaty. They offer some support in the ankle and arch, and the wool fabric didn't pill or shed. The Details: S-XL | Crew length | 64 percent wool, 34 percent nylon, 2 percent elastane Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: REI What's better than one good pair of socks? Four pairs of good socks, of course. We found the Bombas Merino Wool Blend Quarter Sock 4-pack to be comfortable and true to size, with a snug enough fit to stay up and prevent bunching. They are great for lounging or as an everyday sock, and have great moisture-wicking capabilities. During our tests, we found them to be breathable despite being on the slightly thicker and warmer side. They feel high quality despite showing signs of wear after washing them multiple times, though it didn't affect their functionality. The Details: S-L | Quarter length | 81 percent Merino wool, 17 percent polyester, 2 percent elastane Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Darn Tough View on REI $25 at Zappos $25 at Travel + Leisure editor Taylor Fox wore these socks while hiking the Camino de Santiago, and was impressed by how comfortable these were. During our tests, Fox found these hiking socks to be an ideal height, coming over the top of her hiking boots without being too tall. She appreciated how soft the fabric felt, with ample cushioning and insulation. On her hikes, Fox noticed that they stayed in place and didn't experience any hotspots or uncomfortable seams. Though she didn't find them to be as breathable as other models, Fox still didn't end up with sweaty feet or odor after use. Even after hiking in them for a year, they remain durable and high quality with no holes or fraying. The Details: S-L | Crew length | 54 percent nylon, 43 percent Merino wool, 3 percent Lycra spandex Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure