Yahoo Lifestyle The Best Socks for Every Kind of Vacation
For years, I dismissed socks as an unessential accessory that wasn’t worth paying much for. My default plane socks for well over a decade were a fuzzy $3 pair with paw-shaped grips on the soles that I picked up at a night market in Taiwan. But when my feet accidentally got drenched in water early on in a race, I realized the error of my ways. After I limped across the finish line, I went straight to the first aid tent to have them reveal the shameful damage from my cheap socks.
As it turns out, it doesn’t take a race for our feet to generate so much moisture. “Most people, whether they know it or not, sweat a good pint of water out of their feet every day,” New York University’s Dr. Louis Iannuzzi, who’s on the Pedorthic Footcare Association Board of Directors, says. “Socks protect the foot from blisters primarily.”
Like in a race, the last thing you want to do on vacation is be forced to deal with foot issues. From compression socks for lengthy plane rides to powerful moisture-wicking socks for long, active days exploring a town or hiking up a new peak, here are the best socks worth splurging on for every type of trip, to make sure your feet stay comfortable and blister-free. Take it from me—your feet will thank you for the upgrade.
Active socks
Plane socks
Dress socks
Everyday socks
Ski socks
This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date. Additional reporting by Madison Flager.
Active socks
Pack for: hiking, camping, and biking trips; morning runs
Wrightsock Coolmesh II women’s specific tab socks
$15.00, Wrightsock
$13.00, Bombas
$18.00, Brooks
Merrell cushioned hiker crew socks (three-pack)
$29.00, Amazon
Swiftwick Pursuit One Ultralight
$18.00, Amazon
Royal Robbins Bug Barrier Venture crew sock
$26.00, Royal Robbins
Plane socks
Pack for: air travel, lounging
$35.00, Brother Vellies
$35.00, Away
$28.00, Amazon
$18.00, Ugg
Dress socks
Pack for: business trips, romantic getaways, destination weddings
Bombas lightweight calf socks (eight-pack)
$128.00, Bombas (women's sizes)
K. Bell Soft and Dreamy cable knit crew socks
$11.00, Loops and Wales
$15.00, Conscious Step
Everyday socks
Pack for: city vacations, sightseeing trips
Bombas cushioned no-show socks
$13.00, Bombas
$18.00, Vessi
Arc’teryx Merino wool lightweight low cut sock
$22.00, Arc'teryx
Ministry of Supply Atlas ankle sock
$15.00, Ministry of Supply
Injinji Everyday Lightweight Hidden Upcycled Cotton
$13.00, Injinji
Ski socks
Pack for: snowy adventures
Smartwool Classic Mountaineer maximum cushion crew socks
$26.00, REI (women's sizes)
Goldwin winter wool high socks
$39.00, Goldwin
Rossignol men’s wool and silk ski sock
$28.00, Rossignol
Originally Appeared on Condé Nast Traveler
