Danish Endurance Unisex Merino Wool Review

The Danish Unisex Merino Wool Sock stands out as a low price per sock with merino wool integrated into the construction. While it's not the warmest or the most breathable, it's a good one to consider if you're on a budget and need a hiking sock that'll do in most types of weather.

Performance Comparison

Comfort

Consisting of 33% merino wool, 33% acrylic, 33% polyamide, 1% elastane, this mid-calf length sock is a nice blend of synthetic and merino wool materials. It is compatible with both hiking boots and shoes making it ideal for any kind of hike. The foot is fairly cushioned with areas of compression paneling around the arch and calf that prevent it from falling down while adventuring. While it's not as comfortable as some of our higher-scoring contenders, our testers thought it did a great job on day hikes and overnight backpacking trips. The fit is unisex.

While it does have a cushioned underfoot, it is much thinner than other heavily cushioned contenders. The materials are soft against the skin, offering cozy comfort on colder days. The fit is somewhat specific with areas of compression, but we were not impressed when the sock changed shape when wet and started to bunch at the toe. Thankfully, once dry, it returned to its original shape and didn't bunch anymore. While this sock is comfortable, the fit is questionable in all conditions.

Wicking and Breathability

With its synthetic materials, the Danish Unisex Wool Sock is breathable and wicks well. The integration of the breathing panels on the top of the foot and around the front of the leg provides sufficient breathability on warm days.

The integration of the synthetic fibers provides superior wicking capabilities in comparison to most merino-wool blends out there. If you're somebody that struggles with sweaty feet, this sock might be a good option as it is able to keep the foot quite dry in sweaty conditions. Given the thinner design, it's more breathable overall. In a warm weather test, we wore two different socks on our feet, and the Danish proved to provide better wicking than breathability overall. Even in cold temperatures, it retains its wicking capabilities to keep feet dry and happy. As a result, it's recommended for warm summer hikes and cooler winter days.

Warmth

This sock offers middle-of-the-road warmth performing well when both wet and dry. Unfortunately, because it integrates more synthetic material than wool, which isn't as warm, it's not a recommendation for situations where you would find yourself standing around or sitting in cold weather. For most moderate days throughout the seasons, it provides sufficient warmth, even when wet.

This warmth comes in both the materials and the length of the socks. When day hiking and camping we experienced a wide range of temperatures in the high 90s (F) to just below freezing. When on the move, it performs just fine, regulating temperature well. When wet, the wool does a good job of insulating to keep the feet happy and healthy in, once again, moderate temperatures. Overall, it provides the warmth you'd expect from a mid-weight sock, but there are warmer options out there.

Durability

After roughly 60 miles of hiking, running, and straight-up adventuring, we are surprised to learn that this sock is fairly durable. We did notice a little pilling around the foot of the sock with some slight cushion compaction, but no serious wear and tear. We've been wearing this sock for over three years and made this consistent observation.

Drying Speed

As a quick-drying sock, the Danish Unisex Wool Sock is okay for wet weather but not the perfect option out there. Yes, it will keep you warm when wet, but even though it has a synthetic fiber make-up that integrates just a little merino wool, it's not the fastest to dry.

In our drying speed tests, this sock dried in about 90 minutes, putting it at a place that sits about average in comparison to the rest. It absorbed 176% of its weight in water when soaked and wrung out, making it a fairly absorptive sock when agitated. While on the trail, we noticed that it actually had better results. In a light rain, the material beads and repels the rain, with the sock drying relatively quickly when it's hot outside. Regardless, we still deem it fit for wet weather, but if quick drying is what you need, there are better options out there.

Value

On a tight budget and need a high-value sock? This is one of our top recommendations. Offered in a three-pack, you get a nice value for each sock bough. It will keep your feet warm when it's cold outside, provide sufficient cushioning and comfort underfoot while offering great temperature regulation. while it's not our favorite overall, it's still a nice lighter option with medium cushioning, all at a good price.

Conclusion

The Danish Unisex Wool Sock offers a unique synthetic-merino blend that does a great job wicking away moisture and drying out on the trail. While it's not our favorite for comfort or warmth, it certainly does the trick for backpacking adventures and day hikes at value-pack pricing.