The Danish Unisex Merino Wool Sock is best for those in search of a great sock on a budget. It wins the Best Buy award because of its great performance and low price of just $9 per sock!
Performance Comparison
This full-length boot sock features a merino wool-blend that kept our feet comfortable through all sorts of conditions.
Comfort
Featuring 33% Merino Wool, 33% Acrylic, 33% Polyamide, 1% Elastane, this mid-calf length sock is a strange blend of synthetic and merino wool materials. It is compatible with both hiking boots and shoes. The foot is fairly cushioned with areas of compression paneling around the arch and calf that prevents it from falling down while adventuring. While it's not as a comfortable as some of our higher scoring contenders, our testers thought it did a great job on day hikes and overnight backpacking trips.
More comfortable contenders like the SmartWool PhD Outdoor Medium Crew Sock offer plush cushioning and a tight fit that we didn't observe in the Danish Unisex Merino Wool Sock. While the sock does have a cushioned underfoot, it was much thinner, much like the Darn Tough Light Hiker Micro Crew or the Injinji Outdoor Midweight Crew NuWool. While this makes it more comfortable sock for warm weather, it's not the best all-around. Our testers preferred to slip their feet into the People's Merino Wool Hiking Sock (unisex) for additional comfort due to extra plush underfoot.
Compatible with hiking boots, this full length sock provides additional warmth through the calves.
This sock sadly doesn't hold its shape well when wet. While hiking through a river, our foot got completely water-logged, and it became misshapen and bunched at the toe. However, once dry, it returned to its original shape, which helped its structure. Overall, this sock does well for most outdoor adventures, but it's not the best when it comes to comfort.
Warmth
Featuring a boot-length cut, this sock provides additional warmth around the calf and performs well in a wide range of temperatures. When day hiking and camping we experienced a wide range of temperatures the high 90s to just below freezing. In all conditions, it did a decent job of regulating temperature. It started to get cold once temperatures dipped below freezing and when we weren't moving. In wet conditions, our feet were kept warm while day hiking through the cold river in late Fall. Overall, it provides the warmth you'd expect from a mid-weight sock, but there are warmer options out there.
If you're looking for the best sock for cold weather, we have a couple of recommendations. The Smartwool Hike Medium Crew is our Editors' Choice for women and did well in temperatures that dipped below zero. The Darn Tough Full Cushion is another excellent option that kept our feet warm at similar temperatures. Both have a more extended sock length that holds in warmth on the coldest of days. The Smartwool PhD is also a very warm sock that kept our feet warm below zero while standing around in Alaska. All of these are currently warmer options than the Danish Wool Unisex Sock
Wicking and Breathability
With its synthetic materials, the Danish Unisex Wool Sock is breathable and wicks well. While it's not the coolest option out there, we thought the integration of the synthetic fibers did an excellent job wicking moisture away from the foot (which ultimately contributes to better overall warmth). On a warm hike in the desert, we wore it with the People's Merino Wool sock. TheDanish Wool was hotter and clammier because of its longer sock design, but we were surprised that our foot was drier. From these tests, we concluded that even though the sock doesn't breathe as well as other contenders, it does a great job wicking away moisture, providing great performance overall.
If you're in the market for a sock that's not as warm as the Danish Wool, ankle-length varieties are other great options. The People's Merino Wool Hiking Sock was our favorite cheap warm weather option. The Darn Tough lightweight socks like the Lite Hiker for men and the Hiker Micro Crew are both more breathable and better wicking options. Both are Top Picks for Warm Weather because of their lightweight and more breathable construct.
Comparing comfort and fit of our two best priced unisex award winners. The Danish (left) and the Peoples (right) are both inexpensive and high value. They're also both pretty comfy with a decent fit for the price.
Durability
After roughly 60 miles of hiking, running, biking, 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. Great durability for such a low price!
In comparison to the People's Merino Wool Sock, the durability of the Danish Sock is just better. Also, its construction quality seems a little better as the People's sock stitching appears wide and sloppy.
A look at the pilling after a 20 mile hike and two washes.
Drying Speed
As a quick-drying sock, the Danish Unisex Wool Sock is perfect for wet weather. The synthetic fiber make-up that integrates just a little merino wool for added comfort and warmth is great for rainy days. It doesn't absorb water readily making it a great option for hikes where you might encounter river crossings.
If you're in search of an option that will dry out quickly on the trail, the Wigwam Hiking Outdoor Pro is our top recommendation. The synthetic fibers are not only durable, but they wick well and are super quick to dry. If you prefer a different merino-blend with a faster drying speed, be sure to check out the People's Merino Wool Sock, another low-cost option that dried out just 10 minutes after the Danish Unisex Wool and offers an ankle-length construct with more merino wool.
A look at the socks participating in our drying tests.
Best Application
Given its great performance in the area of wicking and breathability and drying speed, we'd recommend this hiking sock for endurance days in warmer to cool weather. Take it with you backpacking, fastpacking, hiking, and more!
Looking to do a stream crossing? An insulating wool sock like the Danish Unisex Merino Wool is key to ensure your feet stay warm when dry and wet.
Value
On a tight budget and need a high-value sock? This is one of our top recommendations! Cashing in at only $9 per sock with decent durability we think it's one of the best values in this review. If you're looking for a similar value but a more comfortable and ankle-length option, be sure to check out the People's Merino Sock for just $9 per sock. If you don't mind paying a little more, check out our the Wigwam Hiker Pro that offers a super durable and quick-to-dry design for only $15.
Conclusion
The Danish Unisex Wool Sock features a unique synthetic-merino blend that does a great job wicking away moisture and drying out on the trail. While it's not our Top Pick for comfort or warmth, it certainly does the trick for backpacking adventures and day hikes. Not only that, but it's our Best Buy award winner because of its great performance super low price.
This mid-calf merino-wool blend hiking sock is quick to dry, warm, and cheap. and provide a great value.
