Injinji Outdoor Midweight Crew NuWool Review
Cons: Less durable, not very warm, expensive
Manufacturer: Injinji
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Injinji Outdoor Midweight Crew NuWool | |||||
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| Awards |  |  | | ||
| Price | $19.00 at Amazon | $25.95 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $19.56 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $20.95 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $16.00 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Excellent breathability, five-toe construction, lightweight design, less-blister prone, better stability | Durable, comfortable, wide temperature regulation, versatile, fitted | Great thermoregulation, incredibly comfortable, durability | Highly breathable, comfortable, well-fitted, no itch, excellent wicking power, quick to dry | Incredible durability, quick to dry, accommodates a liner, comfortable |
| Cons | Less durable, not very warm, expensive | Not ideal for hot temperatures, tall cut not best for all | Slow to dry, expensive | Slippery fabrics, shorter length | Loose fit, lacks compression paneling, loses wicking capabilities in cold weather |
| Bottom Line | A toe-sock that offers good stability and toe splay | Our favorite hiking sock for all-seasons | A versatile sock built for both the day and thru-hiker | A lightweight hiking sock that simply offers the best performance of its class | A value-driven, midweight synthetic hiking sock with great drying speed and durability |
| Rating Categories | Outdoor Midweight Crew NuWool | Darn Tough Hiker Full Cushion | Smartwool PhD Pro Light Crew | Light Hiker Micro Crew | Wigwam Hiking Outdoor Pro |
| Comfort (25%) | |||||
| Wicking And Breathability (25%) | |||||
| Warmth (20%) | |||||
| Durability (20%) | |||||
| Drying Speed (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Outdoor Midweight... | Darn Tough Hiker... | Smartwool PhD Pro... | Light Hiker Micro... | Wigwam Hiking... |
| Material | 64% nuwool, 33% nylon, 3% lycra | 66% merino wool, 32% nylon, 2% lycra spandex | 62% Merino Wool, 36% Nylon, 2% Elastane | 54% Nylon 43% Merino Wool 3% Lycra® Spandex | 41% polypropylene, 34% acrylic, 23% stretch nylon, 1% stretch polyester, 1% spandex |
| Sock Category | Lightweight | Midweight | Lightweight | Lightweight | Midweight |
| Length | Lower calf | High calf | Lower calf | Lower calf | Lower calf |
| Guarantee Policy | 60 day guarantee | Lifetime guarantee | 2 year satisfaction guarantee | Lifetime guarentee | 2 year guarantee |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Injinji Outdoor Midweight Crew NuWool is a notable mention for its five-fingered construction. It's a fantastic option for both warm and wet weather, sweaty endeavors, and caters to all genders.
Performance Comparison
Comfort
The comfort of this sock is about average. The five-fingered toe design is unique. Here we look primarily at the level of cushioning, fabric feel, and compression. With its lightweight design, this sock isn't very cushioned but does offer compression and breathability panels that keep the sock on your foot. Also, this sock fits both our female and male testers well.
The NuWool material is comfortable but isn't as pleasant to the touch as softer contenders. We do love its fitted feel and how our toes can move and wiggle as needed. We find this especially helpful on multi-day hikes and trail runs that would typically leave toes raw from rubbing against each other (one of the benefits of a five-finger construct). If you love toe socks, this is the way to go.
Wicking and Breathability
Being one of the thinnest socks, it is quite breathable with great wicking properties. The only snag it suffers is between the toes. Even though the double layer of fabric between each toe is great for preventing blisters, it is sweatier between our toes than traditional contenders. As a result, it did not score the highest for breathability and wicking.
Warmth
Unfortunately, the Injinji is not a warm sock. It's not recommended for wicked cold winter days or frigid fall nights. The fabric itself is insulating with its Merino wool make-up, but the toe construct makes it quite cold when the mercury drops below freezing.
During our dry cold tests, the material provided some insulation, but our feet were numb in less than two minutes in sub-zero temperatures in Alaska. Like a glove versus a mitten, the glove will be much colder because the fingers are not butted up next to each other, which decreases heat conductivity between the digits. In the case of the toe socks, each phalange is forced away from the other, which reduces heat conductivity and thus overall warmth. In the case of frigid temperatures, not even the most insulating boots will keep feet warm with these socks. That said, it is a much better warm temperature option. We love this sock for high-intensity activities like running or fast-packing in the Fall, Spring, or Summer.
Durability
This sock is tough! After 60 miles of use, we didn't notice any major pilling or packing out. We found trace amounts of pilling around the heel but nothing more.
Drying Speed
The Injinji features an above-average drying speed. In our dryer tests, it was completely dry after 80 minutes, which is a great drying speed. Because of its quick-drying speed and wonderful performance in the field, we'd recommend it for both dry and wet conditions.
Value
The price is steep for the level of performance it provides. In comparison to other models out there, it simply doesn't stand up. That said, one might be compelled to pay this price for the unique five-finger design.
Conclusion
If you're in the market for a five-fingered hiking sock option, the Injinji Midweight Crew is a wool calf-high sock that provides your toes the ultimate in freedom. It provides better blister prevention than traditional contenders and allows better stability than other socks out there. However, many traditional contenders are worth checking out that performed better.
— Amber King