Injinji Outdoor Midweight Crew NuWool Review

The Injinji Outdoor Midweight Crew NuWool is a great toe sock designed for hiking in warm and/or wet conditions.

Performance Comparison

Comfort

The five-fingered toe design is unique to this sock. Here we looked primarily at the level of cushioning, fabric feel, and compression. Our testers weren't as impressed with this sock as they were with others, as the lightweight design does not accommodate much cushioning, though the level of compression is good.


The NuWool material is comfortable, but isn't as nice to the touch as the Smartwool PhD Outdoor Medium Crew Sock or Darn Tough varieties. That said, we did love its fitted feel and how our toes could move and wiggle as needed. If you love toe socks, this is the way to go - but if you're looking for a more traditional style with more comfort, check out our thicker options like our Editors' Choice - the Darn Tough Hiker Full Cushion.

Warmth

Unfortunately, the Injinji sock was the worst tested when it came to wet and dry warmth. 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. In our dry cold tests, our feet were numb in less than two minutes, while other brands like the Smartwool PhD were good for hours. When wet, we found they were quite cold despite the insulating properties of wool; we attribute this again to the toe design. Like a glove versus a mitten, the glove will be much colder because the fingers are not kept together to help conduct more heat. Here the toes are forced away from each other, which results in a colder experience. That said, they are better for wearing in warm temperatures. If you want a warmer sock, check out any of the other socks we tested through this review in our Best Hiking Socks Review.

Drying Speed

Even though this sock isn't the best in every category, it is a master of one! As a result of the thinner construct, this was the fastest sock to dry! On our hang to dry test we found it took only two hour and half hours to dry in comparison to others that took three hours or more. So, if you're looking for something that can easily dry overnight - this is your best option!

Wicking and Breathability

Being one of the thinnest socks, we found this was also one of our best to wick and breath. The only snag this sock suffered was between the toes. Even though the double layer of fabric between each toe is awesome for preventing blisters and allows your feet to spread, we found our toes were more sweaty than the traditional contenders. As a result, it did not score the highest for breathability and wicking. If you want something that wicks and breathes from all around, check out the Darn Tough Light Hiker Micro Crew instead.

Durability

Of all the socks tested, we found this sock to be pretty tough! After 60 miles of use we didn't notice that material packing out or any major pilling. We noticed a tiny bit of pilling around the heel but that was about it! If you're looking for something that is exemplary in this metic, check out the Wigwam Hiking Outdoor Pro that features extremely durable synthetic fibers.

Best Application

Take this sock with you on cool to warm days, rain or shine. It's a great companion for trail runs, day hikes, and the like. However, if you plan on a cold and wet weather adventure, consider the Smartwool PhD instead as it has a much better insulating track record.

Value

For $20, we thought the price was a steep for the level of performance, but it does have a unique five-finger design. If you want a sock with a better value, check out our Best Buy award winner - the Wigwam Hiking Pro.

Conclusion

This five finger sock left our toes feeling free! Take a gander at this option if you're looking for a toe sock that offers great breathability and is quick to dry.

Other Versions

Injinji Outdoor Original Weight Crew NuWool - Women's

• Similar construction

• Great colors and stripes

• Cost: $18.00