The Women's Smartwool Hike Medium is what you need when you're considering a long and technical trail. It's the sock that you look forward to slipping on after a long day. It's loaded with soft, plush merino wool that will keep your feet singing happy tunes when exploring the outside world. We hiked it through wet mountains, dry deserts, and across snowy slopes. In all conditions, it performed well, especially in our sleeping bags. While its design lacks creative compression paneling and breathability is an issue on super hot days, it performed in pretty much every other condition. As a result, it earns top marks, making it one of our favorites. Hiking your local trail? How about the PCT? No problem. This is what it's made for!
Smartwool Hike Medium Crew - Women's Review
Compare prices at 2 resellers Pros: Super comfortable and cushioned, quick to dry, great warmth
Cons: Not super breathable, expensive, average durability
Manufacturer: Smartwool
Our Verdict
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Smartwool Hike Medium Crew - Women's | |||||
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Price | $19.95 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $25.95 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $16.86 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $20.95 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $16.00 at Amazon |
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Star Rating | |||||
Pros | Super comfortable and cushioned, quick to dry, great warmth | 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 | Not super breathable, expensive, average durability | 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 | Built for comfort and long days on the trail | 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 | Hike Medium Crew | 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 | Hike Medium Crew | Darn Tough Hiker... | Smartwool PhD Pro... | Light Hiker Micro... | Wigwam Hiking... |
Material | 66% Merino Wool, 33% Nylon, 1% Elastane | 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 | Midweight | Midweight | Lightweight | Lightweight | Midweight |
Length | Mid-calf | High calf | Lower calf | Lower calf | Lower calf |
Guarantee Policy | 2 year satisfaction guarantee | Lifetime guarantee | 2 year satisfaction guarantee | Lifetime guarentee | 2 year guarantee |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Smartwool Hike Medium is a hiking sock that provides a well-rounded level of performance. We love to take it day hiking, climbing, and backpacking. Smartwool has taken the time to manufacture this sock specifically for both men and women's feet with separate models for each.
Performance Comparison
Comfort
This midweight full-boot hiker features a 66% Merino Wool, 33% Nylon, 1% Elastane blend that makes it one heck of a cozy and comfortable sock! The fabric is thick underfoot and concentrated around the forefoot and heel. There is some compression paneling around the arch of the foot and the forefoot that keeps the sock from sliding up or down on the leg. The fabric is just sooooooo cozy. It's not just comfy to hike in for several comfortable miles, but it is a favorite for lounging and camping too. What's more, the full-boot construct is perfect for either hiking boots or hiking shoes.
While this sock is super soft and cozy, its fit isn't as precise. While the fit is female-specific (a male option is available), our testers noted that the sock isn't as tight around the heel and arch. Some of our testers liked this less fitted design, while others did not. So what it comes down to is a matter of preference. If you're looking for a sock with a female-specific design and a less fitted design (with softer materials), then this is an excellent choice.
Wicking and Breathability
We recommend this as a four-season option, as it does a decent job at wicking and breathing while on the trail. Excellent warmth for cold days, but it's also an option for cooler summer days as well. The fabric is porous and offers good breathability while hiking and backpacking. That said, we wouldn't recommend it for high-intensity activities like trail running in the summer. Our testers thought it was a great running option during super cold early morning runs.
Warmth
When evaluating warmth, we are not so surprised that it does well in all four seasons. The length of the sock makes it a good option to wear with a pair of winter boot in the winter. During our wet tests, we hiked around in the river in late Fall, completing saturating it. While we hiked, our feet stayed warm and comfortable in forty-degree weather. It continued to stay warm as the temperatures dropped, but only if we were moving (Note: No wet sock will keep you warm if you're not moving).
In our dry tests, we learned it is one of the warmest in our tests. While hanging out in 0 F weather around a campfire, our feet stayed toasty and warm. This was also a go-to option during cold camping nights to wear to bed. Overall, we are very impressed with the warmth of the Smartwool Hike Medium for women and would recommend it for all seasons - including the cold ones.
Durability
We aren't super impressed with the durability of the Smartwool Hike Medium sock - but we also didn't think it's bad either. In our testing, we noted a bit of compaction after just 20 miles and a few thread fly-aways.
Drying Speed
A midweight merino-blend sock that dries quickly? Heck yes! We are happy to report that this woman's hiker sock dries quickly. As a result, we'd recommend this sock for all sorts of weather conditions.
Value
Given the price of socks these days, it sits about the middle of the road and offers great performance. While the value isn't stupendous, it isn't bad either.
Conclusion
The Smartwool Hike Medium Crew is perfect for those looking to hike, backpack, or just get out in nature. It features some of the coziest materials that are both breathable and quick to dry. It boasts versatility as one of the few socks that we recommend for all four seasons.
— Amber King