Layering your socks for hillwalking is a great approach to ensure maximum comfort, protection, and performance during your hillwalking adventures. Just as you layer your clothing to adapt to varying weather conditions and physical demands, applying a similar system to your socks can significantly enhance your experience on the trails.
The layering method involves using multiple layers of socks to manage moisture, provide insulation, and reduce friction, ultimately preventing blisters and keeping your feet comfortable over long distances.
The base layer typically consists of a thin, moisture-wicking liner sock that sits next to your skin. Its primary role is to draw sweat away from your feet, keeping them dry and minimising the risk of blisters. The mid-layer, or primary sock, provides the main insulation and cushioning, essential for maintaining warmth in cold conditions and absorbing impact on rugged terrain. In some cases, an outer layer can be added for additional weather protection, especially in wet or extremely cold environments.
By layering socks, you create a versatile system that responds to the changing conditions and demands of hillwalking. This approach not only enhances comfort and performance but also extends the life of your socks.
Trail and mountain socks
If you are tackling trails, mountains, and thru-hikes, particularly in hiking boots, approach shoes, or mountaineering B2/B3 boots, our socks offer the perfect blend of comfort and durability. They provide all-season performance, offering insulation in cold weather and effective moisture-wicking in warmer conditions.
Lightweight hillwalking socks
Liskam, are your ultimate lightweight hiking socks, perfect for multi-activity trips or everyday wear from spring through autumn. Made with a blend of merino wool, Coolmax, and Thermolite fibres, these socks ensure your feet stay warm, dry, and comfortable while you run, ride, hike, or climb.
- Crew length socks work well with approach shoes, gravel shoes or boots
- Blended merino wool with Coolmax and Thermolite provides excellent moisture-wicking, breathability, and odour resistance, making them perfect for multi-day hikes with warm, dry feet
- Sole, heel and toe reinforced with polyamide for added durability, extending the lifespan of your socks.
- Wool from certified non-mulesing farms ensures ethical and sustainable sourcing
Liskam socks combine the natural wonder of merino wool with advanced synthetic fibres to offer unparalleled comfort, durability, and performance. Whether you're tackling rugged hills or enjoying a casual walk, these socks are designed to keep your feet in optimal condition, making them the ultimate choice for lightweight hillwalking.
Midweight wool hiking socks
Our Ushbar midweight wool hiking socks, are the cornerstone of UK hiking gear. These socks are renowned for their exceptional comfort and durability. The natural wool fibre construction provides insulation and breathability, making them suitable for all-year-round use. The thicker design offers extra cushioning, ensuring all-day comfort whether you're trekking up a hill or descending a valley.
Modern technology allows us to create denser yarn structures for lightweight performance, but nothing matches the comfort and warmth of a thick woollen sock. A composition of 57% lambswool and 38% polyamide lends the best of both worlds, being durable and long lasting but with the natural performance of lambswool for insulation and breathability.
Our Ushbar socks are perfect for hikers and trekkers who value comfort and warmth in all seasons, especially early spring, winter, and late autumn. They are ideal for those who prefer leather boots and appreciate traditional outdoor performance, keeping you trekking further and longer without pain.
Cold weather mountaineering socks
These socks need to be thick, warm, and exceptionally comfortable. They are ideal for cold weather mountaineering and high-altitude trekking when using B2/B3 mountaineering boots or traditional leather hiking boots.
Talus are socks designed for cold weather, these socks are suited for mountaineers and trekkers in harsh climates. They offer exceptional warmth and moisture-wicking properties, making them ideal for winter hiking, mountaineering, skiing, and snowboarding. Talus will appeal to adventurers heading for higher peaks, such as the Alps and beyond.
