How to Choose the Right Injinji Sock for You

If you’ve seen any of my “how-to” blogs or any packing list, you’ll know that I basically swear by hiking in Injinji toe socks. If you’re not convinced, here’s my blog with the 5 reasons to try toe socks.

There are so many different kinds of Injinji toe socks, different heights, weights, uses, etc. it can be a challenge to figure out exactly which socks would work for you. This is why in partnership with Injinji, I’m breaking down how to choose the right Injinji toe socks for you, based on activity, weight, length, fabric, and fit in this blog post. In the end, I also share my top recommendations!

Activity

First, figure out what activity you’ll be using toe socks for! Will you be running, hiking, cycling, going to the gym, snowboarding or skiing in them?

Personally, I use Injinji’s toe socks for all of the above. Injinji has socks designed for each of those activities.

Weight

Next, you need to figure out what weight you’re looking for. The weight means how thick the fabric is.

Injinji has socks of several weights including baselayer, lightweight, original weight, and midweight.

The weight I pick depends on the activity. My personal preference is midweight for hiking and snowboarding, and lightweight or original for running, cycling, and gym workouts.

Length

After you’ve identified the activity you’ll be using toe socks for and the weight you’re looking for, next you figure out what sock length you want.

Injinji also has several lengths, including hidden, no-show, micro, mini-crew, crew, and over the calf.

Generally, there is no right or wrong here, it comes down to personal preference, but you still want to be mindful of the activity. For example, you don’t want to hidden socks for hiking, those are more for everyday wear.

For activities like running, cycling, and gym workouts, I prefer no-show socks. For hiking, I prefer mini-crew or crew length socks. While for snowboarding, I wear over calf socks.

Fabric

You also need to choose what kind of fabric you want your Injinji toe socks to be.

When it comes to outdoor activities, always go for moisture-wicking fabrics. This is one of the top ways you’ll prevent blisters. For more on blister prevention, read through this blog post.

Injinji has several fabric options:

Merino wool – This is a very popular choice for socks among hikers and backpackers. Merino wool is made from merino sheep that live mainly in New Zealand, it’s yarn is very soft, cushiony, itch-free, highly durable, and resists odors and shrinking. It’s a popular choice because of its ability to wick and quickly evaporate moisture. Injinji has designed their own version called NüWool®. It’s made from Australian wool and it’s compact spun to increase durability and prevent itching. It also controls the temperature of your foot in addition to preventing odor and wicking away moisture.

COOLMAX® Fiber – Injinji enhanced fiber that provides superior moisture management and comfort. It’s wicking capabilities are ideal even in the most extreme conditions caused by any sort of activity.

LYCRA® – Also an Injinji created fabric, this is a premium fiber blend that enables flexibility and movement with its bi-directional stretch. The use of this fabric helps all socks retain their shape. Socks with compression have a higher LYCRA® content to aid in the recovery process.

Cotton – This is a fabric option for Injinji toe socks. This is an option for everyday socks but is highly not recommended for outdoor activities. There is a saying among long time hikers, “cotton kills” because cotton absorbs moisture and stays wet. This is the opposite of what you need in the wilderness.

Fit

To have comfortable feet, you also need to make sure you’re wearing the right size for your foot. You don’t want a sock that’s too big or too small because it can rub you the wrong way, creating blisters and be very uncomfortable.

Recommendations

For Running

For running, gym workouts, and cycling, I wear the Injinji Run Lightweight No-Show sock. For these activities, I personally prefer lightweight socks that sit right at the ankles. But this is a personal preference because I’ve been working out in no-show style socks for as long as I can remember.

For Hiking

For hiking, I wear the Injinji Outdoor Midweight Crew NuWool sock. Now picking hiking socks took a bit more effort for me to figure out what works for me. Injinji thankfully has a lot of options depending on your needs and what you feel is comfortable. For me, I prefer to wear wool socks because they’re optimal for preventing blisters and keeping your feet dry. I also like the midweight socks because they add some more cushion. The crew length is great to protect your legs from low brush and even from ticks.

For Snowboarding

For snowboarding, I wear the Injinji Snow Midweight OTC sock. I used to snowboard in thin ski socks, thinking I’d wear thin socks so my feet wouldn’t overheat. But because the socks were so thin, they didn’t moisture wick too well either and I’d be uncomfortable. Naturally, when I started hiking and running in Injinji socks, I also started snowboarding in them too.

For more, here is my review of the different Injinji toe socks that I’ve tried.