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Best Socks for the Camino de Santiago: Are Expensive Socks Really Worth It?

Darn Tough Socks are expensive, but durable and super comfortable. No Blisters!

Quality: 5/5
Durability: 5/5
Comfort: 5/5
Price: 3/5

I’ve walked the Camino 3 times now and on my most recent walk, I decided to try a new pair of socks with the hope that I could stop the shocking blisters that had dogged my first 2 Caminos. And so it was that I turned to Darn Tough socks for the 500 miles from Merida to Santiago.Camino De SantiagoWhen I received the socks from Darn Tough, I was surprised at how thick they were. They were a lot thicker than socks I had previously worn on the Camino and this worried me. Would they make my blisters worse because of more sweat? Would they dry in time at the end of the day? Would they cramp my feet in my shoes?

The first day out of Merida was only 10miles (16km), but the temperature was 97ºF (36ºC) and it was physically exhausting. I was sweating like I’d never sweated before. But strangely enough, my feet felt completely dry throughout the whole day. The socks have an incredible ability to wick away as much sweat as you can throw at them. So despite being thicker socks, they never really overheated my feet and my feet never got wet.Darn Tough Micro Crew For CaminoThe first afternoon of washing the socks was also a test of how quickly they would dry. And to my surprise, they dried quicker than my underwear. This was a story that repeated itself even as temperatures started to fall as we crossed the mountains. They’re a mix of merino wool & nylon and that’s probably the secret — great wicking and quite quick drying.  The socks always managed to dry before being needed the next day!Darn Tough Merino Wool NylonAfter 500miles (790km), I arrived in the ancient city of Santiago and the socks were still like brand new and my feet didn’t even have the first sign of a blister. Success!

What’s more, the socks today still feel like they are brand new. They fit perfectly, they stretch like they did when I first bought them, and they don’t have any signs of wear. I could easily wear these for another Camino without having to replace them. Incredible!

And that’s the great thing about Darn Tough socks. They are guaranteed for life. If they get a hole in them at any stage in their life, simply send them back to Darn Tough and they will send you a new pair. No questions asked.Socks For Camino Darn ToughThese socks are expensive. I used the ATC Micro Crew which cost $21 (check current price). But when you consider how much use you get out them, I actually think the price is quite reasonable. I also own a pair of much thicker Full Cushion socks and think they would be best for cooler weather. Perhaps a winter Camino! But for a October/November Camino, the ATC Micro Crew Darn Tough socks were perfect.

So if you’re looking for the best socks for the Camino, Darn Tough socks are my recommendation. They are worth every cent. Check out their website here –> www.darntough.com.

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