Swiftwick PURSUIT seven

Our take The Pursuit Seven was a hit with hikers who faced mild winters in soggier climes. Whenever the rain let up, testers could feel the socks moving moisture. Thin strands of 64-percent merino blend are woven densely to increase surface area, and the tightly-packed fibers make for a speedy wicking process; on alpine climbs in the Pacific Northwest, we stayed dry in uninsulated shoes despite working hard. Moderate compression all around the foot kept swelling down during one tester’s rainy, 12-mile backpack on loose scree and talus fields at Ancient Lakes in eastern Washington. Downside: After a season of heavy use, our tester’s pair was starting to wear out at the heel.

Trail cred “These socks are great at holding their shape,” one tester says. “I wore them on a morning run, to the office, then out again on a post-work hike, and still reached for them the next morning.”

$22; 2.1 oz. (M); S-XL