In this era of technical gear and apparel, socks continue to advance along with all of the hiking gadgets we have come to love. In the technical sock world, Swiftwick continues to develop new comfy and functional layers for our feet, and have a new line specifically for hiking: Swiftwick’s Pursuit Hike socks! (Previously, I reviewed the Swiftwick Maxus and Swiftwick Pursuit Four socks.
I’ve been testing the Swiftwick Pursuit Hike socks (Light and Medium Cushion) for a couple of weeks. Swiftwick’s new Pursuit Hike line comes in four cushion options: Ultra Light, Light, Medium, and Heavy. Eventually I would like to try out the other two cushion options, but for now, let’s focus on the Light and Medium cushioned socks!
Review:
Both the Light and Medium Cushioned Pursuit Hike socks are comfortable. Similar to other Swiftwick socks I’ve worn, the fit is excellent. It is just snug enough to provide support and prevent the bulkiness that causes pesky blisters, yet cushioned enough to feel very comfortable.
I wore both pairs on a variety of hikes recently, ranging from local walks on uneven terrain with trail running shoes to more strenuous hikes with a bit of rock scrambling (always a great way to test for blisters!). Both pairs performed extremely well, and I found the Medium Cushion Pursuit Hikes to be better for my regular type of hiking activity. I would guess that the Heavy Cushion would be adequate for use with backpacking boots, and the Light Cushion was perfect with my trail running shoes. However, the Light Cushion pair I sampled was crew length, so if they develop an ankle length version of the Light Cushion and Ultra Light socks I’d likely get more use out of them.
Specs:
- How to Buy Swiftwick Socks: The Swiftwick Pursuit Hike Six are available at Amazon or Swiftwick.
- Price: $21.99 for Light Cushion, $23.99 for Medium Cushion
- Materials:
- Swiftwick Pursuit Hike: Light Cushion – 63% Merino Wool, 18% Nylon, 15% Olefin, 4% Spandex
- Swiftwick Pursuit Hike: Medium Cushion – 69% Merino Wool, 15% Nylon, 13% Olefin
Happy trails!
Treat Your Feet Right! Hiking Lady’s Tips:
Good reading. I did not know hiking socks had advanced this much. I love the conclusive information you have given here.