Back in April, I wrote a review of the Hywell Merino Wool socks.
Overall, I found them comfortable but not quite durable enough for my hiking use.
Would I find these new versions, geared more toward hiking with trail runners, better for my use?
In “The Maze”
Overall, I found the newer socks more comfortable than the original version. The boot socks are a little thicker and worked well for trail maintenance and less rigorous hiking. They stayed comfortable, held up well, and I continue to enjoy using them with boots.
The crew, ankle, and quarter-length socks, however, did not fare as well with trail runners in the environment where I hike.
As with the original socks, the combination of trail runners, sandstone, dirt, and grit on the Colorado Plateau chewed them up. All the pairs except the boot socks developed wear under the back of my foot, with the material noticeably separating.
The wear occurred in a different location than I saw previously, but ultimately with the same result.
My take remains similar to my original review. These are comfortable socks, and the Hywell merino wool work socks work well with boots. The boot socks, in particular, have held up nicely for trail maintenance and general hiking.
For hiking in trail runners on the Colorado Plateau, however, they simply do not hold up for me. Boots probably protect the socks better by keeping out much of the sand and grit that acts like sandpaper inside trail runners.
Comfortable? Absolutely.
For my trail runner use and the terrain I typically hike? Not durable enough.