Keela Insect Shield hiking socks review: Comfy, durable socks with insect repellent technology

First impressions

A good pair of hiking socks is essential for any trek, keeping your feet comfortable and cushioned and avoiding any pesky blisters as you navigate the trails.

The best pairs use quality, sustainable fabrics and additional supportive sections to act as a barrier between your feet and any discomfort you might encounter. The Keela Insect Shield socks aim to do just this, with the added benefit of Insect Shield technology, which uses a specialist treatment to ward off critters in the wilderness.

Insect Shield features an odorless, EPA-registered insecticide called permethrin, which wards off mosquitoes, ticks, midges, and other pests on the trails. Unlike some insect repellents, which stop bugs from being able to smell you, it prevents biting by stunning the critters, usually causing them to die, according to the CDC.

Permethrin works as a naturally occurring insect repellent in chrysanthemum flowers, but the boffins at Insect Shield have decided to create their own. Insect Shield products aren't just treated with permethrin, but have it ingrained into their fabrics for protection until up to 70 washings, according to Insect Shield.

In addition to their insect protection, Keela's Insect Shield socks are designed to keep your feet comfortable over many miles of hiking. They're made with sustainable viscose fabrics from bamboo, designed to reduce friction and the risk of blisters. There's also extra padding around the ankle and footbed to give you all the support necessary while you trek.

Keela Insect Shield socks: on the trails

I got my hands on, and subsequently my feet into, the Keela Insect Repellent socks a few months ago, and have been putting them through their paces ever since.

I've worn my pair for many miles of hiking throughout the English spring and summer, and encountered a wide variety of different weather conditions. Here's how they got on in the wilderness:

Fit and comfort

After many miles of hard trekking, I can confidently say that Keela's Insect Shield socks are thoroughly comfortable. The mostly viscose and polyester fabric is soft to the touch and feels equally good on your feet. The padded footbed and ankle area provided some handy additional support and cushioned my feet throughout.

They've hardened a touch after a few washes, but still feel comfortable and soft while hiking.

I'm no stranger to blisters and rubbing on the trails, but I had no such issues wearing the Insect Shield socks. It's hard to know how much of this is due to their padding and viscose material, as Keela would suggest, but I can only report that I had no issues whatsoever in that area.

This pair also fits very well. I'm a size 11 and a half (UK), and found the large-sized socks felt snug on my feet, covering my ankle and a good deal of leg below my calf without becoming too baggy.

If you like your socks to ride up way up your calf, then I'd suggest getting a size up, but for a normal fit, this pair passes with flying colors.

Insect protection

I tested my pair throughout the spring and summer months over the hills and valleys of southern England, an area that's home to plenty of ticks and ants, but not the mosquitoes and other serious critters you're likely to find in warmer climates. Because of this, it was hard to precisely test my pair's insect repellency.

What I can confirm is that I had no issues with bugs throughout my time in the Insect Shield socks. Checking after every hike, I couldn't find any bites, tick marks, or other indications of insects. It's impossible to say whether I would've been bitten wearing different socks, but I certainly didn't have any issues in the Insect Shields.

Insect Shield tech has also undergone plenty of thorough testing in the lab and on the trails and is used by all sorts of brands to insect-proof their garments.

Price

At first glance, $23 (£19.95) seems a little pricey for a pair of socks, but it is, in my opinion, well worth it when you consider the prices of other top-end pairs that don't offer any insect protection.

Helly Hansen's Unisex technical hiking socks, for example, feature plenty of underfoot support and cushioning, but don't include any treatments or fabrics to repel insects and will set you back $25 (US) / £20 (UK).

You can, of course, find cheaper hiking socks, but if you're heading into an area where you're likely to encounter mosquitoes or other insects, then these Keela socks could be well worth the investment.

Also consider

Comparison table

• The best hiking socks: keep your feet comfy all year round
• The best trail running socks: comfort and support on uneven ground
• How Advnture tests products