Running socks?

[daddytwosticks]

I hike in New Balance "all terrain" running shoes. I have been using two pair of very thin liner socks now for some time. No blisters, cool feet, and these socks are easy to rinse out and dry at the end of the day. Very lightweight too. In cooler weather, I go with a single pair of light to midweight synthetic hiking socks.

[dtougas]

Another vote for Injinji here. I hate having restricted toes, and I find a lot of socks a little constraining in the toes department. The Merrell Proterra line of shoes (which you said you are considering) uses their anatomic last (the same last as their Barefoot line), so you will have lots of room for your toes to splay in those shoes.

[Kc Fiedler]

I wear the thinnest lightest running socks I can find.
Cheap polyester works just as well as merino.
I use socks generally with NO padding, and very open mesh on top of the foot.

Defeet Wooleator is probably my favorite
Darn tough 1/4 crew mesh is OK, but a bit heavy
Thin asics running socks
even starter brand from walmart.

Roomy toes is the most important thing.

How many miles (on average) do you get out of a pair of wolleators?

[Other]

I have never been able to wear out a pair of darn tough socks. I don't keep records of this stuff but I must have worn them for 10,000 miles. always seem to lose one before they wear out, and then I keep an odd pair in my pack to sleep in. Not inexpensive but they are comfortable and wear like iron.