UPDATE I have uploaded a newer, better, more complete version of the original pattern so I suggest you use that, unless you’ve already started with the first pattern

For hiking socks, the ribbing is pretty important so they don’t fall down inside your boots. Some knitters find that k2p2 is stretchier or just don’t like the twisted rib. You can totally use 2x2 ribbing for the cuff here. I think it looks a bit funny next to the 3x1 unless you have good contrast between the colours