Hiking Socks?

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william O

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Feb 5, 2009
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Just bought a nice pair of hiking shoes (Merrell Moab Gore Tex) and I'm interested in getting some good quality hiking socks. To date I've just used cotton socks. Any recommendations? Will it really make a difference over cotton? Thanks! William
 
Yes - Here is what I do - and I LOVE this set up - in hot weather and cold.

1) Get a pair of 'silks'. These are simply socks that act as liners. They are made from synthetics that allow sweat to wick away from your feet and keep them dry. This helps a TON with blisters, cold, or hot feet. FAR superior to cotton.

2) Smart wool socks on top of the silks. They are thin, keep your feet warm, cushioned, and dry. Even if they get soaked from sweat and it gets cold - the wool keeps your feet warm. In the summer - they do not get too hot.


TF
 
SmartWool or any other merino wool blend socks that cost about $15 or so are really worth their weight in gold when you're hiking. With liners like Tal mentioned, you're golden on the trail. I use synthetic liners, but silk are supposed to be excellent too.

Nearly all of my socks (even dress socks) are merino wool socks. My current sock collection probably costs more than my Arcteryx backpack, but I wouldn't go back to cotton socks for anything. I ask for them for my birthday and christmas and whenever Eastern Mountain Sports has a sock sale I stock up.

Do it and treat your feet right.
 
I have almost fully ditched cotton from my clothing(T-shirts still cotton)

I like the natural silk liners best, but they are expensive and synthetic ones work just as well for me, they just aren't as comfortable.

I prefer Smartwook Hiker lights as they give cushion but don't feel like my feet are suffocating.

REI also makes great socks that are 5-10$ less than Smartwool

Darn Tough socks, I only have one pair because they're pretty hard to find(for me anyway) but they are amazing
 
I have the Thorlo Light Hikers made with Coolmax. I have tried the liners in the past with poor results. They never are comfortable for me. I don't know if I walk funny or what, but with liners everything always gets twisted around and I am miserable. YMMV.
 
Most of the time, I wear sandals, so no socks there.

But when I do, for whatever reason, end up wearing socks hiking, I usually do one of two things:
warmer weather; thin synthetic dress type socks. These don't hold any moisture and keep my feet quite dry.
colder weather; thin socks with a pair of heavy winter socks over top (sometimes two pair of heavy winter socks over top). Wigwam, EMS wool blend, etc.
 
Actually I found these pairs of very thin merino wool socks at the local flea mkt for 4 bucks a pair.

Wore them backpacking and they worked fantastic so bought about six more pairs:thumbup:
 
Get yourself a couple pairs of smartwool light hiking socks.
My wife and I love them, they are all we wear for hiking and backpacking.
 
all you need to know is wool. Merino wool midweight hikers are good for summer and winter, wicks sweat away from your feet, prevents bacteria buildup in your shoes and your feet. also very cushiony and comfortable, and they last FOREVER. I can wear out a pair of underarmor cushioned duty socks in a single backpacking trip, they are cotton. I have worn the same pair of merino wool socks for 10 days straight while putting on almost 150 miles and they are still good to this day-they were the Columbia midweight hikers, 10 dollars. North Face also has a lifetime guarantee, they will exchange for a brand new pair no questions asked.
 
I remember back when I started backpacking everybody wore thick wool socks and heavy leather boots and seldom did I not come back without tons of blisters.

Then came lightweight boots and these thin socks and no more blisters.:thumbup:
 
costco sells 4 packs of 70% merino wool blend outdoor socks for 12$ or so. great work and play socks at the price of one pair of "name brand".
 
Another recommendation for "Smartwool". No problem to machine wash and dry.
 
I still prefer wearing thicker wool socks, even with a comfortable pair of boots. Just works better for me. Liners are a must also, even with the Smartwool socks.
 
Thanks guys! I love this forum. I can do some pretty good reasearch on the internet for something like this, but there doesn't seem to be any place better for getting good, common sense, solid, unbiased advice from you folks that have actually lived with this stuff. Thanks to all! William
 
Thin, synthetic liner socks under merino hiking socks is a great combination like everyone says. But if it's hot out, look into getting Wrightsocks. They make two-layer socks (liner is built in) and they're less bulky overall. I like wearing their running socks with my hikers.
 
I use Smartwool for work, play and all outdoor activities. I have had pairs last as much as 4 years of continual rotation with 3 others.
 
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