Socks

F

flnder

Joined
Nov 30, 2003
Messages
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I was listening to a thing on the radio where they were talking about homeless people and socks. How glad they were to get fresh socks,how important socks were to overall health. If you couldn't walk ,you can't go to the shelters for food etc. So anyhow there are guys on here that have lived rough and guys who spend lots of time in the bush,which is kinda like being homeless. What I wanted to know is what kind of socks you guys would recommend? how many pairs? how do you keep them clean? and dry?
 
I like Thorlo. It's difficult to get away from wool with socks. The problems inherent with using wool are compensated for by the fact that it doesn't crush very well. Whilst that makes it rubbish for some other applications the very fact that it doesn't pack down as easily as other things makes it a real blessing for the feet. As we know though, wool is crap at wicking. Pure wool in Wellies or Lundhags is useful because it can lock away a good amount of foot juice, important if your boot is non-breathable. Ideal for stood still somewhere very cold then. For my use that can be improved upon. Winding synthetics into the mix adds a hugely improved wicking element. They feel dry and comfy for longer in the boot and they dry out quicker if you need to dangle them from a tree. There are other features I like about Tholo like loading upon the padding where I'm putting the most impact. I think Smartwool offer the best competition, although I like Thorlo so much I've never tried them. They are extremely popular though, I suspect with very good reason.
 
Excellent advice Baldtaco-II!
When family members ask me what I want for Christmas I ask for Thorlo socks, they are on the expensive side but well worth the money. I have spent a lifetime working on my feet, from USMC infantry to 33 years of forestry firefighting. I learned early on to take care of my feet, buying quality footwear and socks. I spent $14 last week for a pair of Thorlo "tennis" socks for hot weather (I live in Florida) to wear inside my snake boots during Spring turkey hunting season. To me, it is important to have the wicking element and extra padding when I am out walking; it might have something to do with being over 60 years-old. In cold weather I wear a thin polypropoline liner under my wool socks when doing a lot of walking or hiking.
Like the rest of your clothes, put your socks in a plastic bag to keep dry inside your gear bag. I'd suggest about 4 pair of socks for a week long trip, change every day and wash the dirty ones when you get to a water source (river, lake).
 
"Darn Tough" socks FTW!!!!

I had used Smartwool socks for years, but they wear out very fast and I got tired of replacing them so quickly. The wool isn't knit very well to the synthetic so in short order you're left with just the synthetic "stretch" shell. When I worked in a gear store, the SmartWool Rep came in a couple times a year and gave us free pairs. So those, plus what I bought, accumulated to nearly 2 dozen pairs of SmartWool's beginning in 1997. I will never buy another pair.

I agree with baldtaco's comments with Thorlo, I've found they tend to be very thick and shrink a bit too much, but have excellent padding. Like all my wool socks, I don't put them in the dryer - they go on hangers and air dry. Thorlo's don't wear-out for a long, long time and overall are great. Unfortunately, they're not as "nice" on my feet as I'd like - though I currently have 4 pair in the drawer!

My favorite socks are the "Darn Tough" sock brand. They are sooooo much nicer (softer on me toes!) to wear than the Thorlo's, but are tough like them. They're not too thick so don't have quite the padding of the Thorlo (though very close in the "Hiker" model). The Darn Tough's have excellent wool (very, very soft) which hasn't worn away like the SmartWools. They are spendy, but I learned a long time ago to take good care of my feet so foot gear is at the top of the list.
 
I prefer Wigwam merino wool socks with a synthetic/silk liner. Add some foot powder to the mix and it's the most comfy I've ever been in socks. Truth be told though, I usually hike and do my thing in a pair of Keen Newports without socks.
 
I upgraded from basic cotton to wigwams and my feet thank me every day. I'm not sure I'll ever go back to cheap socks again.... if I can help it.
 
It depends on your own feet. Me for example, whether I'm in the bush (my house is in the middle of dense forest), or I'm at work in the city, my feet sweat profusely even when barefoot sometimes. Wool adds to this problem, so if I am in cold weather with wool socks, my feet will still be cold because they will be soaking wet. My main concern always is moisture wicking material which is why I only wear Under Armor socks, while my feet still get wet they dry faster once out of my boots.
 
For hiking I wear the heaviest expedition weight wool socks I can find, with a polypropylene liner.

I've always worn wool for cool mountain work, but never appreciated it so much as the years spent working in the Southern New Mexico desert. The polypro kept my feet reasonably dry, and nothing maintains cushion when soaking wet like wool does. "But don't your feet get hot?" When the air temperature is 115 and you're hiking through sand dune blowouts, your feet are as hot as they're going to get anyway. At least my feet stayed reasonably dry and padded.

I've come to like wool so much that my daily wear socks are now Merino wool, bought them cheap at Sams club. Label says "Omni Wool."
 
I've tried Thorlo socks but couldn't do it. They feel plastic-y and give my feet a burning feeling.
 
This is a topic that interests me greatly!

Socks I approach like any other technical gear in the woods. When in the rough, I prefer a high-tech, breathable, moisture wicking base layer, like coolmax or some other thin sock, over that I like wool, if needed, for warmth. I suppose any high-loft, crush resistant material would do, but the fact that wool continues to insulate well, even when wet makes it a superior choice for the feet (which are prone to wetting more than other parts of the body). For a waterproof layer, I prefer it be built into my boots (gore-tex) or by using rubber galoshes/overboots.

The drawback to wool is that it tend to hold water and takes a long time to dry out. I think, for the homeless that may not understand the important connection between moisture and hygiene, it may not be the best choice in material. I think dryness would be more of a concern for the homeless than warmth. Afterall, there are a ton of insulating materials that can be found to wrap around the feet in a jiffy to protect the feet during a long, cold night if you are on the street, but it might be harder to keep the feet dry and free of fungus/infections. Just my thoughts, as I am no expert on the logistics of being homeless.
 
Bob W said:
I've come to like wool so much that my daily wear socks are now Merino wool, bought them cheap at Sams club. Label says "Omni Wool."
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Bob, Merino wool is great for daily wear in a thin-weight sock, but you should really try alpaca! It my favorite! I have a few pair of dress socks in alpaca, and they are wonderful!!
 
sharpandsafe said:
This is a topic that interests me greatly!

Socks I approach like any other technical gear in the woods. When in the rough, I prefer a high-tech, breathable, moisture wicking base layer, like coolmax or some other thin sock, over that I like wool, if needed, for warmth. I suppose any high-loft, crush resistant material would do, but the fact that wool continues to insulate well, even when wet makes it a superior choice for the feet (which are prone to wetting more than other parts of the body). For a waterproof layer, I prefer it be built into my boots (gore-tex) or by using rubber galoshes/overboots.

The drawback to wool is that it tend to hold water and takes a long time to dry out. I think, for the homeless that may not understand the important connection between moisture and hygiene, it may not be the best choice in material. I think dryness would be more of a concern for the homeless than warmth. Afterall, there are a ton of insulating materials that can be found to wrap around the feet in a jiffy to protect the feet during a long, cold night if you are on the street, but it might be harder to keep the feet dry and free of fungus/infections. Just my thoughts, as I am no expert on the logistics of being homeless.
Click to expand...

At least wool ain't cotton. :o
 
Bob W said:
For hiking I wear the heaviest expedition weight wool socks I can find, with a polypropylene liner.

I've always worn wool for cool mountain work, but never appreciated it so much as the years spent working in the Southern New Mexico desert. The polypro kept my feet reasonably dry, and nothing maintains cushion when soaking wet like wool does. "But don't your feet get hot?" When the air temperature is 115 and you're hiking through sand dune blowouts, your feet are as hot as they're going to get anyway. At least my feet stayed reasonably dry and padded.

I've come to like wool so much that my daily wear socks are now Merino wool, bought them cheap at Sams club. Label says "Omni Wool."
Click to expand...

Thanks for the Sam's Club tip.
 
Thorlo's with Coolmax are all I wear hiking and backpacking. They breathe well, wick moisture and don't hold onto to stink. They are also easy to rinse and quickly dry out tied to my pack. Two pairs easily get me through a week long backpacking trip.
 
I recently bought some "teko" brand socks and am very impressed. Made in US, so closer to home. I have been wearing them for everything from hunting, hiking, skiing and daily use, will definetly buy more. When I bring an extra pair I put them in a small zip lock bag.
 
Wigwam merino hikers ,when out and about I carry a couple of spare pairs in my pack.Being diabetic good foot care is a must
 
Am I the only one who wears plain cotton socks :rolleyes: ... I have the swedish army 100% wool socks that I think are the best I ever had. My problem is that my feet get way too hot. I did try to use diffrent brand of wool socks but they were just too hot for me. When going backpacking I would always carry one spare pair of wool socks in case it gets cold. Cotton socks served me well for all those years. I'm sure living in SO CALI does make some diffrence compare to living in a colder climate. Or it could be that I tend to over heat easy when moving around. I also noticed that when most people are cold and put on jackets, Im still hanging around with a t-shirt and shorts..

Sasha
 
sasha said:
Am I the only one who wears plain cotton socks
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My feet sweat a lot, and cotton just gets soppy wet. I do wear white cotton socks though with athletic shoes - they get stinky and I can wash in hot water and bleach.
 
My feet get hot too and I highly recommend liners in conjunction with foot powder. I won't wear wool socks without both.
 
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