View Full Version : Socks!
kayak karl
03-05-2008, 05:48
what socks do u use. does it depend on the shoes u r wearing? this is for a thru.
minnesotasmith
03-05-2008, 06:41
what socks do u use. does it depend on the shoes u r wearing? this is for a thru.
Heavy-weight Bridgedales. Cost like $18 a pair, and worth it.
Lone Wolf
03-05-2008, 07:39
Darn Tough socks from Vermont. best socks out there
Kerosene
03-05-2008, 10:29
Usually SmartWool medium- or light-weight hikers. For me, liners are even more important, as my feet sweat profusely. I carry 3-4 pair of lightweight (< 2 oz) liners on a hike, with 2 pair of heavier socks, rotating the liners more frequently to at least give the impression of dry socks. I use the Injinji (http://www.injinji.com/tetratsok/outdoor_c.htm) toe-socks to avoid toe blisters, plus I bring one or two pair of the Fox River X-Static (http://www.rei.com/product/642937?vcat=REI_SEARCH) socks, which dry faster than anything else I carry.
I too use smart wools. I also use liners. I think one thing that worked for me was that I had camp socks and hiking socks. I would hike in the same pair of socks and liners and when I would get to camp or shelter I would put on my dry ones . It was so nice. Then I would try to dry out the socks I had been wearing all day if I could. It did suck putting wet socks back on in the morning but I would get over it pretty quickly.
fiddlehead
03-05-2008, 11:26
Fleece socks when it's cold, cheap nylon, thin socks when it's not.
I always keep a pair of fleece socks dry in my pack for sleeping.
Thoughtful Owl
03-05-2008, 11:50
Light weight smartwool socks with liners. I have yet to get a blister and helps keep my feet dry.
Old Grouse
03-05-2008, 11:54
Another vote for Cabot's Darn Tough Socks from Vermont. Made in Vermont and he swears he'll keep it that way!
Thor-Lo's for me. The things are practically indestructable. I use Hikers for cooler weather, and the Coolmax version for the warmer weather.
Tennaseevol
03-05-2008, 11:57
Another vote for Cabot's Darn Tough Socks from Vermont. Made in Vermont and he swears he'll keep it that way!
Ditto...
http://www.injinji.com/
these socks are wonderful
whiterockjock
03-05-2008, 12:18
I second the Injinjis....toe socks and Chacos! Cant' be beat for on an established trail!
Thorlo Hiking socks. I wear them everyday at work, too. Very comfortable. When hiking, I use a polypro liner.
humunuku
03-05-2008, 13:12
Darn toughs are my favorite
Freeleo beat me too it, I love toesocks!
Being prone to blisters between the toes (and not anywhere else) I have found them indispensible! I wear them as a liner sock under a smartwool hiker sock. I have talked with some others who wear them alone and find that they work just fine for them.
FanaticFringer
03-05-2008, 18:12
Darn tough....D..n straight.:D
Smartwool - no liners.
Haven't tried Darn Tough yet. They must really be something.
Old Grouse
03-05-2008, 20:36
Here, read up on 'em. http://www.darntough.com/weknowsocks.html
Smartwool Adrenaline LT's for all but extremely cold conditions... no liners. I've never had a blister, but I do wear trail runners.
EMS has a buy 3 get 1 free deal on socks. Darn Tough and others.
http://www.ems.com/
Squeeze reminded me of a thing at REI (I think)...
Buy 3 of anything get 10% off? Someone will have to check that tho...
I have two pair of Ingenious that have about 800 miles on them and still look new.
Feral Bill
03-06-2008, 21:45
Costco Smartwool clones. We call them dumbwools. They are the weight of light hikers, comfortable, and wear well in day to day use. 4 pair/$10. For a long or hard trip I'd go genuine Smartwools.
kayak karl
03-06-2008, 22:11
THANKS for the advice. going out this weekend to shop. BUT i broke my toe last night. the little piggy next to the big toe. im so mad. when i was 4 i always said "I'm mad, gonna tay mad" just how i feel now, got 11 weeks before i leave on thru. should heal by then. :(
vonfrick
03-16-2008, 10:20
http://www.injinji.com/
these socks are wonderful
i concur. i just bought their liners and my god! happy feet! :banana
With boots and hiking shoes, mie-weight to heavy wool. With trail runners, in summer, light-weight low-top wool.
Never anything but wool.
Frau
MID-weight, that should read.
Sorry
Didn't pay attention to ppsting brand names. Here goes:
My current favorites are great, cushiony, pink wool socks from WalMart bought this fall. I would buy 10 more pair like them if they were still on the shelf.
I have several different weight Smartwool. WigWams are disappointing. My great low-tops, for trail running, are wool Tevas. I have one pair of Bridgedales, knee-hi skiing socks, that I wear in cold weather.
I have had SOME WalMart wool socks that are not comfortable at all. These pink ones are terrific, though, and only $5/pr.
Two Speed
03-16-2008, 11:17
Smartwools. Recently caught a hint from Phreak and tried their Adrenaline socks, and like them very much. Still keep a pair of "expedition" weight socks in my clothes bag, but they're primarily for wear in camp; don't wear them while hiking very much.
Gotta try the Bridgedales and some of the other brands mentioned here. I like Smartwools, but they're too cotton pickin' expensive.*
*Yeah, that IS a bad pun, isn't it? :D
I used these Dr. Scholls socks for 5 of the 6 months I was on the AT on '06.
http://www.drschollssocks.com/health.html
The package states they are "Diabetes and Circulatory Health Socks."
Odor Resistant, 46% Acrylic, 46% Coolmax poly, 7% Nylon, 1% Lycra. Two pair - $9.50. (After a few days on the trail, you can forget about the Odor Resistant part!)
These socks are lightweight, easy rinse, fast dry, fairly easy to replace at (sorry guys) W-Mart. They are available in the usual styles and all sizes including Men's 13 - 15. Loved em!
I also carried a pair of Smart Wools for when temps dipped (heels wore out after about a month) and silk liners.
Count me in for the Injinji's. I use these while running too. Love them!! And...ditto to them working great with chaco's.
I love socks, it's like crack to me!! I mostly have smartwools but have also tried thorlos, wigwams, and some no-name ones I got at sams.
For work and everyday I usually wear one of the smartwool adrenylin series. Campmor had some on sale for 7 bucks last week, it might have only been the womens style. The lightwt ones have an amazing amount of padding on the bottom. I mostly wear the ultralights. I also like the lightweight hikers. I have some heavier socks but rarely get a chance to wear them.
I was told that smartwool is now calling the adrenyln series the "PHD" series. They have so many different styles it's hard to keep up with them.
My strategy is to get several pairs in the same color and style. That way if I misplace a sock I can still have matching pairs. Sometimes they quit making a style.
Most of my thorlos are heavy but I have one pair of shorter lighter crews. I really like them, I don't know why I don't have more of that brand.
Those tough vermont socks sound intriguing.
timcar86
03-19-2008, 21:15
Darn Tough.
Best. Socks. Ever.