View Full Version : Types of Socks
Alaskanhkr23
05-09-2009, 11:53
Whats is the best types of sock's to wear in the summer for long distance hikes?
I wear Wool socks regardless of the weather, regardless of whether or not I'm hiking.
Feral Bill
05-09-2009, 12:05
Wool socks are the secret of life. I like Smartwool.
Alaskanhkr23
05-09-2009, 12:11
yeah thats what i've been wearing, so i guess im all good then
I wear 52% coolmax socks.
garlic08
05-09-2009, 17:41
One more vote for wool, all seasons.
Only merino wool. Smartwool. I just change the thickness with weather.
volks-man
05-09-2009, 17:44
don't you fellas in the wool/smartwool sweat?
my 1 pair of smartwool socks sweat the bejezus out of my feet.... turning my shoes in to a swampy mess.
so far i wear regular cotton crew socks... but have been thinking of going nylon.
Try a polypro liner sock under wool. Yummy. My feet feel sweatier in Coolmax compared.
Chaco Taco
05-09-2009, 19:08
Darn Tough socks rock
another vote for darn tough, but they seem to be darn tough to find (hehe)
oh i guess i should give a reason too..... my smartwools are all sorts of streched out, darn toughs are still holding strong, no stretching
Chaco Taco
05-09-2009, 19:11
another vote for darn tough, but they seem to be darn tough to find (hehe)
At TD's MRO usually has a 2 for 1 deal
Linesman
05-09-2009, 19:31
Two brands that I think are superior to Smartwool are Bridgedale and Icebreaker. Check em out.
Yes, Icebreaker merino wool socks. Actually, Icebreaker head to toe, literally.
Another good brand is Drymax; the best ultrarunners use them. They work to wick the moisture away from your skin.
Only merino wool. Smartwool. I just change the thickness with weather.
Same here.
Another vote for Darn Tough (http://www.darntough.com/) socks. I got turned on to them last fall and love them!
Alaskanhkr23
05-09-2009, 23:58
Wow my sock forum is still active LOL socks are indeed awesome
Wow my sock forum is still active LOL socks are indeed awesomeThey certainly beat the **** out of blisters. :eek::rolleyes:
Alaskanhkr23
05-10-2009, 00:36
Yes i do agree ,socks are every hikers dream
slow-n-steady
05-10-2009, 06:23
Darn Tough
two pair of Wrightsocks with sewn in liners. http://www.wrightsock.com/
Rosborn88
05-10-2009, 08:53
don't you fellas in the wool/smartwool sweat?
my 1 pair of smartwool socks sweat the bejezus out of my feet.... turning my shoes in to a swampy mess.
so far i wear regular cotton crew socks... but have been thinking of going nylon.
Buy thinner wool socks. I have a pair with cushioning on the bottom and very little fabric on top. Wear them in the summer and it wicks away every drop of moisture on my feet. Totally dry.
don't you fellas in the wool/smartwool sweat?
my 1 pair of smartwool socks sweat the bejezus out of my feet.... turning my shoes in to a swampy mess.
so far i wear regular cotton crew socks... but have been thinking of going nylon.
Maybe you need to change shoes. Gortex is a vapor barrier you know :-?
Jayboflavin04
05-10-2009, 09:23
Buy good socks(I have smartwools). A good pair of socks are worth every penny you spend on them. I am sure every hiker will say they dont even look at the price tag when buying a nice pair of socks (what ever brand).
Here is another brand I like for summer: Balega "Running sock"
http://www.gotrisports.com/storefront/Insoles-Socks-p-1-c-293.html
balegasports.com
bigcranky
05-10-2009, 09:57
Smartwool Adrenaline Ultralight quarter-high.
Great tips . . . I'm going to try out the Darn Tough and Balega ones! :)
Alaskanhkr23
05-10-2009, 14:15
socks sock socks socks socks socks socks SHOES? socks sock socks SANDALS!!!!!!
Johnny Swank
05-10-2009, 16:28
I'm going to be the contrarian here, and say go for cheap polyester dress socks. Cheap, dry fast, and wear like iron.
Check it out
http://sourcetosea.net/worlds-best-hiking-socks
Ladytrekker
05-10-2009, 17:32
Smartwool $15.00 a pair but worth it
Smartwool Adrenaline Ultralight quarter-high.
I use either these or the new Smartwool model, the PhD. Definitely like those short versions.
medicjimr
05-10-2009, 17:46
walmart fruit a loom acrylic, spandex, nilon mix work socks 2 pairs $ 8.50 have wigwams to try.
LockJaww
05-15-2009, 13:19
Depends on climate and terrain. I find 5.11 level two socks in combination with Converse military desert boots work great in hot dry Arizona.
Shoe experts once told me that almost any good quality hiking sock (not a ragg wool sock) will work just fine. However, a natural fiber sock, like smartwool, doesn't stink nearly as much as a synthetic sock.
gearfreak
05-15-2009, 19:20
Bridgedale Ventum Light Hikers :cool:
Phoenixdadeadhead
05-15-2009, 20:58
I bought power socks (brand) they are a merino wool mix, I have 2 different types with slightly different mixes but I love them both
fiddlehead
05-15-2009, 21:23
Earl Shaffer hiked without socks.
That said something to me.
They are over-rated IMO.
Sure you need them when it's cold.
And they are necessary to keep the stink factor down.
But that is about all.
But, i use thin nylon socks in the summer, fleece when it's cold.
I've tried wool but like fleece better. (they dry faster and instead of shrinking, they seem to get bigger, plus i like the feel)
Also, i like to toughen up my feet by walking barefoot a lot before a thru.
Phoenixdadeadhead
05-15-2009, 21:37
Smartwool $15.00 a pair but worth it6 pairs for 21 dollars
Another vote for Darn Tough (http://www.darntough.com/) socks. I got turned on to them last fall and love them!
Thanks for the link. I just e-mailed them to find out which of their socks would be equivilent to a Smartwool med. wt. trekking boot sock.
Phoenixdadeadhead
05-15-2009, 21:42
here's the store for smartwool socks cheap http://myworld.ebay.com/nysockexchange/
Downhill Trucker
05-18-2009, 04:49
another vote for darn tough, but they seem to be darn tough to find (hehe)
Darn Tough ROCK. Campmor has em cheap.
I've been using Thorlo's the past few years and have been very happy. But I will try Darn Tough and see how they compare.
I was always a Smartwool guy until I tried a pair of Rohner Nordic Walking socks. WOW, as great as the Smartwool socks were, the Rohner's were that much better. I now carry a pair of each on trail, but I'm always wearing the latter unless they are too wet to wear.
I'll cast a vote for Smartwool
I got some at BJ's wholesale warehouse which look just like Smartwool heavyweight socks. They seem to be just as durable and use marino wool as well as some nylon for stretch. I think I paid about $ 16.00 for three pair. I read somewhere on the internet that they're made by an American manufacturer which used to make Smartwools and that Smartwools are made overseas now (of course, sometimes the "Information Highway" leads you the wrong way.
DeFeet Wool-E-Ator. Lightweight and pretty cheap at $8 a pair.
leeki pole
05-19-2009, 11:50
Coolmax thin liners and smartwool. Two pairs and change them out every day. Don't forget the Gold Bond in the morning and evening. I had a horrendous fungus infection 30 years ago and I take care of my feet. Don't forget the nails, trim them even and often. Clippers and emery board in the pack.
For liners I like Fox River X-Static
I always wear the thickest socks Smartwool makes with my boots. I don't have particularly sweaty feet. (all my sweat pours down my forehead!) I've never noticed any correlation between sock thickness and foot sweat. When they wear out a bit and get rips in the upper parts they make great around-the-house and sleeping socks.
Sometimes you can get 80% wool 20% nylon dress socks for $2 a pair or so. I got 10 pairs at winners and have been wearing them every day for past 3 months, hiking or around town. I wish I had bought more. Still good to carry a pair of medium smart wool, or heavy in winter but I find 1 medium or heavy and 2 light is enough for most trips. Knit wool socks are good for winter also, but thinner wool socks take too long to knit. Specialty items like neoprene socks or gortex or nylon or plastic oversocks are very useful in certain conditions. Sometimes a pair of extra high knee socks are cool, but it might be more flexible when hiking to cut the feet off a pair of those so you can use the top bit with some other sock. Sort of like a gator-sock. You can make them from the legs of fleece pants or skin layer bottoms also, if you wanted to convert such a pair to boxers, or if the elastic went in the waist.
Nasty Dog Virus
05-21-2009, 08:42
RedHead Lifetime Hunting Socks from BassPro Shops
88% merino lamb's wool, 10% stretch nylon, 2% spandex.
I wear them all year round w/ a wicking liner. I rotate 2 pairs when on the trail. Great thing about them is the lifetime guarantee. As soon as they start to wear out, I take them back and get a new pair for free. I'm on my 5th or 6th pair in 3 years of wearing them but only paid for the 1st two :-)
World-Wide
05-21-2009, 08:56
Whats is the best types of sock's to wear in the summer for long distance hikes?
Kinda like the rainbow ones that have seperate slots for each individual toe! :D
World-Wide
05-21-2009, 09:24
Kinda like the rainbow ones that have seperate slots for each individual toe! :D
Don't look too much into the rainbow thing!! :eek: