{"id":1334,"date":"2021-10-07T12:20:11","date_gmt":"2021-10-07T12:20:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.northwestoutlet.com\/blog\/?p=1334"},"modified":"2023-03-09T13:03:22","modified_gmt":"2023-03-09T13:03:22","slug":"hiking-socks-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.northwestoutlet.com\/blog\/hiking-socks-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Hiking Socks Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nothing, not rain, not cold, not heat, can derail a perfectly good hike as much as a pestering little blister, making every step miserable. Many hikers and backpackers assume that they come with the experience, but that is not the case. Getting blisters on your feet is common, but not inevitable.<\/p>\n

If you feel like you have tried anything to prevent blisters, tried out countless boots, talked to boot reps, questioned your hiking buddies and still hobble your way through hikes, you might have forgot the key ingredient: hiking socks.<\/p>\n

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\"how<\/span><\/div>

Best Merino Wool Hiking and Walking Socks<\/h2><\/div>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n\"darn<\/td>\n\"Smartwool<\/td>\n\"carhartt<\/td>\n\"smartwool<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
<\/th>\nDarn Tough Hiker Boot Sock<\/strong><\/th>\nSmartwool PHD Outdoor Light Crew<\/strong><\/th>\nCarhartt Man’s Force Cold Weather<\/strong><\/th>\nSmartwool Compression Light Elite OTC<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
OVERVIEW<\/strong><\/td>\nA high-quality sock that checks all the boxes \u2013 a comfortable and sleek hiking sock that will help in preventing hot spots and blister development.<\/td>\nFeaturing Indestructawool\u2122 technology, a wool-based durability construction, these hiking socks are ready for any adventure on your list. Cushioning on the entire bottom of the foot and mesh ventilation provide optimum comfort.<\/td>\nThe SUV of socks. These men’s midweight socks are made with wool-blend yarn that wicks away sweat and dries quickly. Mesh panels add ventilation, and targeted cushioning absorbs shock in high-impact areas.<\/td>\nThese over-the-calf socks offer a 10-20mmHg graduated compression rating, cushioning on the ball of foot and heel to help keep your feet alive and not fatigued. They come in men\u2019s and women\u2019s fit.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
FABRIC<\/strong><\/td>\n64% Merino Wool, 33% Nylon, 3% Lycra\u00ae Spandex<\/td>\n58% Merino Wool, 39% Nylon, 3% Elastane<\/td>\n51% Acrylic, 23% Wool, 13% Nylon, 10% Polyester, 1% Spandex, 2% other<\/td>\n52% Merino Wool, 43% Nylon, 5% Elastane<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nBUY NOW<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\nBUY NOW<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\nBUY NOW<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\nBUY NOW<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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How do socks help you avoid blisters?<\/h2><\/div>

Even the best hiking shoe cannot save you from blisters if you are wearing shoddy socks. Hiking socks are highly engineered to offer cushion, support, and comfort while reducing blisters and being durable. Primary contact points, like the ball of foot, heel, provide good cushioning. Other areas of the sock, like arch and instep, are designed to give good fit and support. A well-fitting sock helps reduce the chance of blisters while offering comfort on the trail.<\/p>\n<\/div>

Two-Pair Sock System<\/h3><\/div>

Experienced hikers swear by the two-pair sock system that includes a thin synthetic inner socks, or a sock liner, and a thicker outer wool sock. The inner sock helps reduce friction with your foot, and wicks away moisture. The outer layer absorbs the moisture and provide insulation and cushioning.<\/p>\n

The disadvantage of wearing two pairs of socks is that it can make your feet hotter.\u00a0 Heat is one of the elements which makes your feet vulnerable to blisters. Another annoyance is that liner socks can make your boots fit too tightly. \u00a0A tight fit means that you will be even more prone to blisters.<\/p>\n<\/div>

Toe Socks<\/h3><\/div>
\"toe<\/span><\/div>

If you have ever gotten blisters between your toes and know the torture, you might have considered getting a pair of toes socks. Based on the experiences, these might prove to be more than a Band-Aid solution.<\/p>\n

Toe-socks separate and cushion the interdigital space, or the space between your toes, preventing rubbing that causes toe blisters. However, they aren\u2019t any better than a normal sock for all other areas of the foot. In fact, the double layer between the toes can significantly increase bulk in the toebox and make it too tight.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

What to look for in hiking socks<\/h2><\/div>

If you are experiencing blisters despite the perfect hiking shoes,<\/a> and your feet aren\u2019t quite comfortable, you probably haven\u2019t found the right kind of sock for you. These are the six key ingredients of a perfect pair of socks, no matter whether you\u2019re skiing, hiking, trail running, mountain bike riding or doing any other outdoor activity.<\/p>\n<\/div>

1. Fabric<\/h3><\/div>

Breathability and moisture management – these are the two important features for base layers and undergarments<\/a> that depend on the fabric. Material which the sock is made of should enable wicking – drawing moisture away from the foot. It should also enable cooling, so your feet don\u2019t get overheated.<\/p>\n

The most comfortable and most recommended hiking socks are those made of Merino wool.<\/strong> They stay warm when it\u2019s wet, which is great for cold and wet weather.<\/a> Rather than draining heat from your body, the wool will keep you warm even when it\u2019s wet. In summer though, merino wool will wick sweat away from the foot, regulating temperature within the shoe and keeping your feet cool.<\/p>\n

Wool is also naturally anti-microbial, which means it\u2019s inhibiting the growth of microorganisms, especially pathogenic ones. This is especially important for a long distance hiker who is moving very fast and can\u2019t afford time to sit down and wash the socks and then wait for them to dry.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"merino<\/span><\/div>

Merino wool is quite a dense fiber, making it a good structural base for creating padding and support within the sock.<\/p>\n

Polyester and nylon<\/strong> are fabrics you will also see in socks designed for the outdoors. These are synthetic materials, but they help with wicking and are also able to dry quickly. Performance socks usually contain some percentage of spandex,<\/strong> which helps them keep their shape and fit well to your foot. There are lots of socks made with the wool\/synthetic blend, which offer the best of both worlds in terms of comfort, durability and odor prevention.<\/p>\n

You should absolutely stay away from cotton. Cotton is not a good material for a hiking sock because it absorbs moisture, it doesn\u2019t dry quickly, it is heavy and has poor insulation properties, especially when wet.<\/p>\n<\/div>

2. Height<\/h3><\/div>

The sock height marks how high the sock comes up your leg. It mostly comes down to the personal preference, but it is important to think about sock height with reference to the weather, the terrain and the type of footwear you are going to wear. Sock heights are relatively universal, and these are the most common in hiking socks, form the shortest to the longest cut:<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"sock<\/span><\/div>

Size chart by Darn Tough<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>