Hiking 411 | Choosing the Right Socks

You genuinely wouldn't think so, but choosing the best hiking socks is even tougher than buying those hiking boots. There are lots of good models and manufacturers of useful boots. If you find a pair that is tough and fits well, you'll doubtless be happy. But, socks? That's difficult.

Aren't socks just socks? Not when you get down to hiking, no. Sports socks are not socks you want to wear on a hiking trip - you don't want to wear the same pair of socks that you would wear to play soccer or tennis when you set out on an extended hiking and backpacking journey.

A useful hiking sock will feel good, be thick, incredibly durable, have great thermal and moisture-wicking properties, and be faithful, loyal, and genuine. Ok, perhaps those last three relate more to your dog, but you must have good socks, in any case.

You'll probably put close to 1,000 miles on a pair of hiking socks before you're ready to toss them. That may sound like quite a haul. But remember that it's actually only about a year if you take simple hikes each weekend.

Over those 1,000 miles you want comfort. The word has the sound of luxury to it, but during a hike, comfort is important. Chafing, blisters, and other foot injuries can turn a 3-mile hike back to the trailhead into a nightmare if your socks fall apart on you.

Moisture wicking is a must. 'Wicking' means taking sweat off the surface of your foot and transferring it away from the foot. If your sock doesn't do that, you'll develop chafing, blisters, fungi, and other nasty results. Forget about bad odor here, we're talking health problems.

If you spend even a small quantity of time on hikes, you'll want good thermal properties from your socks. During the summer, your sock has to permit good conduction of that heat away from your foot where it can move out of the hiking shoes or boots. In cold climates, feet must be kept inside a comfortable range.

That socks can, in fact, achieve these two opposing goals is something of a technological marvel. Yet they do. That they do that while giving comfort, support, and moisture wicking is nothing short of amazing.

100% cotton is still a real good way to go. Nature's fabric provides all those wanted attributes. But shrewd engineers have gone past nature in certain ways too. Blends - wool, Lycra, and others - and micro-geometry have been united to give great support and comfort, superb thermal control and advanced moisture wicking.

Hiking socks should have thick areas at the toe, ankle, and heel since these are the parts that receive the most wear and tear. Be certain they don't have ridges, particularly at the anklebone or near the toes. Those can aggravate as fast as a stone in your boot. They should be long enough to go well above the top of the boot and fold down.

Even the best socks lose elasticity at the top and often folding them down over the top of the boot is the only option to get them not to slip inside your boot when you're on a hike. Still, get a type and brand that don't lose elasticity rapidly. Hiking socks are more costly than other kinds ($10 per pair or more), and you don't want to have to buy new ones every month or so.

You should own many pairs at any one time to select from - feet fluctuate in size at different periods of the day or year. You'll also require varying types for different climates and for style. And, of course, your favorites are always going to be in the laundry. Buy 3 of those.

Hiking Socks

Choosing the Right Socks