Outdoor Footware

Cookie_Monster

I've been hiking for many year and have quite a good set of equipment. One area i haven't really looked at however is socks.

When wearing hiking boots i generally wear a fairly thick and decent pair of hiking sock and a lighter pair of sports socks under them.

this is often not the most comfortable, especially over long distances and i was wondering does anyone have any suggestions for better sock combination, or particularly good brands?

Roen

I use the Coolmax sock liners all the time if I'm going any distance in the mountains. I find them great, should be available in almost any outdoor store or online.

fergalr

this is often not the most comfortable, especially over long distances and i was wondering does anyone have any suggestions for better sock combination, or particularly good brands?

I've been using X-socks when running/racing recently. I find they dry really fast and don't cause blisters.
I tend to use the lighter sealskinz (the biking ones) when I need warmer socks. Problem with this is they hold water a bit long when wet (not near as bad as the normal sealskinz though). They always keep me warm even when wet, never had blisters.

Would be interested if anyone can recommend something warm, quick-drying, and kind to feet?

Alun

I have to say that when hiking I only wear one pair of good quality socks. I always used to do the two sock thing because that was everyone said to do back when I first started, but to be honest I always found I got blisters that way (which perversely was what this system was supposed to stop!)

As far as brands go, I think the best ones I have are by Smartwool closely followed by Bridgedale.

Evil Phil

Bridgedale would be a favourite of mine too. Haven't tried smartwool yet but I've been hearing good things.

Takeshi_Kovacs

Would the Bridgedale or Smartwool be warm enough on their own, or would you need to double up when out hiking wintry weather?

Alun

Takeshi_Kovacs wrote: »

Would the Bridgedale or Smartwool be warm enough on their own, or would you need to double up when out hiking wintry weather?

Well, the Smartwool socks especially are plenty warm enough in winter (for me, in any case). Apparently the Merino wool fibres have air pockets in them similar to animals like, say, reindeer which contributes to that.

They're also very good at wicking away moisture, and are still really nice and dry even after a good long walk in the summer when otherwise my feet would be drenched in sweat.

They don't have as many different styles and weights available (for walking socks anyway) as Bridgedale, but of the socks I have I prefer them over any of the others. They're not cheap though

dogmatix

Bridgedale are good - and i like those new "XCR" brand socks you can get in 53 Degress stores. I have only ever used just the one pair of socks while hiking, even in winter. But thats just my preference.

BeardyGit

Bridgedale all the way.

I have a few pairs of their Coolmax liners and probably about 12 pairs of their other hiking socks. I wear them everywhere, with my runners, boots, whatever.

Expensive, but some of the ones I'm still using are probably about 8 years old now, and while they're 'lighter' than they were new, they're still comfortable as hell. I completely ignore the care label and just bang them in a 40 wash and tumble dry them, with no ill effects so far for any of them.

Good socks are worth every cent.

Cookie_Monster

dogmatix wrote: »

Bridgedale are good

Evil Phil wrote: »

Bridgedale would be a favourite of mine too.

Gil_Dub wrote: »

Bridgedale all the way.

Think I will look into getting a pair or two of these, thanks for all the replies

fergalr

Think I will look into getting a pair or two of these, thanks for all the replies

Me too, thanks for the help.

kiwipower

I often wear the Bridgedale or Smartwool socks for general day wear, as I suffer from cold feet! AND Hate having sock that come off the heal or twist around the foot without holding firm.

I just think they can be a tad pricy, does anyone know of a good stockist (store or online) where you can buy around 10pairs for less than €10 each?

Caterpillar hiking socks. TK Maxx do them.

Fuinseog

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

I've been hiking for many year and have quite a good set of equipment. One area i haven't really looked at however is socks.

When wearing hiking boots i generally wear a fairly thick and decent pair of hiking sock and a lighter pair of sports socks under them.

this is often not the most comfortable, especially over long distances and i was wondering does anyone have any suggestions for better sock combination, or particularly good brands?

try seal skins waterproof sock. cost about 40 euro. army bargains has a cover for your socks, which could be good as well.


a bit premature, but come april Lidl and aldi offer good quality

Cookie_Monster

Fuinseog wrote: »

try seal skins waterproof sock. cost about 40 euro. army bargains has a cover for your socks, which could be good as well.


a bit premature, but come april Lidl and aldi offer good quality

it's alright, I sorted it about 2 years ago...