Tips on Selecting the Best Hiking Sock

Jan

Tips on Selecting the Best Hiking Sock

Adm Clothing and Style 2010-01-11

As far as hiking socks go, if you plan on doing any serious hiking, you will need two different kinds:

2. Liner socks.

One of the most important aspects of good hiking socks is making sure they are made from a wicking material. Wicking material is a type of material that draws moisture away from your skin. The only material of this type that wears comfortably is wool. Silk can also be used, but it does not last nearly as long.

It is important to choose the right liner socks, because these socks will be right next to your skin. You may use silk or nylon for this purpose, but only if you can buy new socks nearly every other hike. Polypropylene may appear to be soft enough for this purpose, but it will cause chafe if worn during any serious hiking.

The only reason not to use wool for cushioning and insulation socks would be if you have an allergy towards wool. Otherwise, it is best to wear wool socks. Polypropylene or heavy nylon socks can also be worn, but it is not highly suggested. Cushioning and insulation socks are necessary even on short hikes because they help keep your feet warm and break the impact of each footfall.

Testing is an important aspect of finding a good new pair of socks. It is better to test out new socks by walking a few miles from your home than to get stuck with painful blisters on your feet in the middle of the wilderness. You want to test new socks because hot spots that are created after a few minutes of walking will cause blisters if worn all day. You can even test new socks out in your every day walking if you have a job that keeps you on your feet for a while. Either way, testing is definitely an important part of hiking that is intended to keep you out of harms way.