Hiking Socks - What You Need to Know

When it's time to go hiking, one of the most critical pieces of gear that is most often overlooked is that of hiking socks. It may be hard to believe, but it's true; good hiking socks are every bit as important as good hiking boots. Overlooking the 'lowly sock' could be highly detrimental to the enjoyment of your hike, whether it be a day hike or a multi-day trek. Everything else may be just right and the best gear, but if your feet are miserable, you will be miserable, it's as simple as that.

Because there are a number of different types of hiking socks from which you can choose, it's important that you select the right one for your needs. If you've made the wise choice to invest in socks specifically for hiking, it would be a real shame to get the wrong kind of hiking sock!

So, how are you going to go about selecting the best sock for you? Let's take a look at a few variables.

There are a number of different materials used to make good quality hiking socks (or other outdoor activity socks, whether it be hiking, skiing, snowboarding or snowshoeing). The first thing to keep in mind is that you do NOT want to get 100% cotton socks for these activities.

Cotton, while very comfortable for day to day wear, is not good for active wear as a sock right up against your skin. The reason for this is that it is not good at 'wicking'. Wicking is the the act of pulling moisture (sweat) away from your skin and to the outer layers of the fabric. By doing this your skin stays dry and comfortable and the moisture is more easily evaporated. Another downside of cotton is that it dries very slowly when it gets wet.

Another fabric that is much better for a hiking sock is wool. Like cotton, wool is a natural fiber, but it has more cushion to it, it is able to wick moisture keeping your feet dry, and it has wonderful thermal properties in that it can help keep your feet warm in cold weather and cool in warm weather. One of the downsides of wool is that it can be itchy against the skin. Also, once it does get wet, while it doesn't lose it's insulating properties, it does take a rather long time to dry.

Synthetic materials are a third option. They usually have the same positive traits as natural wool, but they are far less itchy and they are able to dry a whole lot faster than wool.

Finally you have silk. Silk is extremely soft and lightweight and has very good wicking qualities, however it is far less resistant to wear and tear than a synthetic wool material. Because of this, silk hiking socks are often used as liners; against the skin and under heavier weight, more durable wool or wool/synthetic socks. Having this extra layer can also help protect the feet against the formation of blisters.