ADVENTURING BASICS: SOCKS
Across all of our adventures and adventurers, we've learned a LOT about how it's done and how it's done well. Let's talk about socks.
Ever gone without socks and noticed how quickly your feet get damp with sweat? It's within a few steps! Add hours, terrain, outdoor temps, and any sort of slope and you have a recipe for disaster. These tips and tricks will help you stay sock sane on your next adventure.
Sock Materials
Factors to consider for socks
Factors to consider for socks
Cotton
Pros: softness and breathability
Cons: holds moisture and dries slowly
Spandex
Pros: form-fitting, sturdier, compressive, and moisture-wicking
Cons: not as breathable, can feel constrictive, not very durable
Merino Wool
Pros: temperature regulating, moisture-wicking, durable, antimicrobial
Cons: more expensive, can be allergenic
Blends
The
Cotton
Pros: softness and breathability
Cons: holds moisture and dries slowly
Spandex
Pros: form-fitting, sturdier, compressive, and moisture-wicking
Cons: not as breathable, can feel constrictive, not very durable
Merino Wool
Pros: temperature regulating, moisture-wicking, durable, antimicrobial
Cons: more expensive, can be allergenic
Blends
The right socks for you and your trek are almost certainly made of a mixture of these materials instead of one or the other. It can be tricky to find the blend percentages on packaging, but you'll get a better feel for each component as you try out brands and types.
Factors to consider for socks
Factors to consider for socks
Factors to consider for socks
Temperature - the colder it is, the higher you'll want the wool percentage to be in your blend.
Friction & Terrain:
- Rockiness - if you're going across more pointy things underfoot you'll want more padding on the footbed of the sock
- Steepness - the steeper the slope, the more up/down pressure you'll be putting on your toes and heels. Som
Temperature - the colder it is, the higher you'll want the wool percentage to be in your blend.
Friction & Terrain:
- Rockiness - if you're going across more pointy things underfoot you'll want more padding on the footbed of the sock
- Steepness - the steeper the slope, the more up/down pressure you'll be putting on your toes and heels. Some brands have better padding in the heels and toes.
Sweat propensity: if your feet sweat a LOT, you'll want more wicking power in your socks.
Time: going out for a long trek? General rule of thumb: take an extra pair along and swap out your socks every 6-8 hours of trekking.
socks We love
Cost Impacts for Socks
Cost Impacts for Socks
Darn Tough
- Fantastic socks. Tighter around the ankle than other brands, but excellent wicking, padding, and friction comfort. The size jump between sizes is significant. For tight ankle fit resolution, you'd be better off snipping the tops than going up a size.
Columbia - more spandex in the blend than Darn Tough, but looser around the an
Darn Tough
- Fantastic socks. Tighter around the ankle than other brands, but excellent wicking, padding, and friction comfort. The size jump between sizes is significant. For tight ankle fit resolution, you'd be better off snipping the tops than going up a size.
Columbia - more spandex in the blend than Darn Tough, but looser around the ankles and great footbed padding.
Stay tuned! - more to come!
Cost Impacts for Socks
Cost Impacts for Socks
Cost Impacts for Socks
Good trekking socks can be expensive, but it only takes one outing of misery to understand and truly realize the value. Take our word for it and shell out. For a 5 day trip, budget $80-$120 for good socks. On the plus side, these types of socks are built to be sturdy, so they last for years!
Pro Tip: Try one pair of several different bran
Good trekking socks can be expensive, but it only takes one outing of misery to understand and truly realize the value. Take our word for it and shell out. For a 5 day trip, budget $80-$120 for good socks. On the plus side, these types of socks are built to be sturdy, so they last for years!
Pro Tip: Try one pair of several different brands until you find the ones that work best for you and your trek. Then, look for sales and bundles to stock up enough for your needs, especially at secondary retailers. You'll probably find you like one brand/line for shorter flatter treks, and a different brand/line for more challenging treks.