Hiking is an activity that requires you to be on your feet the entire time and foot comfort and health is not just about the right hiking boot. You also need to have proper hiking socks. Yes, there is a difference between sport socks and hiking socks - and it's not aesthetics. First off, good hiking socks will be thick, sturdy and comfortable to the touch. They will also be longer than most socks; they go beyond the top of your hiking boot. The toe, ankle bone and heel will be extra thick since these parts of the sock get the most wear when hiking. These areas should me smooth and ridge-free since there will be a lot of friction in these places and your foot can develop blisters. Good hiking socks are made of cotton or wool and usually blended with synthetic fibers. The natural materials will provide warmth in cold weather and allow your feet to "breath" in hot weather. Wicking is also important; wicking means it allows for your sweat to evaporate so moisture is not retained. Preventing moisture is very important since it can cause blisters, chafing and fungal infections. One hundred percent natural is not the best way to go with hiking socks. Synthetic material is usually blended with natural fibers for another reason - elasticity. You will want your socks to stay up and not slip into your boot and then under your foot. This is not only annoying but can lead to blisters and sores. Check the material label; the amount of Lycra or Nylon is usually 10 to 25 percent. Don't trade quality for price since you usually get what you pay for. Hiking socks will usually cost upwards of 15 dollars. You should hike with an extra pair if you'll be camping or hiking in snow or through wet areas since it's important to keep your feet as dry as possible. There are different hiking socks for varying climates so invest in a few different kinds if you're an avid hiker. This will vary whether you're hiking in or Colorado. As a good resource, ask fellow hikers what socks have worked well for them and which brands have not. You can also search the internet for reviews from hikers; make sure the reviews are not endorsed by a certain company or brand. There will be some trial and error since what works well for one make not work as well for you. Don't think twice about throwing away a pair of socks that don't work for you.
Now socks are socks, right? Well, when it comes to hiking, grabbing any old pair of sports socks out of the drawer simply won't work. Unfortunately, sports socks are not hiking socks and you don't want to wear the same socks that you use for jogging or playing football when you head off on a lengthy hike.
Good hiking sock need to be comfortable but they also need to be thick and very hard wearing with terrific thermal and moisture-wicking properties. Remember that, even if you are just hiking modest distances at the weekends, you'll probably cover getting on for 1,000 miles in a year and you should expect a good pair of hiking socks to last just about that distance.
Most importantly, you want your socks to provide you with comfort for that 1,000 miles. Problems such as chafing, blisters other foot damage can quickly turn a two or three mile hike back to your car into sheer agony if your socks aren't up to the job.
Good moisture-wicking is also an absolute must. 'Wicking' is a process similar to that provided by the wick in an old-fashioned oil lamp and simply means drawing sweat off the surface of your feet to keep them dry. If your socks don't do this, you will develop chafing, blisters, fungi and other less pleasant results. And, if you're worrying about bad smelling feet, this will be a minor issue - we're talking about real health problems here.
Whether you're spending a lot of time hiking, or just undertaking short hikes at the weekend, you will also need good thermal properties from your socks. In hot weather your socks have to conduct heat away from your foot and out through your boot and, in cold weather, they need to keep your feet at a comfortable temperature.
It might seem strange to think that one pair of socks could cope with both hot and cold conditions, but modern materials and manufacturing technology means that this is indeed possible today.
A good starting point when looking for a pair of hiking socks is to start with cotton, which is one of nature's materials that offers the range of attributes you are looking for. However, clever engineers have now been able to improve on Mother Nature and blends, such as Lycra, wool and others, combined with micro-geometry manufacturing, can also produce hiking socks with great support and comfort, excellent thermal control and superior moisture-wicking.
All hiking socks should also have thickened areas around the toe, ankle and heel as these are the area that will get the most wear. You should also make sure that there are no ridges, particularly near the toes or at the ankle bone. Ridges can irritate your feet as quick as a stone in your boot. Socks should also be long enough to come well above the top of your boot so that they can be folded down.
All socks will lose elasticity at the top and often folding them down over the top of the boot is necessary to stop them sliding inside the boot as you walk. Despite this fact, you should still try to buy socks which will not lose their elasticity too quickly.
Hiking socks are not cheap and you can expect to pay $10 a pair, or more, for a decent pair. Nevertheless, this is one investment that, like your hiking boots, is well worth the cost and you should arm yourself with at least three or pairs of hiking socks and always carry at least one spare pair with you in your backpack.
Both Leroy Calstard & Hiking Club are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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