During my up coming Easter hike I want to test some gear. I'm wondering what to do about socks.

I've got some very thin coolmax socks from Bridgedale. They are great for drying quickly and are light, but they don't cushion as much as my Bridgedale Hikers, which are much thicker and hence more comfortable.

I think of taking both to decide which i like best.

Pros thin socks:
-dry quickly when wet
-lightweight

Cons thin socks:
-little cushoning

Pros thick socks:
-cushoning
-comfrotable
-warm
-no stink (in case of my socks)

Cons thick socks:
-take for ever to dry, which sucks in a non waterproof trailrunner.

What do you hike in (thick v thin) and why?

Thanx, Eins

I've pretty much settled on 'thin': SmartWool Adrenaline Crew (size XL: 2.0 oz). I prefer that my socks dry out. I don't find the lack of cushioning to be a problem since my Montrail shoes fit so well. I also like my thick socks (especially the Bridgedales) but now I tend to reserve those for use in my ski boots, which need a bit more cushion.

Edited by Otter on 02/10/2007 19:08:16 MST.

This depends as much on your shoes and the extremes of the environment at anything else. Down to freezing, I wear polypro liner socks or Smartwool LT Micros - depending on what I get to first when digging in the sock drawer. In cool weather, I like someting a little thicker - REI or Smart wool Merino. In wet and cold, neopreme wet socks with polypro liners. Sometimes, for reasons I don't understand, the soles of my feet get tender. Then I wear something thicker than the polypros or Micros. These sock choices work with my Nike Free Trails. With Vasque Velocities, I wear socks with some more padding.

Einstein X,
I just have a thought about this.
If your shoes do not have enough cushioning then thick socks "may help".
If you do have adequate cushioning, I would go with the thinnest sock you can for the appropriate environment.

This however may not work for specific shoes, because thin socks in some shoes will leave you feet sliding around inside them which will leave to blisters.
You also don't want a sock so thin that it will wear out after a few or more days.

I would stick to a light weight hiking sock that has some type of material that helps wick away sweat.

This leaves a lot of room, but in my case, I can't stand any type of wool on any part of my body, especially my feet.
I always wear injinjies. They have never treated me wrong. Just don't buy the lightest weight versions. They are too thin and the seamless design on them doesn't hold up very well. The longer versions also work best with gators. I’ve run 103 miles with an Injinji - Asics Cumulus VIII combo with out getting even a remote trace of a black toenail or blister.
The padding on them is decent as well.

Anyone with more thoughts???

Eins

Perhaps a thin insole or half sole (for heel) in your shoe.

Wear TWO pair of thin socks. In winter I found a lot of warmth when I wore 2 polypro liner sox under a midweight hiking sock for XC skiing in bitter weather.

Eric

Hi there,

Long time since I've been here. Last month I went on my big hike for this year. The plan was to hike for two weeks through the Slovenian Alps along the Planinska Pot, unfortunately I had to stop after only one week due to a knee problem, more on that in another thread.

Anyway, I took thick socks as well as thin socks on this hike and my conclusion is definetly for the former. Eventhough my shoes were light and very comfortable, they just were more comfortable with the hick socks. I used socks from Bridgedale that are a wool/synth blend and the lack of smells was also a big pro for these socks.

Thanks for your insights and tips,

Eins

Edited by EinsteinX on 11/07/2007 12:18:12 MST.

>Anyway, I took thick socks as well as thin socks on this hike and my conclusion is definetly for the latter.

You mean the the former i.e. thick socks, right? Not latter?

>Eventhough my shoes were light and very comfortable, they just were more comfortable with the hick socks.

Thick socks is comfortable right?

>You mean the the former i.e. thick socks, right? Not latter?<

Uhm, oops, yep you're right I ment former, corrected it in my post, thnx for the remark.

>Thick socks is comfortable right?<

ABSOLUTELY!!!

Eins

When I do use thin socks, I add extra insoles to take up space and give more padding. Makes for a very cush ride.