The proper hiking socks help keep your feet warm, dry and blister-free

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May 7, 1998

The proper hiking socks help keep your feet warm, dry and blister-free

By KRISTIN HOSTETTER
SPECIAL TO THE POST-INTELLIGENCER

Open up your sock drawer and take a look. Is it full of scratchy, stretched out ragg-wool tubes with holes in the toes and worn spots in the heels? If the answer is yes, it's time to upgrade. Those old ragg-wool jobs may have walked a million miles with you and seen you through thick and thin, but let's face it: they're dinosaurs.

Like everything else these days, even socks have become high-tech. And for us hikers, who depend so desperately on our feet, that's a darn -- pun intended -- good thing.

Socksprovide a number of key functions to make your feet happier and healthier: They provide cushioning, wick sweat away from your foot, keep your little piggies warm, fine-tune your boot fit and reduce friction inside your boot.

There are a number of factors to consider when buying socks. First, there's the material. Should you go with wool or a synthetic material, such as acrylic, Coolmax, Thermax or some other type of polyester?

Well, the short answer is this: Go with wool if your feet get cold easily. Wool has the best insulating ability, yet it still wicks sweat away from your feet effectively. Look for socks labeled "merino" wool, which has softer, finer fibers than regular wool. If your feet are on the sweaty side, a synthetic sock is the way to go. Synthetics do a better, faster job of wicking away that sweat.

Next check out the density of the fabric, whether it be wool or synthetic. The rule of toe is the denser the better. Turn the sock inside out and inspect all those little fabric loops. The smaller and tighter and more dense they are, the more cushioning that sock will have over the long haul. Big airy loops might seem like they have the most "cush" at first, but over time and miles, those loops will lie down on the job.

Also, check out the thickness of the socks and try them on with your hiking boots. Thicker socks are best for people with lower-volume feet, because they take up some of that extra room in the boot and prevent your foot from sliding around. You may even want different thicknesses for different boots, depending on how they fit.

Other things to consider: construction and fit. Look for flat, unobtrusive seams that won't gouge into tender, trail-worn feet. A healthy dose of elastic is a good thing, too, because it will prevent your sock from bagging or slipping.

As for fit, a sock should be a bit snug, but not so tight that it feels constricting. As you pull the sock on, make sure your heel fits neatly in the heel pocket. Then check to see if it's smooth and snug around the toe. Even the slightest bit of bagginess means you should go down a size.

Once you've made your pick and forked over all that cash, take care of your new socks. Here are a few tips:

Always wash them inside out to remove dead skin and sweat buildup where it counts.
Use a liquid fabric softener during the wash cycle, but use it sparingly! Too much can result in a slick, oily feeling, but just the right amount will keep your socks soft and cozy.
Remove them from your household dryer before they're totally dry. Hang them up and let Mother Nature finish the job.
Never dry your socks in commercial dryers -- they're way too hot and can shrink or damage the fibers.

Kristin Hostetter, equipment editor for Backpacker magazine, lives in Portland, but spends most of her time in the outdoors testing gear. Contact her via e-mail at khostetter@aol.com. For more information on gear, check Backpacker magazine's Web site at www.bpbasecamp.com

Kristin Hostetter is the equipment editor for Backpacker magazine. She resides in Portland, Ore., but spends most of her time in the wilds testing gear. For more information on equipment, check out Backpacker's Web site atwww.bpbasecamp.com.