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| Post Number: 1
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DerekD 
Group: Members
Posts: 7
Joined: Jul. 2011
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Posted on: Mar. 01 2013, 10:35 pm |
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What socks would you recommend for hiking in 30-50 degrees? What about hot weather hiking, 90 degrees plus?
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| Post Number: 2
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vinovampire
Winter is Coming
Group: Members
Posts: 638
Joined: Dec. 2007
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Posted on: Mar. 01 2013, 10:47 pm |
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Anytime the weather is above freezing, I use pretty much any synthetic (non-cotton) New Balance sock.
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| Post Number: 3
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Tigger
Woods Pouncer
Group: Members
Posts: 10525
Joined: Apr. 2005
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Posted on: Mar. 01 2013, 10:54 pm |
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Smartwool
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If I'm going to be lost, in the woods is where I want to be...
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| Post Number: 4
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big_load
Group: Members
Posts: 21844
Joined: Jun. 2004
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Posted on: Mar. 01 2013, 11:08 pm |
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I wear wool socks in all conditions, mostly Smartwool, but also REI, Fox River, or Dahlgren. I worked several weeks outside in Yuma last summer (110F+ every day) alternating between the same two pairs of Smartwools that I wear down to zero and below.
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| Post Number: 5
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TigerFan
Group: Members
Posts: 2014
Joined: May 2010
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Posted on: Mar. 01 2013, 11:25 pm |
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+1 on merino wool, year-round, all temps.
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Duct tape is like the Force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the universe together.
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| Post Number: 6
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DerekD
Group: Members
Posts: 7
Joined: Jul. 2011
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Posted on: Mar. 01 2013, 11:35 pm |
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Im a novice hiker/backpacker, so i apologize, but is there a weight difference? Like smartwool offers light, mid and heavy weight cushion support, does these weights not affect insulation as well? I ask the questions because when paying upwards of $20 bucks per pair i wanna make sure i get what i need.
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| Post Number: 7
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big_load
Group: Members
Posts: 21844
Joined: Jun. 2004
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Posted on: Mar. 01 2013, 11:43 pm |
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It depends what you're comfortable with. I prefer thicker socks, especially for backpacking.
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| Post Number: 8
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Tigger
Woods Pouncer
Group: Members
Posts: 10525
Joined: Apr. 2005
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Posted on: Mar. 01 2013, 11:50 pm |
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I prefer mid-weight in summer and Expedition weight in winter. Costco sells Merino wool socks for much cheaper and if you shop around you can find off-brands that may do fine for you. It's more about the material in regards to moisture and heat management...although I still prefer to pay a bit more for Smartwools.
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If I'm going to be lost, in the woods is where I want to be...
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| Post Number: 9
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| Post Number: 10
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Owen571
Group: Members
Posts: 537
Joined: Apr. 2011
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Posted on: Mar. 02 2013, 12:04 am |
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Light or midweight Smartwool PhD or Point 6, depending on the footwear. Doesn't change with the weather, as my feet rarely feel hot or cold.
Like TigerFan said, discover Sierra Trading Post and Dealflyer coupons. I have a few dozen pair of "$20 socks" that I generally paid $6-8 for.
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| Post Number: 11
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MoonNerd
Group: Members
Posts: 58
Joined: Aug. 2011
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Posted on: Mar. 02 2013, 12:37 am |
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The above recommendations are all good. I have socks from several of the manufacturers mentioned. I would like to add Darn Tough merino wool socks. They are are very comfortable yet durable.
Our TJ Maxx carries the Darn Tough socks that apparently have cosmetic defects that I can't even see, and they are discounted. You might try your local TJ Maxx and see if they carry them, and you can try a pair to see what you think. BTW - I wear merino wool socks everyday at work and at home.
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| Post Number: 12
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DaveG
Group: Members
Posts: 299
Joined: Apr. 2005
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Posted on: Mar. 02 2013, 12:55 am |
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Let me add Icebreaker merino to the list of possibilities. They are my favorite. Midweight or heavy depending on footwear.
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| Post Number: 13
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JRinGeorgia
Group: Members
Posts: 298
Joined: Jul. 2012
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Posted on: Mar. 02 2013, 8:56 am |
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(big_load @ Mar. 01 2013, 11:08 pm)
QUOTE I wear wool socks in all conditions
(big_load @ Mar. 01 2013, 11:43 pm)
QUOTE I prefer thicker socks, especially for backpacking.
+1 on both counts.
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- JRinGeorgia
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| Post Number: 14
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QCHIKER
Group: Members
Posts: 1728
Joined: Oct. 2009
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Posted on: Mar. 02 2013, 9:26 am |
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I prefer the Smartwool socks. I used to use some synthetic ones and after trying some wool socks I use them all the time now. Darn Tough are also good. I've been disappointed with the Ice breaker ones as they seem to pill up a lot My wife just got a pair of Patagonoia ones so I'll have to see how they hold up.
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| Post Number: 15
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DerekD
Group: Members
Posts: 7
Joined: Jul. 2011
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Posted on: Mar. 02 2013, 10:37 am |
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Thanks guys for the answers and help! I was worried about getting socks that were too thick and would be too hot in the summertime, apparently thats not much of a issue with the merino type socks.
Thanks for the advice
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| Post Number: 16
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Buggyboo
Group: Guests
Posts: 1153
Joined: Feb. 2013
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Posted on: Mar. 02 2013, 11:49 am |
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Tried every sock on the planet and keep throwing them all out except one; Thurlo Hikers with wool.
Use them year round since no matter what sock your wearing in the heat of summer your still gonna sweat through your feet.
There is a store call The Sox Market in Manchester, Vermont that sell the cosmetic blems for $9.00 of pair and will UPS to your doorstep.
https://www.thorlo.com/socks/klt/883
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"I'll give you my gun when you pry it from my cold, dead hands"
Charlton Heston
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| Post Number: 17
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CenAZwalker
Group: Members
Posts: 97
Joined: Jul. 2012
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Posted on: Mar. 02 2013, 4:26 pm |
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I wear mid weight Darn Tough socks all year round. I've tried a lot of socks and Darn Tough are my favorite. In winter I usually wear a liner sock too. If you are worried about your feet getting too hot, I'd be more concerned with what type of footwear you will be wearing. If you've got burly gore tex boots, your feet will be hot no matter what kind of socks you have on.
And Big Load . . . Yuma in the summer time, automatic respect for anyone that can handle that!
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| Post Number: 18
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SmokeyBear
I know shoe-fu
Group: Members
Posts: 3670
Joined: Mar. 2009
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Posted on: Mar. 02 2013, 6:13 pm |
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Wool, anytime, anywhere. Mid-weights.
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| Post Number: 19
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tarpon6
Group: Members
Posts: 131
Joined: Feb. 2011
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Posted on: Mar. 02 2013, 7:34 pm |
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I live in Florida. When it's hot I use Wigwam Cool Light Hiker Pro quarter socks. I pretty much use these as everyday casual socks as well. When backpacking in the Rockies or cool weather I use Smartwool PhD 3/4 length. Both are Merino wool. I have some Thorlo's that are good as well. All have worked very well for me.
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| Post Number: 20
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AndyPandy
Group: Members
Posts: 246
Joined: May 2010
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Posted on: Mar. 02 2013, 9:06 pm |
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I prefer synthetic socks (wright double layers) in warm weather. Wool for anything below 60.
I did get a pair of point 6 running weight wool socks that I'm looking forward to trying out when things heat up. In fact I picked up a few different weight/height point 6 socks and think that I prefer them to smartwool.
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| Post Number: 21
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| Post Number: 22
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leadbelly2550
Group: Members
Posts: 1042
Joined: Apr. 2009
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Posted on: Mar. 03 2013, 8:34 pm |
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merino wool blend is fine year-round. i wear different weight socks with different footwear.
with mountaineering boots, i wear smartwool or bridgedale mountaineering socks. both are very heavy, very warm, very comfortable. and too thick to wear with anything except the mountaineering boots or pac-boots like sorels.
with my leather hiking boots, heavy but fairly stiff, i wear a smartwool 'trekking heavy crew,', year round, one degree less heavy than the mountaineering socks. occasionally, i wear bridgedale trekker midweight socks instead. the bridgedales are little softer due to the merino/synthetic blend they use. i have worn darn tough full cushion boot socks in the past, basically the same weight as the bridgedales. all three of these socks are excellent and will last for a really long time if you take care of them - line dry them.
for trail runners, I wear Point6 running light mini crews, merino wool, most of the time. i tried some smartwool and bridgedale lightweight running-style socks and felt they really didn't wear very well, that they were very thin, didn't offer much cushioning. i think Point6 does a better job in the thinner running sock space than some of the others. in really steamy weather where i don't expect wet conditions, i will sometimes wear Balega running socks instead. best non-wool socks i have ever worn.
with fivefingers, which i wear quite a bit these days (the Spyridon does really well on trails and rocks), injinji makes merino wool blend toe socks, i wear quarter-length. i think their wool blend socks offer superior cushioning and comfort compared with their synthetic socks. i won't hike in fivefingers without socks. with the wool socks, i have comfortably hiked in fivefingers down to about the freezing mark.
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| Post Number: 23
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Memphistiger02
Group: Members
Posts: 10
Joined: Jan. 2013
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Posted on: Mar. 04 2013, 12:00 pm |
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Sock related question, on a hike do you take a different pair of socks for everyday or just a couple? I am going on a 4 day trip and was wondering?
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| Post Number: 24
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| Post Number: 25
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GoBlueHiker
Obsessive Island Hopper...
Group: Members
Posts: 14071
Joined: Jul. 2006
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Posted on: Mar. 04 2013, 12:29 pm |
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In warm weather I prefer thin smartwool socks.
In cold weather I prefer thick smartwool socks.
Works for me.
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Wealth needs more. Happiness needs less. Simplify.
www.RainForestTreks.com
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| Post Number: 26
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| Post Number: 27
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Memphistiger02
Group: Members
Posts: 10
Joined: Jan. 2013
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Posted on: Mar. 04 2013, 1:42 pm |
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Thanks man, I wasnt sure.
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| Post Number: 28
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| Post Number: 29
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big_load
Group: Members
Posts: 21844
Joined: Jun. 2004
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Posted on: Mar. 04 2013, 2:26 pm |
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Two pairs for me. I try to keep one pair for sleeping, but sometimes I alternate them.
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| Post Number: 30
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TrailScouter
Group: Members
Posts: 17
Joined: Nov. 2012
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Posted on: Mar. 05 2013, 8:56 am |
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2 pairs of smartwool med wt. socks does it for me for the 3 seasons. I like the cushioning of the med wt. Also I always wear liner sock.
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