Bushwalk Australia

I'm looking at purchasing a couple of pairs of very light weight socks, at first I was looking at wool but then started to wonder why cotton wouldn't work as it is a cooler fabric, which is what I'm after, thin and cool.
Is cotton a useable material for this application?

Cheers,
Danny

Hey Danny,

Have you seen/ felt up Injinji liner socks?

Could be exactly what you are after. Great as liners but I also wear them on their own as lightweight in joggers

Cheap as on Amazon.

The cotton socks are likely to be much thinner than the wool so cooler in that regard but overall they aren't really cooler as a material.

The problem with cotton is it absorbs and holds onto water. In socks, this doesn't breath well and they tend to stay hot and wet - great for blisters and fungus! In shirts, cotton very quickly gets wet (and hot) and then freezy cold when you stop (and all that water starts to evaporate). Better to have a material that is cooler whilst active and warmer in between (e.g. the wickable polyesters e.g. coolmax).

I think the notion of cotton being good in the heat comes from hot and dry climates - as the dry air overcomes its ability to absorb and hold water. In hot and humid climates (including the microclimate in your boots or shoes) cotton is a terrible material for being active in.

So try some thin coolmax, similar polyester or quality synthetic socks instead.

The notion of wool being warm in warm weather is another strange one. I'd rather wear nice breathable merino socks on a hot day than clammy, moist, cotton.

Thanks for that, I'll go with the thinner wool socks, something like a liner sock.

I like the look of the injinji socks so I might give one of those a go in wool.

Cheers everyone,
Danny

I was told once to get some stockings (yes the ones ladies wear) and cut some socks out of them. Put them on then merino socks and you wont get blisters and your feet can breathe. I now do it for all my walks.

As a stufferer of bad blisters I am quite particular about socks! I recently got some Wrightsock cool mesh socks, they are quite thin but have 2 layers, like wearing a liner sock plus outer sock, check them out at
http://wrightsock.myshopify.com (I got mine at REI)
I haven't yet worn them for a long walk but after a few wears for 1-2 hours they seem good.

For bushwalking I usually wear a synthetic liner sock (Fox river X-Static) and a merino sock - Smartwool or Point6 light crew and this works well for me to stop blisters

walkerchris77 wrote:I was told once to get some stockings (yes the ones ladies wear)

Ankle stockings are great as inner "socks". Pack of 4 pairs for $3 at Woolies, just look in the hosiery section. Now I've said too much.

Hey Danny,

After the big favour you did me with the WM antelope bag - I owe you.

I just got 4 sets of new injinji liners size large (never worn) delivered from Amazon. I will send you over a a set to try on if size suit prior to purchase. Will gift them to you if size is right.

The other 3 pairs are coming to Nepal in 6 shifts

PM us again with address etc if size is right.

Strider wrote:The notion of wool being warm in warm weather is another strange one. I'd rather wear nice breathable merino socks on a hot day than clammy, moist, cotton.

X2

michael_p wrote:

walkerchris77 wrote:I was told once to get some stockings (yes the ones ladies wear)

Ankle stockings are great as inner "socks". Pack of 4 pairs for $3 at Woolies, just look in the hosiery section. Now I've said too much.

I never knew hikers were into this sort of thing. Guess we're a much more interesting bunch than people suspect.....

Wool wins hands (or feet) down. With fine Merino you can get thin comfortable socks which wick away moisture much better than cotton.I wear woollen socks to work in an office and to bushwalk.

beardless wrote:Wool wins hands (or feet) down. With fine Merino you can get thin comfortable socks which wick away moisture much better than cotton.I wear woollen socks to work in an office and to bushwalk.

Yep, except in the heat. I would rather thin wool than cotton, but a good thin synthetic is better again.

I like the idea of women's anklet stockings for a second thin layer - have to try that

nq111 wrote:...women's anklet stockings...

I prefer the term unisex.

I believe polypro liner socks are the only way to go to prevent blisters,I personally wear Wilderness Wear Merino Fleece all year and use Wilderness Wear Poly pro liners under them when I head bush.

+1 for Injinji socks. Used them as a liner for 7 days in the snow on snow shoes every day. No blisters, no odour and dry warm feet.

michael_p wrote:

nq111 wrote:...women's anklet stockings...

I prefer the term unisex.

Depends on how kinky you are. Lol

After someone mentioned them in a recent thread I started on socks I bought Costco brand hiking socks. They are mainly wool, made in the USA and are 4 pairs for about $17. I have walked around them in the streets and also did a 10 km day bushwalk in them and am happy.

Yes, those Costco trail socks are great. I pretty much use them as everyday leisure socks and walking on carpets. To me, socks material haven't been a significant issue except for those smelly pure synthetics. Between wool and cotton, fortunately my feet don't sweat as much as many others, I am happy as long as they are well constructed and padded. At least for general non-extreme walks.

My over sox are these. Best sox in the world IMO.

http://www.sweatersintl.com/norsocks.html

I just did about 35km in cool max liner socks and lightweight bamboo socks over the liners. I was pretty happy with the result.

I bet most these comments are from people who have never worn 100% cotton or 100% wool socks. 100% cotton are good socks.
You can get decent 100% cotton socks at lows.