Hiking Tips: Choosing Proper Hiking Socks

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A good pair of hiking socks will perform the following functions:

Keep your feet at a comfortable temperature. A couple of factors relevant to choosing an appropriate pair of socks are the season and the climate when you will be hiking. Consider whether you will need your socks to help keep your feet warm or keep them cool.

Provide shock absorption. A good pair of hiking socks will distribute the pressure over a wide surface area, thus diminishing pressure on any one spot. Look for socks that are thicker at the heel and at the ball of the foot. These two areas are where the most pounding occurs when you hike.

Transfer friction away from your skin. Boots cause friction. And friction causes blisters. When your heels, for instance, don’t move up and down at exactly the same time as your boots and socks, you can get friction between two surfaces. When one of those surfaces is your skin, a blister can easily form. But, if you can transfer the friction away from your skin to another surface, you can help prevent blisters.

The other surface should be a second pair of socks called liner socks. When you wear a good pair of liners under your regular pair of socks, two things can happen. The friction can be transferred away from your skin to the surfaces of the liner and the outer socks, and moisture can be wicked away from your feet.

Synthetic fabrics like polypropylene, acrylic or polyester are good for wicking moisture away from your feet.

Wick moisture away from your feet. OK we mentioned wicking already, but it bears repetition. Moisture on your skin is a major factor for the development of blisters. So wearing socks, especially liner socks, that wick moisture away from the skin on your feet will help provide comfort and blister protection. Keeping your feet dry can also help prevent such problems as athlete’s foot.

Promote proper blood circulation in your feet. We talked about shock absorption above. Well, the same properties that play into shock absorption, like fabric thickness where it counts, can also promote proper blood circulation in your feet. Your feet work extremely hard, so give them plenty of energizing blood flow by providing good cushioning.

When shopping for hiking socks, look for socks that will provide these vital functions. Choose good equipment. Hike well.

by Richard Davidian, Ph.D.