How many socks?

imported
#1

i’m starting an AT thruhike in march. anyone care to debate whether i should bring 2 pairs or 3 pairs of socks? i’m wondering if a third pair is good for camp only, or is it overkill?

bts

#2

3 pairs. two hiking sox, good quality. one sox liner. The second pair of hiking sox is your sleeping sox, town sox, and spare sox when the first pair is wet or dirty beyond use.

swamp fox

#3

I personally went with 3 pairs plus pain of liners. I had the expedition weight smartwools stored in the foot of my sleeping bag to use only at night in my bag which garunteed they would be dry for sleeping. That left me 2 pairs for hiking. I think taking care of your feet in the begining of your hike, even if that means carrying 1 extra pair of socks, can be crucial…They are your wheels…After the cold nights end, you can go to 2 pairs for just hiking…wont need any at night…

Catch Up

#4

On my February and March starts, I carried and switched between two pairs of walking sox (Smartwools, lightweight) and went to sleep with a dry pair of fleece Acorn sox. Once my feet were warm I’d fall asleep and usually kick the sox off sometime during the night. In a pinch, and if I ever needed to, but didn’t, I could have walked in the Acorn sox too.

I didn’t switch to the other pair of Smartwools until the first pair was “stand on it’s own dirty” or sopping wet which would result in heel blisters for me. Like Catch Up said, once it warms up, you can get rid of the sleeping sox. But then there are those that always have warm feet and never need a sleeping sox no matter what the weather.

MrsGorp

#5

Wearing a dedicated pair of sleeping socks can go a long way toward keeping your sleeping bag clean. The same goes for dedicated camp clothes.

A dirty sleeping bag can be a cold sleeping bag because nsulation loses loft as oil accumulates.

Washing your bag in a trail town can be both time-consuming and problematic, especially if it’s down. You need a large volume horizontal axis machine, or you risk tearing the internal baffles, and such washers aren’t always available in small towns. Plus, down bags can take hours to dry at low temp. You can’t really hurry the process or you risk melting the fabric, never mind damaging the down. I found that many machines in older laundromats run really hot, even at the lowest setting. If you’re not patient about making sure the bag is completely dry, compressing damp down can permanently damage loft. There’s a lot of room for error in a low-quality laundry facility.

Just something to consider…

Chipper

#6

I sure do agree with Chipper. (How are you gal?) But, I think it’s worth the bit of extra weight to always use a bag liner as this keeps your bag clean! Silk is usually the lightest. If it’s too hot, you can sleep in the liner on top of your bag. Just MYHO…:tongue

I took 3 pairs of Smartwool sox and 2 liners…one was for sleeping or town use.

Lady Di

#7

I used 2 pair Smartwool with liners for hiking and one pair smartwool for sleeping and town. It worked well for me. I kept the extra set on the top of my pack so they were handy. If it was really warm and my feet were wet from sweat or damp from puddle stomping, I would change about noonish to keep dry feet. Hanging socks outside pack (when not raining) gives them a chance to get dried out a bit before the next day. This is a popular topic and lots of people have lots of ideas. Most important is that many people come off the trail due to foot problems and socks play a big role making life better on the trail. Once you start your hike, you can fine tune your gear. Good luck on your hike.

Limestone

#8

I did and continue to do precisely what Mrs. Gorp mentioned. Two pairs to hike in (your preference) and a fleece pair to sleep in. Warmer months the fleece pair is sent home. And as Chipper also mentioned, I had a dedicated set of sleep clothing which I believe saved on the smell factor for my bag and me. I have never used a silk liner of any kind, it sounds very bunchy and annoying to me trying to roll over. I also have mostly down bags too, and Chipper is correct there, I never washed them on the trail, it’s a half day affair at home and has to be closely monitored.

Bluebearee

#9

what’s this theory of keeping your bag clean? never heard of it. still think that’s pretty much impossible. and even if the feet are clean, everything else makes it dirty. mine’s a wreck.

three socks is about right, it is very helpful to have sleeping-only socks when it’s cold. sock liners to start is nice to help prevent blisters–you know, develop 7 instead of 10.

i ditched my liners once it got warm because i was calloused up. in summer a third pair would have been nice because you’re sweating so much from the heat. a couple times i developed salt blisters because i couldn’t switch out socks often enough.

0101

#10

I agree that keeping your bag clean is a good idea. I had a pair of silk long johns that I used as sleeping clothes and wore my liner socks to bed as I never used them for hiking.

I also agree that taking care of your feet is one of the most important things to consider at the start of your hike.

So, if your in doubt, bring an extra pair of socks and send them home or leave them in a hiker box if you don’t need them. One of the great pleaseres to be found hiking is putting on a nice pair of clean dry socks in the morning.

I’d recommend 3+ 1 set of liner socks to begin with.

JalanJalan

#11

You know, you really don’t need socks to hike the Trail. Free yourself of the dilemma of how many pairs to carry. Go “soxless”.

Here’s a tip: when you ford a stream, take those socks OFF, keep them dry, walk in your trailrunners until the boots dry. :eek:

MrsGorp

#12

i carried two pairs of liners… one on my feet and the other usually drying on my pack… I often switched them during the day if my feet got sweaty…

aswah

#13

I found that three pair of wool socks (usually Smartwool, although they don’t last like they used to) was the right number for me. The weight of an extra pair of short socks with trail runners is small (about 2 oz.) and the benefits of another pair to keep your sleeping bag clean and to have a nice clean pair when you want or need them is a pleasure!

Flash

#14

Ok, here’s what worked for me. Smartwool adrenaline were my sock for the AT and the PCT…although I went through many, many pairs. On the CDT (just thru hiked Oct. '07), Greyhound turned me on to some Darn Tuff (brand name) wool socks that kick butt! I mean, I could wear a hole in new smartwools in one day coming out of towns! The Darn Tuff, never did get holes, just wore thin after 400-500 miles …on one pair! They are Darn Tuff. Believe me, all you need is two pairs of Darn Tuff wool mini crews and you should be set for several hundred miles(at least)! One pair for hiking and the other for sleeping. I always used the sleep socks the last day before going into town and then switched them up when leaving town. I personally would not waste my money on the Smartwools anymore. Sorry Smartwool die-hards but facts are facts! Some people think that liners are the bomb but they didn’t work for us and it’s just more to carry and keep track of. Your feet will probably suffer a bit starting out until the calluse builds up but that’s thru hiking!. I believe that if you are prone to blisters, there is little chance that liners will prevent them entirely. They are just another layer to keep your feet wet longer. The important thing is to go light… there is absolutely no reson to hike the AT or any other long distance trail in the US (in normal season) and have a base weight grerater than 10 lbs. The kindest thing you can do for your feet is get the weight off! If you want some advise on gear I will gladly help. Good luck bts!

John

#15

and in my opinion there is no reason to wear any more than just liners… 2000 miles on one pair… never had a hole… Yes, there actually is a reason to carry more than ten pounds base weight… it is called enjoyment of life… ten pounds might be great for you but for me it wouldn’t work…

aswah

#16

Wow, John. You’re the only other person I’ve heard talk about wearing holes in a brand new pair of Smartwool Adrenalines in one day.

I did that on some stretches of the PCT with monotonous regularity, but I atributed it to the soil (harsh and volcanic), and the fact that I was wearing Chacos. The Adrenaline mine crews were the only socks I could find that didn’t “quit” with my sandals (meaning slip down and end up flapping around my toes). Wearing them out that quickly got pretty darn expensive, though.

I’ll have to look into the brand you suggested.

Chipper

#17

3 Pairs were the magic number for me on my 07 Thru-hike. I also had 3 pairs of liners. Alternate two pair and keep the 3rd for an emergency or for that last day when you pull the big miles into town. Night one take off you socks and turn them inside out. Lay them on your food bag if it is in your tent to help mask the smell of your food. Night two turn day 1’s socks right side out and turn day 2’s inside out. again lay these out over you food bag or pack.

Morning day three you will find day 1’s socks nice and dry so put them on and repeat the process. The 3rd pair are your back up in the case of days of rain you can add them to the mix or use them to sleep in but I would just keep them clean until you know you are going to do laundry.

The first 3 pair lasted to Massachusetts/Vermont. The liners lasted all the way. I like the EMS extra heavy mountaineering socks. Smartwools had a funny toe seam that causes me blisters.

Iceman

#18

thanks for all the info. i’m gonna start with three pair and maybe get rid of one. i’m gonna field test some Injinji’s in the coming months and compare them to Smartwool.

bts