I’ve never used liner socks before, always just went with smartwool and never really had a problem, but I see a lot of people mentioning them in gear lists for the AT. Can anyone clue me in on whether or not they’re worth the cost/weight and some good brands/materials?
-Wyatt
Wyatt (as yet trailnameless)
I’m not sure if this is actually true, but I was told by the owner of an outfitter that Smartwool are made to NOT use liner socks.
I don’t wear two pair of socks. Liner socks are all I use. Wigwam Ultimax Liner socks. Very breathable, very durable. I wear one pair and carry two extra pair. I rinse my socks whenever possible – I try to always wear clean socks.
yogi
yogi
In the Army we would use knee high stockings as liners. they would work great for blister prevetion, light weight and cheap. I plan on using them on the A.T. this year.
Anthony
Liner socks are designed to wick sweat away from the skin. This serves the purpose of preventing blisters. I have always used them and the other nice factor is they only weigh 1.5 oz, and dry quickly so at least the inner layer is relatively dry when you put them back on in the morning.
cutman11
I have smartwool socks and I use liners purchased from Walmart for about a buck…cheapo synthetic, probably nylon. My blister incidence has been greatly reduced since the I started using them. Buy a pair or two, try them out. If they work, great. If not, toss them into a campfire…or fill them with rocks and put them in someone’s pack.
Nimblefoot
I use EMS liners only and carry a pair of smart wool for around camp during the cold months. Draggin
Draggin
Go to Wal-Mart and buy yourself some men’s dress socks. Just make sure they’re nylon/spandex and have no cotton in them. I actually saved a lot of money and just used 2 pairs of them and didn’t buy any smartwool or any of that other overpriced junk out there.
Tell it like it is
Fox river makes a great liner with a speacial thread, silver I think, that is resisent to smell and rotting. Great for a thin, stand alone sock.
Smartwools are specially designed so as to not need a liner. Using a liner with smartwools will actually impede their performance and is not recomended by smartwool. And wearing a liner with smartwools could result in prosecution and/or arrest. (okay, last part a joke)
The adrenaline model by smartwool is the best sock ever designed, give them a try.
Officer Taco
Smartwools have an inner layer sewn into them and supposedly you’re not supposed to NEED to wear liners. But since liners are there to wik more moisture, they don’t hurt. If you’re the type who tend to get sweaty feet when you hike you’ll love them, and taking them off to dry during lunch helps even more.
Only recommendation is that you either carry enough pair or you wash them on the trail. Since they suck up so much moisture, it goes that they absorb a lot of salts, too. After a long week with dirty liners, I’ve had the salts rub holes in my feet like sandpaper.
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