Can wearing two pairs of socks make you more comfortable while hiking? Better protection from blisters on your feet?
We often hear two voices:
Wearing two pairs of socks while hiking helps prevent blisters, control odors, keep your feet warm, and help absorb moisture from your feet.
Alternatively, wearing two pairs of socks may be too tight, leaving your feet too hot, or may not fit on your hiking boots or shoes.
If you're trying to decide whether to wear two pairs of socks or just one on your next hike, knowing the following can help.
First, the most important reason to wear two pairs of socks:
The biggest reason hikers might want to wear two pairs of socks is to prevent blisters, and your feet will really feel the benefits, too.
Blisters occur when the skin of your foot rubs against shoes or socks for too long. The more this chafing happens, the more irritated your skin becomes, and it can go from a slight redness to a blister or even an open wound.
In some cases, even high-quality socks with the wrong shoes, getting wet or getting sand in the shoes can cause blisters.
Because of this, some hikers choose to wear a smaller, thinner pair under their regular hiking socks, adding this thin layer of socks to help protect your feet from friction and blisters forming.
There are also special lined socks, which are specially designed to reduce friction, and they are usually five toe socks, so your toes don't have a chance to rub against each other.
Others opt for plain, thin, smooth socks, while others wear super-soft hosiery or thin wool as stocking linings.
How many people wear two pairs of socks when hiking?
While the number one reason hikers wear two pairs of socks is to prevent blisters, other reasons including warmth or more cushioning can also be beneficial for hiking.
In case you're wondering how many people actually wear two pairs of socks while hiking, a hiker community abroad did a survey and got 141 responses.
Fifty-three percent of hikers wear two pairs of socks, 46 percent wear one, and 1 percent wear no socks at all.
Most of the 141 hikers chose to wear two pairs of socks while hiking.
Most hikers who choose to wear one pair of socks say they wear thick or stiff socks and don't need an extra pair.
Three, wear two pairs of socks for other reasons:
Not everyone gets blisters while hiking, and those who don't worry about blisters have some other reasons for choosing to wear two pairs of socks.
1, warm feet:
If you enjoy hiking in cold weather (or even snow), wear a second pair of socks to keep your feet warm.
But you also have to keep an eye out for wet socks, as moisture can sometimes seep in from the outside in cold weather.
If you are in an extremely cold, wet climate, wet feet and socks will be difficult to stay warm. When you find your socks getting cold and wet, stop and put on dry socks to protect your feet.
Choosing a warm material for your socks, such as thick wool, is also a great way to make sure your feet stay warm.
2, enhance moisture absorption and sweat:
With the right combination of socks, you can achieve better warmth and moisture absorption.
These benefits are useful in cold weather, helping to suck sweat off your feet and keep you warm and comfortable during your hike.
To achieve this effect, be sure to use high-quality wool socks because of wool's ability to wrest sweat and regulate temperature.
Often, hikers use thick wool socks with a wool lining as an inner layer. The wool layer helps transfer sweat from the feet to the outer layer, while the inner layer focuses on adding warmth.
3. Make shoes fit better:
In some cases, wearing two pairs of socks can solve abrasions caused by shoes that don't fit properly.
If your shoes are too loose in some areas, wearing two pairs of socks will be more comfortable.
4. More comfortable:
Wearing an extra layer of socks may not completely solve foot pain, but it can provide more cushioning for walking on hard, rocky surfaces.
More cushioning also means less slippage, giving you better grip wherever you go.
If you're just adding another pair for comfort, consider the type of socks you choose.
Some socks are just good for cold weather, and wearing thick socks during the hotter months may actually increase foot problems without making you more comfortable.
Four, there is a reason not to wear two pairs of socks?
There are also times when hikers choose not to wear two pairs of socks because one would do the job just fine.
Often, they've found a brand or material that keeps their feet warm and comfortable without having to wear another pair of socks.
There are several high-end hiking sock companies abroad that produce high-quality hiking socks, and many hikers wearing these brands find they only need one pair.
Because most of these socks are made of Merino wool, they do a good job of regulating temperature and moisture absorption and wicking sweat.
The brands also offer socks in a variety of weights and thicknesses so you can adjust your socks for each hike.
5. How many pairs of socks should I take with me when hiking?
Backpackers often like to bring three pairs of socks so they can wear two pairs during the day and one comfortable, clean pair at night.
However, the number of socks you carry around entirely depends on the following factors:
1. How long does the hiking take?
Assuming the weather isn't too humid and your hike is a day at most, you won't even need to bring any extra socks.
Of course, it's always a good idea to bring at least one extra pair of socks, just in case.
If you accidentally step on your foot in a swamp or river, you will have to walk on that wet foot for the rest of the day.
2. What will the weather be like?
Cold weather may require wearing an extra pair of socks. An extra layer of socks will keep your toes warm and comfortable.
3. What will happen to the environment?
Do you wade while hiking?
If you have extra socks in your backpack, you can always change your wet socks.
What kind of shoes would you wear?
Do you want hiking shoes or hiking boots?
Hiking shoes may be more susceptible to rain or other forms of moisture.
Also, some hiking boots may not drain water well.
Both affect the number of socks you should bring.
5. Are you going to wear two pairs of socks at once?
Wearing two pairs of socks at once can mean you're soiling two pairs at the same time, which also means both pairs need to be replaced.
In this case, you may want to prepare a couple of pairs of socks.
Do you mind dirty socks?
Socks smell when worn for a long time.
It all depends on how much each hiker can withstand the smell, and some backpackers are mindful of this and clean their socks every day.
Not all hikers choose to wear two pairs of socks, and not all outdoor shoes are suitable for two pairs of socks.
But, overall, wearing two pairs of socks is unlikely to cause harm to feet, and some hikers just don't feel they need to add another pair.
In some cases, adding another pair of socks may actually cause foot discomfort.
As we mentioned earlier, when your hiking shoes or boots are too large, two pairs of socks might help.
But if your shoes are the right size, there may not be room for two pairs of socks, and your feet will feel cramped and sweat more.
No matter what weather you hike in, no matter how many pairs of socks you choose to wear, the most important thing is that you do your best to make your feet feel comfortable.