Socks for Long Hikes and Hunts

[Jason]

What are you guys using for a good hiking or boot sock and what’s your preference in materials?

[WapitiTalk1]

Easy one sir. Merino wool. 

[jrebel]

Smart wool hunting tall sock....wear them year round and they are awesome.  In colder weather I will double this sock up or wear a thicker smart wool liner under them.  I have a couple pairs that are two years old and still going strong. 

Here is a link to the sock. 

https://www.smartwool.com/shop/mens-hunt-medium-camo-crew-socks-sw001349?variationId=880&gclid=Cj0KCQjwg7KJBhDyARIsAHrAXaG_BxdB5BMgXxwFniuyDrwZTPmrnY7RUZl08ur8PBWqN8vV98ZuYMgaAi3qEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

[Jason]

Easy one sir. Merino wool.

Not as easy as one thinks. There’s so many blends with different % of merino wool and other materials.

[Duckslayer89]

Darn tough socks hands down. I use to wear smart wool and they don’t compare. They last a crazy long time. I do like the smart wool black merino liner socks though underneath. But often times I end up just wearing the darn toughs.

[WapitiTalk1]

DT and Smartwool are both a MER wool blend socks you wild bohemians. 

[Jason]

Darn tough socks hands down. I use to wear smart wool and they don’t compare. They last a crazy long time. I do like the smart wool black merino liner socks though underneath. But often times I end up just wearing the darn toughs.

These are the ones I’m looking at.

https://www.rei.com/product/887221/darn-tough-hiker-boot-sock-cushion-socks-mens?sku=8872210006

[Taco280AI]

Was about to mention REI has 25% off Darn Tough

[jrebel]

Not all merino / smart wool are made the same.  I have purchases some of the cheaper socks off of Camofire and they were horrible.  The elastic on the calf would retain a memory and after the second or third trip out, they would slowly creep down around your ankle.  I really like over the calf socks for that very reason. 

I will need to try the darn tough over the calf socks.  The smart wool socks I posted are not overly thick so if it is cold out, most would need to double them up.  Smart wool makes a heavier sock but again...it does not have the elastic qualities I like to keep the sock up around my calf. 

[High Climber]

Danner makes a good pair of hunting socks surprisingly. I like their over the calf medium weight

[Jason]

Not all merino / smart wool are made the same.  I have purchases some of the cheaper socks off of Camofire and they were horrible.  The elastic on the calf would retain a memory and after the second or third trip out, they would slowly creep down around your ankle.  I really like over the calf socks for that very reason. 

I will need to try the darn tough over the calf socks.  The smart wool socks I posted are not overly thick so if it is cold out, most would need to double them up.  Smart wool makes a heavier sock but again...it does not have the elastic qualities I like to keep the sock up around my calf.

I had the same issue with socks I purchased off of Camofire a few years back. The would start heading towards my toes as the day went on. Very uncomfortable.

[Duckslayer89]

Not all merino / smart wool are made the same.  I have purchases some of the cheaper socks off of Camofire and they were horrible.  The elastic on the calf would retain a memory and after the second or third trip out, they would slowly creep down around your ankle.  I really like over the calf socks for that very reason. 

I will need to try the darn tough over the calf socks.  The smart wool socks I posted are not overly thick so if it is cold out, most would need to double them up.  Smart wool makes a heavier sock but again...it does not have the elastic qualities I like to keep the sock up around my calf.

I had the same exact problem with smart wool. IMO darn tough blows them away in durability and comfort.

Those socks you posted are same I use basically, I would pull the trigger

[Special T]

Hunting and hiking are 2 different needs. Once upon a time I wore down a lot of boot leather.  For long hikes with packs, especially cross country... polypropylene thin socks and wool over that. Perfect combo of abrasion resistance and water /sweat wicking.  I always had 3 pair of poly. They rinse out nice for those really long adventures and dry easily.

[X-Force]

I’m cheap, Costco wool poly blend… rotating 2 pair over a 4 or 5 day hunt.

[huntnnw]

pretty hard to beat Darn tough socks

[Jonathan_S]

Darn Tough to beat.

[mburrows]

Another darn tough vote. They have a life time warranty. I sent some back I had for 5 years and they were replaced no questions asked.

[huntnnw]

another sock is Lorpen. I bought a pair for a hunt in 2012 still have them and have 0 wear.

[HAGEMANIAC]

Darn Tough for me

[Tpetie3509]

Farm To Feet or DT.

[OltHunter]

Another vote for Darn Tough.  I have the hunters models in lightweight, mid, and full cushion.  Mids would be my recommendation on 1 sock.

[ganghis]

I think more important than the sock itself is having a liner-outer sock combo.  Issue is that if your feet move around in your boots at all then when you don't have a liner there is friction between your foot and your thick sock, leading to more hot spots & blisters.  When you have a liner it sticks to your foot and the friction is between your liner and your outer sock.  Doesn't eliminate hotspots/taping entirely but reduces issues.  I have polypro liners which smell awful at the end of a day - might look into merino ones. 

[boneaddict]

I go down to bi mart and buy a sack full of Wilson athletic socks, you know, the cotton ones.   They fit my size 15 feet.   Then I death March in and kill my deer and death March out.   

[wannabhntr]

I use Darn Tough and Luekotape on my heals and balls of my feet. No blisters. No hot spots. It's been a game changer.

[bearhunter99]

I go down to bi mart and buy a sack full of Wilson athletic socks, you know, the cotton ones.   They fit my size 15 feet.   Then I death March in and kill my deer and death March out.   

That explains a lot.  No wonder Bone gets all those great pics.  He's BIGFOOT!

[jeffro]

I always start with a base layer of polypropylene liners socks then wear any assortment of over socks, depending on temp and conditions. Could be cotton, Cotten blend, wool/blend.
I tend towards Helly Hansen or Carhart, as my dad is a dealer and I get screaming deals.
The moisture wicking base layer is key!

[10mmg]

Well thanks fellas this thread just cost me $150 on the Darn Tough web site

[Taco280AI]

Hope you got a deal, REI is 25% off right now

[cbond3318]

I’m cheap, Costco wool poly blend… rotating 2 pair over a 4 or 5 day hunt.

This ^^^

[carpsniperg2]

Darn tough for me. Pretty much every day I wear them for work and hunting. I have horrible ankles and the extra padded cushions really help.

[boneaddict]

I think those bi mart ones are about 9 bucks. For 6 pair.   

[carpsniperg2]

Sounds about right. I bought some for my father last time I was there. All he has ever used his whole life long white tube socks. Bought him a pair of darn tough and he said they were way to warm and plush lol

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Well thanks fellas this thread just cost me $150 on the Darn Tough web site

 

[MeepDog]

I swear by normal Costco wool socks. I've got about 10 pairs that I'll wear single layer in the winter or the summer. Carhartt wool socks fit better when you first buy them, but they don't last as long and your feet will get soggy.

[Taco280AI]

Sounds about right. I bought some for my father last time I was there. All he has ever used his whole life long white tube socks. Bought him a pair of darn tough and he said they were way to warm and plush lol

There's different weight Darn Toughs

[carpsniperg2]

Yes he was just making fun of me more then anything.

Old dog no new tricks in that department lol

He also said something along the lines as the cheap bi mart ones are good for emergency issue when short on t p and expensive socks are to nice to cut up lol

[Alchase]

I’m cheap, Costco wool poly blend… rotating 2 pair over a 4 or 5 day hunt.

 :


 This ^^^

 
The basic  Cabelas wool are just like the Costco Kirkland gray wool. Single pair, no liner.  Never had a blister, when the boots are broken in. If a hot spot starts, I put a small bandaid on the spot before it becomes a blister, and it disappears.

[Stein]

Sounds about right. I bought some for my father last time I was there. All he has ever used his whole life long white tube socks. Bought him a pair of darn tough and he said they were way to warm and plush lol

There's different weight Darn Toughs

At least three, I have a thick pair for late season, about 3-4 for normal every day and most of hunting season (lightweight?) and a couple for running and rucking that are really thin. 

Best part is if you don't like them or wear a hole in them you send the pair back and get a credit for whatever you want to buy, free shipping.  The light ones aren't too tough, probably 1-2 years but the mid and heavyweight really take a lot of miles to wear out, probably 500+ at least, maybe more.

[huntnnw]

Closer to thousands. I hike 300 a year on darn toughs and they will last years for me.

[Jason]

Well thanks fellas this thread just cost me $150 on the Darn Tough web site

REI got me for $101.00 I saved $25 on the order with their sale.

[brokemillwright]

I’m cheap, Costco wool poly blend… rotating 2 pair over a 4 or 5 day hunt.

 :


 This ^^^

 
The basic  Cabelas wool are just like the Costco Kirkland gray wool. Single pair, no liner.  Never had a blister, when the boots are broken in. If a hot spot starts, I put a small bandaid on the spot before it becomes a blister, and it disappears.

I get sweaty feet and have used sock lines, wool, merino, Costco.... if it's cold I'll use some wool sock, but normally Costco. In regards to blisters I get them bad on my ankles, ball of feet and big toes. Ductape on a fresh foot over the usual Hotspots then sock over it and you'll be in heaven lol. When I hunt I camp in a tent and shower once a week in town, the tape  lasts all week and I haven't had blisters in years after learning that trick.

[cem3434]

I like my farm to feet socks, but might have to try some darn tough socks after seeing all of the positive feedback on them

[rtspring]

Plain ol cotton socks.  Never needed anything else.  Never had a blister in my life. 

[Mtnwalker]

Plain ol cotton socks.  Never needed anything else.  Never had a blister in my life.

[vandeman17]

leukotape and darn tough hikers are my go to combo

[AROTTY]

Just FYI, used to buy smartwool but after they came out as BLM supporters I will no longer purchase their products.

[Skyvalhunter]

BLM is that branched large mulie's?

[AROTTY]

Bench legs matter 

[HUNT JR]

I wear mostly Kuiu merino socks and Darn Tough