Hiking Socks - Get to the foot of the problem!

You want to buy your ideal hiking boots and are ready to shop.

Take the right hiking socks with you. Follow our easy guide below.

The right walking socks for you are a vital part of your hiking equipment. The wrong socks will leave you in pain or at least discomfort after the first few easy miles.

How do you choose the right walking socks?

EASY – follow this basic 3 point guide:

1. The correct size.
   
   What size is your foot? Say it is an 8 therefore look for socks to fit a size say 5 to 8.5. Don’t buy 8 to 11. Shop around.
   
   In other words buy socks that just cover your foot size. Do not be at the bottom of the range.
   
   
2. What are socks made of?
   
   Test number one – feel them. Do they feel tough or at least with substance? Buy them.
   
   Do they feel soft and gentle? Ignore them.
   
   Socks are made in a mixture of materials usually partly wool and a man made material.
   Fine. Don’t be too analytic. After 10 hours of walking the difference in percentage mixes will not tell.
   
   
3. Thick or thin material?
   
   Look for comments on the packaging such as backpacking or extended trekking – midweight etc.
   
   (My latest choice is Bridgedale 'Endurance trekker'. They just feel right!)
   
   Still not happy? Try wearing a thin liner sock under your main hiking sock. Liner socks appear to be expensive – but what price comfort over a 21 mile walk?

If you are a regular walker buy new socks every 12 months or so for best performance and comfort.

Finally always carry a spare pair of socks in your rucksack (and keep them dry in a plastic bag). The spare pair is invaluable if you do step into deep water/mud/swamp and get a soaking, but also on a really long trek it is refreshing to put on clean fresh socks half way through the walk.