Finally stopped using cotton socks on overnight hikes last summer

For years I just wore whatever cheap socks I had around the house on backpacking trips. After a 3 day trip in the Smokies where I got blisters on both heels, a guy at the campground told me to try wool socks. I switched to a pair of lightweight merino wool socks and the difference was night and day. No blisters, no soggy feet, and they didn't smell bad after 3 days. Anyone else make the switch from cotton and never look back?

3 comments

3 Comments

jana_price8d ago

I remember my first trip with wool socks was a 4 day loop in the Smokies actually. I had the same thing happen to me with cotton, blisters on both heels that made the last day miserable. A friend finally told me to stop being stubborn and try merino. Now I can't imagine going back, it's a total game changer for sure.

seth_martinez215d ago

I remember that "stop being stubborn" push and honestly that's the part that hits home for me. A lot of people treat cotton like it's fine until they get stuck on a wet trail for hours. What helped me was just making sure I had a dry backup pair stuffed in my pack for the end of the day. My rule now is simple: cotton for the car ride there, merino for the actual hiking, and clean socks right before bed. If you keep your feet dry and change out of wet socks during lunch breaks, it makes a huge difference. Nobody talks enough about how a good sock liner can save your heels too.

lily_stone768d ago

Maybe it's just me but I never really had that big of a drama with cotton socks, @jana_price. Feel like the hype around merino is a little overblown honestly.