I have it easy across the ball of the foot gradually increasing in tension to tightest at the ankle and just above. That, with the two pairs of socks I mentioned earlier, has worked for me hiking for many many years on many terrains. Not had a blister from hiking now for over 40 years. (I'm sure that the venerable Sod's Law will now apply itself to my person later this week!)
Socks for your boots - layering?
- Thread starter FlashPan
- Start date
I have it easy across the ball of the foot gradually increasing in tension to tightest at the ankle and just above. That, with the two pairs of socks I mentioned earlier, has worked for me hiking for many many years on many terrains. Not had a blister from hiking now for over 40 years. (I'm sure that the venerable Sod's Law will now apply itself to my person later this week!)
Two pairs, everyday inner and woollen or "hiking" thick outer, never had many problems but rarely hike over 10 miles in one day. But two socks in boots is ingrained in my psyche now 
I wear one pair, thick harkila expedition socks, but I always take spares in case they get wet with sweat or over the boots!
Yep, can't fault issue arctic socks...been wearing them for donkey's years and never had a sniff of a problem with my feet.
Thanks,
Allan
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Another for 2 socks: Thin liner + Darn Tough socks (splashed out!! - decided my feet were worth it).
As to what inner:
IsoCool Liner Socks
Horizon Coolmax Liner
Lorpen Coolmax Liner
They're all pretty decent IMO.
GW
As to what inner:
IsoCool Liner Socks
Horizon Coolmax Liner
Lorpen Coolmax Liner
They're all pretty decent IMO.
GW
I've been a fan of 2 pairs ever since I did my DofE
Having never heard the things people say about cotton I wore one pair of regular cotton socks under a pair of cheap hiking socks and I was actually fine for almost all weathers.
For winter I either put another (!) pair of thick thermal socks over the top or just wore the themal ones with the cotton.
Saves your bulkier more expensive socks from getting sweaty as quickly and does wonders at stopping blisters.
Currently reconsidering my materials though, I may invest in some proper liner socks as others have recommended, as well as some better (merino or maybe bamboo) outers, just to allow my feet to breathe a little better.
as for tightness I say it depends on the boot but the most important thing for high-top boots is to ensure your ankle is well-supported, not only to prevent damage but also because rubbing around the top of the boot hurts like hell after a long day. and retie them at your first rest stop. I've never had too much of a problem with swelling, but actually I find my laces loosen and the padding gets compressed once you start walking so it's well worth readjusting as you go.
Having never heard the things people say about cotton I wore one pair of regular cotton socks under a pair of cheap hiking socks and I was actually fine for almost all weathers.
For winter I either put another (!) pair of thick thermal socks over the top or just wore the themal ones with the cotton.
Saves your bulkier more expensive socks from getting sweaty as quickly and does wonders at stopping blisters.
Currently reconsidering my materials though, I may invest in some proper liner socks as others have recommended, as well as some better (merino or maybe bamboo) outers, just to allow my feet to breathe a little better.
as for tightness I say it depends on the boot but the most important thing for high-top boots is to ensure your ankle is well-supported, not only to prevent damage but also because rubbing around the top of the boot hurts like hell after a long day. and retie them at your first rest stop. I've never had too much of a problem with swelling, but actually I find my laces loosen and the padding gets compressed once you start walking so it's well worth readjusting as you go.
The boots I wear are made to measure with two pairs of socks in mind. But in long distance walking I experienced swollen feet, and there is no room for the second pair. Now I just have one pair of felted merino socks, medium thick.
I used to wear a thin sock over a sports sock but recently switched to decent Marino wool hiking socks. The bonus is my feet don't stink or over sweaty these days either ��
So you have the thin liner sock outmost?
I've always had problems with the liner pulling on my toes, but that might not happen if the liner is on the outside. Interesting idea.
Yeah I didn't like the feel of the thinner sock under the thick it seemed to rub and burn my skin.
I tried double socks. Very tight fit.
And, one sock always rubbed against the other and one was on it's way to being packed into the toe of my boot.
I like a single pair.
Then, I have several pairs of felt insoles. Like walking on as cloud and I replace those daily.
I'm not interested to do a lot of walking in the winter so the felt insoles add a little more insulation.
My winter boots are good enough to go barefoot.
And, one sock always rubbed against the other and one was on it's way to being packed into the toe of my boot.
I like a single pair.
Then, I have several pairs of felt insoles. Like walking on as cloud and I replace those daily.
I'm not interested to do a lot of walking in the winter so the felt insoles add a little more insulation.
My winter boots are good enough to go barefoot.
Last Tuesday I walked 28km across boggy mountain plateau of 14 km and then 14km on roads using sealskin waterproof socks with a second thin pair inside. I have had them a long time and they decided not to stay waterproof on this trip. The damage was caused on the road section. This is my feet two days later after the top of the blisters 'came off'.
20170812_002223 by chrstphrferg, on Flickr
20170812_002249 by chrstphrferg, on Flickr
20170812_002223 by chrstphrferg, on Flickr20170812_002249 by chrstphrferg, on Flickr
Yep, I found that 😁
You swear eh, I believe you! Iodine stings though 😂
It's taken a week for them to heal.
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Ahh but iodine doesn't give that interesting fizzing sensation and look right before the pain hits, you put it on, see it fiz a bit and think this isnt so bad. That changes quickly.
Its good that you know where on the feet your prone to blistering, next time a bit of tinc benz onto clean skin, let it go tacky then apply zinc oxide over. The benz acts as a sort of glue to hold the tape on properly.
Tonyuk
Its good that you know where on the feet your prone to blistering, next time a bit of tinc benz onto clean skin, let it go tacky then apply zinc oxide over. The benz acts as a sort of glue to hold the tape on properly.
Tonyuk
Lots of negatives of wearing two pairs of socks - the most obvious being extra elastic leading to greater compression of the toes, therefore increasing likelihood of blisters due to increased friction.
IF wearing two pairs, try Injinji toe socks as your liner. The material between each toe lessens the likelihood of inter-digital blisters as the toes won't directly rub together. If you're a runner, you'll likely know ultramarathoners swear by them.
Maybe some young kid who serves on Marines/Pathfinders etc will elaborate as I'm an out of date old codger, but during training days if we got a bad blister we'd have iodine injected straight into it. 'Tinker treatment', they called it
You'd report a blister once then never go back after 'first treatment'.
Being as I prefer to wear sandals most of the time, no socks is best. Two pairs in a pair of boots is excessive for me, if the terrain demands boots then one pair is enough, I have a very comfortable pair of brasher boots and no particular problems with blisters.
