Socks socks socks!

[wild_wild_wes]

The famous "Boots boots boots!" thread did not cover socks.

So...what are the best socks to wear under military boots? New high tech fabrics, or does wool still rule? What are the best socks to wear in warm weather; which for cool climes? Etc.

[Jarhead]

Hmm I wore most of the time woolsocks, but my feet where pretty sweaty,so I wore a pair of civil socks under the woolsocks, its alright. Never ever had blisters or something

[Masai]

woolen socks FOR THE WIN !!!!!


having a foot "issue" myself, i would advise you to go the woolen route.

[scuba]

I like wool, or synthetic and wool blends with a high percentage of wool. One thing to consider is what your final use is. Like around a worksite or an entended hiking trip. One good thing about wool is that it doesn't rot like cotton if it is damp for long periods of time. If this is like a pair of safety boots for work, even thick cotton socks for sports will be fine. You need to look at the job that you intend them to be for and go from there.

[Masai]

And...




"foot powder" isnt a swear word...


you can wear what ever you want, with enough foot powder, it wont be that bad.

[MichaelF]

Thorlo's.

Hands down.

[flanker7]

I use Fox River Blisterguards. First synthetic socks I liked

[James]

Smartwool FTW.

[Dan2004]

Thermosoft knee-high wool hunting socks.

[bluffcove]

anyhting with smartwool in it.

Brasher coolmax bridgedale

[Pete031]

cusion sole OD green.

[USMC Tanker]

I like to wear Thorlo's around the tank ramp or on other easy days. I like the cushioning and sweaty socks aren't really a big deal while in the rear.

In the field though, they make my feet sweat too damn much. For field use, I prefer to use the brown cushion sole socks from the PX.

And yeah, foot powder is paramount.

[Noble713]

The new(ish) Army issue green socks with the antimicrobial properties are surprisingly nice.

[USMC Tanker]

Yeah, the brown ones I buy from the PX are antimicrobial as well. Cheap and very comfortable.

[Enduring Freedom]

Thorlo Light Hiker Coolmax socks.

[Sabre]

British Army issue socks.

They're a wool mix, durable, can strain tea and river water, act as ersatz mittens in cold weather, or as thermal barriers for holding boilies, filled with rocks they form a crude improvised weapon, or filled with other socks and draped across the back of the neck they become a travel pillow...


...but most importantly they come free from the QM and I refuse to pay over £10 a pop for some things I step on and sweat into which you can't even see when I'm wearing them.

[Waterman]

X2 on the Smartwool.

They breathe more like synthetics, resist flash flame and are comfy (and non-ichy).

[wild_wild_wes]

What is the story on "smart wool"?

[TacoDelRio]

Smartwool FTW.

Smartwool is great. They're pricy, but for people who don't want to pay, they're your feet, for crying out loud. Buy good stuff so you can keep going.

I use Thorlo's of different types, but my new Smartwools are really fantastic in cold weather, yet not too hot (sweat, freezes) during exertion (since they're wool).

However, some folks seem to have an allergic reaction to wool, so it's obviously not an end-all.

LINK: https://www.smartwool.com/default.cfm

I use their mountaineering socks for... mountaineering... and I feel they'd be great for long periods of time on your feet anywhere, in cold climates, not below 0 degrees probably for any length of time unless your footwear was warm enough.

[M_trace1187]

i like wigwams. but i have a pair of redhead wader socks from bass pro shops that come up to the thigh because they are made to wear under waders they are merino wool and they are the best socks i have ever owned.

[Vostok]

Ingenius Smartwool

I need to pick up a few more pairs .

[silveykyle]

I love smartwool and eurosock.

[A_V_8_R]

x2, X3, whatever for SmartWool. Get the mountaineering Xtra heavy ones. They are the thickest they make. Most comfortable boot socks I own. Run about 19.00 a pair

[Quinten]

woolen socks FOR THE WIN !!!!!


having a foot "issue" myself, i would advise you to go the woolen route.


Woolen socks! I agree with Masai. They keep your feet warm no matter what. Even when wet.

[FROGFOOT-MKDN]

Merino wool socks from various firms, you can't be wrong with it.

[Asheren]

Polish army issue green socks, blue ones are piece of s..t. There is one issue you have to machine wash them. After few handwashes they will turn in to sandpaper like thing that would do to your feet things that no amount of powder can fix. Polish army issue pants are also supprisingly comfortable for army made stuff.

[Herrmannek]

depends, wool or polyester for thick socks, cotton or cotton with synthetics for inner socks... Nothing particular cheapest brands usually, but I check for the sewing at the toes*, and sometimes I wear socks inside out so smother best finished side would touch my foot...

*I don't care about it unless its not big

BTW I often wear things inside out, for two reasons: First I forget to check the sides, second of course comfort...

[wild_wild_wes]

Do you wear some sort of synthetic moisture-wicking socks under the Smartwools, or are they so smart you don't need to?

[Sabre]

^ If you do enough tabbing you don't need to bother with inner socks. Sometimes it can be counter productive to wear inner layers and have loads of zinc oxide on. You just generate blisters instead of preventing them.

I've got to the point where my feet are now fairly well broken in and don't blister much at all. In the event that I do get a blister, I just remind myself that it's only a ****ing blister, forget about it and crack on. :D

[Herrmannek]

^ If you do enough tabbing you don't need to bother with inner socks. Sometimes it can be counter productive to wear inner layers and have loads of zinc oxide on. You just generate blisters instead of preventing them.

I've got to the point where my feet are now fairly well broken in and don't blister much at all. In the event that I do get a blister, I just remind myself that it's only a ****ing blister, forget about it and crack on. :D
If not blisters, second sock can give a better fit plus warmth when walking in cold, my current boots are polish army issue and I can't secure my foot in some places well enough even I bout them half the size smaller :) , I'm talking heels and area behind the toes before palm of the foot starts. Lacing don't reach there and my foot is wiggling left and right, and wiggling means blisters and foot ache...

[Asheren]

Wear them everyday for at last 12-24 h non-stop for about 8 months and you shoud be fine. My pair is fiting perfectly now unfortunatly it didn't when i needed them to fit mostly. Desanty in winter are not known for their warmth. For beeing waterproof also if we are in that matter.

[Bachelor]

I was carrying woolen socks when I served in the Soviet Air forces. It was the official military uniform and stood out from a warehouse for military pilots. Socks high and looks like gaiters, brown color. Socks made of camel wool. Very warm. In emergency situation like pilot catapulted in wild zone, socks were used at protection against spiders, "black widow"... Spiders afraid camel's wool. It in cold weather. In winter we have special socks. It is a sock made of fur. Fur to inside. It are put on cotton sock. The Russian name - "YNTIATA". We haven't have hi-tech material that we have now. But we have things made of native strong material only and double appointment.
I can confirm that was very comfortable and convenient in a natural made of material.

[zonk]

i have some thingk green socks that i got issued to me in afghanistan, they wear so good but my wife refuses to touch them. my wife refers to them as the swamp monsters

[Herrmannek]

Wear them everyday for at last 12-24 h non-stop for about 8 months and you shoud be fine. My pair is fiting perfectly now unfortunatly it didn't when i needed them to fit mostly. Desanty in winter are not known for their warmth. For beeing waterproof also if we are in that matter.

I'm civie, but I'm using my Desanty everyday, usually 12hours straight... office work mainly, also including weekend trips... They don't fit as a glove though, in the sense they are to wide in some places and laces can't squeeze any harder. I have them since march this year. As for waterproofness, they aren't that bad, especially considering state they are in, some inner lining is torn, protector sole is separating from the rest of the sole. Main problem of those boots is quality control , and thin leather, you can't expect 1,5mm of leather to stand water for to long, but unless you walk in the pools of water, wet snow or else they are okey*, But this conditions will pierce any boots sooner or later anyway...

*given the cost 40$> a pair, they are much better, you can't buy sneakers for less money...

[Asheren]

Well if you are buying them from at last four diffrent contractors... I am no longer in army. I was a guard/patrol leader during my service time soo i was wearing them in wet snow, pools of water etc. I guess this wet snow and pools of water are what you need to make them fit.

[wild_wild_wes]

If not blisters, second sock can give a better fit plus warmth when walking in cold, my current boots are polish army issue and I can't secure my foot in some places well enough even I bout them half the size smaller :) , I'm talking heels and area behind the toes before palm of the foot starts. Lacing don't reach there and my foot is wiggling left and right, and wiggling means blisters and foot ache...

In boot camp (no pun intended), I was told to wear boots slightly larger than your true size, because your feet swell after a hard march. So if you wear two pairs of socks to make them snug intitially (and for cusioning), after the first halt, take one pair off and the boots will still fit right.

[Asheren]

Same here but they told us to get a slightly bigger pair because we will want to put two pairs of socks in winter.

[Quinten]

I never really understood "the two pair of socks" thing.

I always wair one pair of ABL issue woolen socks. Never had any blisters even after crossing rivers or walking for several hours.

[Asheren]

Well we were wearing two pairs cos it was freakin cold. I remmember a particulary cold night when NCO had to reload our rifles during standard check after end of time on guard post.

[Herrmannek]

Well if you are buying them from at last four diffrent contractors... I am no longer in army. I was a guard/patrol leader during my service time soo i was wearing them in wet snow, pools of water etc. I guess this wet snow and pools of water are what you need to make them fit.

Don't worry mine shared a good of bit of those too... Its just hard to make threated leather to shrink :) My lesson to you would be not to step into pools of water when you don't need too, I also wear stuptups, I paste my boots vigorously before every trip :) so on so on...

BTW MY boots are from lublin, at least this is what sole mold says...

@wil_wild_wes
I know about that, but funny thing is when I wear boots my feet don't swell to much if any, but when I'm wearing some barely above ankle hiking boots my feet are swelling as hell so even 2 sizes above mine would not be enough, I've learned this painful way... Maybe I tie my boots a lil to tight on the collar and blood rather goes out than goes in , but thats another topic... Everyone have to find the compromise

[Asheren]

It was kinda hard to do when you were chasing someone or had to get somewhere fast, not to mention rains and NCOs yelling that they want to see you on cam patroling. Wet snow was another thing hard to avoid. No one will shove snow at evening for a bunch of guards.

[Herrmannek]

We are both right :)

[JC0352]

Yeah, the brown ones I buy from the PX are antimicrobial as well. Cheap and very comfortable.

amen killer! they simply work

[Aerosoul]

amen killer! they simply work
You're trying too hard.

[USMC Tanker]

There's nothing wrong with being a motivator ;)

[JC0352]

You're trying too hard.

Dude, what is your problem?

[TacoDelRio]

I never really understood "the two pair of socks" thing.

I always wair one pair of ABL issue woolen socks. Never had any blisters even after crossing rivers or walking for several hours.

Inner liner is usually slick, and reduces friction on skin. Less friction, fewer blisters. Not required for everyone, as some folks get blisters more easily than others.

[T for Tetrapod]

Wool socks are the best. Once I forgot to bring some wool socks on a hiking trip so I had to use some cheap cotton socks the whole time. My feet were freaking killing me when we were done for the day. Never forgot to bring the wools after that.

I tried out some "GI Cushion Sole Socks" from uscav once but they were thin as hell and wore out easily.