Comfortable hiking shoes are most important for comfortable walking. And good quality hiking socks make sure you don’t get blisters while hiking. For added comfort and blister protection, some people wear as many as 2 pairs of hiking socks. In this post I explain whether hiking socks prevent blisters and whether it makes sense to wear two pairs of hiking socks.
Hiking socks are designed to prevent blisters and keep your feet comfortable. Keeping your feet dry and comfortable is the most important thing when you are on a long hike. That’s why hiking socks are made from comfortable materials and have extra padding at the heel and toes.
Walking with blisters is very uncomfortable and can spoil a wonderful hike in nature. That’s why I’m going to give you an overview of the reasons why blisters occur and how to prevent them.
How does walking cause blisters?
Blisters are usually caused by friction between the foot and the footwear, or by friction of the skin against the skin (friction between the toes). Increased friction can be caused by shoes or socks that are too small, wrinkling of the socks, wet feet, etc.
The most common mistakes made by hikers are not choosing boots and socks that are comfortable enough. Another reason is that socks are not made of sufficiently absorbent materials. When the foot is wet, friction is increased, which increases the chance of blisters. This can be solved by buying hiking socks made of absorbent materials (merino wool is the best for me). Or, during a longer hike, changing the hiking socks several times.
The same hiking socks can also be worn several times in a row, but they need to be dried.
Do hiking socks prevent blisters?
Hiking socks are designed to have few seams, making them more comfortable when walking. They are also made of comfortable and absorbent materials that offer comfort even during longer walking and absorb moisture. The most important thing during a long hike is to keep your feet dry at all times. The moisture generated by sweat provides friction, causing the foot to rub against the shoe and the toes to rub together. This causes blisters which make walking uncomfortable.
For hiking, choose hiking socks as they are different from normal socks. You can find out what the main differences between hiking socks and normal socks are here.
To avoid blisters while hiking, it is important that your hiking socks have the following features:
- they are the right size (not too small or too big),
- they are made of absorbent and breathable materials,
- they have extra cushioning on toe and heel area,
- they are stretchy and comfortable to the touch,
- they are not too worn.
Here you can find a list of the best hiking socks.
Hiking socks from well-known brands are made from absorbent materials and are very comfortable. But hiking socks won’t last forever. They need to be properly maintained and discarded when they are too worn and no longer comfortable.
| 1-2 per month | 1 per week | 2 per week | |
| How long do hiking socks last? | 8-12 months | 3-6 months | 3-6 months |
I suggest you read the full post on how long each socks should last (wear varies depending on the purpose of the socks and the composition of the materials).
Signs that walking socks need to be replaced
Hiking socks should be replaced after a certain period of time (see table above), or even sooner if you notice any of these characteristics:
- The material of the sock starts to thin (the most critical area are the toes and heels),
- the sock has a hole – in this case the skin on the foot is not protected (blisters are guaranteed),
- the sock has shrunk or lost elasticity, causing it to pinch or wrinkle as you walk, creating friction and blisters.
These are the three most common signs that hiking socks need to be replaced. The same goes for all other socks if you don’t want to get blisters. The durability of socks does not only depend on the quality, it also depends on the shoes and the hygiene of the foot. If your socks wear out quickly, I recommend you read this post.
How to care for hiking socks so they don’t cause blisters?
The hiking socks are made of delicate materials. The best quality socks are made from a high percentage of merino wool and contain synthetic materials for elasticity. Merino wool and synthetic materials are sensitive to washing in hot water. Merino wool can shrink in hot water and synthetic materials lose their elasticity. In this case, the walking sock will shrink and become hard and uncomfortable.
With proper maintenance, socks can last longer, even with regular wear. That’s why I suggest you read this post, where I explain how to make your socks last longer and still be comfortable.
And here is one of the tips:
It is recommended to hand wash the hiking socks or to use a hand wash programme (20, 30 or 40°C). At this temperature the hiking socks will be washed effectively enough and will not shrink. Do not be afraid that washing in warm water will not kill bacteria, as merino wool is a material that kills bacteria and does not trap them. This is why the socks do not have any unpleasant odors.
Avoid drying hiking socks in the tumble dryer, instead hang them on a wire rack to air dry. There is a risk of the hiking socks shrinking when dried in the tumble dryer.
Is wearing two pairs of socks good for hiking?
Wearing two pairs of socks may be suitable for you if your feet sweat a lot and you quickly feel uncomfortable and experience foot pain when walking. Two pairs of walking socks give you extra comfort and more absorbent surface area.
Two pairs of walking socks give you more comfort when walking and prevent rubbing against your shoe. This means no pain in your toes and heels. Two pairs of socks will also give you a more absorbent base to soak up sweat and keep your feet dry at all times.
Before you go on your first long hike wearing two pairs of socks, make sure you have enough room for your toes and that they don’t squeeze. If you are wearing two pairs of socks, I would recommend you choose the thinner socks.
If your legs get tired quickly when walking, then I would recommend wearing compression socks for hiking. Compression socks have similar properties to hiking socks, except that they are more elastic and increase blood circulation throughout the body. This keeps your legs rested for longer, so you can wear them even after a hard hike to speed up your recovery. You can read more about the benefits of wearing compression socks while hiking here.
Do hiking socks prevent blisters? – summary
Hiking socks are made to prevent blisters when walking. You need to make sure that they fit well (not too small or too big), that they are made of comfortable and absorbent materials (my favourite material is merino wool).
To make sure your hiking socks last longer, wash them on a hand wash programme (20, 30 or 40°C) and air dry them on a rack (do not use a tumble dryer as they may shrink). For more comfort and better wicking, wear double hiking socks.