Socks for hiking boots

[Fordian]

Possibly dumb Q; but do people still wear just one pair of thick 'hiking' socks with hiking boots or is there any 'new thinking'?

And what socks do you recommend, please?

I can't comment on wearing one pair or two (I just wear one pair).

Do you already have hiking boots or are you buying some? Very thick socks will take up more space inside the boot, therefore if you already have boots you need socks that won't be so thick they squeeze your feet. If you're buying new boots you need to take into account what socks you'll be wearing, so that the boots fit comfortably with that particular thickness of sock.

So if the boots are for winter and you want to wear very thick socks for warmth, the boots might be too roomy if you then wear them with a thin pair of socks in summer.

To cover both options, I'd choose socks with a cushioned base (for comfort and to absorb perspiration) but with thinner coverage over the top of the foot, to reduce the retention of warmth. Preferably ones with a cuff that doesn't bite into your ankle.

Thanks. I'm buying new boots because one of my feet has become a bit swollen over time so my old boots are too tight with thicker socks. I used to always wear one pair of thick socks all year round to avoid blisters.

I know lots of people swear by bridgedale but they really didn't work for me.
I like 1000 mile - they do a dual layer one that works well.
But my favourites are the waterproof 360dry socks. They're not cheap and you can't machine wash them, which is a bit of a pain. But they're great for comfort.

Traditionally it's one pair of "normal" socks, followed by one pair of thick - but that's for tough hiking. Whatever works for you is my view.

Apparently one pair of silk 'liner' socks, then a pair of hiking socks is good. The two layers helps to prevent blisters.

I wear Nordic socks - I find the traditional walking socks too tight.

I wear Smartwool in the main, and always merino. I have bought many pairs of Bridgedales with mixed results. I was advised to size down so that the socks are close fitting and don’t bunch up, and this has really helped with blisters. So my shoe size is a UK8, and therefore I’d go for the socks in size 5-7.5. The socks tend to stretch while you’re wearing them so this helps to reduce bunching around the toes etc.

I like Bridgedales - I've had a set of synthetics and set of wool ones. Just one thick pair for me.

The lighter ones were these: https://hollandscountryclothing.co.uk/products/bridgedale-womens-hike-lightweight-comfort-sock

The wool ones were these: https://hollandscountryclothing.co.uk/products/bridgedale-womens-hike-performance-sock

Thanks everyone! Very useful.

Only one pair for me and I love smartwool, but I actually size up because I somehow manage to shrink all my socks, however I wash them!

I either wear Smartwool socks or Sealskinz waterproof socks if the weather or terrain is likely to be wet (as every pair of 'waterproof' boots I've had have let in water). But I only ever wear 1 pair of socks.

I like socks with thicker toes and heels and elasticity to hold them stable in the middle. I have wide, high volume feet so too thick cramps my feet in the boot.

The old two-sock technique and double-layer socks don't work for me. Double the chance for ruching and friction, double the chance for blisters.

I swear by 1000 mile socks, never get blisters and I do ultra walks, 50k plus. You can get them in most good outdoor shops and on amazon

Me too, they’re incredible! I used to get horrendous blisters despite properly fitted walking boots, since wearing 1000 mile socks I haven’t had a single blister for over 12 years of hiking, including 10 mile mountain treks on three occasions in hot weather.

I agree one pair of thick well fitting hiking socks. Try different brands to see what suits you best.
I also highly recommend deer tallow cream to prevent blisters while breaking in boots and beyond. A good cream forms a second skin type layer and keeps the skin on my feet soft & dry (unfortunately I have very sweaty feet...).

I have thermal socks from mountain warehouse, wear just one pair though.

I’ve always used two pairs with boots - thin coolmax inner, bridgedale merino outers. (Autocorrect tried to turn that into ‘otters’ which would be decidedly eccentric).
Obviously try on boots wearing your preferred socks.

I wear ski socks with mine. I find wool too rough. I like softness.

Gone are the days I need to break boots in so much. I have a great pair of wool socks but they are ancient and I don’t know the brand as no label, I have never ever found a paid as good as them. My complaint is too many hiking socks for women are in bright colours, I just want some mid grey or khaki ones.

I don’t wear walking socks. I wear one pair of ordinary socks. I’ve got arch supports in my boots, my boots have never rubbed. it’s all about the fit of the boot for me.

I wear two pairs, it is good for avoiding blisters. A thin smooth pair of liner socks (ideally silk) with wool cushioned hiking socks on top.

When breaking in a particularly troublesome pair of boots I wore twin skin running socks under my hiking socks.

I like bridgedale or smartwool socks.