Do you use a liner with trail running shoes? And what about sock thickness?

I wear 1 pair of thin Coolmax Injinji Toe socks.
I never get blisters … but my feet are pretty well conditioned.

p.s.
blisters can be caused by a shoe that is too snug (2 pair of socks when you shouldn't).

A pair of thin, low cut synthetic socks with a mesh-type top works very well for me. I've not found any benefit using thicker socks with trail runners. Great combo, I can even feel the wind on my toes!

I wear some real thin Bridgdale socks. I think they're made for cycling. Its what I prefer after trying and not liking different thicknesses of SmartWool and DarnToughs. I rock some Smart Wools in the cold though.

If its 5 miles or less I go sockless, but find I get blisters from the stock insoles if I hike any more than that without socks.

I can't speak for anybody else, but I just wear one pair of synthetic socks with my trail runners. Typically, I use a pair of low cut, New Balance Coolmax socks. I find SmartWool socks to be a little too warm for my liking (until late Fall), but that's just my preference. So, generally, I prefer a thinner sock that breaths and drys quickly.

In warm weather, after a stream crossing, I simply let the body heat from my feet dry my socks. In cooler weather, I quickly (a) wring my socks out and (b) squeeze the water from my trail runners after a crossing and then put them right back on my feet. That's pretty much the extent of my moisture management.

If you're a runner, most likely you already have a pair of socks you can use.

Hot feet make me very uncomfortable so I wear the thinnest socks I can buy. The only reason to go any thicker for me is if it's cold, but even then I find that my feet only get cold when I stop.

As for blisters, I've never really gotten blisters but I also have maybe one or two hiking experiences with non trail running shoes since it was one of the first things I switched. Take from that what you will.

Thin liner is all you need.

I've fallen in love with Icebreaker's line of thin running socks (their hiking socks are a bit thicker). Expensive and somewhat fragile – but they feel greet and keep my feet happy.

http://www.icebreaker.com/site/catalog/weight.html?gender=Man&range=Socks&weight=Run

I wear merino wool liners or thin wool cycling socks. Smart wool, darn tough, defeet, fox river, etc.

Another thin synthetic sock user here. I like the thin sports-style ankle sock (read cheap but effective "Starter" brand from Targer/Walmart) while I'm in my Trail Gloves, wet or dry (if it's cold, light merino is good). They are comfy and dry quickly.

But I don't wear liners with any footwear including mountaineering boots and ski boots.

I like the Smartwool PhD light and ultralight running socks for trail runners — the ones that just cover the ankle usually. I need to decide on exact sock thickness when I decide on the shoe though. I am still sussing out "waterproof" socks and will probably use a "liner" in them. (I have not had much luck with GTX trail runners!) Of course, that arrangement will need dedicated bigger shoes! Depending on the shoe and the fit, a liner weight sock may be all you want to wear.

Just use a little bit of salve or body glide (there's a "dry" version of this that comes in "single use" packs that is enough for a week — packs aren't resealable and the stuff is a bit of a mess — otherwise it's a great product) in places prone to "blister" — before you get in trouble. But don't muck up open sores with the stuff. Once you use this stuff, you'll have to wash the feet with soap before you'll get any sort of dressing to stick.

When you are shower clean, you can use something like Eucerin ointment covered in a sock at night every so often to keep the skin from drying out and cracking. Again, don't muck up dirty lesions with grease! BTW, Eucerin ointment is awesome stuff! And it comes in 2 packs of little tubes (1/2 oz tubes, I think) in addition to larger tubes.

I always have a few alcohol swabs and lancets (in the diabetes supply section of your local drugstore). Say 20 gauge hollow needles would be better — there is something about seeing the blister juice ooze out the top!– but are harder to come by. Clean and lance before the skin tears. Then cover with a nonstick dressing. Don't put duck tape, leukotape, rock tape (so cool!), kinesio tape or whatever BPL's tape of the moment is directly against blisters — you'll rip the skin on removal.