Socks: wool vs synthetic

[chris smead]

So to me it seems like a given that all backpackers wear wool socks. But after waiting for a full 12 hours for my expedition weight smartwool socks to dry I'm starting to wonder if synthetic should be reconsidered. Thoughts anyone?

[Paul Hope]

Depends on the application– most 3-season use then I just use a light liner sock. Colder temps I use a liner sock and a thicker smart wool sock.

I wouldn't use an expedition weight sock in the summer no more than I would just use a single light liner sock in the winter. It is about picking the right tool for the job.

[Bob Gross]

For summer, I use thick Smart Wool socks. They get wet in stream crossings, but they dry out at night. For ski season, it is generally thin synthetic liners with Ultimax socks over.

–B.G.–

[Chris Jones]

"But after waiting for a full 12 hours for my expedition weight smartwool socks to dry I'm starting to wonder if synthetic should be reconsidered."

How are you drying your socks?

You can use your body heat to dry socks, if they aren't dripping wet. Just place them on your shoulders between your body and your base layer early in the evening and keep them there. They should be dry (or at least significantly less damp) in the morning.

Personally, I prefer wool due to odor control and warmth (even when wet). I prefer Wigwams over Smartwool though…

[wander lust]

wet socks in above freezing conditions are not that bad.

Just put them on in the morning, start to walk for 10 min and be surprised how warm they are.
I refrain from drying stuff in my sleeping bag.

Synthetic socks are great in warmer or hot climates.

[Steven McAllister]

I find that merino wool socks are warmer when saturated than the synthetic socks that I've tried. The exception being neoprene socks which are way too heavy to consider and are the smelliest socks ever made.

The synthetic socks become intolerably stinky after several days in wet climates.

Merino wool warmer when wet
Synthetic dries faster
Merino wool no stink
Synthetic stink
Synthetic more durable
Synthetic are usually less expensive

In most cases I wear the thinnest merino wool sock inner and a thin synthetic outer.
Cold climate, I will add another thin merino sock.

Two thin merino socks dry faster than one thick.

[James Marco]

Generally, I use two/three pair when hiking/paddling.

One is always kept dry, usually in my sleeping bag for sleeping in a large thick pair.

Paddling trips often require two. These are both size medium. But are equally thick hikkers. One usually gets soaked in water. I rinse these out at night, then set them out to dry, when I take them off at night. The second set is mostly dry by the second morning when I put them on. Straight hiking is about the same, but my feet sweat enough that they get damp, even without streams to cross, or mud holes to hike through. They, again, get mostly dry by morning.

Both are wool/merino wool blends with fair elasticicity.

Winters?? I don't hike in winter, but when I was doing that, I used heavier larger sized socks in a larger sized boot. This worked as well as any for hiking.

[Michael Ray]

I only have experience with wool blends so far. I was just discussing this last night in fact. Previously, I had worn thinner Injinji wool blend socks (with bamboo I think – the white ones). Since I had a small hole in the ball of one of those I decided to try the Bridgedale Coolmax wool blend, which were a midweight I'd say, for my latest trip. I hated them because they never came close to drying out. After suffering with WET feet for a few days I decided to try my sleep socks, a different Bridgedale wool blend of similar weight. Same experience. Even if I wrung them out immediately after a crossing, I could still wring out just as much 30 minutes later. Shoes were the same so it had to be the socks. I only got one small blister (because of a small pebble), but my soles were pretty sensitive because of being wet so much. I really don't know why they didn't dry out to just being damp instead of sopping as that is what the Injinji socks did. Maybe someone can suggest something.

[spelt with a t]

Wool is just more comfortable. It doesn't get chilly when sweaty, generally stays up better, is more cushiony, and doesn't smell nearly as bad. I've tried multiple brands and settled on Smartwool. Almost all my socks are Smartwools now. I did buy a pair of Ininji liners to try. I haven't taken them for a longer hike yet but I'm concerned they don't have enough elastic to stay up. They do feel comfortable in general, though I'm blister-prone and would be wearing merino socks on top of them anyway should I start using them regularly.

[Travis Leanna]

Michael,
I've used some wool blend socks (Omni-wool) and they don't wick and dry like my Smartwool or Darn Tough do. I don't like them nearly as much.

[Clint Hewitt]

I recommend getting a thin pair of merino wool socks. For Summer and 3 season Im usually only bring the pair of socks Im wearing, maybe a pair of thicker sleeping socks in the shoulder seasons. If your trip is of any length wool is less stinky, feels warmer.

My favorite pair of socks for hiking are Teko Merino wool, they are thin and surprisingly durable, I have yet to wear through a pair.(I have burned through a pair but that another story) Also because they are thinner than your typical wool sock they dry faster, your foot sweats less and your foot does not move around in them as much, which I hate and find annoying. I bought them off SAC two years ago and cant seem to find the exact ones on sale anywhere, I only assume the more recent Teko's are just as good.

[Michael Ray]

Travis,
So pure wool socks are better in general (as far as drying out) for midweight and thicker (or your SW and DT are also blends)? It would stand to reason that a thinner sock will dry faster, of course, but those Bridgedale midweights were ridiculous IMHO.

[Travis Leanna]

Michael, I'm not sure about pure wool socks. The DT and SW socks are also a blend but for some reason the Omniwool don't perform as well for me. They feel more "plasticky" where the other brands feel more like wool even though the blends are similar.

[Dion Dixon]

I like the Columbia Falmouth (sp?) socks. I don't think they are 100% wool, but boy, have they been rugged and comfortable. I found some on sell at a Sportsman's Warehouse 3-4 years ago and promptly went back and bought 2 more pairs after spending one day hiking in them. I don't know how well their new versions perform, but the ones I bought have been much more comfortable than any of the Smartwool or REI wool socks I wear.

Really not a huge fan of the smartwool light hikers. However, I do like the one pair of Smartwool PHD socks I have. Those are super nice, but quite a bit more expensive than their regular hikers.

As to synthetics, I've tried various types over the years, but I really can't get over the funk factor. Wearing synthetics make my feet smell like a wet dog sleeping in a men's locker room. Wool is so much less stinky than synthetics, I just can't see buying anything else anymore.

[Here There]

I've tried lots of brands and thicknesses of wool socks over the years, and while I still use them in layers for winter conditions they just don't keep my feet as comfortable for most three season use. For a long time I thought I must be doing something wrong since so many people love wool socks, but once I got over that I was able to think about what had worked well before I heard how awesome wool socks are.

The solution for me is the cheapest synthetic running socks I can find. My feet stay comfortable and they cost hardly anything to replace. It's what I used back when I ran a lot, and it also works great for me for backpacking.

[Andy F]

I don't wear even a light wool sock until the temps get into the 40's F if dry, or 50's if wet.

One interesting variation on a synthetic sock is Wigwam's Sub-Zero sock, which is:

55% Acrylic,
15% Worsted Wool
15% Hollofil Polyester
15% Stretch Nylon

I'm thinking of trying these this winter between a vapor barrier and waterproof layer where the sock will stay dry to find out how the warmth compares with a mostly wool sock.

[Todd T]

I think Steven McA summarized it best above. Wool has a lot of things going for it, but being quick drying isn't one of them. Countering that, though, damp wool doesn't feel as cold and clammy against your skin as most of the alternatives. So it's a matter of what matters the most to you. I'll take wool any day, even wet, for its feel and odor characteristics, but your likes/needs may differ.

[James holden]

i usually use synth as they dry quicker

the exception is for mountain boots when i use the thick n fuzzay wool ones, though i may switch to synth as i found some that are as fuzzy and lighter

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