Socks for hot weather

[Jaiden .]

I'm looking for some warm weather socks for the trip I'm planning to disney world in florida in a few months. My feet get hot and sweaty, so I find that cotton is uncomfortably clammy. I know it's a personal preference issue, but I'm wondering what the consensus is between a thin smartwool and some kind of synthetic.

These will double as warm/hot weather hiking socks, in the same vented trail runner shoes i'm taking to florida. Ideally, I'd like something in a mini crew in a plain color (white, offwhite light grey) for best utility.

Thoughts?

[Joe Geib]

Have you tried the Injinji socks? They're Coolmax, and seamless. My feet tend to sweat a lot too, and tend to blister, no matter what the sock. I used to get blisters with cotton socks during basketball, and even with good socks while hiking.

I have begun using the Injinji socks for longer hikes and basketball, and I have had happy feet.

http://tinyurl.com/2tonm4

[Chad Mason]

I've been wearing Injinji socks for a while now and love them. They're thin, cool, and the chance of getting blisters anywhere near my toes is long gone!

[Ron Bell / MLD]

I suggest sizing up if you are close to the upprer suggested limit and ordering online. I wear 12.5 D's and my L (M11-13) were a bit small. I may try a XL but have a feeling the toe type socks are not for me.

The right shoes and socks for each person are so importnat; plan on trying many brands in your quest..

-Ron

[Ken Bennett]

In summer, I wear low-cut Coolmax socks that I bought at one of the big sporting goods stores, in the running shoe area.

[Einstein X]

Jaiden,

How about a pair of sandals and no socks? Seems to me thats cooler than any shoe/sock combination. I'd recomend a leather version since that will significantly reduce the stink.

Eins

[matthew hart]

of all the socks ive tried i like the plain old under armour wicking socks for things that i do not need cushioning or warmth. i just find that they keep my feet dry better than the other brands ive tried, even the pricier ones that i prefer for hiking when i want some padding.

i also second the vote for sandals. or get a hybrid shoe like the keen taos or boulder. you can wear them with or without socks (cured me to my aversion of socks with sandals) and you can go on water rides and to the water park without worrying about getting em wet. i love mine, not only for water type shoes, but also for hiking and even rock climbing (i have the boulder which i prefer because i like to get em wet and dont want the leather)

have a great trip, i just saw a show last night about the new animal kingdom thing they made and it looked incredible. had my son begging for a vacation to DW.

matty

[Anonymous]

Joe and Chad-which model of Injinji socks do you use, Performance, Comfort, Outdoor, etc?

[John Hopkins]

I would try a cycling type sock with a mesh upper. My favorite sock is a Smartwool with mesh top, thin bottom, and low cut. It dosnt give much cushion, but with tennis type shoes you dont need it.

[Shawn Basil]

Thorlo's Coolmax Light Hikers have been my favorite summer socks in the hot humid terrain I know here in Tennessee. They are just a bit thicker than most other Coolmax socks I know, but they still feel cooler to me, and control moisture better than the much thinner ones such as Wigwam's Ultimax line. Their Coolmax Trail Runners are the sme thickness with a mini-crew length. Their ankle length running socks are a thinner Coolmax, but they come in white.

[Benjamin Tomsky]

I'm a big fan of the SmartWool Ultra Light Mini-Crew Bike Socks for warm weather hiking.

I use them for for my summer thru hiking and highly recommend them…

[Eric Noble]

Ben and John, I love those socks! I wear them every day when it's warm enough. My size large weigh 1.4 oz (40 g). Great recommendation.

[Trent Hignight]

My all-time favorite: Smartwool Adrenaline Lt. Mini Crew.
Done everything these, in a wide range of temps (cool to really hot). So comfortable. I always wear these with lightweight running shoes, that breathe well.

-Trent

[Jaiden .]

OK I ordered a few pairs of the smartwool ultra light biking mini crews. I looked at the recommended thorlos, but they didn't have a color I liked. I got a black/grey which will look OK with shorts and shoes as well as with my business casual work wear.

I should put in a word for the vendor, sockcompany.com since I've ordered from them a couple of times before, and they have EVERYTHING smartwool 15% off. They have a huge selection, and in my limited experience, good response.

thanks for the recommendations. I welcome any further comments, as I may end up trying others as well.

[John Hopkins]

Last year an outfitter employee told me that he preferred Wigwam over Smartwool becasue the quality in smartwool had gone down. I dont know the validity of this, but there may be some truth to it. I buy most of my socks as seconds at sierra trading or campmor, and I have never had a problem with them.

[larry savage]

If you were to troll around a bike website like nashbar you will find 154 socks ranging from $13.95 to $2.99 in wool, coolmax,a neoprene,polypropylene, … most are in quarter length and there is a huge variety of patterns and colors.
Another sock I've been real pleased with is the darn tough quarter sock.

[Joe Geib]

i have the coolmax socks right now:
low
mid-calf

i use these for running, basketball, and hiking.

i also want to get the warmer, "outdoor" ones.

[Sam Haraldson]

A combination of Injini Toe Socks and Darn Tough 1/4 socks are my summertime favorite.

[Chad Mason]

Tom – I wear the Injinji Tetratsok Mini Crew Socks, available from REI.

[Levan Argvliani]

I have so sad experience about hiking sock. got horrable blisters on feet this summer, since then I read reviews and post on net. right socks are so important as proper boots.

[Nick Gatel]

For me, I have found that if you footwear is properly fitted you will not get blisters.

I used to wear leather boots, and a thin liner and wool sock worked best in hot weather (desert hiking).

Since I switched to trail runners, a liner is usually not needed, but a liner does keep my feet a little cleaner when hiking on dusty trails. I have all kinds of merino wool socks, made by many different manufacturers. It really does not matter which I use. They all work well. I just grab the pair that has floated to the top of my hiking sock drawer.

[Brett Peugh]

It depends how hot it is out. I wear Chacos pretty much all of the time and I will go with some thin poly dress sock type ones or Icebreaker makes some really thing wool ones.

[Thomas Burns]

For summer, I wear the toe sock liners. They're cool, provide sufficient toe protection, and weight next to nothing.

Stargazer

[Levan Argvliani]

I did solo tour this summer, Tbilisi – Ushguli 575 km – 357 miles. then unfortunately I had no idea how important is proper hiking socks.
I wore just ordinary synthetic socks and deserve terrible blisters. then changed to 100% cotton socks. they were really soft but got no relief.
I think wool socks is the best solution. (maybe inside one pair of liners – but I dont know which material – fiber is better)

[Brian Senez]

I really like the Defeet Leviatator lite with one inch cuff. These are non cushioned very similar to a cycling sock. A pair in XL weighs just over an ounce at 31g. As long as the shoes are comfortable and fit properly and the conditions are not cold a non padded sock works great for me.

When I stop to get water and eat a snack I will remove my shoes and socks if my feet are sweaty. They will usually dry out within seven or eight minutes when I put them back on.

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