Sock Liners or doubling up:

Over man decades of hiking, I have found that boot/shoe fit is THE most important factor for foot comfort and not getting blisters. When you change socks or double up with liners, that changes the fit. Fit should be your guide. For me, if I add a liner that can make the shoe fit better or it can make it worse, depending on the particular shoe/boot. Personally, I never add liners. But they may work for you. No one can tell you how adding a liner will affect your fit… just experiment and see what works best for your fit.

boot/shoe fit is THE most important factor for foot comfort and not getting blisters.
+1,000
Cheers

I hike in the just the liners.   Fox River Silver for the past 30 years or so.  Light, durable, anti funk built in, and dry very quickly.  Two pair for hiking and one pair for sleeping and just one ounce per pair.  If the shoes or boots fit properly that’s all I’ve needed.

I went completely WAY into the liner direction. As in, ONLY use liner socks, or synthetic dress socks, layered.

Once you get into layering liner socks, you will possibly never go back to regular socks.

My favorite combo is the Gold Toe nylon dress sock on the outside and either a polypropylene UL liner or coolmax liner sock under it. The dress socks are like heavy duty liner socks, so won’t wear down as fast, but still way thinner than regular hiking socks.

For regular warm weather with water crossings, I like the Injinji liner toe socks under the gold toe nylon socks.

With the system split into thinner layers of socks, they can be pulled apart and dried much faster than single, thicker socks.

Shoe fit+toe sock liner (crew height)+toe sock (no show) combo. This has become my standard after many boot/shoe/sock doubling up configurations

I use Injinji toe socks + Goretex liners. I love this combination. Never overheat which you would think will happen. My feet are clean at the end of the day – almost like out of a bath. Socks as well. No blisters.

I found this combo by accident. I was doing the PCT – Washington section and had the Goretex liner for when it was raining hard etc to keep my feet dry. Couple of times, I forgot to remove the liner after rain stopped and I didn’t even notice it. So, just started wearing it all the time.

Murali, what goretex liner do you like?

https://www.rockyboots.com/rocky/mens/accessories/rocky-11-gore-tex-waterproof-socks/FQ0008011.html

I tried a pair of those Rocky Gortex shocks a few years ago…

I had a hard time even getting them on… maybe due to my very high arches?

And hard time getting them off… even then… when on they do not stretch so there tended to be folds of extra material and or voids. So I sent them back without ever hiking in them.

YMMV

It is a little slippery. I usually have some socks on and then I slip this on before putting on the shoe. Yes – it may require some pulling of the top – but I am used to it after 1000’s of miles.