Socks Make or Break Your Outdoor Time

As we all know from extended time in the woods, your feet are critical to every aspect of life. From driving to the destination and making some gas and grocery stops on the way, to hiking in and setting up camp. Many newcomers tend to focus on making sure that they have proper boots or other footwear to utilize when outdoors. Many do not yet understand the importance of having good quality socks to suit the purposes needed in the bush. In today’s post we will discuss three different socks that I have acquired over the years at three different costs. Whether you are just starting to get into the outdoors, or are a seasoned vet, I hope that you will benefit from the explanation of these critical pieces of kit. Who knows, even you grizzled lumberjacks may discover a great piece of gear to add to your quiver!

Different Varieties of Socks

Socks come in every size and shape, there are incredible amounts of variety throughout the world and the internet for us to pull inspiration from. Many people who are not accustomed to the harsh outdoor environments we enjoy would not think twice about wearing a pair of cotton athletic branded crew socks or possibly worse, ankle cut socks into the woods. We know that this would be an open invitation for a plethora of uncomfortable situations, from cold feet all the way to infection and trench foot. (Having had trench foot, I do not recommend it)

Outbound Men’s Camping Thermal Sock, 2-pk

The first sock on our list today will be our extreme budget option and our most generic sock. I bought these socks last winter when I had first moved to Canada, I was at Canadian Tire shopping for nothing that I needed when I saw them and thought I would give it a try. I never planned on using them in any work capacity and knew exactly what they were when I bought them, a cheap pair of thicker socks that look like they are made of wool and warm. These socks do actually go on overnight trips with me, I pack them in my spare bag and will use them as a sleep pair of socks so that I don’t have to wear my tight-fitting wool socks at night. That and casual lounging at the campsite or around the house are about all that I would recommend these for. As I stated, these are not a work sock, they are listed as being made of nylon and acrylic. The website does not specify any percentages of either material. They are incredibly cheap though, costing about $11.30 USD for a two pack at the time of this post, that brings the cost per pair down to $5.65USD which I would gladly pay again for a sleep and lounge sock.

Bates – Men’s 1-pk Tactical Uniform Sock Mid-Calf

I purchased these socks sometime in 2018 when I was stationed in Japan while serving in the United States Marine Corps. They fit the regulation for accepted sock we could wear in uniform and looked better than the dirt-cheap ones that were issued. These socks have a good amount of cushion in them and are comfortable for everyday use with my combat boots. Coming in at around $11 USD per pair I thought these were incredibly expensive socks and would take care of my feet no matter what. When taking them to the field I enjoyed them, but soon wished I had something with more ability to wick away moisture. These are made of 70% Ultraspun Polyester, 27% Nylon, and 3% Spandex, this means that they do not have any of the natural properties of wool that many of us prefer. After about three days of use in the rainy mountains of Japan on a training exercise, I got trench foot. These socks were not the only reason, there are many, but it is something to be noted. If I had been wearing a pair of merino wool socks, then I believe that it would not have been as severe.

Smartwool – Hike Full Cushion Crew Socks

These were my first expensive socks that I purchased on my own. They were incredibly comfortable and felt much better on my feet than any previous socks I have owned. With lots of cushion in them and the knowledge that they are made of 56% Merino Wool, 11% Nylon, 31% Recycled Nylon, and 2% Elastane, I was ready to wear them every day. These merino wool socks will cost a pretty penny at $26 USD per pair, but I fully stand behind them and believe it is worth the price. Not only does merino wool wick moisture away from your foot preventing trench foot and other moisture related funguses. They are also anti-microbial, and bacteria are unable to grow within them, this helps prevent itching and smells from becoming an issue with prolonged use. Finally, merino wool retains its heating properties when it is wet. This past fall I went on a canoe trip with my father, we were walking through the shallows created by beaver dams for about 500 meters that day, in the freezing water up to our ankles. My boots and socks were properly soaked through, yet my feet were still warm, even when in the water!

Conclusion

We talked about three amazing pairs of socks for what they do, at three different prices. The cheapest pair being great for sleeping our lounging. The intermediate sock that has lots of cushion and is great for everyday use. Then the most expensive sock, the merino wool sock that will be your best friend in the bush. In my opinion it is best to always go with a merino wool sock for any kind of outdoor use, I have even switched to using them for everyday now. They are expensive, but it is a worthwhile investment to help keep your feet clear of any infection and warm.