100% wool hose and sock liners

**Tobus** · 31st January 11, 08:38 AM

What are some sources for 100% wool hose (no poly blends) at a reasonable price? I'm looking for hose specifically for kilted hiking, and it's important that they be 100% wool yet inexpensive (i.e. no high-dollar custom stuff).

I see that WPG has reproduction khaki hose that are supposedly 100% wool, and reasonably priced at $16 per pair. These would probably suit my needs perfectly, but I wanted to check with the rabble and see what else is out there. WPG has kinda disappointed me on their shipping speed (I've been waiting over a month for them to ship a pair of boots). So I'm looking for other options.

Also, for those of you who are serious hikers or outdoorsmen, I was wondering if you had any input on wearing modern "sock liners" under wool hose. They are supposed to be very good at wicking moisture away from the feet and keeping them cool, but I'm having a hard time believing it, since all the sock liners I see are made from pure poly/rayon/elastic fibers. In the past when I've worn socks made of that stuff, all it does is keep my feet wet and hot, like wearing a plastic bag. I admittedly have zero experience with sock liners, so I'm looking for comments on whether you find them useful when worn under wool socks.

**auld argonian** · 31st January 11, 09:05 AM

As to liners, consider bamboo. Lots of bamboo based rayon socks available right now. I have crew socks from Gold Toe that are fantastic everyday socks...as good as wool (and I was wearing wool socks year round before the bamboo came around). I did find some lightweight bamboo socks at Target, so you might want to give them a try.

Why, though, are you insisting on 100% wool? Just from a maintenance standpoint a basically wool sock with a small amount of synthetic to help it keep it's shape and give it enough of an elastic quality to keep it from sagging while worn seems to be much more practical.

Mind ye...whatever floats yer boat...but I'm curious as to why you're so into 100% wool.

Best

AA

**Drac** · 31st January 11, 09:05 AM

As for sources I'm not sure.

On the liner issue we use two layers in the Navy. A cotton, thin lining sock with a wool, thick sock with our boots. Works well.

As for the modern synthetic liners, like the new tees that are all the rage I not all that sure about. They will pull moisture away from your body quickly and for tees that puts it into the air quickly preventing things like rashes. I still prefer cotton myself and that is with having spent 5 years in a 140F engine room.

As how they would work for sock liners not quite sure because you would need some place for the moisture to go. If you don't have ventilated boots I'm not sure how well the synthetics would work.

While not hose (they're a bit shorter) if you want pure wool at a decent price check military supplies.

Jim

**Detroitpete** · 6th February 11, 02:19 PM

Originally Posted by Drac

As for sources I'm not sure.

On the liner issue we use two layers in the Navy. A cotton, thin lining sock with a wool, thick sock with our boots. Works well.

As for the modern synthetic liners, like the new tees that are all the rage I not all that sure about. They will pull moisture away from your body quickly and for tees that puts it into the air quickly preventing things like rashes. I still prefer cotton myself and that is with having spent 5 years in a 140F engine room.

As how they would work for sock liners not quite sure because you would need some place for the moisture to go. If you don't have ventilated boots I'm not sure how well the synthetics would work.

While not hose (they're a bit shorter) if you want pure wool at a decent price check military supplies.

Jim

"Thick over thin...thin next to skin"

Then slide on the boonies!

**The Barry** · 31st January 11, 09:40 AM

Liners - For hiking and mountaineering I always wear them. They help with wicking and can reduce friction, leading to less blisters if you have hotspots on your foot. I use silk liners, and you can pick them up at your local REI for about $7 a pair, if I remember correctly.

Wool hose - Here I'm a bit confused. How much of your concern is aesthetics vs. function? I go for all function, and I only use SmartWool. Bar-none, the best sock for your hiking, mountaineering, and skiing needs.

**Standard** · 13th February 11, 08:18 PM

Originally Posted by The Barry

Liners - For hiking and mountaineering I always wear them. They help with wicking and can reduce friction, leading to less blisters if you have hotspots on your foot. I use silk liners, and you can pick them up at your local REI for about $7 a pair, if I remember correctly.

Wool hose - Here I'm a bit confused. How much of your concern is aesthetics vs. function? I go for all function, and I only use SmartWool. Bar-none, the best sock for your hiking, mountaineering, and skiing needs.

*** This is almost word for word what I was going to say from my personal experience and many, many miles of hiking and backpacking.

**Tobus** · 31st January 11, 10:49 AM

Why, though, are you insisting on 100% wool? Just from a maintenance standpoint a basically wool sock with a small amount of synthetic to help it keep it's shape and give it enough of an elastic quality to keep it from sagging while worn seems to be much more practical.

I seem to have better luck with pure wool than with blends. I own at least three pair of 100% wool kilt hose, and when I wear them, my feet are comfortable all day long. But when I wear kilt hose that are only 60% wool (which seems to be about the norm), with the rest of the content being man-made material, I find my feet getting hot and sweaty and feeling slimy in my shoes.

My hands and feet sweat more than most people, due to a condition called hyperhidrosis which I inherited from my mother (and her mother as well). All my life I've had to avoid socks with man-made fibers because they are not kind to my feet.

And this is why I'm doubtful of the idea of sock liners. Knowing my issues with these types of materials, I'm afraid they're going to do more harm than good. But I'm willing to give them a try for hiking, where the condition of my feet is critical. If they help wick moisture away, great! If not, I'll have to revert to what works best for me, which is pure wool with no man-made fiber content.

That's the goal for me at this point, anyway.

Wool hose - Here I'm a bit confused. How much of your concern is aesthetics vs. function? I go for all function, and I only use SmartWool. Bar-none, the best sock for your hiking, mountaineering, and skiing needs.

Actually, I'm trying to find the best balance between aesthetics and function. There are undoubtedly some great products out there for hiking comfort, but they won't be suited to a traditional kilted look. I can always go to those products if comfort and functionality must take precedence over style. But I'm hoping I can find a set of hose and/or sock liners that will give me the best of both worlds.

**AKScott** · 31st January 11, 12:39 PM

I can't help with the hose.

I have tried every sock liner available at the retail level in Fairbanks, AK. The SmartWool brand liner socks are the only ones I have bought more of, I think I have seven pairs of those now.

As insulation out in the cold they are great. In the winter I take off my oversocks when I get to work and wear the SmartWool liner socks inside my basketball shoes all day in the operating room.

I am not sure the SmartWool liners will be ideal for you. After 9-10 hours indoors working pretty hard these do get slimy. I keep one dry clean pair in my locker at work for hard days when the morning pair is slimy and it is also really cold out for going home.

I would rate the SmartWool liner sock fabulous in the cold when my feet aren't sweating very much.

Indoors in the heat I have to give them an "above average" mark compared to "unacceptable" for the man made fiber liner socks.

Maybe try just one pair while you research other fibers?

EDIT: If cotton blend athletic socks are "average" for sweat wicking, I have to give the SmartWool liner socks an "above average."

**Andy Proffitt** · 31st January 11, 12:51 PM

I probably wouldn't hike in kilt hose, the weave and loft really isn't suited to the job of cushioning your foot for a hike, esp. if you plan to do anything with much elevation.

When it comes to hiking, I would recommend three companies: SmartWool, Wigwam, and Bridgedale. All three serve me well, keep my feet cushioned and hold up over long use. Bridgedale does offer some heavy trail models in a knee high form, so you would have sort-of the look, with the functionality.

Someone mentioned bamboo, and for the trail I say never, I have only thrown away one pair of hiking socks and they were bamboo, they ate my feet up worse than cotton, and it was only a 4 mile hike.

As far as the sock liners go it is a toss up. I never use them, but I have friends who can't hike without them. If you are going to use them, my friends also swear the silk over the 100% man made ones. I don't think, however, they will make up for a poor choice in sock.

Your feet are the worst place to make compromises in your hiking gear, you use them the whole time you are hiking and they pretty much determine whether you have a good hike, or whether you feel like you are walking around the 7th level of Hell (also known as the Matterhorn of Hell). Go for function over form.

**Dall_Piobaire** · 31st January 11, 01:33 PM

I second Smartwool!!! Used to do a lot of hiking to climbing locations, a good smartwool hiking sock and the special liners are a "never leave the house without"! In fact, to be honest, I would bring two sets of each. One set in, one set out, and bring moleskin as well. I trust the boots are well broken in? Depending on what you are doing gaiters(sp) might be in order as well, keeps those blasted small stones and flotsam out of your boots.