100% wool hose and sock liners

[Arlen]

For liners, the trick I always got taught when doing forced ruck marches was to use the feet part of a woman's tights. (Pantyhose.) They'll wick away moisture as will the wool but be breathable. They'll also stop any terrible rubbing and keep you from blisters etc. Always worked perfectly for me.

[ForresterModern]

Always wear some sort of liners with my kilt hose and whenever hiking, skiing/boarding, or wearing any other types of boots. Cuts down on chaffing and blistering while keeping my feet segregated from my wool hose or other hose. Liners pick up most of the oils and salt in sweat leaving the outer hose to wick away the sweaty moisture. Easier to wash after each use, dry quickly, and lengthen the life of my heavier over-hose in whatever activity as I can wear them several times between washings as needed. Been doing so for 25 years since I picked up my first polypro liners---now moved on to specifically designed liners by Bridgedale and others.

[Tobus]

Thanks to everyone for the good advice.

I went ahead and bought some heavy hunting/hiking socks and sock liners. The socks are 88% Merino wool, 16" tall. The sock liners actually do a pretty decent job of keeping my feet less wet than normal (I won't say dry, because they're still slightly moist, but it's a vast improvement). And since the socks are so tall, I'm doing a turn-over to the inside to bring them just over the tops of my leggings. Works great!

[ForresterModern]

Thanks to everyone for the good advice.

I went ahead and bought some heavy hunting/hiking socks and sock liners. The socks are 88% Merino wool, 16" tall. The sock liners actually do a pretty decent job of keeping my feet less wet than normal (I won't say dry, because they're still slightly moist, but it's a vast improvement). And since the socks are so tall, I'm doing a turn-over to the inside to bring them just over the tops of my leggings. Works great!

Tobus

You should over time find that daily rinsing of the liners after use will keep your feet happy and your hose will require less frequent washings (unless you are getting them dirty from the outside), thereby helping your expensive kilt hose last a might longer. Most of the sweat and smell should end up in the liners and be easier to clean out and dry quickly compared to the wool.

Good luck and enjoy.

j

[Leonard (MacGregor)Tinker]

Sock liners work exactly the same way the liner in a disposable diaper works, they pull moisture through to the padding in the diaper or the outside hose or sock where it evaporates.

[Detroitpete]

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]

You should over time find that daily rinsing of the liners after use will keep your feet happy and your hose will require less frequent washings (unless you are getting them dirty from the outside), thereby helping your expensive kilt hose last a might longer. Most of the sweat and smell should end up in the liners and be easier to clean out and dry quickly compared to the wool.

***. Indeed. This will keep the oils that come out of your feet from fouling your nice kilt hose.

[Tobus]

Tobus

You should over time find that daily rinsing of the liners after use will keep your feet happy and your hose will require less frequent washings (unless you are getting them dirty from the outside), thereby helping your expensive kilt hose last a might longer. Most of the sweat and smell should end up in the liners and be easier to clean out and dry quickly compared to the wool.

Good luck and enjoy.

j

That's good advice. I tried that on an overnight camping trip I did this weekend. Even though it was a short hike, it was over some pretty rugged terrain and my feet were good and hot/sweaty by the time I got to my campsite. Before I hit the sack for the night, I rinsed my sock liners and set them out to dry for the night. They performed well the second day for the hike back out, and weren't all stinky. They did a great job keeping my feet (relatively) dry, especially considering I had them cooped up in leather boots and canvas leggings.

It was a good trip, and since foot comfort has been something I've been struggling with, I feel this is a vast improvement.

Can't see 'em very well, but these are the 88% Merino wool "hunting socks", with sock liners underneath, that I wore on my outing:

[ForresterModern]

During my more active hiking days we used to take two pairs of woolies and two pairs of liners for just about any duration trip, unless we anticipated water, mud, rain or snow (this was before gore-tex boots were common---anybody remember mink oil?). Rinsed out liners each night they were worn, rinsed out woolies about every other or every third day, and just kept the rotation going. Always had one dry pair of liners, and one pair of woolies that were either dry or drying on the outside of your pack. For wetter trips just add another pair or two of woolies and maybe another liners and you can go for nigh on a month if necessary (did a couple times in the boy scouts). Usually our boots got pretty raunchy after a week or so requiring a "rest and re-ventilate" day for them (a.k.a. Teva day). Wearing gaiters makes your woolies last even longer, keeping dust and other crud off them, although it can make the sweat factor a bit worse on hot days.

Glad it worked out for you Tobus. Need to strap on my Merrells and hit the rocks this spring. I think you have motivated me.

jeff

[Standard]

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.