Warm socks that won't make your feet sweat?

You could try sprinkling some Gold Bond powder on your feet before you put the socks on. And I would tend to think real wool would be better than synthetic. Synthetic fabrics always make me sweat (and I am not a big sweat-er).

The problem might be with your hiking boots and not the type of socks your wearing. If your hiking boots aren’t lined with any wicking type insulation/liner (i.e. Primaloft, Coolmax, Thinsulate, etc) then the access heat has no where to escape, staying trapped in your boots creating a sauna like affect. And your feet end up sweating.

You might want to get different pair of hiking boots with a wicking liner.

I’ve worn both Merino Wool and synthetic Ski Socks from Burton and my feet don’t sweat when wearing them. Then again, my shoes have a wicking liner in them so the excess heat escapes.

Good Luck
R

I just bought a pair of “Eurosocks” for skiing, they are 80% “Microsupreme/acrylic”, 15% nylon, and 5% spandex, and I love them. my feet never get cold, but the socks are very thin and I do not notice any more sweat than normal after a day on the slopes. I got mine from REI, i think they were about 14 bucks.

Smartwool socks are good too if you are not allergic to wool.

Some good stuff here. I am going to have to try out the wicking liner as well as the EuroSocks – I have the SmartWool but those don’t do the trick – better than most, but still moist at the end of the day.

My default boots are a pair of New Balance hikers, and I don’t believe they have any Thinsulate; they do have Waterproofing, which i itself may be contributing to the moisture farming.

Thanks!

Cotton socks are great—but maybe not fancy enough for hiking. I just bought some organic cotton ones at a food coop, and I love them. They are thick cotton and warm—but I am not in the mountains.

I would go with some wool socks, myself. My feet tend to sweat no matter what, so they will be sweaty no matter what kind of sock I wear. However, in winter, I do find that my feet get cold in cotton socks because of the moisture from my sweat, whereas when I wear wool, my feet stay warm despite it.

When I’m hiking in drier/warmer weather, I wear cotton socks with my Merrill’s that have mesh ventilation slashes.

Just following up here, I found that it was the shoes/boots I was wearing that made the sweat worse. I found some breathable insulated winter boots this year, and while I still get sweaty feet, nothing like I did with the older boots.

Thanks again all!

those creepy toe socks work for me. i always assumed they’d make my feet sweat and be uncomfortable…. but then i tried them. and now i swear by them in the winter. i even wear them with flip flops when i’m putzing around the house and stuff

@sunshinedust – interesting. Wouldn’t have thought a “toe” sock would make any difference as to the sweat factor. Perhaps it’s the materials the sock is made out of? Could you clarify on that aspect?

@gcoghill – i always figured that having each individual toe would keep them warmer, maybe too warm, even sweaty. i’ve had on a pair all day and my feet are fresh, perfect temp, and free of any jankiness. ; )