Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Socks?

Over the last several decades I have tried, trialed, just about every sock and sock combination that's come down the pike. While I use synthetics for everything else, I believe that wool is far and away the best material for socks. Nothing else matches the performance of 2 pairs of wool socks, that fit properly, in whatever boots you're wearing. This holds true in waders as well.
Carrying a second set and changing at mid-day can be an amazing trat to yourself.
Inspect he label of any wool sock you are considereing. The closer the socks are to 100% wool, the better they will perform. It seems that, particularly since merino wool came along, a lot of socks are labeled as wool, but closer inspection of the label will show that wool to be a minor ingredient. Avoid these!

Amazon.com sells them.

Do a search - a bunch of places sell them on the interweb. I see them in most stores catering to hikers.

I'm in WY hunting elk at the moment. Season ended for me yesterday AM but wanted to share sock experience. Been wearing a Smartwool liner with a Smartwool heavy crew hiking sock in Meindl leather boots. Weather has been 35/40 in AM, 50 in PM but high winds making it feel colder. I've logged 25+ off-trail miles at 9-10k feet elevation in the past 3 days. This doesn't include misc trails or other mileage. I've sat 2 evenings after hiking those miles. No foot issues. Even after packing my elk out yesterday AM - the last trip was with a full hind quarter with the elk hide. Really like the Smartwool liners paired with heavy crew Smartwool socks.

I like Darn Tough socks but find they have a thinner crew than Smartwool heavy crew. I need the extra cushioning. I do like the made in USA and lifetime guarantee features.

Darn Tough are the best that Ive found.

I like and use Smart wool but Dahlgren alpaca wool socks are the best I've used!

Agree with all of the above but Alpaca socks are great. Not sure what brand I have they were a gift. They are so nice I like to keep them in my pack and wait till my feet are cold or beat up and then dig out the Alpaca. It's like a vacation for the feet.

Not sure how well they will hold up long term but since I mostly use them on stand or back in camp should last a quite awhile.

this is what I do, thin nylon liners also if in extreme conditions like mountain climbing. Wool & antiperspirant has served me well from places as varied as the Makenzie mountains of the Yukon to the plains and boreal forest of Saskatchewan and the Pyrenees of Spain. In bitter cold and extreme heat. Rain or shine. I have not found a better combination.

I wear thin silk liners, and heavy wool socks. An extra pair of dry socks ride in the backpack (if I carry one). Brand: none, really. I found them at the Christmas Market Fair in Freiburg, Germany a few years ago. They're hand knitted by a French woman who processed the wool on her farm outside Colmar, France. When I saw them I fell in love (with the socks, not her) and figured I better buy a few pairs. Glad I did. They're thick and tightly knitted, and wear like iron (but I reserve them for deer hunting only). Best dammed socks I ever owned. (She had a big pot of Gluwein simmering on her counter that day. Swigging a couple cups of that may have swayed me a bit, but luckily the sock quality far outlasted the buzz I got from the mulled wine!)

I have kicked myself unmercifully over the years for not getting her contact info. I'll shed a tear when they finally wear out!

Switched from Smartwool to Darn Tough here as well

I switched from Smartwool to Bass Pro's Redhead brand, with the lifetime warranty. There's a Bass Pro Shop within 50 miles, the two pairs I have fit better than Smartwools, and if I wear them out, I can take them in and get them replaced, free. They were on sale for about $10/pr., too, when I bought mine.

(I did live within 10 miles of the BPS, but moved recently.)

Frankly, I like the Redheads better, but both brands keep my feet warm. I wear nylon dress socks under them, but they aren't really needed.

I take blood pressure medicine, and my feet get cold pretty easily at times. Not an issue with the Redheads, though.

There are no socks compared to Darn Tough..

The roll of the liner is what? Assuming "good" socks, necessary?

I started using liners to prevent blisters with heavy mountaineering boots. Now I use them for extra warmth mostly. Like any good base layer it transports moisture away from your feet, dryer feet are warmer. Silk, wool, synthetic all work to different degrees. They also prevent hot spots that can turn into a blister. If I am using liners I can usually wear the outer sock longer so need less pairs of heavy socks.

The liners especially synthetic can easily be hand washed and dry in 30 minutes where heavy wool socks can take a day or more to dry.

A splash of Gold Bond powder in each boot also helps keep your socks dry, i use it on every trip.

They seem to wick quicker. Also, the form fit allows a tiny bit of slide inside the outer sock, preventing blisters IME.

I also use some Arid XX spray on my feet. Prevent the swamp foot by preventing the sweat.

Falke. Made in Germany, available through Westley Richards.

Cut individually for the left and right foot and so marked.Extremely comfortable.

I wear their TK 2 model in Courtney boots for Africa, though they go up to the TK 4 which is the warmest and thickest.

Have tried many kinds, IMO, Falke are simply the best.

SmartWool. I'll eventually try Darn Tough.

Darn Tough are good.

SmartWool, or Darn Tough, whichever is clean . No liner.

I prefer the Smartwool ones as the Darn Toughs seem to bunch up at my toes. Maybe my feet are shaped funny.

looks like i'll order darn tough and give them a try