Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Elk hunting socks

Seems to be some considered opinions on what are good socks for hunting (esp. elk). I like a thin liner sock that is wool/poly, and then a Smartsock of medium weight in an insulated boot.

What do the rest of you do?

Brent

Thin liner and heavier llama wool socks for cold weather, like 20 and below, with insulated boots (Crispis).

Warmer temps = lighter socks.

donsm70

My elk hunts no longer involve much really frigid weather, but I use poly/wool liners and a good pair of smart wool hiking socks. With a good pair of water-proof boots, my feet stay warm whether I am active or sitting.

Poly inner socks and Cabelas Ultra Max over them

100% polypropylene sock liner and a smartwool heavyweight sock in a Gortex lined hiking boot. Add a gaiter.

Insulated hunting boots- 200 gram- and usually a good Merino wool hiking sock, or Smart wool socks. I like them both about high enough to be above the boots a few inches so I can overlap them with my long johns so there is no thermal break. Worked for me for 40 years now.

Bob

Usually just go with medium weight Smartwool socks. I like the PHD versions. I rarely have trouble with cold feet or sweating feet though.

Wigwam merino/silk hikers in asolos.

Filson Moreno wool socks...medium weight. Don't need a liner with these.

I am wearing Filson Merino wool socks right now in my office. They dont compare to Smartwool in my opinion. Good socks, but not in the same league as Smartwool.

Tried some alpaca socks as well. total junk. wore out within about 8 wearings. were nothing special when there were new either.

Having said all that, it is only my opinion about how my feet react to certain socks. I believe each person has feet that get cold and hot (sweat) on their own schedule. This has a huge bearing on what socks work best for you. And really, it has a huge bearing on the boots you like as well.

Merino Wool or Smartwool sock's in Danner boot's with Kenetrek Gaitor's.

Liner sock (love the Cabela's over-the calf liner) with a wool-synthetic sock.

Uninsulated hiking boot (like my Vasques, love my Asolo's) with gaiters when it gets cold or wet.

Casey

Haven't worn them elk hunting, but for cold weather deer hunting I've fell in love with Smartwool, not just their socks either!

UA polypro over the calf liner sock, Carhartt over the calf merino wool sock (Arctic weight ?), 400 gram Danner Pronghorns...

Wild guess but I bet 'deer hunting' socks would work for elk hunting if given similiar temps and activity.



444 nailed it.

exactly as you do. The liner really helps with hot spots and blister prevention.

I guess I'm not a very trendy dresser. I've worn plain white cotton socks while hunting every critter that I've ever killed which would include several dozen DIY, free range Colorado and Montana elk.

cotton kills. maybe you can get away witg it but i wont try it.

I'm not a slave to a particular brand of sock. I have REI, Wigwam, Browning, and several pairs of skiing socks. However, they are all merino wool (medium weight) and I have never had to wear liners. The two types of boots I wear are Asolo Powermatic GVs (uninsulated) and Cabela's Outfitter II (600 Gram). I have never had freezing feet, cool yes, but not uncomfortabaly cold. I stand for hours on a ski slope at meets and am fine with the Cabelas boots. Last Friday night it was -20F at our meet and my feet were quite comfotable. Hand are a totally different story! Still looking for good gloves.

Really?

Except for a few years in the late '60s when my uncle made me wear OD green, the only socks that I can ever remember owning and wearing are white cotton.

I killed my first elk in 1966 in NW Colorado wearing cotton Levis and white cotton socks. I also spent 10 years as Colorado ski instructor and full time professional ski patrolman at Loveland and Steamboat ski areas, wearing a single pair of white cotton socks every day. I remember patrolling many days at Steamboat when the temperature was -20* to -35*F.

Since my first elk hunt in '66 I've big game hunted 43 years in Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Alaska, and Canada for deer, elk, antelope, lions, moose, bears, sheep, goats, caribou, and musk ox, most of the time wearing cotton Levis or Wranglers, and all of the time wearing a single pair of white cotton socks. I have frostbit my ears a time or two, but I have never had any problems with cold feet.

Here's just one of my hunts in cotton Levis and white cotton socks (also both of my shirts are cotton )...