Like everything on the fire, I know there will be a wide range of opinions on this topic, but what is everyone using fro backpack hunting socks? Do you use a sock/liner combo, or just a sock? Trying to dial in everything while it's still cold so I can give it a run in conditions similar to what I may experience in the fall. Thanks for the help in advance!

I don't always use liners, but when I do, I use Injinji Toe Socks. I like the wool version. And then Darn Tough wool socks.

I use SmartWool socks and I don't use liners.

I don't use liners. I use Kenetrek socks exclusively.

Smartwool with sock liners... just TRY the liners before you decide they don't work (they DO)!!!

In over 50 years of big game hunting mostly in Colorado and Montana, and also numerous hunts in Canada, Africa, New Zealand, Alaska, and Azerbaijan, which included a dozen or more backpack hunts for Bighorn and Dall sheep and Mountain goats, and also 10 years as a ski instructor and pro patrolman at Loveland Basin and Steamboat ski areas in Colorado... the only socks that I have ever worn are the basic white cotton that you can buy for $1 or less a pair at Walmart.

Ok, let the flaming begin...

Ive been really happy with Dahlgren alpaca wool socks, for most of my hunting!

Darn tough socks have been very good for me.

Darn Tough!

Thanks for all the suggestions, ordered a few different darn tough socks to try, along with some Injinji Toe Sock liners and some Fox River X static liners to give it a try!

The Darn Tough hunting socks are FANTASTIC!

Darn Tough
Smartwool
Costco

In that order

Ditto...

Smartwool merino wool socks, warm in winter and cool in summer itchless really love them. I wear them without liners and have never gotten blisters.

Yes, you must try a pair of these. They will "walk dry" if you need to, as they are not pure wool but rather a combination of wicking synthetics in certain areas with alpaca wool in the others to pull moisture up and out.

They make a standard wool sock feel like a wet bath towel.

Darn Tough

Farm to feet and darn tough.

Darn Tough all the way

Do they sell these at any retail brick and mortar stores, or online only? I will have to pick up a few pair and give them a try.

Smartwool guy myself, with Smartwool liners. I've tried many different sock and sock liner combos and keep coming back to the Smartwool PhD series with Smartwool liners. In addition to hunting, I put on 3-400 miles a year in the Smokys just hiking. Leukatape, Smartwool liners, Smartwool PhD socks keeps me blister free. We routinely do 15+ mile days, my pack weighs 20.1 lbs with water. It works for me.

I have a 50/50 mix of Darn Tough and Smartwool. I don't really have a preference between the two, both great socks. I would like to try those Alpaca socks.

Smartwool and Lorpen worked good for me. Gander Mtn. ( when they were around) used to carry Smartwool.

The only socks besides Darn Tough I wear are Wright Socks.

I'm a Darn Tough convert. I never could wrap my head around how much better a $20 pair of socks could be but I have about a dozen pairs now.

I like the smart wool ones the best.

Synthetic or smart wool with knee high heavy panty hose as liners. After hiking for 50 years in every possible sock combo, still the best.

The only way to keep insulation, both sock and boot, truly dry is with a vapor/water proof barrier on each side, which means beneath the sock. I don’t like doing that.

I get them online!

I wear Smartwools every day. I wear the ultra lights as dress socks with slacks and loafers to work.

I’ve used and like both smartwool and darn tough. I find the darn tough to be more durable.
I tried the injinji liner socks , but thought my feet got colder with them.

I've done the cotton socks, as that's what we had growing up. Other than good boots, socks are the second best investment a guy can do, imo. Kenetrek here....

Point 6 and Rohner

No liners, socks are darn tough or kuiu Marino.

I have both the heavy weight marino wool socks, and alpaca socks. Overall, considering the alpaca socks are thinner, they seem as warm as the thicker marino wool, but in terms of comfortable wear, the alpaca win hands down.

This was my first year deer hunting with the alpacas, and being a statioary stand hunter I think it was a fair test. I'll be trying them again next season, when the winter will hopefully be colder than the 30 degrees wo had this year.... I won't be storing the marino wool socks just yet.

Cabela's or LL Beans. Whatever they have on the rack that is fuzzy. Have tried the Smartwoll, but NBD. Move around a lot so little problem in keeping feet warm. Friend raves on the alpacas for comfort.

Moving around, feet stay dryer and warmer in uninsulated boots vs insulated.

This is a good one that I rarely see bandied about here.
I have a mix of Smart Wool, Farm to Feet and Darn Tough and can't claim any are heads/tails above the other.

I wear a liner a fair bit too and have become smitten with the injinji liners.

You have suffered long enough

I use a liner and Carhartt boot socks for sheep and goat hunts where I need to fine tune the fit of my boots. Other than that, no liner for me.

I avoid cotton, but otherwise think the whole thing is rather overblown. Darn Tough, Smartwool, or the Costco merino are all close enough to the same.

A wise man once said, the tougher you are, the crappier your gear can be.

That's my preference...

Smartwool socks and liners. Various thickness for variable conditions.

I will never hike or hunt without liners, JMO

My feet are pretty...delicate. I've settled on Fox River liners and either Smartwool or REI wool socks. REI won't get my business now but I still use the ones that I have on-hand.

There are not many things on this forum that I can claim to have expertise in, but this is one... I have sissy feet attached to a strong will and can guarantee I have had more blisters and lost more toenails than most.

http://www.thermohair.com/Crew-Socks--GREY_p_56.html


I have tried nearly all of the socks listed above and these are superior in all regards.

I have tried them and yes they are good. My only real complaint is they stretch and are bulky. I tried their ski socks and like them better.

Smartwool are pretty fragile...don’t last very long.
I am a convert to injinji toe socks liners...eliminated blisters.

I'm using Kenetrek socks and liners and they work well.

I'll be the odd man out here and say that I really don't care for Darn Tough. They last forever, but don't breath well and dry slow. I like Smartwool PhD (when I can find them on sale) and Defeet wooleators. Usually bring a thicker pair of smartwools or Costco merinos as sleeping socks on overnight trips.

I like Smartwool they seem to work for a t least 2-3 seasons then I replace. To me warm feet are really important and high altitude and cold temps.

Try Fitts or Darn Tough in their tactile boot lines. I like them both a lot. Gary U

Costco all the way. I use them for everything. They change the design every year or so but for the last ten years they've served me well. Darn Tough socks are good but not worth the extra cash, at least for me. I say that as someone who can get DT socks on sale with a pro deal.

Same here, at times with liners and at times without.

I think I have about 20 pairs of Darn Tough socks and no others. I've accumulated these over the last 10-ish years. Short ones for running. Tall, thick ones for winter. Thin ones, medium hight ones, the list goes on.

Over the ten year period I've sent back three different pairs. Basically socks that developed holes prematurely (in my opinion). In all three case, a new pair were sent out in return, no questions asked. I've chucked out a couple of pairs that were so thread bare you could see through them- no way would I send a pair like that back . Multiple years of service is more than can I ask out of a pair of socks.

Never wear a liner, just the appropriate weight/height sock.

Darn Tough makes great socks.

So what makes you guys decide whether to wear a liner or not?

For me it's all about friction and blisters, that's what liners help with. With the boots I use now, I don't need 'em, with other boots sometimes I do.

I think in hot weather some guys like synthetic liners to move sweat out away from their feet.

My experience with Darn Tough mirrors yours to a T. Great company

Looks like some great socks.

Made right here in the USA.

There are many good socks like the ones tht have been mentioned. Most important consideration, for me, is fit. Alwasy tight-ish and never loose as any small wrinkle or crease will destroy your foot.

Opposite to what I think about boot size, always a bit loose to avoid any compression in your feet when they swell due to the heating during excercise,

There are a lot of good sock brands, you probably can't go wrong with a quality pair. Liners though....I've hunted, hiked and backpacked with and without them. I can take or leave them in warm weather, but in cold weather, they're invaluable because if your feet sweat at all, they will get cold. The liners wick away the moisture and prevent that and my feet stay warmer.

Tried these out today, took a while for the liners to come in, but did a good hike in them today. Was very skeptical at first, but so far I'm sold. Darn tough socks are awesome as well!

I wear my DT's 6 days a week in my conditioning regimen. A 100 miles a month, every month. The last pair I sent in for replacement was more than 1,400 miles ago...

Wish I could say that about the soles of my boots.....

Not a scientific or comprehensive test, but 4 years ago I tested most of the top brands of socks and liners. For me, it was hands down, Darn Tough Socks with no liners.

4 years later, I have yet to send a pair back due to wear and tear.

I am involved in a project in Andes Mountains where my boots and socks have to perform.

I use the COOLMAX® BOOT SOCK FULL CUSHION. I have had zero issues with these socks.

Darn Tough for me. In cold weather, I like their over-the-calf models.

Two that I haven’t seen mentioned are Boyt Harness Company’s heavy weight socks and some of the Browning line.

I passed through Morgan, Utah, in early fall, bought a pair at the factory store to try. Used them several times hunting elk and chukars. On trip back through, bought four more pairs. I’ve since used them a lot in cold conditions and haven’t tried any that were better. These are 81% Merino wool, 17% nylon, 2% Spandex.

Look at ThorLos military boot socks - that's all I've used for 30+years of military and hunting use

So you have nothing to compare to!

Are those synthetics or wool? I had some synthetic Thorlos years ago. Very well-made and comfortable but they made my feet feel clammy when I sweated, unlike a good wool sock.

I'm not a fan of synthetic socks.

I got a few pair of Darn Tough's to try out. Good thread.

I realize this is an older post, but this is how I roll too and have never had an issue, nor a reason to change.

Maybe my feet don't sweat as much as other peoples...or maybe I don't notice as much discomfort as others...but I have never worn anything other than Wally World special socks, even on extended backcountry hunts. I do have some thicker socks I'll wear on late season snowy hunts, but they're nothing special either. Just thicker.

I honestly don't even remember the last time I had a blister on my feet from hiking.

I like Smartwool Sox and Darn Tough Sox and only wear a liner when it’s cold like below 0 F

I've used Darn Tough, Smartwool, Kenetrek(merino wool), First Lite, and Fits. I really like the First Lite compression because they go up to the knee and stay tight. I also like Fits. Those are my top choices out of everything I've used.

I ordered some First Lite socks since I was ordering some other stuff from them as well and I really like them as well.

I like darn tough socks, short ones for everyday and knee for hunting.