How Many Pairs of Socks

BKhunter

WKR
Joined
Oct 13, 2016
Messages
374
Location
New York
how many pairs of socks do you all carry into the back country and what is your method of changing them to keep your feet in the best condition possible. Do you air them out mid day in order to dry them out and get air to them?
 

elkguide

WKR
Joined
Jan 26, 2016
Messages
4,836
Location
Vermont
I'm a sock nut. I like fresh socks so I usually try and have at least four pairs and try and rinse out a pair every night so that when it's their turn they will be dry, fresh and ready to go.
 
Joined
Nov 28, 2012
Messages
749
Location
B.C.
Two pairs for 10 days, One set on my feet and the other in my pack. I switch them out mid day and put both pair in my sleeping bag at night to dry them out. Darn tough is the only way to go.
 

BigDog00

WKR
Joined
Sep 2, 2013
Messages
768
Location
Wyoming
I also only have one extra set and swap them out every other day. I like Darn Tough, First Lite, and Smartwool.
 
Joined
Apr 22, 2012
Messages
7,588
Location
Chugiak, Alaska
IMO there's nothing better than slipping on a pair of nice, dry, clean socks during a hunt. I always leave extra supplies wherever I get dropped and socks are definitely one of those extra supplies. I usually plan on 5-7 days away from my drop point and carry 2 pair of socks in my pack. At night, if the socks that I've been wearing all day are particularly wet, I'll take them off, put on a pair of clean socks then put the wet ones on overtop, and go to bed. During the night my body heat dries the wet socks and my feet stay warm and dry all the while. The next day, I usually just wear the socks that I wore the day before since I like to try and always have a back-up pair of clean socks in case of an emergency. Usually during one of these hunts I'll go back to the drop point, somewhere in the middle of the hunt, and resupply. I usually don't take many extra clothes in my emergency supplies/cache and hardly take any extra clothes in my pack when I head up into the mountains, so when the time comes to get flown out, the clothes I'm wearing are usually pretty ripe since I usually have been wearing them for the last 10-14 days. The only exception to this is my socks, they are ALWAYS clean, and dry for the flight out.
 
Joined
Jan 17, 2014
Messages
659
Location
Truckee
On any overnight backcountry trip I carry 2 pair of mid or heavyweight wool socks and 1pair of liner socks. The liner socks are great for blister prevention and if there is more moist weather and the chance of wet feet I use the liners under the wool socks. I rotate the wool socks daily and hang the none used pair to dry in my shelter or sleep with the extra pair in my bag. If I use the liners they dry out pretty fast at night while hanging or during downtime in the day on a rock in the sun. I will usually rinse my socks in a stream and ring them out prior to drying and rotating. Whenever I can I remove my socks and air out / dry my feet. This system has worked pretty well for me in varying conditions and temps over the years.
 

fngTony

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jan 18, 2016
Messages
5,975
Three pair. Two appropriate for time and place and a pair of liner socks. Switch them before bedtime. No particular brand I just look for wool and 0 cotton. Surprising what you find when reading labels on off brands.
 

oldgoat

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Joined
Mar 5, 2015
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2,063
Location
Arvada, CO
I carried two pair total and wear a pair for two days, washing them in the stream after wear, switching to better socks allowed this for me. Used to change them every day before. Kind of depends on how fast your feet get funky too!
 
Joined
Feb 29, 2012
Messages
620
Location
Colorado
I take 2 and alternate them. I sleep in the new booties by enlightened equipment. Best new gear purchase of the 2016 year for me.

Regarding brands: I actually like 6point over darn tough, kuiu, and first lite.
 

sniper61

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Apr 20, 2016
Messages
192
I wear liners always under wool. 2 pair of wool and up to 6 pair of liners and I can go for over a week or two. The liners keep my wools clean for the trip. If it is an extended trip I may wash the liners. Cotton of anything stays home.
 
Joined
Sep 22, 2013
Messages
6,387
I have a pair designated for sleeping and carry one other pair for every 3.5 days. So 3 pairs for a week, 4 for a ten day trip, 5 for two weeks. Darn Tough fan...boil em in my JB Minimoe for toe jam soup. Mmmmmmmmm. Delicious! Especially on cold hunts.
 

BCSteel

FNG
Joined
Dec 31, 2014
Messages
94
For 1-4 days I take 2 pairs. For 4 plus days I take 3 pairs, one for sleeping and alternating the other two for daily wear. Wash and dry as weather allows.

Sent from my HTC One M9 using Tapatalk
 
Joined
Apr 14, 2014
Messages
1,066
Location
Helena, MT
Dedicated sleep socks is where it's at. I like a nice fluffy pair of Smartwools or the Costco ones. Other than that I pack 2 pairs of Darn Toughs and rotate.
 

realunlucky

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Joined
Jan 20, 2013
Messages
13,279
Location
Eastern Utah
For 1-4 days I take 2 pairs. For 4 plus days I take 3 pairs, one for sleeping and alternating the other two for daily wear. Wash and dry as weather allows.

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This is my method also. I agree with airlock sleep socks are awesome I try and avoid putting them in the rotation

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Joined
Jan 8, 2016
Messages
1,203
Location
SW Idaho
I always pack at least 3 pairs. For a week long trip I'll alternate wearing two pairs. One hands in the tent to air out, one on my feet, and a spare just in case something crazy happens. So far it's worked well for me. Buy good socks and you can get a lot of use out of them between washings in the mountains.
 

Bulldawg

WKR
Joined
Aug 8, 2014
Messages
929
Location
Minnesota
I got 3 pairs, 2 good wool first lite darn tough or the like, and 1 pair of liner socks, the liners are my favorite sock to sleep in. I typically don't switch my socks daily, I wear one pair let it dry in my sleeping bag over night then after a couple days I put on the new pair.
 
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