Cheap Socks (humid conditions)

[Champion_Munch]

Hi all,

In an attempt to move away from heavier hiking footwear I've recently picked up a pair of KT-26's. I'm pretty keen to give them a good go in the bush, but all my hiking socks are 10+ years old now so it's probably time to get something new.

My feet get sweaty - even if I'm just sitting around at home without shoes - and most of my hiking is near Brisbane where it's humid most of the time. So looking for something suitable for these conditions.

Reading into hiking socks and it looks like wool/synthetic blends are best, and it seems like a lot of people here order theirs from overseas. But I'm finding it hard to justify spending more on socks than I did on the shoes!

Curious if anyone regularly hike with socks you can pick up easy from local shops?

Cheers,
Munch

[ofuros]

Coolmax(sales talk), mesh panel upper, cushioning, quick drying, Darn Tough(USA). Expensive(buy when they're on sale)but they last for ages. They leave the top of your feet with a dusty criss-cross pattern at the end of the day but run cooler.
They also make a merino blend with the above attributes, not so quick drying.

...just searched, not longer available from the Aussie website where I purchased them.

# Just found a locally made coolmax sock...with or without the mesh by Wildernesswear. Haven't tried them myself.
There's also Merino & Bamboo blends in their no-show, mid & longs lineup....and colours ! Again, not so cheap so doesn't meet your criteria.

I'll give their coolmax & merino mesh versions a try for our sub tropical environment & see how they hold up...

Totally useless post for you but may interest others.

Last edited by ofuros on Tue 09 Feb, 2021 8:59 am, edited 12 times in total.

[Lamont]

I love the 'humid conditions' munchie . Inside my shoe it's always humid. But I get what you mean and the KT26s do not really breathe.
That little bit of mesh on the front doesn't do much.
Day after day use out bushwalking I go wool with some nylon 10-15% for what that's worth.

https://www.target.com.au/p/maxx-3-pack ... s/60882103
One thing I do remember.. it's best if you can go into the shop and check the length...I bought the 11-13 size (size 10 but wide feet). These will stink to high heaven after a while, wool not so.

Cheers.

Last edited by Lamont on Wed 10 Feb, 2021 9:19 am, edited 4 times in total.

[Dexter]

Nice find Lamont. I'll have to give these a go.

[Eremophila]

https://www.target.com.au/p/maxx-3-pack-performance-liners/60882103

for what it's worth, I bought some Maxx undies ages ago and they've been brilliant.

[Champion_Munch]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts. Seems like it's either cotton + cheap or wool/synthetic blend + not so cheap.

I'll keep an eye out to see if anything else looks like it might fit the bill.

[commando]

Try the bamboo ones at the local markets, depends what the definition of cheap is. $10-15.

[johnw]

Personally I would avoid cotton at all costs. Sweaty feet + cotton = Recipe for blisters in my experience.
And if they are mainly cotton also take forever to dry out. If they absolutely must contain cotton, 20% absolute max is my limit.
But I'd rather just avoid cotton altogether. For a cheap option 80/20 wool/nylon blend, or similar, have worked for me in the past.
Markets and some of those sock vendor kiosks you find in large shopping malls often have them in packs of 3.
I'm not up with current prices but used to pay around $10-$12 for pack of 3.

[Champion_Munch]

"Try the bamboo ones at the local markets, depends what the definition of cheap is. $10-15."

I've read that bamboo based socks suffer similar issues that cotton ones do - but happy to hear otherwise?

"Markets and some of those sock vendor kiosks you find in large shopping malls often have them in packs of 3."

Not sure I've ever seen sock vendor kiosks before, but then again I don't visit large shopping malls unless absolutely necessary (e.g. to look for socks). I will have to take a look around!

[Eremophila]

Yep bamboo socks take forever to dry !

[Tortoise]

Yep bamboo socks take forever to dry !

+1!