Is it better to wear one pair or two pairs of socks while hiking?

Question

From personal experience I tend to wear two pairs of socks, normally some running socks and then my hiking socks on top of that. It helps me avoid blisters. Quite a few of my friends thinks this is nonsense. But with well worn-in boots I always tend to get more blisters if I wear only one pair. Does anyone know if there is any scientific reason for this? or is it just an old wives tale?

Answer 1

Hiking blisters are from friction. When things shift, your sock is more likely to stay with your boot than your foot as the two fabrics (or leather and fabric) will catch each other. This leaves the sock moving against your foot, which causes friction. When you wear two socks, specifically a smooth liner and a wool hiking sock, the outer sock moves against the inner sock instead of against your foot and less friction is created. Less friction = fewer blisters.

For the same reason, two pairs of wool won't work as well as what you currently do because the wool is likely to bind and behave like one sock instead of two

Answer 2

There are a lot of unspecified variables involved here... type of socks, fit of the shoe/boot, type of shoe, conditions you are hiking in, etc.

But in general, double-socking may offer the following which may help prevent blisters:

• reduced friction - assuming one sock is a thin slick liner sock which tends to stick to your foot while the outer sock sticks to the boot thus keeping the rubbing happening between the two.
• moisture control - a liner sock can help wick moisture away from your foot. Dry feet are happy feet.
• additional padding - can prevent hot-spots and pressure points (or can create them, depending on the fit of the shoe)
• can help take up space - shoes that fit too big can rub more
• leech control - two pairs of tight woven socks have served me well for 2 years in the tropics
• warmth - adds additional insulation (though if your boot is a tight fit, this can actually work against you as you decrease circulation/air space...)

If the question is whether double-socking is better, that is unanswerable and totally a question of personal preference. If 2 socks work for you, and reduce blisters, go for it. For other people's feet / shoes, 1 sock may be better. I've even worn 3 socks when my shoes were big enough, and I have hiked with people who wore no socks without issue...

If the question is whether two socks are proven to reduce friction - even that depends on the fabric of the socks, the material and fit of the boot, the foot, and the environment (hot, cold, wet, dry, etc...).

Answer 3

FWIW Ten years ago everyone in the Canadian Forces were issued wool socks. Now they are all issued two-pair sock systems. Personally I never once got blisters with wool socks but I always kept my boots tight.

Answer 4

Two pairs of socks reduces friction and absorbs more moisture, both of which help prevent blisters.

Personally, I prefer thin neoprene socks underneath thick wool socks.

Answer 5

My opinion is that using two pairs of socks is nonsense - there will be folds then, resulting in stronger impact of friction and more blisters. It would be better to use good "functional" socks that keep the foot dry. I think the moisture is the worse thing for blisters.