Hiking Socks 2

Hiking Socks

Believe it or not, hiking socks are critical to how you do on the trail. In fact, great hiking socks could very well mean the difference between a fun time on the trail and a miserable time walking with blisters on your feet. That’s why you need to bring the best fitting pair of socks you can find when hiking.

Hiking socks must be comfortable, wick moisture, protect against shear, and support natural posture. Hiking socks should also keep your feet at a good temperature, distribute pressure, promote circulation, and absorb shock. All these are what make hiking socks as important as your boots and shoes when it comes to comfort. So when you buy hiking shocks, consider these factors:

Blood Flow

Blood flow refers to the blood circulation through your foot. Unyielding fabrics in hiking socks could result in decreased or cut-off blood flow in your foot. This would in turn lead to weakening of your feet or increase the rate at which your feet get tired while walking. To help prevent blood flow cut off, use hiking socks made from acrylics in combination with other fibers. Terry weave and shear hiking socks can also help with this.

Moisture

When you exert force on feet, they can produce 1-2 pints of sweat made from either vapor or fluid per day. Feet that are damp provide the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and fungus. You can avoid this by using hiking socks featuring wicking technology.

Position

Hiking socks should be able to help you maintain correct anatomical alignment. That way, premature fatigue can be reduced because your hiking socks will keep your feet in line, thus minimizing any effort on your part to do that yourself. In addition to reducing fatigue in your feet, your hiking socks will help correctly position your foot in your boot or shoe. Correct posture due to hiking socks will make it easier for you to feel like your boot is an extension of your body, instead of just a mere apparel.

Pressure Areas

Well, let’s face it. No matter how comfortable your hiking boot must have felt when you first bought it, after walking several miles in them, you’re going to feel all the pain in the foot that hikers are supposed to feel. This is due to pressure areas in your feet that cause discomfort and ultimately lead to damage if not addressed properly.

One way of preventing damage caused by these pressure areas is wearing comfortable hiking socks. Hiking socks provide the necessary padding around bony areas in your feet, such as the heel and ball of your feet.

Shearing Force

Shearing force happens when your tissue is moving in opposite directions, or more specifically, when you’re jumping over a stream, or descending a steep slope – activities that you are certainly going to actively engage in when hiking. As you exert effort on your feet in preparation for a leap, part of your skin is moving one way and the tissue under it another. This causes a tearing action just under the surface of the skin and causes blisters. By wearing a good pair of hiking socks, you can minimize this.