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Post by CompassRds on Oct 28, 2016 7:10:08 GMT -8
Finally got around to posting on this and now am pretty going to echo what stevet said. Most of my blistering has occurred between my toes, but that largely cleared up after I switched to the injinji midweight trail crew, which I mis-noted as a heavy weight on the other thread. BTW I was still getting blisters with the lightweight cool max. Again I wear them in dry dirt trail conditions in a pair of fivefingers, but also wear them in trail runners when I expect it to be wet. Still hasn't stopped them from getting wet, but I've noticed I really have problems with high mileage days when wet. I guess since there might be an element of whipping it out and trail measuring involved... my max in this configuration was 5 days, ~70 miles ~9000 feet gain with somewhere between 35-45 lb load.
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talus
Trail Wise!
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Post by talus on Oct 30, 2016 3:28:15 GMT -8
I've been lucky with blisters and don't really have problems as long as I'm not wearing cotton socks. The last trip I took had 6 or 8 stream crossings on the first day. PA210716 by richglasgow63, on Flickr I wore thin Smartwool ankle socks and trail runners. My feet were soaked nearly all of that day. I just ley my feet dry a bit before putting on some thick wool socks to sleep in. I pull the insoles out of the shoes at night, and they get reasonably dry. They might be nearly completely dry in a drier climate. I think your hiking pace will determine if your feet will get cold during a hike with wet feet on a cold day. They may be fine until you stop for a break, or might be cold all day. I'd bring a few different thicknesses of socks to try-but I personally would go with the thinnest ones you can stand. Hope this all makes sense...
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driftwoody
Trail Wise!
Take the path closer to the edge, especially if less traveled
Posts: 15,004
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Post by driftwoody on Oct 30, 2016 4:54:34 GMT -8
Thanks, I appreciate all the input from hikers experienced with wet socks in trail runners.
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daveg
Trail Wise!
Michigan
Posts: 565
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Post by daveg on Oct 30, 2016 21:19:26 GMT -8
Don't know if you've read Andrew Skurka's advice on hiking with wet feet but it's pretty much what others have said except that no one has mentioned applying a salve at night.
In my experience, a lot depends upon how often and how many hours a day I expect to be hiking with wet feet. If it's just the occasional day or two of wet weather/trail interspersed with dry, I just wear my regular wool socks (Smartwool or Icebreaker). Take shoes and socks off and let my feet air during a long break. When done hiking for the day, take off wet socks and either go barefoot or put on dry socks. If warm enough, I sleep barefoot to let my feet air out overnight.
If I expect day after day after day of hiking with wet feet, I baby my feet. (I've met a few hikers on the AT who got trench foot from prolonged hiking with wet feet.) I take one or two pairs of synthetic liner socks and a foot salve. I find that wearing a liner sock underneath a wet wool sock feels more comfortable (which may just be psychological). Also, the liner socks dry out from body heat fairly quickly and putting a dry pair on under my damp wool socks feels good, even if only briefly. When I'm done hiking for the day I make sure my feet are dry and clean and then apply a foot salve.
In cold, not-wet weather I just wear a heavier wool sock. As long as I keep moving my feet have stayed comfortably warm in temps as low as the high 20s with light snow/ice on the trail. But in such conditions, I carry these booties for use in camp.
In cold and wet weather, a heavy wool sock generally works okay but I have a pair of Sealskinz waterproof socks that I prefer. Despite the waterproof claim, they get wet -- whether from leakage or sweat I'm not sure. But they keep my feet warm. And I carry my booties for camp.
I think trail runners are very versatile. But you'll probably have to experiment to figure out what works best for you.
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Post by mocs123 on Nov 4, 2016 18:26:19 GMT -8
I use thin no cushion wool socks. I used DeFeet Wooliators for quite a few years, but the past few years I have been using Darn Tough Vermont socks; thin and no cushion.
I have hiked in them for two weeks slogging through the tundra/muskeg of Brooks Range and wore the same pair every day (with a dry pair for nightime). I have also done a trip in Cohutta Wilderness that had a 31.8 mile day with 84 river crossings, feet were fine.
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Westy
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Diagnosed w/Post-Trail Transition Syndrome
Posts: 1,960
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Post by Westy on Nov 5, 2016 5:27:37 GMT -8
I pair my Merrill Moab Ventilators (non-Gore-Tex) with SmartWool PhD Cycle Ultra Light Pattern Crew socks. I accept the fact of wet feet as a given and non-avoidable. Therefore the primary criteria is the fastest drying combo. Was so adamant about the socks that I ordered direct from SmartWool. The application is specific to multi-day trail hiking.
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Post by topshot on Nov 10, 2016 19:33:27 GMT -8
Too me, sock fit is more important than shoe fit for preventing blisters. The only time I've gotten any hotspots are when I've had debris of some kind inside my shoe and was too stubborn to stop and remove it sooner. I've frequently had to walk all day with damp feet with no issues. I prefer thin wool blend socks. Thicker ones hold more moisture and don't seem to fit as snugly for some reason. Darn Tough Vermont are my favorites (women's medium fits my men's size 7 feet the best). Used a pair of clearance REI ones this last big trip with no problems.
I change into thick ones to sleep at night.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Nov 28, 2016 7:28:51 GMT -8
I wore "people socks" wool socks on my last hike, and they were great. 4 pairs for the price of one pair of smartwools too. I took them off at water crossings usually, but walked through one stream about knee high, then walked another 4.5 miles to camp and my feet were fine. Also, I was wearing a pair of Merrell trail shoes.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 20, 2016 11:13:33 GMT -8
I've hiked my boots dry after they wetted out by just rotating my SmartWool socks.
No blisters and my feet were still warm.
The two most recent times I did this were both up in the UP with daytime temps in mid forties to low fifties.
My feet did get cold in camp as I didn't have camp shoes and had to wear the boots.
I'm going to switch over to Darn Tough socks soon. My newer SmartWool socks don't seem to last the same as my older ones. My REI socks are fine but word around here is the Darn Tough are darn tough (slightly lower merino wool content).
Are you trail running woody? I'm thinking of adding trail running to my repertoire.
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driftwoody
Trail Wise!
Take the path closer to the edge, especially if less traveled
Posts: 15,004
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Post by driftwoody on Dec 20, 2016 18:42:55 GMT -8
Are you trail running woody? No, unfortunately, age began to catch up with me in 2016. More problematical than the surgery to repair a partially torn rotator cuff on my left (non throwing) shoulder, I've got some arthritis in my right hip. It started bothering me early this season by the 2nd game of double headers. I play the outfield and do a lot of sprinting, especially on my senior team (moving up to 60 next year) but I may have to give up tournaments that sometimes involve 4 or more games a day. On local hikes since my shoulder surgery 3 months ago, I start to get pain in my hip after only a few miles. Lighter footwear is helpful as are the exercises I've been doing for my hip, but I'm afraid big mile treks and big national tournaments might be out of the picture for me. I never have been a trail runner, but I'm always looking to improve my gear.
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