Walking socks - guide to buying.Your feet deserve a good pair of walking socks so use this guide to make sure your socks fit you correctly and that your feet will not be irritated by itchy seams or damp sweat, but remain cosy, warm and dry!
Have you taken the foot awareness quiz?
Look out for mid weight socks that you can wear most of the time unless of course you go walking across the artic or around the equator.
Nowadays socks come with a myriad of different features but the ones you want to look out for are
Wicking socks this means the sock material actually draws your sweat away from your skin.
Breathable socks means your sweat can pass through the sock material away from your skin. Both are good, although I prefer wicking socks myself.
Additional features include special fibers that help to stop your feet from getting too smelly and socks that have inbuilt protection against horrid biting insects.
Construction
The majority of socks today are made from wicking synthetic materials e.g.Coolmax or wool mixed with man made fibers e.g. Smartwool. A wool mixture keeps your feet warmer but do remember if you are allergic to wool on your arms then you must avoid socks with wool in them.
Socks are usually made using a loop stitched construction on the inside this helps to cushion the foot, so helping to prevent tired feet.They also contain Lycra which stops the sock from bunching under your foot yet another thing which can lead to blisters.
Try to avoid buying sports socks because they may look similar but usually they have a high percentage of cotton, and cotton retains moisture thereby increasing the risk of blisters on your feet.
Fit
Socks come in men’s sizes, women’s sizes and unisex sizes, but if you have small feet then look out for women’s fit made especially to fit women’s smaller feet with narrower heels.
Look for tops that will stay up but are not too tight, because this can restrict your blood flow which in turn can cause redness and an irritating itchiness (which is not at all flattering) and can take several hours after the end of the walk to go away!
Toe Seams - yes they do matter! Look carefully as these should be flat and soft in order to lessen the chances of rubbing which leads to blisters. Sports socks often have thick seams which can rub into your toes.
Color
Most manufacturers think we need socks in browns, creams and greeny blues which are perfectly pleasant but why not orange, red or purple?
In the end it is all down to personal preference and I wear mid-weight socks that wick and are bright red!
Remember that socks cover your feet - your most important asset when walking.
I am sure that you will have chosen comfortable well fitting walking shoes/boots so don’t just use any old socks and then wonder why your feet feel uncomfortable, sweaty or tired!
Final word once you have your socks please take care to follow the manufacturers washing and drying instructions, many a sock in a wool mixture has suffered terribly in the hot bowels of a tumble dryer!
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