Best Socks for Rucking/Hiking/Work

[Wolfy]

So recently I fucked up my feet rucking far to long with far too much weight with shitty socks. Decided to invest in some that did not come from a lowball goverment contract so I picked up some Fox River Stryker socks. https://www.foxsox.com/collections/military/products/stryker?variant=21285583553

Pretty damn good so far, I can already feel a big difference just standing around wearing them. Anyone else have experience in this department and have a particular brand of socks they like?

 

[Wolfy]

So recently I fucked up my feet rucking far to long with far too much weight with shitty socks. Decided to invest in some that did not come from a lowball goverment contract so I picked up some Fox River Stryker socks. https://www.foxsox.com/collections/military/products/stryker?variant=21285583553

Pretty damn good so far, I can already feel a big difference just standing around wearing them. Anyone else have experience in this department and have a particular brand of socks they like?

*I have also heard good things about the Fox River Fatigue Fighter for jobs that require standing about for long periods, haven't tried em yet though.

 

[Deroth]

Multiple 20 and 30 road marches with 80+lbs rucks plus additional gear, as well as more deployments than I've bothered to count, has left me a long time loyal fan of Smartwool, just make sure you're getting the correct line for what you're doing (example: Light for desert deployments, extra heavy for road marches.)
A very light coat of Gold Bond powder messaged well into your feet and general groin region helps a lot too.

 

[Thoriam]

Darn tough, Smartwool, and REI house brand wool socks have all held up pretty well for me. I've also layered socks on long rucks, by wearing a pair of Injinji brand toe socks (the socks designed for those toe shoes), and then a pair of smartwool PhD runners on the outside. The toe socks seem to help reduce toe friction/chafe/blisters, and since both pairs of socks are thin enough that wearing just the one pair, might cause too much slip, I double them up.

 

[ColdDog]

It is a art to get the right sock and boot combo for rucking and hiking. First and foremost, break in your boots before you start your hike - I mean REALLY break them in... I cant tell you how many times I saw someone have a miserable blister day during these activities. Second, experiment with different types of socks... I always wore tube socks with thick military boot socks over them but you need to find what works for you... again it is an art. Some people have sweaty feet, some don't, so you need to see what works for you.

 

[Printimus]

SOCK ALL THE THINGS!

 

[Rear_Intruder]

For UK testies try http://www.bridgedale.com/.

I have had two pairs for years and they are great.
The first time that I did a long hike ( the west Highland Way). My boots broke my feet in rather than the other way around, I learned a lot of lessons on that trip.

 

[Frad in'Ryth]

I've never gone wrong with Smart Wool while backpacking with 30'ish lbs in various grades of mountain trail (including in the Smoky Mountains where the trail was used by a stream when it rains (it's always raining in the Smokies)). I tend to use their PhD Lights for daily wear, and then light hikers for walks and heavy hikers for backpacking. Silk liners inside the sock also can go a long way towards taking care of your feet on long hikes.

 

[Han Burgundy]

GOTTA rock the SmartWool PHDs. If I have a boot on, I will wear nothing else. Played airsoft for years and I've always been a backpacker (Sorry, no experience dealing with Uncle Sam's lowest bidder) Never thought socks made much of a difference until I got a GOOD pair. Can't stand shitty socks now...

 

[Wolfy]

For UK testies try http://www.bridgedale.com/.

I have had two pairs for years and they are great.
The first time that I did a long hike ( the west Highland Way). My boots broke my feet in rather than the other way around, I learned a lot of lessons on that trip.

This is why I usually wear my boots around the house and on errands for a few weeks before doing anything in the field. Breaks them in with a lot less pain.

 

[Bambooza]

you wear boots in the house?

 

[Carlos Spicyweiner]

Multiple 20 and 30 road marches with 80+lbs rucks plus additional gear, as well as more deployments than I've bothered to count, has left me a long time loyal fan of Smartwool, just make sure you're getting the correct line for what you're doing (example: Light for desert deployments, extra heavy for road marches.)
A very light coat of Gold Bond powder messaged well into your feet and general groin region helps a lot too.

I support massaging any safe, lubricating product into the general groin region

 

[Wolfy]

you wear boots in the house?

When breaking them in I do. Wearing shoes inside is actually common in America, particularly southern areas. It is not the same in other countries.

 

[Deroth]

This is why I usually wear my boots around the house and on errands for a few weeks before doing anything in the field. Breaks them in with a lot less pain.

What boots do you wear?

Tried Solomon's yet?

 

[Wolfy]

What boots do you wear?

Tried Solomon's yet?

I've been using the Oakley Light SI Assault boots for about 2 months now. Decent enough.

 

[Metal-Muffin]

All of my fox socks shrank. I started using Rocky SV2 socks. They have treated me pretty well. Got me through my SAPPER tab with no problems.

 

[Deroth]

I've been using the Oakley Light SI Assault boots for about 2 months now. Decent enough.

Everybody I'm still in touch with that're still in my old unit consistently state that at least 80% of everybody across the battalions wear Salomon GTX for road marches, in the field, and anywhere else the CoC will allow.

 

[Wolfy]

Everybody I'm still in touch with that're still in my old unit consistently state that at least 80% of everybody across the battalions wear Salomon GTX for road marches, in the field, and anywhere else the CoC will allow.

Oakley is pretty common with most of the guys I know. Nike as well though I have heard they are a bit light for rucking and better for more tactical movements.

 

[Greengiant506]

you wear boots in the house?

I do squats in the tub with super hot water, breaks them in and softened the leather, then wear them for a bit after (not too long to avoid swamp foot). I’ve never had an issue with the issued sock system here in Canada, though I do prefer to not have wool every now and then. I think I might look into trying to get some nice ones so the wife stops complaining about my ever increasing in size sock bin... they allow me so many a year then damnit I’m going to get em!

 

[Greengiant506]

As for boots, I’ve had magnums (wear out WAY too fast), converse tactical (don’t remember the actual name, side zip 9inch) the zipper broke before I wanted to retire them, lightweight with composite toe, arch and shank. Now I’m wearing some bastardized coyote brown issued side zip boot (royer), they don’t fit right, have too much padding (makes them super comfortable but impossible to get tight), broke the zipper on one pair, both other pairs I have now are starting to come apart at the seams and not even 2 years old yet.