Really stupid sock question

[Lark Bunting]

I have 11\" hunting boots, would 11\" socks be tall enough or do you prefer a longer, over the calf sock?

Reason I\'m asking, I never had any problems last year hunting in my boots but this year I got a bad blister on my right heel. I figured it was due to the socks I wear rubbing thin or something.

I usually wear over the calf, 16\" socks for hunting or fly fishing and I don\'t want to be messing around with pulling up socks while out in the field.

 

[elky McElkerson]

i think most of my sock peek out the top of my boots. never thought about it. i have my usual suspect hot-spots. i\'ll tape them up before i hike out.

leukotape P. it wont come off unless i take it off manually. it can get dirty, but it will not let go. even with stream side foot soapings.

 

[mtnmutt]

Ski socks are the longest and come in wool. I hate the cuffs of boots rubbing my shins. The Ski socks won\'t fall down.

For 20 years, I did not wear a sock liner. Did a 5 mile backpack in for an elk hunt and ruined my feet..those hiking shoes also got donated to Goodwill. I started using either silk or coolmax liners. I have not had a blister since I started using the liners.

 

[WW]

Usually if you get blisters, it is the boot, not the sock that causes the problem. That\'s one reason why I never mail order boots. I want to see them and try them on for proper fit. You never know what you have until you try it on. A good example of this is, I wear an 8EE boot. So a couple of weeks ago my wonderful wife comes home with a brand new pair of made in China Ariat sneekers ,size 10-B. Dang if they didn\'t fit. LOL! So try em before ya buy em!

As far as socks go, in over 37 years of elk hunting and another 25 years of deer, small game, and coon hunting, I have never used anything but plain old cotton crew socks. Never had a blister ! And yes, they do come up over the boot top.

It works for me. May not work for you.

 

[Bob Frapples]

I was told by a guy that guides a good bit to wear a thin silk sock base, Not sure if it stopped me from getting a blister but I didn\'t get one so Im off to get another pair or two before I head out this weekend.

 

[elkmtngear]

X3 on sock liners, silk or poly, underneath a good pair of merino socks.

They will eliminate your blister problem.

 

[Lark Bunting]

I ended up getting 16\" Ultimax mid-weight socks and used them this past weekend. They worked really well so far.

What I don\'t understand is that I\'ve used these boots for three years now and haven\'t ever had a problem. For what ever reason while scouting I ended up with a bad blister on one of my heels.

Anyway, I will be testing out these new socks this weekend again so hopefully the problem is solved. I also prefer the 16\" socks as they go over my calf and don\'t slip down.

 

[Zpd307]

never used sock liners and never have had blisters. I find that I need to have my laces really tight. any time I can feel my foot slipping around in the boot, I am very uncomfortable. I was reminded of this in our big horns trip last week. I had to stop several times and retighten the laces....

 

[mtnmutt]

What I don\'t understand is that I\'ve used these boots for three years now and haven\'t ever had a problem. For what ever reason while scouting I ended up with a bad blister on one of my heels.

Your feet may be swelling up in the warmer weather or your feet are larger than when you purchased them. For me, these cases usually result in blisters on my toes and not my heels.

At age 18, I could wear a size 5 tennis shoe. Now, I am at a size 7. I recently had to go from 6.5 to 7. I was a size 6.5 for 10 years.

 

[Billy Goat]

I\'m a firm believer in silk sock liners. I still end up with some moleskin on my feet by weeks end, but those sock liners definitely help.

I prefer socks that come above my boots too.

 

[Lark Bunting]

16\" socks were not long enough stay over my calf and the socks slipped down quite a bit after hiking. I\'ll be going to a longer sock next year. Lesson learned.