Hiking socks are surprisingly resilient. With their sweat-wicking capabilities and antimicrobial properties, hiking socks boast that they can be worn repeatedly without washing.
But how much can you really push that limit?
While it is questionable to wear the same pair of socks every day unless you have to, turns out there isn’t really a reason why you can’t do it.
How Long Can You Wear A Pair Of Hiking Socks?
During the pandemic, one person decided to test wearing his hiking socks for 40 straight days. (Click here for the saga).
By the end of the 40 days, his socks weren’t worn out or smelly (though they did stand up on their own, unassisted). Granted, he wasn’t hiking in them during these 40 days.
A single pair of hiking socks should easily last you an entire hike. If you’re backpacking, I would recommend wearing a separate pair of socks overnight to let your hiking socks dry out while you sleep, or simply go barefoot while you sleep to achieve the same benefits).
The limit of how long you can wear a single pair of hiking socks is quite extreme. A quality pair of merino wool hiking socks should last you for any adventure that you want to put them through.
A good pair of hiking socks should last for several years. However, thinner socks may end up wearing down earlier, particularly if they are washed frequently.
What if My Socks Aren’t Lasting For An Entire Hike?
Have you been hiking in regular socks? Find out why that’s not ideal here!
If you’re finding that your socks are becoming overly soggy with sweat, you might need to upgrade your hiking socks to a more absorbent material, such as merino wool.
If your socks are already made of merino wool, try a slightly thicker style for more sweat-wicking and antimicrobial properties.
Another option is to switch out your socks when they become soiled. Pack a second pair in your backpack, and string the soiled ones inside-out on the outside of your pack to help them dry while you stay active.
Can You Wear Hiking Socks Every Day?
Yes, you can wear hiking socks every day!
Hiking socks are intended for hiking because hiking tends to generate a lot of body heat. As your body heats up, you being to sweat to attempt to cool down. Hiking socks are able to absorb this sweat and wick the moisture away from your skin.
However, that doesn’t mean you can’t wear hiking socks for other activities or even everyday use.
Hiking socks are excellent for most other activities, but be sure to consider thickness of the sock and height of the sock before proceeding with wearing them for other activities.
If you want to wear your hiking socks for every day use, you might find that your feet get warmer than normal. However, the hiking socks are capable of handling this extra heat and moisture without becoming stinky.
You can wear the same pair of socks for a couple days in a row before washing them, or alternate pairs as often as you choose. No matter which route you take, you can certainly wear hiking socks every day.
How Often Do You Need To Wash Hiking Socks?
Hiking socks are typically made out of merino wool, which has the ability to absorb sweat. As the sweat is pulled into the fibers, it stops bacteria from growing on the surface, which is usually what creates that stinky odor we all associate with sweaty feet.
Because bacteria isn’t growing on merino wool hiking socks, you don’t need to wash them as often as you would regular socks.
The exact timeline of when you should wash your socks depends on how long you’ve been hiking in them, and in what kind of weather conditions.
The longer you’ve been hiking in hot weather conditions, the more frequently you should wash your socks.
Likely you can go 2-3 uses per pair of hiking socks before they need to be washed in the summer, and 3-5 uses per pair of hiking socks before they need to be washed in the winter.
Check out smartwool.com for some excellent tips on washing instructions!
How Many Pairs Of Socks Do You Need For Backpacking?
Depending on how long you plan on backpacking, you can likely get away with just packing two pairs of hiking socks, though I would recommend considering a third pair.
The first pair of hiking socks will be the ones that you are walking in. They should be a comfortable, durable, well-fitting pair of socks that you can spend a long time walking in comfortably.
The second pair of hiking socks will the the ones that you sleep in. Temperatures tend to drop overnight, and retaining the heat around your feet is very important for comfort. Changing your socks overnight also gives the first pair of socks a chance to dry out.
Consider placing the first pair of socks inside out in your sleeping bag overnight. The heat will help to dry them out.
As you wake up on day two, you can put the first pair of hiking socks back on and continue walking in them, permitting that they have dried.
The third pair of socks is an “emergency” pair of socks. If your first pair hasn’t dried, you have another option for walking in. Or, if you have accidentally stepped in a stream or gotten caught in a rainstorm and completely soaked a pair of socks, it’s nice to have a backup.
A spare pair of socks could also be used as mittens in a worst-case scenario.
When you’re backpacking, every little bit of weight matters, so avoid overpacking where you can. On longer backpacking trips, you can consider bringing another pair, but you also might be able to wash your socks in bodies of water on warm days.
Likely, 2-3 pairs of hiking socks is what will keep you comfortable, warm, and dry on backpacking trips.
How Many Hiking Socks Should I Wear?
When you’re out hiking, most of the time I would recommend simply wearing one pair of socks and packing a second.
However, there are some times when you might choose to wear a second pair of socks on top of the first.
Check out my article on wearing two pairs of hiking socks to know the reasons why you might wear two pairs of hiking socks, when you should wear two pairs of hiking socks, and when you shouldn’t wear two pairs of hiking socks!
Questions?
Is there something I didn’t answer for you? Drop a comment below and I’ll get back to you! Happy trails!