I finally understood why my feet were always cold on the trail

For years, I just wore thick cotton socks with my boots, thinking more padding meant more warmth. The tipping point was a damp, 40-degree morning on the Appalachian Trail near Fontana Dam, where my toes went numb within an hour. A ranger saw me rubbing my feet and simply said, 'Cotton kills, it holds the sweat right against you.' Switched to merino wool that afternoon and haven't had cold feet since. Anyone have a favorite brand of midweight hiking sock they'd recommend?

3 comments

3 Comments

adam7512mo ago

Oh man, that ranger gave you the golden advice lol. It's wild how much difference the right material makes, like wool just works even when it's a bit damp. My go-to are Darn Tough socks, they're pricey but they last forever.

kelly.nora2mo ago

Ever try those, adam751, or just stick with wool?

masongreen2mo ago

It's just socks though... like how bad can the wrong pair really be. People talk about them like they're life or death.