Walking Socks Advice
Hiking and Walking Socks
Walk and Ramble has almost 20 year's of experience selling outdoor clothing and equipment. IF you require further information on walking socks, please do not hesitate to contact us, or visit the online walking shop for our range of walking and hiking socks.
Modern Performance Walking Socks
Just as a modern computer needs the right software to perform to its optimum, then so with modern outdoor footwear, the choice of the right socks (software) is important to get the most out of your boots (hardware). Gone are the days of having to settle for a pair of crudely made wool socks. Today, the manufacture of performance walking and hiking socks is a highly technical business involving a great deal of research and development work.
To make a high performance walking sock, it is important to study a range of factors including the activity being performed and the external environment in which the activity will take place. Getting a precise fix on the conditions is the start point. It's also important to look at the desired performance characteristics of the walking sock: maintaining an optimal foot temperature and environment, protection against rubbing and blisters, wicking away of moisture and providing outstanding comfort are all desired benefits of walking socks.
Walking Socks Technology
The American brand Thorlo is widely accredited with having 'invented' the whole arena of modern technical walking socks for outdoor, ski and sport use. Thorlo now has over 30 years of in-depth scientific and medical research relating to feet and the huge range of movements, pressures, temperatures and environments in the various activities you undertake. Protecting your feet in this multiplicity of environments requires careful product development. Several factors are now hallmarks of Thorlo socks. Amongst these are their use of new fibre developments and some exclusive knitting technology: secrets that they jealously guard.
Many, consumers (and even a number of sock manufacturers) assume that 'natural' fibres are the best materials to use. But years of research, together with developments in modern fabrics and materials, have exploded this myth. Cotton, for example, is one of the worst materials from which to make socks. It absorbs moisture and holds that moisture next to the skin. It increases rubbing against the skin when wet; loses its shape when used and offers little or no padding. Equally, wool absorbs and retains moisture, takes a long time to dry-out and lacks strength and resiliency. Although wool does have some advantages, man-made fibres like Coolmax, Thermolite, acrylic and nylon all offer other benefits that wool simply cannot match. Protecting your feet in a range of environments requires a carefully selected and intelligently blended mix of many fibres.
Then comes the construction. The best walking and hiking socks are knitted to ensure that they fit perfectly in every area of the foot. It is not uncommon to see four of five different knit areas in one walking sock, as they vary the construction to give the best possible protection and comfort in each area of the foot. Thorlo actually customise their knitting machinery to uniquely knit and construct each hiking and walking sock to give the exact performance required.
Walking Socks Tips
So when you are seeking
the best performance from your footwear, it is important to give
careful consideration to the 'software'. Look for walking
socks that have been
specifically made for your chosen activity and follow these guiding
principles:
Seek out walking socks that have carefully blended yarns to deliver the performance and protection for your feet.
Look for a high quality knit construction. Check carefully the construction and shape of the walking socks (never select tube socks!)
Pay careful attention to the elastication at the neck of the sock and the seaming at the toe.
Ensure that the walking socks you select clearly show that they are designed to maintain the right temperature, will protect your feet against sheer and impact pressures, will wick moisture away from your feet and provide the right level of comfort and stimulus for your feet.
If you follow these tips and take a little time to select the right socks, then you can ensure that you will get the best from your walking boots and also help to ensure that your feet are well protected and comfortable.
Click here for a Walk and Ramble's full range of hiking and walking socks.
This information is provided for general guidance only, and so if you are looking for specific advice on an item or range of walking or outdoor clothing, please do not hesitate to contact us. We will be glad to help.