So, I have been using Darn Tough's Lightweight and Midweight military line of socks for a long time now, but for the last couple of months I've been using Darn Tough's Ultralightweight running socks for running (5ks and 10k distances) and they are great.  So, this got to me thinking about whether ultra light weight socks would hold up to rucking during the summer.

Has anyone used an Ultra Lightweight sock for rucking and if so what brand of sock did you use? Did they hold up at all and did they offer enough protection for your foot?

Thanks.

They don't last as long.  How much difference, I'm not sure.  

Never used them for heavy rucking.  I tried a pair for backpacking.  I just use regular ones now.

@Kaer I used to use them for running.  I’d wear holes in them in less than 6 months.  I was only running 3x week for maybe 5 miles a go.

I’ve been using the goruck socks lately & they seem lighter than my darn tough tough ones.

Oh yeah, I should try those socks from GoRuck.  I just bought the MACV2 boots, they're supposed to arrive today and then I'm going to start the break-in process.

Everyone has different feet. Not sure there is one correct answer.

I like thicker socks. I use Fox River socks, as they seem like a less cringe company to give many to. However, I would use darn tough socks if they were the only option to keep my feet healthy. They make very nice socks,

Nice timing on the thread OP. Went to look at more socks to buy and there is a sale!

Attached File

Nice, probably a few good Memorial Day sales going on for tactical gear stuff.

I wear CloudLine light cushion

I’ve been wearing them daily for 4 years for everything to include rucking

Love them

Varusteleka has a lot of affordable Merino wool offerings. I just got a couple pairs- one lightweight, one medium padded- and I really like them.

Adidas synthetic socks are great for hot weather wear. The elastic on the gray ones seems to last longer than the black, or so it seems.

There are a few other good sock companies out there.  I'm trying to remember the name, but there are at least two more no one has mentioned that make pretty good socks, according to some of my backpacking friends.  They compare them to Darn Tough.  They're about the same price.  

It's definitely true that we all have different feet and different things work for each of us.  It's nice knowing which ones to try though.

I have Amazon will blend socks that I wear to work, Point 6 socks that have been great, but my favorite are my buffalo wool socks. I am going to get some of their lighter weight socks for summer because they are warm !

I'm a Minus33 (on Amazon) Merino guy - they have all different weights, and different styles (Liner, Full Cushion, Boot:Just Heel/Toe Area, etc...)

@ROCK6 as he is an experienced mil-type, and an experienced long-distance hiker.

I use darn tough light weight hikers for darn near everything; hiking, running, rucking.  

In more temperate to darn cold weather, I revert back to classic Ragg wool, sometimes with nylon liners.  

For really shitty stuff, Dex shell water-proof socks, since I prefer non-gtx boots.  I like those slightly better than Sealskins.

I've been wearing the same 5 pair of Darn Tough ultra light running socks for 3 years. I don't ruck but I have worn them hiking and every run I've ever done. I only run about 300 miles a year though. They still look and feel new.

I just bought 3 pair of their no show cushioned hiking socks for summer wear. Wanted a little cushion with my hiking shoes, and so far really dig them.

Like @Diz, same with the Darn Tough socks. I shy away from the thicker, more padded socks unless I know I'm going to be trudging in very cold weather. For backpacking, I would rotate a couple of Smartwool running socks, I didn't need cushion and I wanted them to dry out overnight. Everybody's feet are different. Mine heat up and sweat pretty bad, so lighter socks will dry out faster. I would wear a pair all day and just rinse them (using a little Dr. Bronners soap every few days) and hang them out, good to go the next morning for another 15 miles or so. Heavily cushioned socks really heat up my feet, and I don't care for the cushion. That and thicker wool socks absorb more moisture and water, making them heavier and harder to dry overnight. Those are just my experiences. I moved to "barefoot" running, so foot "impacts" were different and the sock thickness wasn't necessary. I can't hike in barefoot shoes (tried and about died), but with a good (favor Salomon shoes) sole and thin socks, I'm good for several miles.

Foot health is important and merino wool socks help me significantly. I did a few experiments in Afghanistan, wearing the same pair of Darn Tough socks for 7-10 days straight. No washing, just airing them out. My feet had zero issues and the foot funk was non-existent (I did wash my feet daily).

Darn Tough are probably the best built socks that simply last. Most of the thinner wool socks would wear out, and even my beloved runner's Smartwool socks would get a hole in a couple years of periodic backpacking/ hiking use. I do have some Cloudline and Minus33 socks which I would rate highly, I just haven't worn them as often or as hard as Darn Tough.

Injinji socks are another great option. My wife hikes exclusively with the toe socks. The way her feet settled in her shoes, she would wear out holes in regular merino hiking socks (thinner, running types) and she would get hot spots on her toes. The Injinji socks cushioned the friction and zero issues. Those socks don't work for me. On both feet my 2nd and 3rd digit toes are partially fused (I wear sandals and nobody ever notices...good trivia question though!). However, Injinji does may a merino wool "ninja" toe sock; just the large digit toe is separate. They're made for wearing with sandals in colder weather. Geeky, I know, but I love them.

While wool (especially merino wool) isn't magic. Most (even Darn Tough) are usually 40-50% wool with some nylon mixed in for durability. It's proven a good combination and the more reputable socks have the construction to handle the friction and hard use. Good merino wool and shoddy construction will fall apart quickly. I had some REI socks that mimicked the Smartwool running socks, but didn't last more than one or two trips. Still, the failure of any sock is dirt, sweat, and a lot of friction when wet and dirty. Socks must be rotated and dried as much as possible. If it's cooler, I've found I can "hike my socks dry" even if they're damp. Wool has the amazing ability to draw moisture from the skin to the outer layers of the sock. This is a big reason I really avoid Goretex or any vapor barrier unless it's really cold and dry or just daily use when it's cooler and wet. Your Goretex shoes and boots, once wet on the inside won't dry out for days without a concerted effort.

Quality socks are a worthwhile investment. Anybody who's road marched a dozen+ mile or backpacked several miles for several consecutive days knows how much it sucks when your feet suffer...everything sucks after that! I don't really get blisters anymore, nor will my feet win any beauty contests, but I still pack along some kinesiology tape (used the most often), mole skin, and I wipe my feet down with alcohol after my nightly foot maintenance.

ROCK6

This.  Everyone should have a roll.

Fox River ragg wool?

I'll throw another curve in here, since Diz brought up ragg wool winter socks.

Wiggy's (the sleeping bag company) insulated 'socks' are great for actual winter use.

I've used them, and other generic brands I suppose.  As long as it's Ragg wool I'm happy.  I know this is real retro, sometimes it's hard to beat a classic.  The open mesh really helps with ventilation.

So far this summer I'm enjoying the Darn Tough 4018 Lightweight No Cushion Tactical socks.  They're not as comfortable as my 4022's with the Full Cushion, but way more breathable than the 4022s.  

The 4018's dry out a lot faster as well.  Whereas, the 4022 with their full cushion definitely require more dry time.

Ha, friendly reminder though to check your socks and make sure your wife hasn't mixed up your thicker Coyote Brown Darn Tough Tactical socks with your Lightweight ones.

I don't co-habitate with folks making that specific error.  There are limits...

Field clothing has to be cleaned, dried and stowed independent of all other laundry to avoid detergents with certain chemical properties. (See directions on preserving infrared reduction qualities)

I use no detergent on field clothing, just tractor supply permethrin marketed for horses.

She uses the detergent I give her, which is the Atsko Sports Wash on all my clothes to avoid any issues.  She's a Saint for tolerating me, so I don't bring up the mismatched Darn Tough socks.

Nice

On a total side note, what is the most cost effective (ie, cheapest per load of laundry) detergent that doesn't have brighteners and such in it?  Right now I'm just using Woolite.  But I want to stock up on some.

I wash my own clothes.  Too many errors have been done to them when I break that rule.

I use the scentless hunting detergents, typically Dead Down Wind.  Doubt that's the cheapest option though.  



Agreed.  Keeps things simple, and means you're not badgering someone to do something a certain way when they don't understand the reasoning behind it.

The straw that broke the camels back was when I was back from college my freshman summer, and my mother decided to wash the clothes I left on my bed.  Without checking my pockets.  Ruined 5 x $100 bills and a brand new Benchmade folder (which were $$$$$ back then).

And at the same time, washed a brand new 5 button USGI wool sweater that I hadn't even worn yet.  Without treating it like wool.

Well.  I guess a pro of that was that the sweater looked really good on my girlfriend after that.