Best Toe Sock Liners for Hiking: Comparing Injini Coolmax and Nuwool Liners with Smartwool Merino Socks

[ThomCatStevens]

Hi all,
Has anyone used Injini Coolmax toe socks or Nuwool toe socks with 41% ‘Nuwool’(NOT the ones with 74% Merino wool) under merino socks?

Pros and cons for each for blister prevention? I guess both would dry out quickly after washing and drying in June...

I'm walking the Camino Frances in June.

Thanks in advance for your feedback!

 

[Phil Smith]

Have used the Injini Coolmax for about the last 5 years, both on Camino and walking in UK. Never had a blister since using them. I do also use Gehwol, which comes highly recommended.
Buen Camino

 

[ThomCatStevens]

Have used the Injini Coolmax for about the last 5 years, both on Camino and walking in UK. Never had a blister since using them. I do also use Gehwol, which comes highly recommended.
Buen Camino

Thanks for that, Phil. I've heard a lot of good feedback on them and glad they have worked for you.
I'm trying to get people's thoughts on one or the other (Coolax vs. Nuwool versions).

thanks again!

 

[Former member 92300]

Always! I won't take a walk without them anymore. Even a shorter walk at home. I used to blister around my toes all the time - never a problem since I started wearing them with my merino wool cushioned socks (darn tough or injinji brand). I rarely get any blisters now - if I do they are very small but they are usually because I change something about my choice in shoe. I do have a combination of the merino vs nuwool injinjis - they are the same on my feet.

 

[CarolamS]

I have injinji liner socks, also the coolmax and merino ones too. Without toe socks I suffer from blisters between my smallest two toes. On camino I wear the liner injinji with Icebreaker light merino hiker socks. They are my most comfortable solution combined with my choice of shoes.

I suggest you try out sock and shoe combinations to find what works best for you. I did a lot of testing to find what worked best for me and had no foot issues on the CF last year. As manufacturers change their products and I don't have standard shaped feet I am always testing at home!

 

[DyanTX]

CoolMax all the way for me. Both injini liners and Darn Tough hiking socks on top. Try them out at home.

 

[Luther]

I have used both. The wool ones are a little thicker, and I like them for colder weather, but have used them in the Summer, also. Whatever fits in your shoes the best. If you have one foot bigger than the other, as I do, you could use the wool on your smaller foot.

 

[Buz Radican]

I wear Injini socks daily. Started using them on my first CF in 2015 and never looked back. Four CFs, total of four blisters which were my fault.

 

[NLS]

Hi all,
Has anyone used Injini Coolmax toe socks or Nuwool toe socks with 41% ‘Nuwool’(NOT the ones with 74% Merino wool) under merino socks?
View attachment 139367View attachment 139368
Pros and cons for each for blister prevention? I guess both would dry out quickly after washing and drying in June...

I'm walking the Camino Frances in June.

Thanks in advance for your feedback!

I wear them under a pair of darn tough socks and they are great! No blisters at all!

 

[Hebridean]

On the Francés I wore them with darn tough socks but on the VDLP I wore them on their own. Love them - no blisters!

 

[J Willhaus]

Can't stand to have anything between my toes. Don't even like flip flops, so try out a pair before you invest too much money,

 

[palmah]

I've worn both types, on their own without having issues. I now wear them while I'm home. Can't imagine walking/hiking without my "toe socks".

 

[Former member 92300]

Can't stand to have anything between my toes. Don't even like flip flops, so try out a pair before you invest too much money,

Yep - definitely try them out before investing in too many pairs. That said - give them a good decent try. I thought I would hate them. Took a month or two to get used to them. Now I won't hike without them.

But some of us will LOVE them, some of us will HATE them haha. But really - give them a at least a month before deciding! Unless they cause foot problems beyond you just don't like anything between toes. (This statement isn't to J Wilhaus as I know you are a veteran pilgrim and I know you know what you like in footwear - but to the others reading this thread)

 

[DMSyracuse]

The Injini Coolmax toe socks were a Godsend for me! I had major blister problems on my first camino in 2015 and a couple of hiking trips after where I continued to have blister problems. A few years after those initial painful journeys I discovered the Injini liners and never looked back! So 7 years later and several pilgrimages later they have been the perfect solution for me - never any feet problems since. It may feel a little funny at first but you'll get used to them very quickly and not even notice you have them on.

 

[pjacobi]

As with all gear, try it out at home before your Camino on a 25Km walk to see if it works for you!


-Paul