F
Former member 92300
Guest
OK, for some background before my question: I know what shoe/sock/shoe combination works for me. Normally I wear Injinji toe sock liners paired with a pair of cushioned merino wool sock (Darn Tough or Injinji brand) and Altra Lone Peak trail runners sized up. This combination is perfect for me. And I don't do waterproof trail runners - I prefer the breathability and quick drying of non-gortex shoes. I am not interested in replacing this shoe sock combination because it works. And my socks/shoes usually dry quickly. Most of the time - it is a perfect system for me. I don't even need to change socks mid-day or vaseline my feet or tape my feet or anything else.
Now for rainy days - most of the time - this sock/shoe combination if just fine. Even if my feet do get wet, shoes and socks usually dry quickly and/or I can usually put on a fresh pair of dry socks. That said - on the Camino Norte I did have one day in particular when my system failed me terribly. It had been raining off and on for days. I had been handwashing my clothes in the afternoon but they were NOT drying by morning. And because it was raining off and on, I couldn't just dry things on the outside of my pack. And I hadn't had an opportunity to machine wash/dry for a few days. This particular day -it did rain on and off... but that wasn't the problem. The problem was I was leaving the Norte and heading towards the Primitivo and the trails weren't a nice worn path - but instead barely existing narrow paths through lots of tall wet grass (in addition to the unavoidable puddles). My feet didn't just get wet - they were SOAKED. And I couldn't change my socks because my socks were still wet. By the end of the day,I was lucky that Oviedo had a Decathlon where I could buy more socks on my way to the albergue. I was forced to take a rest day (and to find a laundrymat) because my feet were so painful.
Anyhow - that is the background. For a Camino Frances or some other routes with lots of services, I will stick to my shoe/sock combination. But for some routes - going forward - I will now bring one pair of lightweight waterproof ankle socks that I can wear on VERY wet days and will probably use as a sock with my hiking sandals in the evening - so they aren't just sitting in my pack not being used. And again - I don't need advise about changing my normal shoe sock/combination and the decision to bring one pair of waterproof socks has been made (and yay - they weigh 4 grams LESS than my darn tough socks!). And no - I don't want to simply put a plastic bag on my feet inside my shoes. (Sorry - I tried asking my question on a facebook group and got all sorts of answers to questions I wasn't asking lol)
Now to my question - I know you aren't supposed to wear sock liners under these socks, but I really want to wear my injini toe socks when I need to hike in my waterproof socks. Not only are they more comfortable against my skin - but I am worried if I don't wear the Injinjis - I will end up with blisters around the toe areas which were a problem before I started wearing them. Has anyone worn sock liners under their waterproof socks? Did your feet still stay dry? Did you have any other problems that I should consider? I did wear them together all day yesterday at work with a shoe that is warm and not very breathable - and sweating wasn't an issue. But since I live in a desert - I may not have an opportunity to test them out in wet conditions, which is why I am asking others. I just don't want to learn the hard way that wearing sock liners under them will add to my problem. And my next pilgrimage is on a trail with less services and is less travelled - so I do want to be prepared for very wet days.
Now for rainy days - most of the time - this sock/shoe combination if just fine. Even if my feet do get wet, shoes and socks usually dry quickly and/or I can usually put on a fresh pair of dry socks. That said - on the Camino Norte I did have one day in particular when my system failed me terribly. It had been raining off and on for days. I had been handwashing my clothes in the afternoon but they were NOT drying by morning. And because it was raining off and on, I couldn't just dry things on the outside of my pack. And I hadn't had an opportunity to machine wash/dry for a few days. This particular day -it did rain on and off... but that wasn't the problem. The problem was I was leaving the Norte and heading towards the Primitivo and the trails weren't a nice worn path - but instead barely existing narrow paths through lots of tall wet grass (in addition to the unavoidable puddles). My feet didn't just get wet - they were SOAKED. And I couldn't change my socks because my socks were still wet. By the end of the day,I was lucky that Oviedo had a Decathlon where I could buy more socks on my way to the albergue. I was forced to take a rest day (and to find a laundrymat) because my feet were so painful.
Anyhow - that is the background. For a Camino Frances or some other routes with lots of services, I will stick to my shoe/sock combination. But for some routes - going forward - I will now bring one pair of lightweight waterproof ankle socks that I can wear on VERY wet days and will probably use as a sock with my hiking sandals in the evening - so they aren't just sitting in my pack not being used. And again - I don't need advise about changing my normal shoe sock/combination and the decision to bring one pair of waterproof socks has been made (and yay - they weigh 4 grams LESS than my darn tough socks!). And no - I don't want to simply put a plastic bag on my feet inside my shoes. (Sorry - I tried asking my question on a facebook group and got all sorts of answers to questions I wasn't asking lol)
Now to my question - I know you aren't supposed to wear sock liners under these socks, but I really want to wear my injini toe socks when I need to hike in my waterproof socks. Not only are they more comfortable against my skin - but I am worried if I don't wear the Injinjis - I will end up with blisters around the toe areas which were a problem before I started wearing them. Has anyone worn sock liners under their waterproof socks? Did your feet still stay dry? Did you have any other problems that I should consider? I did wear them together all day yesterday at work with a shoe that is warm and not very breathable - and sweating wasn't an issue. But since I live in a desert - I may not have an opportunity to test them out in wet conditions, which is why I am asking others. I just don't want to learn the hard way that wearing sock liners under them will add to my problem. And my next pilgrimage is on a trail with less services and is less travelled - so I do want to be prepared for very wet days.