When to replace socks 😳

[GuyA]

Ok I know very well that many plausible responses such as…when there are gaping holes…when people leave the room due to the smell…when the socks stand up on their own in a corner…when the dog refuses to touch them etc etc are possible AND all deserved for asking

But this is a serious question! For shoes ie light trail shoes such as HOKA’s I can feel it when they start to go and the 1,000 km maximum has served me well.

Socks…well I screwed badly on my 2018 Portuguese Camino when I started with the same 3 pairs of quality socks that had seen 2,600 kms total and that did not work out well at all!

In Oct 2022 walked ~ 440 kms on the Camino Primitivo and Camino San Salvador using 3 new pairs of SmartWool PHD Outdoor brand socks. Recommended by none other than @davebugg …they were top notch!

During this walk my walking friend and I “may” have cut a few corners in laundrymats..using dryers etc. Considering the clothes washing/drying training received not my brightest move . The socks look ok but they have had a bit of a go…

Leaving mid May to walk 700 kms on the Island Walk in PEI Canada and I simply don’t know whether to buy new socks for the walk?

Ok I know this may well be seen as a crazy post however am wondering how you approach the “replacing socks question”

Holy moly this may well be my last post ever .

Guy

 

[Pilgrim9]

I always start a trek with new socks.

 

[trecile]

I always start a trek with new socks.

Me too.

Leaving mid May to walk 700 kms on the Island Walk in PEI Canada

I'll be interested in hearing how the Island Walk goes.

 

[GuyA]

Me too.



I'll be interested in hearing how the Island Walk goes.

If the spirit moves and it usually does I will be blogging during the. island walk on www.caminolongwalk.blogspot.com. My Jan 19, 2023 post attempts to describe the Island walk…it will be very different from a Camino in Spain for sure!

 

[RJM]

I always wear the same brand of inexpensive synthetic running socks on the Camino. They work for me and keep me pretty much blister free. I buy 6-7 new pairs before I start and give them a wash and dry at home. As I wear them on the Camino I simply throw away any pair that shows sign of excessive wear and tear and switch to a new pair. I probably go through 3-4 pairs before I finish and of course I've lost one from time to time, or forgot to get it off the clothes line.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I have worn and rotated the same three or four pairs of Wigwam brand hiking socks on all 6 of my Caminos and they still seem to have lots of wear left although no longer quite as soft. I also often use them for walking on my local trails. I have not yet used the Darn Tough, nor Injini toe socks I have purchased.
This is the Wigwam model I own.

 

[wisepilgrim]

Always new, and always Smartwool.

And your wife is right, proper laundering is key. In fact I would say that taking care of the socks is in the top three ‘do not neglect’ list for me. They have to be dry and clean to do their job, even if that means a lot more scrubbing and an extra pair on hand while the others dry.

 

[henrythedog]

Mrs HtD has been helping out a good friend clear out the effects of her recently deceased husband. 113 pairs of socks were donated to a local charity. Is this some kind of record?

(I set out on Camino with new socks; although I keep a small bag of ‘worn out’ socks, t-shirts and underwear for the pre-walking phase of a Camino; they are discarded before the main event)

 

[Harland2019]

To be honest, I get my socks out of the drawer and try them on, those that feel Ok I take and the rest get put back in the drawer for daily use at home. I pay more attention to the liner socks making sure there are no holes, starting to wear a bit thin, or bits that look as if they may rub a blister - those that fail regrettably get binned!

 

[Tigger]

Darn Tough... Machine wash inside out, machine dry, and they last forever unless I misplace one. It's time to replace when I want a new design.

 

[Introibo]

It's a bit like the brakes and tyres on your car. As they wear down you get used to the difference. It's only when you get a new set of pads or new rubber that you notice how much the performance had deteriorated.
Get yourself a new pair. Put them on. If you can feel the difference use the new pair. If you can't? Put the new pair in a drawer and use them later. You've lost nothing. It's not as if the price of socks is going to plummet any time soon.

 

[GuyA]

It's a bit like the brakes and tyres on your car. As they wear down you get used to the difference. It's only when you get a new set of pads or new rubber that you notice how much the performance had deteriorated.
Get yourself a new pair. Put them on. If you can feel the difference use the new pair. If you can't? Put the new pair in a drawer and use them later. You've lost nothing. It's not as if the price of socks is going to plummet any time soon.

Great suggestion…I will try this. New socks ordered as 700km is a long walk…socks will still be good for walking around the city post Island Walk!

 

[GuyA]

Darn Tough... Machine wash inside out, machine dry, and they last forever unless I misplace one. It's time to replace when I want a new design.

Have to agree on Darn Tough socks lasting…use them all the time walking throughout the year in the city.

 

[koknesis]

Leaving mid May to walk 700 kms on the Island Walk in PEI Canada and I simply don’t know whether to buy new socks for the walk?

could you please post the photos taken from the different angles of your current set of socks, otherwise there is no sensible way to answer your question Thanks

 

[Former member 92300]

I always start with a new or very lightly worn set of socks. But you ask a tough question that I am not sure there is a good answer to. I do know my darn tough and thicker injinji outer socks usually last 500km and are generally in good shape. My injinji sock liners are usually looking more pitiful - but still don't usually have holes in them.

I would venture to guess - 1000-1500km is probably a good time to replace your thicker merino wool socks, and probably 500-750km for thinner liner socks (those designed for hiking - regular thin socks don't hold up as well).

And I agree with those that say DarnTough usually last a very long time. My drawer is full of darn tough and injinji liners/outer socks. They are good!

 

[Christine Leneghan]

Ok I know very well that many plausible responses such as…when there are gaping holes…when people leave the room due to the smell…when the socks stand up on their own in a corner…when the dog refuses to touch them etc etc are possible AND deserved for asking

But this is a serious question! For shoes ie light trail shoes such as HOKA’s I can feel it when they start to go and the 1,000 km maximum has served me well.

Socks…well I screwed badly on my 2018 Portuguese Camino when I started with the same 3 pairs of quality socks that had seen 2,600 kms total and well that did not work out well at all!

In Oct 2022 walked ~ 440 kms on the Camino Primitivo and Camino San Salvador using 3 new pairs of SmartWool PHD Outdoor brand socks. Recommended by none other than @davebugg …they were top notch!

During this walk my walking friend and I “may” have cut a few corners in laundrymats..using dryers etc. My wife would not been impressed given the intensive clothes washing/drying training received over 43 years..apparently I don’t retain certain information very well . The socks look ok but they have had a bit of a go…

Leaving mid May to walk 700 kms on the Island Walk in PEI Canada and I simply don’t know whether to buy new socks for the walk?

Ok I know this may well be seen as a crazy post however am wondering how you approach the “replacing socks question”

Holy moly this may well be my last post ever .

Guy

I just received my PEI paperback in the mail! My daughters and I are thinking of maybe June or July. What would you recommend?

 

[GuyA]

I just received my PEI paperback in the mail! My daughters and I are thinking of maybe June or July. What would you recommend?

I don’t honestly know what the best time would be…you might go to The Island Walk Facebook Group and ask there…I have had good responses to questions. Or to https://theislandwalk.ca/ a pretty good website. You mention PEI paperback…assume you mean the guidebook? I found this by itself was not enough for planning purposes and I used Experience PEI. Enjoy! Guy

 

[Christine Leneghan]

I don’t honestly know what the best time would be…you might go to The Island Walk Facebook Group and ask there…I have had good responses to questions. Or to https://theislandwalk.ca/ a pretty good website. You mention PEI paperback…assume you mean the guidebook? I found this by itself was not enough for planning purposes and I used Experience PEI. Enjoy! Guy

Thanks very much. I will check out the Facebook page. Yes the paperback is the guidebook not the kindle version. Buen Camino!

 

[CWBuff]

My 5 cents for what its worth

Had 3 pairs of Darn Tough & Injinjis (both 'medium') since mid 2018 (when I started seriously planning for the Camino with intentions of walking it in '21)
all 3 came with - I didn't truly 'abused' them during my training period and they were fine even as I was delayed 1 year (and we all know why)
Each pair (1 Injinji and 1 DT) was worn 2 days in a row getting a reasonably descent hand wash in the overnight albergue between the said days.
I sort of planned it as to to hit an Albergue with auto laundry facilities on the 5th\6th day so at that time everything went into a washer & dryer. Never thought of turning DTs inside out - maybe couple of times they did get washed that way but it was not 'on purpose' (and for that matter - either way was not on purpose)
Towards the end 2 pairs of Injinjiis started to show some wear & tear. Given the fact that Mrs was meeting me in SdC and we were embarking on Finisterre together afterwards I instructed her to buy and bring with 2 new pairs which she did and that was that

Fast forward to today - the remaining original injinjii pair is kind of on its last leg (I will still use it when doing treadmill or eliptical in Gym) but the other 2 and all DTs are holding on very nicely!

 

[J Willhaus]

I like smart wool or darn tough socks with a little bit of cushion. There are varieties of each without cushion. Some have lasted more than one trip to Spain, but when the cushion goes flat, that is when I get a new pair.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Until my Wigwam Camino socks wear thin in spots, get holes, or contribute to blisters (which I have not had) I will keep on keeping on.

 

[Kathy F.]

Splurge.
Buy new socks.
Wool, and hand wash them every night. Your feet are your most important equipment - treat them kindly.

 

[GuyA]

Splurge.
Buy new socks.
Wool, and hand wash them every night. Your feet are your most important equipment - treat them kindly.

Agreed on all fronts…the splurge has taken place after reading many great comments which confirmed my initial thinking. .

 

[Brenlea]

If the spirit moves and it usually does I will be blogging during the. island walk on www.caminolongwalk.blogspot.com. My Jan 19, 2023 post attempts to describe the Island walk…it will be very different from a Camino in Spain for sure!

I am interested in the Island walk too, thinking of cycling it this summer.

 

[Grateful Gert]

I just received my PEI paperback in the mail! My daughters and I are thinking of maybe June or July. What would you recommend?

July and August are tourist season on PEI. Keep that in mind regarding accommodations etc.

 

[cujof16]

Darn Tough... Machine wash inside out, machine dry, and they last forever unless I misplace one. It's time to replace when I want a new design.

Ive got 7 pairs of darn toughs. I have never bought a new pair since I bought the original 7. WHen I wear them out, i get on the warranty page, fill out a warranty, send the pair in and viola, DT credits me for the socks and I use the credit to get a new pair of the same type. I havent bought socks in quite a few years. Darn Tough are the best socks I have ever owned.

 

[dick bird]

Leaving mid May to walk 700 kms on the Island Walk in PEI Canada and I simply don’t know whether to buy new socks for the walk?

Buy new socks. The best time to replace your socks is before you start walking.

 

[GuyA]

Buy new socks. The best time to replace your socks is before you start walking.

New pairs just received…overall message received and one that makes sense to me

 

[alexwalker]

The best ones are bought in Spain...

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/buying-socks-from-the-old-man-in-castrojeriz.59048/#post-737253

 

[lettinggo]

Before two holes become one...

Jokes aside - start with new socks - your feets needs your full attention.

Buen Camino
Lettinggo