{"id":5526,"date":"2021-03-19T00:45:34","date_gmt":"2021-03-19T06:45:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/?p=5526"},"modified":"2021-11-27T21:27:48","modified_gmt":"2021-11-28T03:27:48","slug":"how-many-socks-should-you-bring-for-backpacking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/how-many-socks-should-you-bring-for-backpacking\/","title":{"rendered":"How Many Socks Should You Bring for Backpacking?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Backpacking trips are different than day-hiking trips, and one of the biggest things to consider is what to pack. Socks are very important on any hiking trip but can be a crucial item when backpacking for multiple days. The temptation is to bring as much as possible, but remember, you have to carry everything you bring, so how many socks should you put in your pack?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The ideal number of pairs of socks to bring on a backpacking trip is 3, and the minimum is 2. Always have at least one extra pair of socks for a backpacking trip in case they’re needed. Socks are small and don’t weigh much (about 2 oz), so an extra pair is good to have in the pack even if it turns out you don’t use them.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Packing for a multi-day backpacking trip is one of the most challenging aspects of the whole adventure. Everything you bring has weight and takes up space. It’s very easy to overpack and it’s also very easy to under-pack. Luckily, when it comes to the question of socks, the answer is pretty clear. Unless you’re an ultra-light fanatic, the case for bringing an extra pair of socks (or two) is strong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even if you’re backpacking for only a single day, the ideal number of socks to bring is 3.<\/strong> 2 is acceptable if you have high performance socks that don’t need to be layered to prevent blistering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s common practice to wear two pairs of socks while hiking (although some use dual-layer socks or a single pair of high-performance socks instead) to reduce friction, and having an extra pair of socks that you aren’t wearing at any given time is a great safety measure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I feel a bit validated–I decided that 3 was the magic number, but I was curious what others thought, so I asked a group of over 50 backpackers and hikers how many pairs of socks they bring for a 3-5 day backpacking trip and I got this response:<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, 47% of people bring 2 pairs of socks, while 32% bring 3 pairs of socks. Some people only bring 1 pair, and one gentleman admitted to bringing 7 pairs–but most commonly people bring 2. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n So if you bring 2-3 pairs of socks while backpacking, you’re in good company!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ultralight backpackers have a saying: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Every Ounce Counts<\/p>Some ultralight backpacker at some point.<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n How far does this saying go? <\/p>\n\n\n\n I wish there was another saying for ultralight backpackers: <\/p>\n\n\n\n “You don’t know you don’t need it until you’ve hiked 100 miles without using it in all seasons.”<\/p>Peter’s made up quote.<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Let’s look at some of the strongest reasons for taking another pair of socks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I recently took the trouble to ascertain the actual weight of a typical pair of hiking socks. For the record, I used several pairs of merino wool socks of varying sizes, and one pair of thin synthetic liner socks to get an overall picture of their weight. I used a small food scale that is typically used to get exact measurements for, say, a tricky baking recipe. It is accurate down to an eighth of an ounce! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are the results:<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you can see, even if you carried all five of these in your pack, they would only weigh a grand total of 11.2 ounces or about the same as two lemons (Yes, I happened to have a lemon right there, so I weighed it too). Unless you’re trying to set a speed record for a particular hike, this is not an amount of weight that will do you any harm<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I admit, this weight does add up. I wouldn’t recommend taking the whole sock drawer, but the point is that 5 pairs of socks (which is excessive) still doesn’t weigh very much. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The table above includes a few different varieties and thicknesses of socks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Story time! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Let’s assume for the sake of this article that you are going on a 3-day backpacking trip in July in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Day one of the trip starts bright and sunny, and even a little hot. You opt for your thinnest pair of socks, but as you begin your hike, you notice that clouds are starting to form. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Higher still, the sunshine is gone<\/strong>, and the clouds are looking a little mean-spirited. What’s worse, you’re above treeline now, and the wind is picking up. In high mountain areas such as these, it’s possible to experience all four seasons in a matter of one day or even just a few hours – cold, sleet, hail, or even snow! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Those thin socks you started are not warm enough. You find yourself hunting for a place to stop and sit, and change into your thicker socks.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Ideal Number Of Socks To Bring Backpacking<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How Many Pairs Of Socks Do Most People Bring?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Pairs Of Socks<\/th> Respondants<\/th><\/tr><\/thead> 1 Pair<\/td> 1<\/td><\/tr> 2 Pairs<\/td> 26<\/td><\/tr> 3 Pairs<\/td> 18<\/td><\/tr> 4 or more Pairs<\/td> 10<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Reasons To Bring More Than One Pair Of Socks Backpacking<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Socks Are Light<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How Much Do Hiking Socks Weigh?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Type of Sock<\/strong><\/td> Weight<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> Knee-High Wool (thick)<\/td> 4.0 oz<\/td><\/tr> Mid-Calf Wool Hiking Sock (thick)<\/td> 2.1 oz<\/td><\/tr> Mid-Calf Wool Hiking Sock (thin)<\/td> 1.9 oz<\/td><\/tr> Ankle-High Wool (thick)<\/td> 1.7 oz<\/td><\/tr> Mid-Calf Synthetic (very thin)<\/td> 1.5 oz<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Unpredictable Weather With Large Temperature Ranges<\/h3>\n\n\n\n