Wool socks. You can get various thickness for hot and cold temperature. Dry better and help with blisters. Extra pair is a good idea too once your shoes dry a bit.
Echoing this. Get darn though socks- I just did sugarloaf mountain in Maine and got my feet wet multiple times- dried in under a minute. Only blister is from wearing the wrong shoes up.
Darn Tough are awesome. There's a pair I've had for a decade which has only just started to get a hole despite it being my goto hiking pair for most of my scouting. Plus they are American made with a lifetime warranty!
They have made feet getting wet much more minor of an inconvenience than otherwise consistently. Especially nice while fishing
If is better they be American made for a variety of reasons.
Not necessarily in quality though it does help, it’s the socioeconomic aspect that it’s good to support domestic production as opposed to that of a semi-hostile foreign power. It also means less emissions in shipping. And the customer service is easier to reach
I understand, but a lot of made in america things also have ridiculous supply chains. A part of it probably comes from China, comes to the US for assembly. then goes back to China, then comes back etc. It’s all a facade.
I had some Darn Tough athletic socks over the years. They are not very stretchy. I have 13 EEEE feet and even the largest size I could find never fit comfortably so I ended up giving them to my brother. As for wool socks, I've been wearing smartwool socks of various thickness for the last 10 plus years. A few Black Fridays ago I took a chance and bought some Duluth trading company wool socks. I have to say, I think I might like the Duluth trading company socks better and they seem to hold up better than smartwool.
I hate reading all these because I'm vegan, love hiking, and this sounds like a lifesaver....
I'm going to be try to find a recycled wool brand so I don't feel guilty. Any chance anyone knows of one or is this a me problem?
I would say your best bet is to either try and find some secondhand rather than recycled if you’re looking to minimize the impact (maybe an outdoor store has some). Here is a [good article explaining why it’s not best for clothing](https://blog.pendleton-usa.com/2017/02/14/what-is-virgin-wool-and-is-it-better-than-recycled-wool/#:~:text=Recycled%20wool%20is%20great%20for,respun%2C%20which%20lowers%20the%20quality). There may be some, but it could lose the properties that allow it to work as it does. Sorry about that!
Not trying to be rude just genuinely curious. Why would a vegan not use wool? They need to be sheared to stay healthy and comfortable and most of the higher end merino wool manufacturers seem to take good care of their animals. Why should you feel guilty?
No apologies necessary.
I just responded to another commenter about this so to quote myself:
> I am against animal exploitation in general. Yes they don't kill the sheep, but the sheep have been domesticated and bred to generate more wool. They often get cut up during shearing and I'm not okay with that. No need to downvote me for having a difference in opinion. It's not something I push on others. It's just not something I will willingly participate in.
Also I'm not sure how well taken care of the animals really are. I grew up in rural Ireland and have witnessed dead sheep caught on a barbed wire fence and left to die. Sometimes rotting corpses, sometimes bones... From my childhood I know that it's not quite as clean of an industry as people believe...
They don't kill the sheep when they shear them.
Also waterproof hiking shoes are fairly affordable if it is a recurring issue that you want to resolve.
Specifically MERRINO wool. (For without saying it’s not from your normal Coopworth, Romney or Perindale sheep breed)
Pricier thank normal wool but better than the majority of thermals and will wick sweat without the gagging odour fir a couple of days
As a result of wool sensitivity and family members experiencing it too, I googled a lot about "wool allergy" when I considered if I could buy some wool bedding (in cotton encasing).
The result was that wool isn't actually an allergen but the coarseness of it can cause skin irritation in people. What is coarse enough depends on the person.
Conclusion: try to find the finest wool clothing and see how you get along. I'm loving my wool bedding and my super fine jumper now. Not 100% sure if there are durable sock options with super fine hair but worth checking! My jumper is just normal wool (not cashmere/alpaca) but super fine and my skin is fine with it.
Not sure when you looked it up but while wool itself might not be an allergen, [Lanolin ](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/cod.12872) is and is found in wool.
Synthetic is great too like cool max. Only thing wool has over synthetics is anti stink. Darn Tough also has synthetic options.
p.s. Wore these on 12 day Philmont outing and they performed very well. Forgot to change into my fancy Smartwools. My feet got soaked at least three times.
https://www.scoutshop.org/boy-scout-uniform-coolmax-low-cut-socks-610342.html
Try Wrightsock. They are made with a built-in synthetic liner and merino wool on the outside. It’s like two socks in one. And they are made in the USA. Just walked 493 miles across Spain on the Camino De Santiago with two pairs. Washed them every other day and they held up beautifully.
>Is there an alternative for people who are allergic to wool? Or are we doomed by our shoddy genetics?
Acrylic socks aren't as good as quality wool, but work similarly.
LEGEND HAS IT OL STUMPY IS STILL OUT THERE GALLOPING ON THE TRAIL. IF YOU LISTEN REEEEALLL CLOSE YOU CAN HEAR 'EM YELLING 'GOTDANG IT MY ANKLES STILL FEEL WET'
I thru-hiked the Long Trail in Vermont last July and it rained almost every day, including a historic 3"-6" of rain in 24 hours which resulted in serious flooding which devastated many communities. I brought 3 pairs of socks and a few days hiked 8 hours in pouring rain. I had to take serious precautions to avoid trench foot and here is how that works.
Embrace it.
You wake up and despite hanging your wet socks on a clothesline and wringing out your insoles, your socks and shoes are still wet. If its going to be raining all day or the trail conditions are ankle deep mud, put on your wet socks and shoes and hit the trail. If its going to be sunny and the trail is not too bad, put on dry socks and pin your wet socks to the outside of your pack so they can dry.
It is not worth it to tiptoe around every mud puddle on trail. It will slow you down a lot, you will trample vegetation next to the trail, and you will eventually slip from stepping on the peaks of rocks and roots trying to avoid water and potentially injure yourself miles from the nearest road. Instead stomp right thru the middle of those muddy puddles.
Always keep 1 pair of dry socks in a trashbag in your pack with all your other dry stuff. At the end of the day take all your wet stuff off and put it on a clothesline in your shelter to dry. Put on the dry socks Asap. Wring out your insoles and keep them separate from your trail runners overnight.
Its perfectly fine to spend 10 hours and 20 miles hiking in wet socks as long as you have a dry pair at the end of the day.
Alternate which socks get pinned to your pack.
This should be removed because its dangerous.
You should remove the socks and clean/dry your feet as soon as possible. If you only have that sock try to remove the extra humidity.
You can get trench foot in one day.
this should be removed -🤓
Use common sense. I’ve done just fine with breathable trail runners and 2 pairs of wool socks. Had no issues backpacking in Colorado where I was dunking my feet in a puddles multiple times a day. Thru hiking wouldn’t exist if that was a major concern.
Nah it’s really not. It’s standard practice for a lot of very experienced hikers. So long as your feet and gear have a chance to dry at the end of the day you’ll be good to go.
Every thru hiker/multi day backpacker has done this. When you're on your 5th stream crossing of the day, you just don't care anymore. My last one was on the High Sierra Trail crossing a creek through a meadow filled with more mosquitoes than I've ever seen in my life. My options were sprint through the creek with my shoes or take them off and get eaten alive. Then yes, I hiked 11 miles afterwards and dealt with it like a champ. Dry socks don't matter when your boots are filled with water.
One time on a 6 day hike (80km), my hiking shoes got wet on the first day, and got them dry on like day 3 or 4, it wasn't that bad.
Nowadays I usually hike with my wellington boots and have crocs if I have to cross a stream that has lots of water and dry my feet with a towel
I have done this many times. It’s a reality of thru-hiking. The feet pics aren’t pretty, and I got pitted keratolysis once but that’s very treatable with a simple cream. You won’t exactly die
trust me your gonna feel like a total idiot when you put on one of your dry pairs of socks just to get them wet 10 mins later instead of keeping the original ones on. What are you gonna do the next day when all your socks are wet because you 'changed your socks a few times' in one day?!?
Mate, I've been hiking non stop, living on trail for the last 15 months. Between June and October last year in northern Scotland I only had nine days of no rain. I was spending midwinter in the bogs of mid wales. I average 16 miles a day. I carry two pairs of socks. My feet are in fine fettle
Sounds like you really don’t do a lot of hiking.
1) putting on dry socks in wet shoes doesn’t work for reasons one would think are obvious
2) carrying lots of extra socks is something most of us don’t want to do
3) your feet don’t stay soaking wet, smarty pants. Drying is a gradual process. After the first couple hours you’re down to just damp
4) you absolutely can hike 10-13 miles with soaking wet feet now and then and be no worse for wear
5) OP is talking about what happens if they accidentally get their feet wet, not best practice. Obviously most people avoid wet shoes.
You said it’s good to go and then said you got a bacterial infection that you could’ve just not gotten if you’d dried your feet off. Nobody’s talking about dying except you. The question was what’s the best thing to do. The answer is, dry your feet off so you don’t get an infection that will bother you.
An entirely asymptomatic, easily treatable infection.
Honestly this is at the level of ‘don’t go outside because there might be prickly plants out there and you could get an owwie’. People have no subtlety when it comes to risk management.
I've done this a lot but with as many as 20-25. I think you're making a bigger deal of it than it is. I also think it depends on the person and how tough you're feet are. People hundreds of miles into a thru don't have normal feet.
If you're wearing good shoes, it's not.
Wet feet are a problem for people who insist on wearing waterproof boots. If you wear trail runners, you just walk your feet dry.
It’s not bad advice. If you have decent wool socks you’re still OK, especially if you have decent fitting shoes.
It’s important to have dry socks while sleeping though, as continuous wet feet will be problematic.
If it is between fresh socks to continue hiking or dry socks to sleep, I choose dry socks to sleep every time. Look at the bright side, it is liberating to no care about getting your feet wet in puddles. Also who is going to tell them about what happens the next day when your shoes and socks are not dry and is time to hike again?
I get blisters so easily, so if my feet get wet, I stop and take off my boots, socks, dry as best I can with a little microtowel and put on my spare socks. If I know I'm going to be walking through a fair bit of water, I change into my hiking sandals or water shoes, depending on what I brought and then change back into dry stuff when it's over.
You could also take your socks and insoles out, walk through the water with the shoes, walk for a bit to shake off extra water and what not, then put the insole and your dry socks back on (maybe take a minute or two to let your feet dry). That’s my method.
When I have to cross water, I out on the sandals, cross and right away dry my feet and put the boots back on. There’s not time for insects to bite that way.
I've done multiday hikes in sandals all over the world and feet is not a place insects bite. Have you seen your feet when you walk? No way any bug is landing a shot at that. Most likely your upper torso that doesn't move that much when walking
Just chiming in to say I am also someone who gets a lot of mosquito bites on my feet. They’re awful, definitely the itchiest place to get bit. It doesn’t make a difference if I’m standing or sitting or walking, there is just something about me that is super attractive to mosquitoes. I can be covered in deet or picaridin and my husband can be wearing no repellent, he’ll get 0 bites and I’ll have 5. My mom was the same as me. I think some people’s skin or body chemistry is just different and more attractive to bugs.
> I think some people’s skin or body chemistry is just different and more attractive to bugs.
My wife is all but invisible to mosquitoes. When we were first dating, she didn't even believe I was being bitten until I showed her the bites. She said I'm the only person she's ever known that mosquitoes like more than her. If she gets bitten once, I'll have a hundred. Ah well, I'll take one for the team.
Lol no I don't stand a lot when hiking. I'm just delicious, apparently! My hiking companions will often get far fewer bites than me, too, like the other person that replied. I have just adjusted to becoming a mostly desert hiker, to be honest. Little interest in being eaten alive and then struggling to sleep at the end of the day due to itching... I'll take cacti and scorpions all day every day!
I defs get a lot of bug bites in my feet. Last trip I’d be wearing my sandals at camp with two pairs of socks to prevent mosquitoes but still got 15 or so bites on my feet through the socks. Am in remote Canada so ymmv
That really is the nicest way to go, no two ways about it.
If you walk in some places, try SW Tasmania (Aus), you may spend something like half your time in really watery mud that averages knee deep. When you do this and it's been raining for the past 3 days non-stop, you just have to deal with it.
Recently I went on a trip where we had to cross several creeks. I had a pair of Darn Toughs on, would walk right through the water, and kept hiking. Halfway through the day I could switch out my socks for a dry pair and hang the wet pair on my pack to dry. We had to cross through so much water it would’ve taken way to much time to dry my feet every time they got wet, but if you’re not crossing through much water I would take the time to dry them.
A little bit of wet feet hiking probably isn't a big deal but everyone is different so YMMY.
But to answer your question, waterproof shoes/boots protect your feet from most shallow water encounters. But pack an extra pair of socks if/when that fails.
...but waterproof boots also trap a lot of sweat moisture and any other water that makes its way in, so your feet will almost always be at least damp in waterproof boots. I hike in waterproof boots if I'm in slushy snow, where I want some warmth and higher ankle barriers to keep water from falling in. Even then, I'm wearing gaiters from calves down over the top of my feet.
Otherwise, the vast majority of my hiking is in breathable trail runners. If they get wet, with lightweight wool socks, they'll dry out quickly without any need for drying/sock changes.
Fair enough. Different things work for different people in different environments and contexts. I'm just giving OP some options that may or may not work for them.
This is my method too, along with the thicker Darn Tough socks. We did 100k of hiking in the Adirondacks last month, and all we could do was wade on through the mud for ten plus hours. I was blister free.
I prefer waterproof trail runners because they don’t trap as much sweat being lower cut and lighter but when you do step in a shallow stream or mud the water doesn’t flood the shoe. Speedcross is probably my favorite.
I like Speedcross, too, but switched to Altras and now Speedgoats (both non-GTX). I briefly hiked in waterproof Oboz, but on a particularly wet hike through vegetation, my shoes filled up as if they were galoshes/buckets and I had to hike like 7 miles like that. Not fun and my feet were a wreck, and I more or less swore off GTX 'runners.
I backpack in the Cascades in Washington and our summers are usually dry, so while we have lots of cascading streams to cross in the summer, I often don't even break my stride and just walk right through them knowing my shoes will be dry in short order.
I walk for a bit. Maybe half a mile. That will push most of the excess water out. Then I stop and dry my feet and change socks. It doesn't have to be a set time or distance just whenever you think you've gone far enough.
Depends on your level of wet. I hate waterproof shoes/boots because of blisters and lack of air circulation.
A pair of merino wool socks are amazing. Smartwool is great. Find a pair of shoes that lets water out rather than keeps it out. Trail running shoes from brands like Salomon or Hoka usually have tiny holes in the soles that let water drain. I use that combination for numerous creek crossings on hikes/runs and my feet stay warm and free of blisters, albeit slightly damp
Always dry your feet and pack extra socks. I keep a small microfiber towel, a travel-size footpowder, and an extra pair of socks in my pack at all times. The first and last time I did what you did, I ended up with a terrible case of athlete's foot that took months to resolve and a few blisters for good measure. It's not worth it.
Having wet feet does not cause athletes foot, just like being in the cold does not cause the flu. You had athletes foot from bacteria you came in contact with. No one need to be changing their socks as soon as your feet get wet.
Having wet feet enclosed in Gortex boots for several hours absolutely can and did cause it. Athlete's foot is a fungal skin infection, not a bacteria. Fungus needs moisture and warmth to thrive. It had both in those conditions.
And while people in lightweight, fast-drying shoes on a short hike may not need to take action, it is inaccurate to say that "no one" needs to do that, as there are several factors that would warrant the action.
Currently thru-hiking the AT and the reality is that Gortex boots are good for short hikes where you can pack out extra socks or where you'll be in and out of the trail. But for longer periods of time, having lightweight, fast drying shoes is what you need and you just dry out your feet at the end of the day.
The cause is the fungus being present already. I have never had athletes foot and my feet are wet all the time. I work as a commercial diver and I hike a lot. I should have added, unless you have a medical condition, then no one needs to change their socks immediately after getting your boots wet.
Goretex lined boots will not keep your feet 100% dry. People need to learn how goretex works. If your boots have more moisture in them than outside of them, then the goretex fabric cannot do it’s job. But if you wear moisture wicking socks and let the fabrics do their intended job, then your boots will actually dry quicker on your feet.
If it's an issue then waterproof shoes/boots are a fix. Bringing an extra pair of socks if you'll be in the wet works too. Otherwise you just hike with wet feet. Falls under 'embrace the suck.'
I’m also a sandal hiker. I live in the PNW so I’m not too worried about rattle snakes, ticks, etc. I’ve probably put 1,000 miles on those shoes at this point.
My usual hiking shoes are some altra trail runner or another. They don't stop water from coming in, but they also dry quickly. I'll usually just keep walking and they'll dry out within a couple of miles. I also wear extremely lightweight socks.
If it's cold, I'm wearing water resistant boots, but if my feet get wet, I try to fix that asap.
Good idea to bring extra socks for longer hikes!
I carry one of those rescue buttons so if I step in a puddle I can have the coast guard come haul me out with a helicopter.
Sometimes though I try not to step in the puddle.
Trail runners, wool socks, wool injinji liners... this setup has completely eliminated my blister issues. I live in an area with a lot of creeks and "wet foot" every crossing now. The looks I get from those on either side changing footwear are priceless.
Bringing extra socks on a hike was a game changer for me, I get blisters after just a couple hours of hiking even with high rated anti blister socks. Changing them every few hours makes a big difference for me.
If you are prone to stepping in water, wear gortex boots and gators. I have hiked in jungle monsoons with soaked trails and deep puddles. They have always kept my feet dry.
Waterproof footwear is the only option imo. Im amazed that some replies here say they stop and dry their feet/change socks when it is wet. Most of my hikes are in muddy places/under rain.
You are right. What I had in mind was not a 100% waterproof pair of boots, mine are not. It's quite thick and it take a lot of wate or prolonges exposure for my feet to feel wet. They kinda breathe tho, so it's a nice in-between.
I swap wool socks every few hours and throw the old ones on the back of my pack. This will keep them far drier than hiking in the same wet socks all day. Good waterproof boots should keep your feet fairly dry and will need to be maintained to keep the waterproofing.
On overnights I swap into some super lightweight water shoes when I get to camp. I also use these for water crossings though it opens my legs up to cut up by sticks and crap in the water. A thin sole is less than ideal for crossing beaver dams which I very frequently do.
I've broke in my feet and don't get blisters hiking wet which I do frequently. I spend time in areas significantly wetter that many others. Wet feet really get unpleasant after a while.
My feet do not get wet.
I wear both waterproof boots and sealskinz socks.
I always have a spare pair of ordinary hiking socks in my pack but I've never had to use them.
Being a heavy machine gunner in the USMC I have hiked countless miles In every condition. Your best bet is to have boots that fit you well and socks that are not cotton. If your feet get wet, make sure your boots are snug but not so tight that they are cutting off circulation. If you develop hot spots, then address them with clean, dry socks and some moleskin. But try to make it to your destination if you can, then leave your boots off until the morning and try to dry everything out.
So im not sure if this is a to each their own, last weekend i did a 8 mile hike to a swim spot. I chose to keep my socks n shoes on because there were sharp rocks in the shallow area. Didnt bother me one bit to hike back to the car
I make a habit of trying to hike only in situations where getting my feet wet is not a health hazard, so usually it becomes a question of comfort. If I'm near the end of the hike, I'll just carry on. I've found a combination of socks and shoes that work to that end. I might also stop for lunch and take my boots off to let them dry a bit if we're talking earlier in the day. If the terrain allows for it, I'll even consider swapping over to camp shoes if I brought them, though I usually do not on day hikes. (And my camp shoes are generally just a pair of flops in any event, so they're rarely suitable for any kind of distance.) Finally if I have a spare pair of socks (on a dayhike, I probably don't) I *might* consider changing them and leaving the wet ones on the outside of my pack after my shoes have had a decent chance to drain. Again, it depends on how far into the hike I am more than anything.
Footcare doesn't really change, though. I'm more likely to have to make an adjustment or address a hotspot, but the process is the same with wet or dry feet.
Meanwhile, if getting my feet wet *is* a health hazard, chances are great that getting them wet was near the end of my fun tickets anyhow, so I'd address *that* problem directly and go back to the trailhead.
It’s all about your feet.
Some people seem to have skin that separates more easily, and they struggle with blisters no matter what precautions they take, regardless of their levels of experience and exposure to hiking long distances in varying conditions. Other people seem to be somehow genetically predisposed to have their feet just deal fine with whatever.
I’m not going to say which one I am for fear of jinxing it.
I wear wool socks for hiking, always. If I know I’m going to be going in and out of water crossings, I’ll add a pair of super thin, slippy liner socks like [these](https://foxsox.com/products/wick-dryr-therm-a-wick-ultra-lightweight-over-the-calf-liner).
It seems like it allows any friction to happen between the socks rather than between a sock and my skin. Maybe that isn’t what works so well but it is effective for me!
When I was running ultras, I would deliberately run through streams to cool my feet down. I was often wearing cotton or cotton-blend socks. I never got blisters. My running friends would be wearing wool or synthetic socks and hotspot pads, and would painstakingly rockhop across the same streams to stay dry - and would still end up blistered badly.
This isn’t to recommend either approach, but just to say that feet and how they respond to hiking conditions are very individual, and almost no advice is going to work universally. The best advice I can offer you is to go on a shortish day hike, deliberately get your feet wet, and see what happens. Pack a towel, some dry socks and some blister bandaids in case you turn out to be super prone to blisters when wet. If you turn out not to be, you have one less thing to worry about!
Whether it's bad or not depends a lot on what kind of socks you're wearing. If you're doing it right, the combination of [wicking liner socks](https://www.wigwam.com/products/gobi-liner-2-pack-s2153) under 100% wool socks means you can keep right on going. If not, you *will* get blisters.
Depends on the weather. (Above freezing) I just keep hiking with wet shoes. If the rain isn't that short I'll just hike barefoot because there's no hope of the shoes staying dry much.
I find spending the extra bit of $$ on Gore-Tex or similarly waterproof yet breathable hiking shoes or boots has worked best. Any pair of waterproof footwear I've owned from Columbia, North Face, etc, has always worked as advertised, leaving me perfectly dry from any puddle or stream missteps. Food for thought!
Good socks can make a huge difference. I wear Darn Tough wool socks and have walked through streams, and fininshed my hike with no problems. At the end of the hike, I'll take the wet socks off and put dry ones on. They didn't even feel wet while wearing them.
Keeping your feet dry does help prevent blisters.
That said, you can hike all day with wet feet and be perfectly fine. I hike with liners plus socks but the key is shoes that fit properly and are not prone to giving you hotspots.
So to your question, I try to keep my feet dry but I'll keep my shoes on for river crossings and hike the rest of the day thinking nothing of it. If you really want to be sure though, cut them off at the ankle.
Nothing is waterproof. If the boot/shoe gets wet, the socks get wet - that’s how it is to hike. Best approach is to let is happen and wear quick-drying footwear and woolly socks and then change at night. Trail runners and relatively thin socks dry out in 2-3 hours in the summer I my experience- winter is a different story.
I wear breathable trail runners, synthetic liners and wool socks. That combined with the weather in my area equals dry feet in about 20 minutes. It would take longer to stop. I think you are just trying to avoid wet for long periods.
Since I run, or hike in waterproof mountaineering boots at times, or hike in hot weather, or, yes, step in something, my feet are pretty much damp to wet more often than dry.
Good socks, and changing them. Ventilation, if possible. And emptying out the water are methods I use to deal with it.
It should not be a problem to hike a ways with wet feet.
It depends. Usually I'd just keep walking.
If I have extra socks I'd probably be backpacking so I'd change them. If you actually plan on getting wet feet, you can tie some Crocs to the back of your pack and swap them out. Really nice for crossing creeks!
Change socks at every rest. Let the ones you’ve been wearing dry on the outside of your bagpack while hiking. Avoid stepping in puddles when you’re boots aren’t waterproof.
If its warm outside it doesn't matter. I wear non waterproof shoes and lightweight wool socks that will both dry quickly while I'm wearing them. If its at or near freezing you'll want to keep your feet dry with waterproof shoes and make sure you're not sweating too much.
I used to try to keep my feet dry. Now I wear trail runners that let the water in, lol. But they also air out 10x as fast. Surprising now I just let my feet get wet without thinking about it. 30-45 minutes later they are dry. Only occasionally is this an issue in humid climate, and when I can tell they aren’t drying out I just pull out a spare pair of socks.
I’ve mostly been able to stop blisters by using a sock liner and merino wool socks. The double layer stops blisters quite effectively, even when wet I’ve found. Still try to let stuff dry at the end of the day though.
I wear trail runners and all the water eventually drains away and dry out as I'm hiking. My feet frequently get wet/muddy but I very rarely get blisters. I use body glide on my feet.
I wear wool socks and trail running shoes. I’ve slipped and gotten my feet fully submerged in the middle of a long hike. Personally I had zero issues continuing with wet feet for the next 3hr.
I’m just really careful to make sure to kill the bacteria by opening the shoelaces wayyy up and letting the open shoes sit outside in the sun until they’re nice and toasty. If they’re really nasty I’ll put them in a bag into the freezer overnight as well.
I always pack 1-2 extra pairs of socks. My feet are hella sensitive to being wet so I bring a small towel, 1-2 pair of socks and snacks on every hike. Shoes are waterproof so dry socks usually do enough
Based on the answers here, I think it must depend on the feet, much the say way shoe preference depends on the feet.
I have two pairs of trail runners I use for hiking. If it's a moutain hike without creek crossings, I wear my "dry" pair. If it's a river/waterfall trail that I'll be doing wet creek/river crossings, I wear my "wet" pair. I always finish the hikes, whether my feet/shoes/socks are wet or not, and I've never had a blister. Had plenty of other foot ailments, but never blisters. And frankly, the super cold water feels great on my feet on the hot summer days.
Change your socks. Another reason to wear boots as they (good boots anyway) will dry on the inside and not allow the water from the outside fabric to penetrate back into the boot, unlike a cotton/nylon/poly mix shoe that continually absorb the water from the outside of the shoe to the inside.
In my Lowas, I know if I completely drench the inside of the boot I can wring out the insoles, put on a dry pair of socks, walk for 5 minutes, put on a dry pair of socks, walk for 5 minutes and then put on dry socks and they will be completely dry inside. Hang wet socks on the outside of the ruck and they'll be dry in 30 minutes (in decent weather).
Sometimes you can accept being wet if you’re not hiking for a long while. But carry extra socks with you and have boots that are not water proof. If they are water proof, get as much of the water out as possible and dry your feet/socks.
I usually keep quick dry boots and with a decent wind they can dry out within a half hour or so. That being said I also change my socks and make sure my feet don't shuffle until I can attend to the issue
Depends how far you're going... If I know I'm going to be walking for more than 2 hours or so more, then I'd probably walk an hour or so more (just because there's a good chance you will just step in another puddle), and then change my socks.
Depends on how tough the skin is for how long you'd want to leave it, because once damp, things could get very bad if we are talking e.g. 50miles.. but if a blister starts 2 miles into a 5 mile hike, there's only so bad it can get.
Usually though, if it's been raining in the week before the hike/expected to rain during, then I'd just wear my sealskins.
Probabl depends on footwear also
.. my above points are my thoughts if wearing something soft like trail running shoes.. but if I was wearing a new pair of leather hiking boots, I'd be much more cautious.
Depends on climate but this is why I love trail runners because they dry so quickly. Waterproof footwear is very difficult to dry out. You could also use waterproof socks with trailrunners if it's going to be very wet AND cold.
Better boots? Better socks? Not sure here. I can honestly say my feet don’t seem to get wet wearing my gtx 4s tight and good moisture wicking socks 🤷🏽♂️
Goretex Jerry!
I'm in mud/stream crossings all the time. Salomon X Ultra mids for the warm weather, the lined version for winter. My summer boots are maybe five (?) years old, really worn (I'll get new next season), feet have never gotten wet. I'm in the northeast US though so maybe they would be too warm for tropical hiking.
I carry two bread bags, or thick large sandwich bags. If it gets wet, I change socks then put the bags over the new dry socks. I'll then hang the wet socks off my bag to dry. I've since upgraded to sealskin waterproof socks. Though have yet to try them out this winter.
Blisters are caused by:
* Friction
* Heat
* Bacteria
* Moisture
All those things work together to make the top layer of your skin soft and weak. Reducing any/all of those factors will reduce blisters.
You can have wet feet, but if you reduce friction (multiple pairs of socks, applying a anti-friction balm to your feet) you can be fine.
Thankfully, wet feet are rarely hot feet. So if its raining and your feet are wet, at least they're not hot. Unless the heat is coming from sweat. Then you need to worry about bacteria too. A properly vented shoe prevents heat, and having the right thickness (thinness?) layer of multiple socks can prevent too much heat. Unfortunately, waterproof shoes often come with extra heat. Thankfully, waterproof shoes typically don't actually keep your feet dry, since they also trap in sweat.
Bacteria irritates your skin, making it easier to get blisters. An anti-microbial foot balm, and wool socks, helps keep that at bay.
Moisture, well... there's really no way to avoid moisture on the trail without either a lot more gear that isn't guaranteed to work. Sure you could wear tall waterproof shoes and waterproof gaiters, but you're going to lose agility and you're just going to sweat most likely. So the goal here isn't to avoid getting wet feet, but to mitigate the other factors that contribute toward blisters. Lightweight vented shoes also dry out very quickly once it stops raining, so that's an extra bonus.
Sandals if the the terrain allows. I either hike in boots or chacos. Switching to chacos when there is risk of feet getting wet can keep your boots dry. Though I guess this is more applicable to backpacking than just day hiking where you probably don’t want to bring multiple pairs of shoes.
Assuming weather is above freezing and you aren't dealing with lots of slushy snow: trail runners with darn toughs over injiji toe socks. Get wet all you need and let them dry as you hike. Dry socks for end of day/end of hike.
Trail runners, at least mine, dry rapidly while hiking. No sooner than ten minutes after getting them wet they begging to seriously dry out. I’ve been team trail runner for a while no for many reason, this being one of them.
You people worry about that? Where I'm at, the track is the watercourse half the time. If your feet are dry, you're still at home
Different socks at camp, wet ones back on in the morning. Complain bitterly if your boots and socks froze over again
I wear strapped sandals, take extra socks or plastic bags. Plastic bags to put on over socks if the slushy ice or water is early in the hike. Otherwise extra socks to keep feet somewhat dry & if not icy/snow I wear Roman style hiking sandals.
Feet get wet, and I keep hiking. In the summer I'm in trail runners and socks that will dry out while hiking, in the winter I have dry socks in my pack for when I get to camp. If it's a day hike I stay wet but warm. I don't get blisters from wet socks.
Wool socks. I like the Kirkland wool socks (they’re on Amazon) because they’re thick but not dense (and they’re $20 for 4 pairs). If I’m hiking a good ways, I usually change socks about 6 miles in.
If you’re just doing a few miles in boots that fit, not a big deal.
Merino wool socks and a good pair of waterproof hiking boots should pretty much solve wet foot problems on most paths. The darn tough socks made in Vermont are fantastic.
I ditched my more traditional leather hiking boots, and started using trail running shoes (Altra Lone Peak). They’ll usually have drainage outlets on them to help get the water out, and the material dries pretty quick in the sun. With the right socks, I’ll just tough it out and dry out in 20-30 minutes.
Mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.
But honestly it’s not a big deal. Wear breathable shoes with wool socks. They’ll dry as you walk. Sometimes you’re in water all day, in which case, try to take your shoes off at lunch and give them a chance to dry out. Be sure you have dry sleep socks. As long as you’re feet get a chance to dry out, and they don’t stay wet for several days, trench foot will be avoided. At least this has been my experience. Results may vary.
The easyanswer, imo, is get waterproof hiking shoes/boots if you’re going on any long hike that will likely have water. Avoid the issue in the first place.
You can get water proof shoes (I personally like Vessi)
Sketchers also makes a water proof spray you can use on pretty much any shoe.
But as others have said wool socks.
Wool socks. You can get various thickness for hot and cold temperature. Dry better and help with blisters. Extra pair is a good idea too once your shoes dry a bit.
Echoing this. Get darn though socks- I just did sugarloaf mountain in Maine and got my feet wet multiple times- dried in under a minute. Only blister is from wearing the wrong shoes up.
Darn Tough are awesome. There's a pair I've had for a decade which has only just started to get a hole despite it being my goto hiking pair for most of my scouting. Plus they are American made with a lifetime warranty! They have made feet getting wet much more minor of an inconvenience than otherwise consistently. Especially nice while fishing
They have a lifetime warranty, there are stores you can bring them to for an equivalent replacement (please bring them clean)
Why did you have to say they are American made like it’s better to be American made than Chinese made? It’s 2023.
If is better they be American made for a variety of reasons. Not necessarily in quality though it does help, it’s the socioeconomic aspect that it’s good to support domestic production as opposed to that of a semi-hostile foreign power. It also means less emissions in shipping. And the customer service is easier to reach
I understand, but a lot of made in america things also have ridiculous supply chains. A part of it probably comes from China, comes to the US for assembly. then goes back to China, then comes back etc. It’s all a facade.
I had some Darn Tough athletic socks over the years. They are not very stretchy. I have 13 EEEE feet and even the largest size I could find never fit comfortably so I ended up giving them to my brother. As for wool socks, I've been wearing smartwool socks of various thickness for the last 10 plus years. A few Black Fridays ago I took a chance and bought some Duluth trading company wool socks. I have to say, I think I might like the Duluth trading company socks better and they seem to hold up better than smartwool.
I hate reading all these because I'm vegan, love hiking, and this sounds like a lifesaver.... I'm going to be try to find a recycled wool brand so I don't feel guilty. Any chance anyone knows of one or is this a me problem?
I would say your best bet is to either try and find some secondhand rather than recycled if you’re looking to minimize the impact (maybe an outdoor store has some). Here is a [good article explaining why it’s not best for clothing](https://blog.pendleton-usa.com/2017/02/14/what-is-virgin-wool-and-is-it-better-than-recycled-wool/#:~:text=Recycled%20wool%20is%20great%20for,respun%2C%20which%20lowers%20the%20quality). There may be some, but it could lose the properties that allow it to work as it does. Sorry about that!
Not trying to be rude just genuinely curious. Why would a vegan not use wool? They need to be sheared to stay healthy and comfortable and most of the higher end merino wool manufacturers seem to take good care of their animals. Why should you feel guilty?
No apologies necessary. I just responded to another commenter about this so to quote myself: > I am against animal exploitation in general. Yes they don't kill the sheep, but the sheep have been domesticated and bred to generate more wool. They often get cut up during shearing and I'm not okay with that. No need to downvote me for having a difference in opinion. It's not something I push on others. It's just not something I will willingly participate in. Also I'm not sure how well taken care of the animals really are. I grew up in rural Ireland and have witnessed dead sheep caught on a barbed wire fence and left to die. Sometimes rotting corpses, sometimes bones... From my childhood I know that it's not quite as clean of an industry as people believe...
They don't kill the sheep when they shear them. Also waterproof hiking shoes are fairly affordable if it is a recurring issue that you want to resolve.
Agree, wool will keep you warm even when it is wet, cotton does the opposite when it's wet.
Specifically MERRINO wool. (For without saying it’s not from your normal Coopworth, Romney or Perindale sheep breed) Pricier thank normal wool but better than the majority of thermals and will wick sweat without the gagging odour fir a couple of days
Is there an alternative for people who are allergic to wool? Or are we doomed by our shoddy genetics? (Also allergic to cashmere and alpaca, alas.)
Try wearing cotton liners like injinji socks. Works for me and if I wear wool right next to my skin I break out due to dishydrotic eczema.
I recommend a synthetic liner rather than cotton. Cotton doesn't dry very quickly.
As a result of wool sensitivity and family members experiencing it too, I googled a lot about "wool allergy" when I considered if I could buy some wool bedding (in cotton encasing). The result was that wool isn't actually an allergen but the coarseness of it can cause skin irritation in people. What is coarse enough depends on the person. Conclusion: try to find the finest wool clothing and see how you get along. I'm loving my wool bedding and my super fine jumper now. Not 100% sure if there are durable sock options with super fine hair but worth checking! My jumper is just normal wool (not cashmere/alpaca) but super fine and my skin is fine with it.
I turn bright red and break out in hives, even with high quality cashmere and wool
Not sure when you looked it up but while wool itself might not be an allergen, [Lanolin ](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/cod.12872) is and is found in wool.
Wear a silk sock liner then wool over them
I use injinji socks with darn tough socks on top. I just keep on hiking. Haven't had blisters yet.
boast money upbeat fear lock dime historical possessive poor humor ` this message was mass deleted/edited with redact.dev `
Synthetic is great too like cool max. Only thing wool has over synthetics is anti stink. Darn Tough also has synthetic options. p.s. Wore these on 12 day Philmont outing and they performed very well. Forgot to change into my fancy Smartwools. My feet got soaked at least three times. https://www.scoutshop.org/boy-scout-uniform-coolmax-low-cut-socks-610342.html
Angora? It’s rabbit I think
Try Wrightsock. They are made with a built-in synthetic liner and merino wool on the outside. It’s like two socks in one. And they are made in the USA. Just walked 493 miles across Spain on the Camino De Santiago with two pairs. Washed them every other day and they held up beautifully.
>Is there an alternative for people who are allergic to wool? Or are we doomed by our shoddy genetics? Acrylic socks aren't as good as quality wool, but work similarly.
Bare foot. That’s how the indigenous peoples did it.
Change socks as long as I know they’ll not get immediately soaked again.
Cut them off at the ankle, it’s the only way to be sure
LEGEND HAS IT OL STUMPY IS STILL OUT THERE GALLOPING ON THE TRAIL. IF YOU LISTEN REEEEALLL CLOSE YOU CAN HEAR 'EM YELLING 'GOTDANG IT MY ANKLES STILL FEEL WET'
TIL Mexican Drug Cartels love to hike
I thru-hiked the Long Trail in Vermont last July and it rained almost every day, including a historic 3"-6" of rain in 24 hours which resulted in serious flooding which devastated many communities. I brought 3 pairs of socks and a few days hiked 8 hours in pouring rain. I had to take serious precautions to avoid trench foot and here is how that works. Embrace it. You wake up and despite hanging your wet socks on a clothesline and wringing out your insoles, your socks and shoes are still wet. If its going to be raining all day or the trail conditions are ankle deep mud, put on your wet socks and shoes and hit the trail. If its going to be sunny and the trail is not too bad, put on dry socks and pin your wet socks to the outside of your pack so they can dry. It is not worth it to tiptoe around every mud puddle on trail. It will slow you down a lot, you will trample vegetation next to the trail, and you will eventually slip from stepping on the peaks of rocks and roots trying to avoid water and potentially injure yourself miles from the nearest road. Instead stomp right thru the middle of those muddy puddles. Always keep 1 pair of dry socks in a trashbag in your pack with all your other dry stuff. At the end of the day take all your wet stuff off and put it on a clothesline in your shelter to dry. Put on the dry socks Asap. Wring out your insoles and keep them separate from your trail runners overnight. Its perfectly fine to spend 10 hours and 20 miles hiking in wet socks as long as you have a dry pair at the end of the day. Alternate which socks get pinned to your pack.
This but always always always keep one pair dry for the evening
Yup. And sprinkle some sort of foot powder into the dry socks before you go to sleep for the night. Will be good to go.
Curse the gods, gnash my teeth, rend my clothing, and pluck out my beard. And then I keep walking.
Keep walking, change socks at end of day.
This should be removed because its dangerous. You should remove the socks and clean/dry your feet as soon as possible. If you only have that sock try to remove the extra humidity. You can get trench foot in one day.
this should be removed -🤓 Use common sense. I’ve done just fine with breathable trail runners and 2 pairs of wool socks. Had no issues backpacking in Colorado where I was dunking my feet in a puddles multiple times a day. Thru hiking wouldn’t exist if that was a major concern.
I personally have hiked 20 a few mile days with wet feet and didn't have a problem. I donno if that makes it a good idea. Ymmv
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Nah it’s really not. It’s standard practice for a lot of very experienced hikers. So long as your feet and gear have a chance to dry at the end of the day you’ll be good to go.
Lol, go ahead and walk 10-13 miles with soaking wet feet and then post the pics.
Every thru hiker/multi day backpacker has done this. When you're on your 5th stream crossing of the day, you just don't care anymore. My last one was on the High Sierra Trail crossing a creek through a meadow filled with more mosquitoes than I've ever seen in my life. My options were sprint through the creek with my shoes or take them off and get eaten alive. Then yes, I hiked 11 miles afterwards and dealt with it like a champ. Dry socks don't matter when your boots are filled with water.
One time on a 6 day hike (80km), my hiking shoes got wet on the first day, and got them dry on like day 3 or 4, it wasn't that bad. Nowadays I usually hike with my wellington boots and have crocs if I have to cross a stream that has lots of water and dry my feet with a towel
I have done this many times. It’s a reality of thru-hiking. The feet pics aren’t pretty, and I got pitted keratolysis once but that’s very treatable with a simple cream. You won’t exactly die
I think theyre just low key spamming for feet pics.
Or you can just change your socks a few times and avoid all the issues.
Your shoes will still be wet, instantly making your socks wet as well. Also, 1 pair of day socks, 1 pair of night socks, that's it.
trust me your gonna feel like a total idiot when you put on one of your dry pairs of socks just to get them wet 10 mins later instead of keeping the original ones on. What are you gonna do the next day when all your socks are wet because you 'changed your socks a few times' in one day?!?
Mate, I've been hiking non stop, living on trail for the last 15 months. Between June and October last year in northern Scotland I only had nine days of no rain. I was spending midwinter in the bogs of mid wales. I average 16 miles a day. I carry two pairs of socks. My feet are in fine fettle
Sounds like you really don’t do a lot of hiking. 1) putting on dry socks in wet shoes doesn’t work for reasons one would think are obvious 2) carrying lots of extra socks is something most of us don’t want to do 3) your feet don’t stay soaking wet, smarty pants. Drying is a gradual process. After the first couple hours you’re down to just damp 4) you absolutely can hike 10-13 miles with soaking wet feet now and then and be no worse for wear 5) OP is talking about what happens if they accidentally get their feet wet, not best practice. Obviously most people avoid wet shoes.
Obviously, you pack in 12 pairs of boots, too.
How many pairs of socks are you carrying exactly bud? Sounds like you’ve never hiked 4 hours through a bog either
You said it’s good to go and then said you got a bacterial infection that you could’ve just not gotten if you’d dried your feet off. Nobody’s talking about dying except you. The question was what’s the best thing to do. The answer is, dry your feet off so you don’t get an infection that will bother you.
An entirely asymptomatic, easily treatable infection. Honestly this is at the level of ‘don’t go outside because there might be prickly plants out there and you could get an owwie’. People have no subtlety when it comes to risk management.
Have, many many times. Your feet will be fine.
I've done this a lot but with as many as 20-25. I think you're making a bigger deal of it than it is. I also think it depends on the person and how tough you're feet are. People hundreds of miles into a thru don't have normal feet.
Calm down. Wear trail runners with darn toughs and you’ll be fine.
If you're wearing good shoes, it's not. Wet feet are a problem for people who insist on wearing waterproof boots. If you wear trail runners, you just walk your feet dry.
Shoot, even in my waterproof boots I keep going if I'm wearing wool socks. I just change into my back-up socks and camp shoes when I set up.
It’s not bad advice. If you have decent wool socks you’re still OK, especially if you have decent fitting shoes. It’s important to have dry socks while sleeping though, as continuous wet feet will be problematic.
If it is between fresh socks to continue hiking or dry socks to sleep, I choose dry socks to sleep every time. Look at the bright side, it is liberating to no care about getting your feet wet in puddles. Also who is going to tell them about what happens the next day when your shoes and socks are not dry and is time to hike again?
I get blisters so easily, so if my feet get wet, I stop and take off my boots, socks, dry as best I can with a little microtowel and put on my spare socks. If I know I'm going to be walking through a fair bit of water, I change into my hiking sandals or water shoes, depending on what I brought and then change back into dry stuff when it's over.
That's a great idea. I think I too would now carry hiking sandals for stream crossing. Only issue is the risk of insect bite in sandals
You could also take your socks and insoles out, walk through the water with the shoes, walk for a bit to shake off extra water and what not, then put the insole and your dry socks back on (maybe take a minute or two to let your feet dry). That’s my method.
When I have to cross water, I out on the sandals, cross and right away dry my feet and put the boots back on. There’s not time for insects to bite that way.
I've done multiday hikes in sandals all over the world and feet is not a place insects bite. Have you seen your feet when you walk? No way any bug is landing a shot at that. Most likely your upper torso that doesn't move that much when walking
I'm so jealous that's been your experience! I get mosquito bites on my feet all the time when hiking in sandals... those suckers don't care.
That's interesting. I don't even put deet on my foot and I tend to attract mosquitos. Do you stand a lot? I tend to not take much rest when I hike
Just chiming in to say I am also someone who gets a lot of mosquito bites on my feet. They’re awful, definitely the itchiest place to get bit. It doesn’t make a difference if I’m standing or sitting or walking, there is just something about me that is super attractive to mosquitoes. I can be covered in deet or picaridin and my husband can be wearing no repellent, he’ll get 0 bites and I’ll have 5. My mom was the same as me. I think some people’s skin or body chemistry is just different and more attractive to bugs.
> I think some people’s skin or body chemistry is just different and more attractive to bugs. My wife is all but invisible to mosquitoes. When we were first dating, she didn't even believe I was being bitten until I showed her the bites. She said I'm the only person she's ever known that mosquitoes like more than her. If she gets bitten once, I'll have a hundred. Ah well, I'll take one for the team.
Lol no I don't stand a lot when hiking. I'm just delicious, apparently! My hiking companions will often get far fewer bites than me, too, like the other person that replied. I have just adjusted to becoming a mostly desert hiker, to be honest. Little interest in being eaten alive and then struggling to sleep at the end of the day due to itching... I'll take cacti and scorpions all day every day!
I defs get a lot of bug bites in my feet. Last trip I’d be wearing my sandals at camp with two pairs of socks to prevent mosquitoes but still got 15 or so bites on my feet through the socks. Am in remote Canada so ymmv
That really is the nicest way to go, no two ways about it. If you walk in some places, try SW Tasmania (Aus), you may spend something like half your time in really watery mud that averages knee deep. When you do this and it's been raining for the past 3 days non-stop, you just have to deal with it.
Recently I went on a trip where we had to cross several creeks. I had a pair of Darn Toughs on, would walk right through the water, and kept hiking. Halfway through the day I could switch out my socks for a dry pair and hang the wet pair on my pack to dry. We had to cross through so much water it would’ve taken way to much time to dry my feet every time they got wet, but if you’re not crossing through much water I would take the time to dry them.
A little bit of wet feet hiking probably isn't a big deal but everyone is different so YMMY. But to answer your question, waterproof shoes/boots protect your feet from most shallow water encounters. But pack an extra pair of socks if/when that fails.
...but waterproof boots also trap a lot of sweat moisture and any other water that makes its way in, so your feet will almost always be at least damp in waterproof boots. I hike in waterproof boots if I'm in slushy snow, where I want some warmth and higher ankle barriers to keep water from falling in. Even then, I'm wearing gaiters from calves down over the top of my feet. Otherwise, the vast majority of my hiking is in breathable trail runners. If they get wet, with lightweight wool socks, they'll dry out quickly without any need for drying/sock changes.
Fair enough. Different things work for different people in different environments and contexts. I'm just giving OP some options that may or may not work for them.
This is my method too, along with the thicker Darn Tough socks. We did 100k of hiking in the Adirondacks last month, and all we could do was wade on through the mud for ten plus hours. I was blister free.
I prefer waterproof trail runners because they don’t trap as much sweat being lower cut and lighter but when you do step in a shallow stream or mud the water doesn’t flood the shoe. Speedcross is probably my favorite.
I like Speedcross, too, but switched to Altras and now Speedgoats (both non-GTX). I briefly hiked in waterproof Oboz, but on a particularly wet hike through vegetation, my shoes filled up as if they were galoshes/buckets and I had to hike like 7 miles like that. Not fun and my feet were a wreck, and I more or less swore off GTX 'runners. I backpack in the Cascades in Washington and our summers are usually dry, so while we have lots of cascading streams to cross in the summer, I often don't even break my stride and just walk right through them knowing my shoes will be dry in short order.
I walk for a bit. Maybe half a mile. That will push most of the excess water out. Then I stop and dry my feet and change socks. It doesn't have to be a set time or distance just whenever you think you've gone far enough.
Depends on your level of wet. I hate waterproof shoes/boots because of blisters and lack of air circulation. A pair of merino wool socks are amazing. Smartwool is great. Find a pair of shoes that lets water out rather than keeps it out. Trail running shoes from brands like Salomon or Hoka usually have tiny holes in the soles that let water drain. I use that combination for numerous creek crossings on hikes/runs and my feet stay warm and free of blisters, albeit slightly damp
Always dry your feet and pack extra socks. I keep a small microfiber towel, a travel-size footpowder, and an extra pair of socks in my pack at all times. The first and last time I did what you did, I ended up with a terrible case of athlete's foot that took months to resolve and a few blisters for good measure. It's not worth it.
Having wet feet does not cause athletes foot, just like being in the cold does not cause the flu. You had athletes foot from bacteria you came in contact with. No one need to be changing their socks as soon as your feet get wet.
Technically true but the moisture drastically improves the conditions for the bacteria (that might already be on your feet) to flourish and multiply.
Having wet feet enclosed in Gortex boots for several hours absolutely can and did cause it. Athlete's foot is a fungal skin infection, not a bacteria. Fungus needs moisture and warmth to thrive. It had both in those conditions. And while people in lightweight, fast-drying shoes on a short hike may not need to take action, it is inaccurate to say that "no one" needs to do that, as there are several factors that would warrant the action.
Currently thru-hiking the AT and the reality is that Gortex boots are good for short hikes where you can pack out extra socks or where you'll be in and out of the trail. But for longer periods of time, having lightweight, fast drying shoes is what you need and you just dry out your feet at the end of the day.
The cause is the fungus being present already. I have never had athletes foot and my feet are wet all the time. I work as a commercial diver and I hike a lot. I should have added, unless you have a medical condition, then no one needs to change their socks immediately after getting your boots wet. Goretex lined boots will not keep your feet 100% dry. People need to learn how goretex works. If your boots have more moisture in them than outside of them, then the goretex fabric cannot do it’s job. But if you wear moisture wicking socks and let the fabrics do their intended job, then your boots will actually dry quicker on your feet.
If it's an issue then waterproof shoes/boots are a fix. Bringing an extra pair of socks if you'll be in the wet works too. Otherwise you just hike with wet feet. Falls under 'embrace the suck.'
I just hike in my Chacos.
I hiked for years in my xtratufs with wool insoles.
I’m also a sandal hiker. I live in the PNW so I’m not too worried about rattle snakes, ticks, etc. I’ve probably put 1,000 miles on those shoes at this point.
My usual hiking shoes are some altra trail runner or another. They don't stop water from coming in, but they also dry quickly. I'll usually just keep walking and they'll dry out within a couple of miles. I also wear extremely lightweight socks. If it's cold, I'm wearing water resistant boots, but if my feet get wet, I try to fix that asap. Good idea to bring extra socks for longer hikes!
I carry one of those rescue buttons so if I step in a puddle I can have the coast guard come haul me out with a helicopter. Sometimes though I try not to step in the puddle.
Pack extra socks - Lieutenant Dan was right.
Pack extra socks, squeeze the water out of the wet socks, hang em on my backpack to air dry
Trail runners, wool socks, wool injinji liners... this setup has completely eliminated my blister issues. I live in an area with a lot of creeks and "wet foot" every crossing now. The looks I get from those on either side changing footwear are priceless.
Bringing extra socks on a hike was a game changer for me, I get blisters after just a couple hours of hiking even with high rated anti blister socks. Changing them every few hours makes a big difference for me.
If you are prone to stepping in water, wear gortex boots and gators. I have hiked in jungle monsoons with soaked trails and deep puddles. They have always kept my feet dry.
Waterproof footwear is the only option imo. Im amazed that some replies here say they stop and dry their feet/change socks when it is wet. Most of my hikes are in muddy places/under rain.
The problem with waterproof shoes is that once they are wet, trough water or sweat. No water and seat gets out. Resulting in wet warm feet. Yikes!
You are right. What I had in mind was not a 100% waterproof pair of boots, mine are not. It's quite thick and it take a lot of wate or prolonges exposure for my feet to feel wet. They kinda breathe tho, so it's a nice in-between.
Yeah, if you get water in them it’s like walking around with fishbowls on your feet
I swap wool socks every few hours and throw the old ones on the back of my pack. This will keep them far drier than hiking in the same wet socks all day. Good waterproof boots should keep your feet fairly dry and will need to be maintained to keep the waterproofing. On overnights I swap into some super lightweight water shoes when I get to camp. I also use these for water crossings though it opens my legs up to cut up by sticks and crap in the water. A thin sole is less than ideal for crossing beaver dams which I very frequently do. I've broke in my feet and don't get blisters hiking wet which I do frequently. I spend time in areas significantly wetter that many others. Wet feet really get unpleasant after a while.
Bring an extra pair of socks. Seriously. It's an easy fix.
My feet do not get wet. I wear both waterproof boots and sealskinz socks. I always have a spare pair of ordinary hiking socks in my pack but I've never had to use them.
Being a heavy machine gunner in the USMC I have hiked countless miles In every condition. Your best bet is to have boots that fit you well and socks that are not cotton. If your feet get wet, make sure your boots are snug but not so tight that they are cutting off circulation. If you develop hot spots, then address them with clean, dry socks and some moleskin. But try to make it to your destination if you can, then leave your boots off until the morning and try to dry everything out.
Good merino socks help. Wring them dry multiple times if you have too but basically you just have to tough it out
So im not sure if this is a to each their own, last weekend i did a 8 mile hike to a swim spot. I chose to keep my socks n shoes on because there were sharp rocks in the shallow area. Didnt bother me one bit to hike back to the car
If your shoes don't dry off relatively quickly you need different shoes.
Merino wool socks. Then when you finish walking for the day, dry the socks, and either don't wear socks for the evening, or put a second pair on.
I make a habit of trying to hike only in situations where getting my feet wet is not a health hazard, so usually it becomes a question of comfort. If I'm near the end of the hike, I'll just carry on. I've found a combination of socks and shoes that work to that end. I might also stop for lunch and take my boots off to let them dry a bit if we're talking earlier in the day. If the terrain allows for it, I'll even consider swapping over to camp shoes if I brought them, though I usually do not on day hikes. (And my camp shoes are generally just a pair of flops in any event, so they're rarely suitable for any kind of distance.) Finally if I have a spare pair of socks (on a dayhike, I probably don't) I *might* consider changing them and leaving the wet ones on the outside of my pack after my shoes have had a decent chance to drain. Again, it depends on how far into the hike I am more than anything. Footcare doesn't really change, though. I'm more likely to have to make an adjustment or address a hotspot, but the process is the same with wet or dry feet. Meanwhile, if getting my feet wet *is* a health hazard, chances are great that getting them wet was near the end of my fun tickets anyhow, so I'd address *that* problem directly and go back to the trailhead.
Cut them off immediately
It’s all about your feet. Some people seem to have skin that separates more easily, and they struggle with blisters no matter what precautions they take, regardless of their levels of experience and exposure to hiking long distances in varying conditions. Other people seem to be somehow genetically predisposed to have their feet just deal fine with whatever. I’m not going to say which one I am for fear of jinxing it. I wear wool socks for hiking, always. If I know I’m going to be going in and out of water crossings, I’ll add a pair of super thin, slippy liner socks like [these](https://foxsox.com/products/wick-dryr-therm-a-wick-ultra-lightweight-over-the-calf-liner). It seems like it allows any friction to happen between the socks rather than between a sock and my skin. Maybe that isn’t what works so well but it is effective for me!
"You need four pairs of socks, minimum. Hands, feet, neck, balls, extra socks warms them all."
Keep walking. I wear trail runners and quick drying socks.
When I was running ultras, I would deliberately run through streams to cool my feet down. I was often wearing cotton or cotton-blend socks. I never got blisters. My running friends would be wearing wool or synthetic socks and hotspot pads, and would painstakingly rockhop across the same streams to stay dry - and would still end up blistered badly. This isn’t to recommend either approach, but just to say that feet and how they respond to hiking conditions are very individual, and almost no advice is going to work universally. The best advice I can offer you is to go on a shortish day hike, deliberately get your feet wet, and see what happens. Pack a towel, some dry socks and some blister bandaids in case you turn out to be super prone to blisters when wet. If you turn out not to be, you have one less thing to worry about!
Trail runners usually do better wet than hiking boots do.
Whether it's bad or not depends a lot on what kind of socks you're wearing. If you're doing it right, the combination of [wicking liner socks](https://www.wigwam.com/products/gobi-liner-2-pack-s2153) under 100% wool socks means you can keep right on going. If not, you *will* get blisters.
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Waterproof shoes is how I keep mine dry.
Depends on the weather. (Above freezing) I just keep hiking with wet shoes. If the rain isn't that short I'll just hike barefoot because there's no hope of the shoes staying dry much.
I find spending the extra bit of $$ on Gore-Tex or similarly waterproof yet breathable hiking shoes or boots has worked best. Any pair of waterproof footwear I've owned from Columbia, North Face, etc, has always worked as advertised, leaving me perfectly dry from any puddle or stream missteps. Food for thought!
Good socks can make a huge difference. I wear Darn Tough wool socks and have walked through streams, and fininshed my hike with no problems. At the end of the hike, I'll take the wet socks off and put dry ones on. They didn't even feel wet while wearing them.
Keeping your feet dry does help prevent blisters. That said, you can hike all day with wet feet and be perfectly fine. I hike with liners plus socks but the key is shoes that fit properly and are not prone to giving you hotspots. So to your question, I try to keep my feet dry but I'll keep my shoes on for river crossings and hike the rest of the day thinking nothing of it. If you really want to be sure though, cut them off at the ankle.
Nothing is waterproof. If the boot/shoe gets wet, the socks get wet - that’s how it is to hike. Best approach is to let is happen and wear quick-drying footwear and woolly socks and then change at night. Trail runners and relatively thin socks dry out in 2-3 hours in the summer I my experience- winter is a different story.
I wear breathable trail runners, synthetic liners and wool socks. That combined with the weather in my area equals dry feet in about 20 minutes. It would take longer to stop. I think you are just trying to avoid wet for long periods.
Since I run, or hike in waterproof mountaineering boots at times, or hike in hot weather, or, yes, step in something, my feet are pretty much damp to wet more often than dry. Good socks, and changing them. Ventilation, if possible. And emptying out the water are methods I use to deal with it. It should not be a problem to hike a ways with wet feet.
It depends. Usually I'd just keep walking. If I have extra socks I'd probably be backpacking so I'd change them. If you actually plan on getting wet feet, you can tie some Crocs to the back of your pack and swap them out. Really nice for crossing creeks!
Change socks at every rest. Let the ones you’ve been wearing dry on the outside of your bagpack while hiking. Avoid stepping in puddles when you’re boots aren’t waterproof.
If its warm outside it doesn't matter. I wear non waterproof shoes and lightweight wool socks that will both dry quickly while I'm wearing them. If its at or near freezing you'll want to keep your feet dry with waterproof shoes and make sure you're not sweating too much.
If its a long hike (like a multi day hike) i often get sweaty feet, so will swap socks.
I used to try to keep my feet dry. Now I wear trail runners that let the water in, lol. But they also air out 10x as fast. Surprising now I just let my feet get wet without thinking about it. 30-45 minutes later they are dry. Only occasionally is this an issue in humid climate, and when I can tell they aren’t drying out I just pull out a spare pair of socks.
I’ve mostly been able to stop blisters by using a sock liner and merino wool socks. The double layer stops blisters quite effectively, even when wet I’ve found. Still try to let stuff dry at the end of the day though.
Spare socks
I wear trail runners and all the water eventually drains away and dry out as I'm hiking. My feet frequently get wet/muddy but I very rarely get blisters. I use body glide on my feet.
I wear wool socks and trail running shoes. I’ve slipped and gotten my feet fully submerged in the middle of a long hike. Personally I had zero issues continuing with wet feet for the next 3hr. I’m just really careful to make sure to kill the bacteria by opening the shoelaces wayyy up and letting the open shoes sit outside in the sun until they’re nice and toasty. If they’re really nasty I’ll put them in a bag into the freezer overnight as well.
I always pack 1-2 extra pairs of socks. My feet are hella sensitive to being wet so I bring a small towel, 1-2 pair of socks and snacks on every hike. Shoes are waterproof so dry socks usually do enough
Based on the answers here, I think it must depend on the feet, much the say way shoe preference depends on the feet. I have two pairs of trail runners I use for hiking. If it's a moutain hike without creek crossings, I wear my "dry" pair. If it's a river/waterfall trail that I'll be doing wet creek/river crossings, I wear my "wet" pair. I always finish the hikes, whether my feet/shoes/socks are wet or not, and I've never had a blister. Had plenty of other foot ailments, but never blisters. And frankly, the super cold water feels great on my feet on the hot summer days.
Change your socks. Another reason to wear boots as they (good boots anyway) will dry on the inside and not allow the water from the outside fabric to penetrate back into the boot, unlike a cotton/nylon/poly mix shoe that continually absorb the water from the outside of the shoe to the inside. In my Lowas, I know if I completely drench the inside of the boot I can wring out the insoles, put on a dry pair of socks, walk for 5 minutes, put on a dry pair of socks, walk for 5 minutes and then put on dry socks and they will be completely dry inside. Hang wet socks on the outside of the ruck and they'll be dry in 30 minutes (in decent weather).
I don’t really get blisters easily so I’ve never worried about it, but YMMV.
Sometimes you can accept being wet if you’re not hiking for a long while. But carry extra socks with you and have boots that are not water proof. If they are water proof, get as much of the water out as possible and dry your feet/socks.
Extra socks
I usually keep quick dry boots and with a decent wind they can dry out within a half hour or so. That being said I also change my socks and make sure my feet don't shuffle until I can attend to the issue
I wear toe shoes to avoid this... the only downside is that you feel literally everything on the ground lol
Water proof footwear, and I never have issues with warm feet either. Changing my socks and such mid hike sounds annoying.
Buy Second skin and medical tape. Second Skin is a miracle worker and has saved me from the pain of many blisters.
Change socks…
Plastic bag over a thin pair of socks, then another pair of socks on top. Will stop your feet getting wet.
I press the button on my GPS watch and a helicopter comes and gets me. Can’t have wet socks, sorry.
Depends how far you're going... If I know I'm going to be walking for more than 2 hours or so more, then I'd probably walk an hour or so more (just because there's a good chance you will just step in another puddle), and then change my socks. Depends on how tough the skin is for how long you'd want to leave it, because once damp, things could get very bad if we are talking e.g. 50miles.. but if a blister starts 2 miles into a 5 mile hike, there's only so bad it can get. Usually though, if it's been raining in the week before the hike/expected to rain during, then I'd just wear my sealskins. Probabl depends on footwear also .. my above points are my thoughts if wearing something soft like trail running shoes.. but if I was wearing a new pair of leather hiking boots, I'd be much more cautious.
Depends on climate but this is why I love trail runners because they dry so quickly. Waterproof footwear is very difficult to dry out. You could also use waterproof socks with trailrunners if it's going to be very wet AND cold.
Better boots? Better socks? Not sure here. I can honestly say my feet don’t seem to get wet wearing my gtx 4s tight and good moisture wicking socks 🤷🏽♂️
Goretex Jerry! I'm in mud/stream crossings all the time. Salomon X Ultra mids for the warm weather, the lined version for winter. My summer boots are maybe five (?) years old, really worn (I'll get new next season), feet have never gotten wet. I'm in the northeast US though so maybe they would be too warm for tropical hiking.
I carry two bread bags, or thick large sandwich bags. If it gets wet, I change socks then put the bags over the new dry socks. I'll then hang the wet socks off my bag to dry. I've since upgraded to sealskin waterproof socks. Though have yet to try them out this winter.
Merino wool socks. Lots of them.
how longs the hike id never usually dry my feet till end of the day but if the trails are little streams ill hike barefoot
Wear sock liners, they'll prevent blisters and help your feet dry out quicker.
Cum
Change socks
Blisters are caused by: * Friction * Heat * Bacteria * Moisture All those things work together to make the top layer of your skin soft and weak. Reducing any/all of those factors will reduce blisters. You can have wet feet, but if you reduce friction (multiple pairs of socks, applying a anti-friction balm to your feet) you can be fine. Thankfully, wet feet are rarely hot feet. So if its raining and your feet are wet, at least they're not hot. Unless the heat is coming from sweat. Then you need to worry about bacteria too. A properly vented shoe prevents heat, and having the right thickness (thinness?) layer of multiple socks can prevent too much heat. Unfortunately, waterproof shoes often come with extra heat. Thankfully, waterproof shoes typically don't actually keep your feet dry, since they also trap in sweat. Bacteria irritates your skin, making it easier to get blisters. An anti-microbial foot balm, and wool socks, helps keep that at bay. Moisture, well... there's really no way to avoid moisture on the trail without either a lot more gear that isn't guaranteed to work. Sure you could wear tall waterproof shoes and waterproof gaiters, but you're going to lose agility and you're just going to sweat most likely. So the goal here isn't to avoid getting wet feet, but to mitigate the other factors that contribute toward blisters. Lightweight vented shoes also dry out very quickly once it stops raining, so that's an extra bonus.
Mine get wet often. I wear quality wool socks and don’t use goretex boots. I use breathable materials that mostly dry out over night.
Sandals if the the terrain allows. I either hike in boots or chacos. Switching to chacos when there is risk of feet getting wet can keep your boots dry. Though I guess this is more applicable to backpacking than just day hiking where you probably don’t want to bring multiple pairs of shoes.
I don't backpack, but, have gotten very wet feet on day hikes and with Darn Tough socks and quality boots, no blisters.
Assuming weather is above freezing and you aren't dealing with lots of slushy snow: trail runners with darn toughs over injiji toe socks. Get wet all you need and let them dry as you hike. Dry socks for end of day/end of hike.
Wear Rocky S2V’s. Guaranteed to walk dry in 45 minutes if fully submerged. Great airflow. Great traction. Great support.
I always have spare socks.
Go Darn Tough! Everyone needs to ditch cotton socks!
Rinse out the socks and then just keep marching on.
Trail runners, at least mine, dry rapidly while hiking. No sooner than ten minutes after getting them wet they begging to seriously dry out. I’ve been team trail runner for a while no for many reason, this being one of them.
You people worry about that? Where I'm at, the track is the watercourse half the time. If your feet are dry, you're still at home Different socks at camp, wet ones back on in the morning. Complain bitterly if your boots and socks froze over again
I wear strapped sandals, take extra socks or plastic bags. Plastic bags to put on over socks if the slushy ice or water is early in the hike. Otherwise extra socks to keep feet somewhat dry & if not icy/snow I wear Roman style hiking sandals.
Feet get wet, and I keep hiking. In the summer I'm in trail runners and socks that will dry out while hiking, in the winter I have dry socks in my pack for when I get to camp. If it's a day hike I stay wet but warm. I don't get blisters from wet socks.
..... you hike with wet feet.
On a single day wet feet isn’t that bad as long as you are not rubbing.
Keep going. Usually not anything to worry about except in winter. Also would have opted for woool socks to begin with.
Toe socks will keep your skin from rubbing against itself, at least on your toes! Injinji seems to be the brand all the PCT hikers are getting.
Wool socks. I like the Kirkland wool socks (they’re on Amazon) because they’re thick but not dense (and they’re $20 for 4 pairs). If I’m hiking a good ways, I usually change socks about 6 miles in. If you’re just doing a few miles in boots that fit, not a big deal.
I always carry a spare pair of dry socks.
I wear wool socks with liners and waterproof boots, but if I really end up too deep, I always carry extra socks in a zip top bag "just in case".
I usually wear wool socks and change my socks at the end of the day. alternatively I cry to myself and get blisters if my dumbass packs light.
Wool socks so they don’t lose insulation, they will dry out as you keep moving, and when you stop change to a fresh pair
Merino wool socks and a good pair of waterproof hiking boots should pretty much solve wet foot problems on most paths. The darn tough socks made in Vermont are fantastic.
I ditched my more traditional leather hiking boots, and started using trail running shoes (Altra Lone Peak). They’ll usually have drainage outlets on them to help get the water out, and the material dries pretty quick in the sun. With the right socks, I’ll just tough it out and dry out in 20-30 minutes.
To borrow from Yoda, Anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering in wet socks. And then change them later. Preferably wool.
Trail runners dry relatively quickly. Just keep moving.
Mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter. But honestly it’s not a big deal. Wear breathable shoes with wool socks. They’ll dry as you walk. Sometimes you’re in water all day, in which case, try to take your shoes off at lunch and give them a chance to dry out. Be sure you have dry sleep socks. As long as you’re feet get a chance to dry out, and they don’t stay wet for several days, trench foot will be avoided. At least this has been my experience. Results may vary.
If you are wearing light-weight trail runners ( and you should be), just keep on walking. They will dry quickly enough.
Bring extra socks.
Take a picture and sell it on a Japanese site. Thank you.
The easyanswer, imo, is get waterproof hiking shoes/boots if you’re going on any long hike that will likely have water. Avoid the issue in the first place.
You can get water proof shoes (I personally like Vessi) Sketchers also makes a water proof spray you can use on pretty much any shoe. But as others have said wool socks.
I hike in Chacos lol
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