Socks: do you wear one pair or two?

When I'm wearing my boots I've always simply put my walking socks over the top of my ordinary socks and thought nothing of it, until last weekend when someone looked at me in astonishment as I was doing it!

Now I'm a bit confused. Have I been doing it wrong all these years? Surely not, as it doesn't seem to have done any harm. Is it just down to personal preference? What are the advantages one way or the other and what do you guys do?

strangely enough... just yesterday someone pulled an oh-my-gawd face at my double pair - i do exactly the same:  normal thin socks and thicker walking socks over the top.  I've always done it like that too - and i barely ever get blisters as the friction seems to be minimised.

this, of course, is lovely and cosy in winter, but in summer it can get a bit hot.  fortunately, summers are often so dire that i'm prepared to put up with hot feet on the few occasions it's still and sunny on the summits for the benefit of not limping down with blisters.

and it's a great excuse for stopping to paddle in every other stream

Whats right or wrong? If you've been doing it for years and it's not given you any grief then there's nowt wrong with it. Personally I wear one pair of thick socks but that's just what suits me.

If the socks you're wearing underneath are cotton then you might gain a bit of comfort by changing to using a liner sock (or thin wool socks).

In my old winter leathers I wear two because back when I bought them over 20 years ago I thought you needed two pairs of socks and sized them for two.  But every pair I've had subseuqnetly I've worn with one [high quality] pair.  Enough padding, much less sweat.

In sandals I usually wear none.

Pete.

Liner socks and loop stitched wool over those, never have blisters, my standard boots are 3 (ish) season Meindl's, un-fashionably leather but very comfortable in all weathers.

Steve D

Just the one pair for me - depending on footwear and season they can be any model of Smartwool from the Adrenalines through to the really thick Expedition ones.

The only exception is when a pair of Rocky Goretex socks go over the top....

one pair normally

sring/autumn either smartwool or bridgedale - large though my shoes are size12 -  tight socks=less chance of blisters IME. 

If  warm I often wear 100% thin nylon (or nylon/wool mix) HJ 'indestructable' socks - surprisingly not smelly   (I wear a synthetic baselayer so prob wouldn't notice anyway)

in winter I sometimes add  liners if wearing the AKU fabric n leather  boots and it's cold

or if trail shoes - sealskins socks on top of smartwools

I've worn two pairs in my combats before now when they (as someone has already touched on) just don't want to conform to your feet. It helps to 'cavity fill' and keep them comfortable and subdues the blister monster. If that's your preference follow the advice already given on this thread. I, however, having had the good fortune of some great fitting boots recently (mainly combats) and have found that a nice thick pair of coolmax socks on their own have vastly improved my walking experience (not sure of their brand..got them for chrimble). Stiff soled rigid boots with two pairs of socks seems like a nightmare to me now..My lowas with a single pair of socks allows for better feedback from the terrain to my feet, keeps them warm in winter, and comfy in summer.

 Two pairs ,unless i am going more than ten miles or so ,but then i'll wear a double layer sock which is more comfy over time .

 The double layer socks were £7.50 for 2 pairs from ASDA. Best fit i've found .