How many pairs of socks do you need for backpacking? This is a common question among those preparing for an overnight adventure in the wild, and it’s no wonder. No one wants to have to put on wet, muddy socks from the day before when they set off on another eight-hour trek, and every article about what to wear hiking specifies that you should always carry extra socks in your backpack – but how many extra pairs do you need?
If, at home, you wear cotton socks and are reasonably active throughout the day, you might be used to changing your socks daily, or nearly every day. But if you’re embarking on a seven-night section hike or backpacking trip along the West Highland Way, that’s suddenly a lot of extra bulk to cram into an already overloaded backpack. Then again, if you’re trying to go ultralight, and you only bring the socks on your feet when you set off from the trailhead, all it takes is one rainy day crossing boggy terrain and suddenly you’re pretty miserable, with cold feet and at risk for developing blisters or worse, trench foot. No fun.
