Hiking Accessories

Hiking accessories, starting with the pair that touches the ground

The hiking accessories gathered here are all socks, and that is less narrow than it sounds: waterproof and water-repellent designs, breathable trekking socks, outdoor and running versions, and a plain black cut for anyone who wants none of it visible. Socks decide how a day feels more than most people expect, because a boot is only as comfortable as what sits inside it. A blister is almost never the fault of the boot alone; it is friction plus moisture, and the sock controls both.

How does a waterproof sock work?

Three layers, bonded together. A knit inner sits against the skin, a membrane in the middle blocks liquid water from passing through, and a hardwearing outer knit takes the abrasion from the boot. Water cannot get in from outside, and vapour from the foot passes out slowly through the membrane. That last point sets expectations honestly: the foot still gets damp with sweat on a hard climb, but it stays warm and it is not sitting in stream water.

When is a waterproof sock better than a waterproof boot?

Whenever the water comes in over the top. Bog, wet grass, stream crossings and hours of heavy rain running down the leg all defeat a boot that is waterproof in the wrong direction, and once water is inside, a lined boot holds it there. A sock puts the barrier around the foot rather than around the boot, so it works with a well-drained shoe, a trail runner or a boot that has quietly given up. It keeps working when the outer footwear is soaked through, which is why the pairing with hiking shoes makes sense on British ground.

What should you look for in a hiking sock?

• Height: the cuff needs to finish above the boot collar, otherwise the top of the sock becomes the entry point.
• Seam position: a flat or offset toe seam avoids the ridge that rubs the end of the toes on descent.
• Cushioning zones: extra knit under the heel and ball absorbs impact without adding bulk across the instep.
• Elastic through the arch: it holds the sock still, and a sock that does not move cannot rub.

How do you make a pair last?

Wash them inside out on a cool cycle, without fabric conditioner, which clogs a membrane and flattens the pile that does the cushioning. Air dry rather than tumble dry, since heat is what separates bonded layers. Trim toenails before a long walk, because a nail edge is the most common cause of a hole appearing in a new pair. Trapped grit works like sandpaper, so shake them out at the end of a wet day.

What else belongs in a day kit?

The small items are the ones forgotten at the door: a hat, gloves, a headtorch and spare laces, most of which sit alongside these in accessories. Legwear that dries quickly matters just as much as dry feet, which is what separates a walking cut in hiking trousers from an ordinary pair of jeans on a wet day. Over the top, a hiking jacket long enough to cover the hips keeps rain from running down the leg and into the boot in the first place.