Moisture wicking socks
Most of the socks listed below are moisture wicking socks in one or another way. The bacteria
that cause smelly feet live on the top layers of the skin on your feet. They thrive on moist. Therefore
it is necessary to keep sweat away from them.
You can’t stop sweating anyway since your feet have the most eccrine sweat glands than any
other body part. You can reduce the amount of sweat your feet produce though.
Once your shoes have been exposed to sweat and lots of bacteria they will set up colony in your
shoes too. That’s why it’s important to clean your shoes on a regular basis as well.
Wool socks
Wool socks belong to the best socks for sweaty feet because:
wool socks wick perspiration away from your feet
wool absorbs moisture in the inside of the fiber itself (whereas with cotton, the whole fiber absorbs
moisture), the surface of wool socks stays relatively dry
wool has almost twice the moisture absorbing ability of that of cotton
wool breathes well
wool socks are commonly thicker than cotton socks
Wool can wick as much as 30% of its weight in water.
Personally, I love wool socks for another reason, wool has excellent insulating properties which
means it keeps your feet warm when it’s cold but also helps your feet keep cooler when it¡¯s warm.
(which is often a problem for me, my feet heat up really quickly, leaving me with very warm or even
hot feet)
Smartwool socks, a popular, well-reviewed brand, help prevent sweaty feet and most people find
they are not itchy.
Of course, everybody is different so switching brands may be useful when itch is an issue.
Merino wool socks
Some people find that 100% wool socks still become clammy. If you experience this too, you may
want to opt for sock liners combined with (wool) socks. Such a combination helps a lot of people
keep their feet dry.
Quality lightweight 100% merino wool socks are generally sold as “liner” socks.
Merino wool socks are often valued for various reasons. For one because of Merino wools
excellent insulation properties. These socks keep your feet warm in winter and cool in summer.
Which is great since overheated feet are common in people with sweaty feet.
Apart from that they are very soft, especially if you have socks with a micron count lower than 20.
But that’s just a nice added benefit.
Merino wool socks are probably the best socks to prevent sweaty feet because:
They can absorb a whole lot of moisture (sweat) while still feeling dry since the moist is kept inside
the fiber thus blocking microbes from feeding on the sweat. Apart from that it also evaporates
sweat into the air. Eventually even Merino wool will be saturated (it can absorb about 35% of its
own weight) and start to feel wet but this takes much longer than cotton or normal wool.
Because of this strong wicking ability Merino wool socks stay warm when wet.
Merino wool dries quickly. So you can take off your shoes to let your socks dry while not having
to worry about the stench.
This special type of wool is naturally anti-bacterial. Its chemical makeup and structure make it a
harsh place for bacteria and other microorganisms.
It eliminates odor. And it does this well.
Popular brands are SmartWool and Wigwam . They are known for their hiking socks but these
offer a great solution for daily wear too. After all, some folks may use these socks during a
marathon but we tend to sweat as much by just strolling to the grocery store two streets down the
block.
Liner socks
Synthetic (polyester) sock liners (a.k.a liner socks) wick sweat away from your feet and keep it
locked in the sock. Liner socks are worn inside traditional socks.
Thin synthetic liners worn together with wool blend outer socks are a popular solution for smelly
feet. They offer comfort, keep your feet dry, help educe foot odor but also prevent skin maceration.
Some brands also feature additional protection against foot odor by adding substances that
inhibit the growth of smell causing bacteria. An example: ProtectGuard? Anti-odour socks.
Antibacterial socks
You might consider antibacterial socks. These are impregnated to kill off the smell causing
bacteria. Many sock manufacturers combine technologies.
Coolmax socks
Coolmax socks are specifically designed to move perspiration away from feet. These quality liner
socks are made out of Coolmax, Nylon, Lycra, Spandex, and Durofil. They have different types of
socks divided in everyday use and active use.
A popular brand that features Coolmax technology are Thorlo Experia socks. They have
cushioning which provides support and reduces friction and are extra breathable. Some users
even say it’s like there’s air conditioning in these socks. Haven’t used them myself.
Bamboo fiber socks
Bamboo fiber socks are eco-friendly socks that are popular among people with diabetes, those
with allergy-prone and sensitive skin, and other groups.
These socks keep your feet warm in winter and cool in summer because of bamboo’s thermal
regulating properties. They help reduce foot odor because they are almost 4 times more
absorbent than cotton socks.
Bamboo fabrics are often claimed to be antibacterial and anti-fungal. The bamboo plant itself is
antibacterial, whether the fabric, in for example socks, after the production cycle still is is not
entirely clear. Researchers are looking in to fortifying bamboo’s antibacterial properties by
adding additional antibacterial agents.
The incredible soft and luxurious feeling of bamboo textiles however, is undisputed.
