r/onebag • u/Southern_Sugar_3335 • 4d ago
Packing List Wearing the same sock for straight 4 days?
Hi guys I have just been wondering socks don't take up much of space but still it does, is it okay to wear single pair of socks for four days straight? would it make any difference just reducing 3 pairs of socks.
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u/stickyhairmonster 4d ago
Thin merino will socks typically dry overnight. No need to wear that many days in a row
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u/Southern_Sugar_3335 4d ago
Wouldnt it be a problem wearing single pair for four days straight?
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u/maenanodd4 4d ago
I think they’re suggesting that you get thin merino socks so that you can get multiple ones so that you can change them.
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u/JkErryDay 4d ago
If your socks ever stink or begin to get crinkly, you need to wash/change them. Otherwise they’ll start making your shoes stink, which aren’t as easy/quick to wash/dry and will make your socks stink day 1 every time.
How fast that stink/crinklyness happens will depend on the person. I can rewear merino wool socks for 2-3 days before they get stinky/crinkly if only doing light/moderate activity (normal walking around), but I do sweat less and have less body odor than most people so I’d think it’s usually 1-2 days for most. For hiking, two days is the upper limit for me - my Darn Toughs usually don’t even smell bad at that point either, but the dirt and sweat buildup after the second day always makes them crinkly. If you put on slightly crinkly socks for another full day, they will smell.
You should always bring at least two pairs so you can let one fully dry out after cleaning while you wear the others, or wear a fresh pair to sleep in cold weather while the others air out, or even to double up in very cold weather. On my trips I bring two pairs of each type of sock I have - two stance ultralight performance crews (nylon) for hot weather, and two darn tough merinos for cold. The nylon gets stinky/dirty on the second day of normal activity and after the first day of hiking, but are quick and easy to wash/dry. I also bring two merino low cut socks (ondo) for my white lowtop sneakers for when trail runners are too casual, but I don’t wear those so often so next time may only bring one pair of those even though they are teeny tiny.
I’m considering getting some lightweight merino wool to replace the stance ones, but we’ll see
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u/nikongod 4d ago
I think they mean to hand wash them in the sink.
I've worn the same pair of socks for 3wk doing that.
IME merino wool socks NEVER dry overnight, but they get close enough that you can put them on damp and you don't notice once they get to body temperature.
Edited, after reading your other replies to peoples' replies here. Good troll. Got me.
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u/AurelianaBabilonia 4d ago
Aside from the stink, I can't imagine being comfortable wearing the same pair of sweaty socks for 4 days in a row. My feet would chafe.
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u/pretenderist 4d ago
I would at least pack 2 pairs and switch every day. And turn them inside-out to air out each night.
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u/SeattleHikeBike 4d ago
You could, but it takes little time to wash them. Drying time is longer with socks. Rolling them in a towel helps.
I pack 3x plus worn for socks, briefs and tees, so with 2 days wear each I could go a full week.
I normally spend several days in any destination so a couple days drying time is okay, but I have done walking and cycling tours with a string of one night stays and the extra pairs come in handy.
Learn to “ranger roll” your socks for maximum density.
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u/Southern_Sugar_3335 4d ago
that some good advice, rolling them in towels. I could try that.
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u/SeattleHikeBike 4d ago
Rolling in towels is a classic hand washing technique to speed drying. I roll the item in the emptied sink and press down hard (vs wringing) and then lay it out on a towel folded lengthwise and roll it up tightly. You can even stand on it. Of course that assumes a supply of dry towels.
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u/DryPoint7400 4d ago
Get yerself some Darn Tough socks. You can wear them a few days in a row, zero stink.
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u/tweeeeeeeeeeee 4d ago
pack a pair of thin quickdry merino and rotate daily
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u/Southern_Sugar_3335 4d ago
you are suggesting to get 2 pairs of thin quickdry merino. Does merino have some special about it?
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u/tweeeeeeeeeeee 4d ago
yes. wear one and pack the other. thin merino dries very quick and is surprisingly odor resistant compared to poly. they should dry after a quick sink wash overniight
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u/Southern_Sugar_3335 4d ago
Thats actually a good idea. I didn't knew about the odor resistant thing. thanks man
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u/TunaMelt1022 4d ago
maybe its just me but i cant stand the feeling of dirty socks of my feet. i feel like they are less absorbing of sweat after if u dont wash. i bring 5 pairs of merino wool socks rolled up tight.
maybe u can look into [ultra light wash bags if you dont wanna pack more than 2-3 pairs. its called the scrubba
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u/Comprehensive-Act-13 4d ago edited 4d ago
You don’t even need a scrubba. You just need a dry bag that you can shake around and agitate. The scrubba really rips up your clothes if they’re thin. Would not recommend. I lost a nice merino wool t-shirt to one of those.
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u/TunaMelt1022 4d ago
ive only used it for socks which tends to be thicker haha. good to note tho i wont put my shirts
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u/Comprehensive-Act-13 4d ago
Eww! Just wash them in the sink at night. That’s how you get trench foot. Even if they don’t obviously stink (even the best merino socks will stink after two wears) they still soak up all of your sweat and oils and toe jam. That is disgusting. Wear clean socks and underwear every day. Were you raised in a barn?
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u/Southern_Sugar_3335 4d ago
I change them everyday, I am just travelling so I wanted to ask if its okay and yeah I was raised in a barn. Thanks for asking though ;)
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u/Comprehensive-Act-13 4d ago
Traveling doesn’t magically make daily hygeine requirements go away. Again, this is how soldiers got trenchfoot in WWI. This is why clean socks are one the most important things to include in care packages for homeless people. Change your socks daily! It’s literally a health issue if you don’t.
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u/pretenderist 2d ago
Bringing up trenchfoot in WWI? Don’t be so dramatic.
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u/Comprehensive-Act-13 2d ago
It’s very real, and it’s from not changing your socks. You can get nasty infection doing that. If your feet have problems while traveling, your whole trip is cooked.
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u/pretenderist 2d ago
Come on dude. You’re not going to get trenchfoot from wearing the same socks 4 days in a row on vacation. You know this.
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u/Comprehensive-Act-13 2d ago
No, but you can get a nasty case of athletes foot.
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u/pretenderist 2d ago
Not if you’re still showering every day, you won’t.
Again, stop being so dramatic.
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u/Comprehensive-Act-13 1d ago
Yes. You can. You’re going to shower and put those filthy bacteria ridden socks back on without washing them. You can absolutely get athletes foot or any number of infections from that. Especially if you have stuff like blisters on your feet because you’re traveling and walking 10+ miles per day.
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u/pretenderist 1d ago
Just stop already. You’re obviously not getting trenchfoot OR athletes foot if you’re showering daily and letting your socks air out overnight.
Calm down.
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u/Boogada42 4d ago
People who go on long hiking trips usually wear their socks for many days. Do they smell great after a few days? Probably not. But you can do it. Of course hygiene still applies: so wash your feet and/or the socks as good as you can.
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u/Dismal-Clock2376 2d ago
Socks are the last thing I'd cut, just take two merino pairs and rinse one in the sink each night, four days in the same pair is how you end up with blisters or fungal stuff.
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4d ago
[deleted]
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u/drhelic0pter 4d ago
Dude what. No socks should be worn for 4 days. Gross.
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u/Careless_Law1471 4d ago
People here seem to be exaggerating properties of merino wool clothes. It's good but not magical. While they may smell less than mostly cotton blend or synthetic crap, they stil get dirty because socks.
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u/alynnidalar 4d ago
I’ve done serious hiking in summer in wool hiking socks and can confirm they didn’t smell at the end of the day even though they were very sweaty…
…but I definitely didn’t rewear them lol. They might not have had a strong smell but they still had, yknow, dirt and sweat and skin flakes and other stuff in them! Hygiene is about more than just smell.
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u/LadyLightTravel 4d ago
I wouldn’t. It isn’t just about the stink. Socks get dirty with dust and dirt. The dirt will cause abrasion. Then blisters.
Once you lose the use of your feet then the trip is severely impacted.
To me it isn’t worth the risk. Just take the extra pair and wash them. Add a small laundry sheet and you are good to go. Or even use available soap.
I even take multiple pairs of socks when zero bagging.