At times sweaty smelly feet just isn’t a problem you can hide, and it can be a little distressing when you need to take your shoes off at the gym, go shoe shopping or when entering someone’s home. If the thought of these situations fills you with dread, and you are desperate for the problem to just go away, then you need to read on.
Changing the type of socks you wear day in day out can help cure sweaty feet. In this article, you will find our top recommendations for socks which will help with sweaty, smelly feet. We also let you know which socks to avoid.
Let’s just start with a quick recap of some other things you can be doing to combat the problem:
- You change shoes regularly and take them off whenever possible
- Thoroughly washing your feet every day
- Regularly cleaning your shoes
- Additionally, you can try using a quality foot powder
If you are doing all of this you still find that you are experiencing sweaty smelly feet all the time, then you should definitely take look at what socks you are wearing. Having socks which are damp and stinky does not help the situation at all.
It is bacteria that are causing your smelly feet, and they mostly live in the top layers of your skin. They absolutely love a moist environment. Footwear and socks basically prevent our feet from evaporating moisture.
The sweat which is trapped quickly becomes smelly because of the bacteria that feed on it and produce the horrible cheesy smell. Once the bacteria on your feet have multiplied, they also tend to take up residence in your shoes as well. This is why cleaning your shoes on a regular basis needs to be part of your overall strategy as well.
You need to keep sweat away from your feet as much as you can. Stopping your feet from sweating altogether isn’t likely to happen – your feet contain a huge number of eccrine sweat glands – and going barefoot every day is rarely practical, so you should choose your footwear with care.
Clear These Socks Out of Your Wardrobe Now – Socks to Avoid
Synthetic Socks
Socks made of synthetic fibers – acrylic, nylon, polyester, or other synthetic fabrics – prevent your feet from breathing and do not allow sweat to evaporate. They also don’t absorb it, so your feet just stay moist. Tight stocks are likely to be even worse.
Cotton Socks
These are a better choice than synthetic socks, and many people buy cotton socks when they know to avoid synthetics. They are lighter and cooler than acrylic socks and do allow the feet to breathe, but they tend to not hold much moisture and become damp.
They absorb the sweat but do not allow the sweat to dispel. Everything stays damp and the bacteria multiply. Moisture-wicking socks – these are what you need to help combat smelly feet
The key feature that you want to look for is socks which are moisture wicking, and the socks on this list are those that generally do that best.
Wool Socks
Wool socks are the clear winners for sweaty feet. Wool socks are so good because:
- Wool breathes well
- Wool effectively wicks perspiration away from your feet
- Wool absorbs moisture in the inside of the fiber itself and the surface of the wool stays relatively dry, unlike cotton where the whole fiber absorbs moisture
- Wool absorbs almost twice the moisture as cotton – wool can wick as much as 30% of its weight in water
- Wool socks are commonly thicker than cotton socks
You can also get lighter weight merino wool liner socks, which you can wear inside other socks. Merino Wool is softer and finer than regular wool, and also has natural antibacterial properties. It is very good at eliminating odor.
CoolMax Socks
CoolMax is a specially engineered fiber, designed to take perspiration away from the body. CoolMax fibers are slightly oblong shaped in cross-section with grooves running lengthwise along the threads, allowing moisture to be drawn away quickly from the skin. The moisture wicks away via these channels, and out to a wider surface area for a greater evaporation rate.
Its fibers are light, soft and durable, fast drying. It is used in a variety of apparel products and is especially good at reducing the occurrence of smelly sweaty feet. Socks with CoolMax are generally made from a blend of various fibers.
Antibacterial Socks
Antibacterial socks are another option to consider. There is a range of technologies designed to kill off the problematic bacteria & many manufacturers incorporate these features along with other properties.
Bamboo Fibre Socks
Bamboo fiber is an eco-friendly choice which is popular among people with diabetes and those with allergy-prone and sensitive skin. Socks made of bamboo are almost 4 times more absorbent than cotton socks, thus helping to reduce foot odor.
Bamboo textiles are well-known to have an incredibly soft, luxurious feeling. Sock mad from bamboo also keep your feet warm in winter and cool in summer due to bamboo’s thermal regulating properties.
There are some claims of anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties for bamboo textiles, but it is not clear if this is actually the case.
Some Specific Socks We Recommend You Check Out Are:
- SmartWool Men’s Mountaineering Extra Heavy Crew Socks
SmartWool socks are a good and popular choice. They are a respected brand of socks which are made in the USA. They are a wool blend sock with good wicking ability and good cushioning and have a range of styles to pick from. The SmartWool Men’s Mountaineering Extra Heavy Crew Socks get an impressive 4.8-star rating on Amazon.
- Wigwam Men’s Merino Wool Comfort Hiker Mid-weight Crew Length Socks
These are a popular mid-weight merino wool blend hiking sock. They ensure dry comfortable feet, using Merino Wool combined with Silk and Coolmax. Wigwam claims that these socks don’t shrink or itch and that they resist odor. These socks also have an elasticized arch panel and the ventilation channel.
- Thorlos Light Hiking socks
These are another best-selling option. They receive a 4.7-star rating on Amazon from 700 overwhelmingly positive reviews. They are made from special ThorWick and ThorLon fibers which provide superior performance, super moisture wicking, a great fit, and durability. Thorlos’ special padding under the ball and heel provides provide maximum protection from friction.