Looking for the proper socks for my trip

Thanks a lot, these smartwool socks look pricey but effective. I'll look into these for sure!

Smartwool is a brand that tends to be expensive. We use a 85% wool sock from Sams Club that works very well.

On my recent trip to Spain, I took my regular socks. Some were cotton, some were blends. The only problem I found with the cotton socks was that some of them didn't dry quickly enough sometimes (and other days they did, depending on humidity, a/c, etc). If you have access to a dryer, or you aren't moving around every day, your cotton socks should be fine.

Pricey BUT worth EVERY penny. Smart Wool socks. Hands down the best you can buy. http://www.mtbr.com/cat/mtb-apparel-and-protection/socks/smart/wool-mtb/prd_353149_1477crx.aspx

Go to an REI store or REI online. They have some excellent light hiking socks under their brand name that work perfect in hot and cool weather, plus they are not bulky, very lightweight unlike most smartwool socks.
http://www.rei.com/product/791175/rei-hybrid-light-hiking-crew-socks-with-primaloft-fiber

Nordstrom Rack has smartwool socks for about half the REI price. The ion will vary from week to week and there is always a better ion for women, of course:)

Smartwool and Tilley.

Love my smartwool socks. I just found a place to buy them in NYC. Buy a least one pair a year with cool colors! Pam

I like Smartwool and have used it on trips, as well as for hiking and cold weather. But it can get itchy after awhile in warm weather. Last year my feet forced me to buy some cheap cotton socks in England just for relief. I wear cotton socks, the thicker the better, at home and will take them on my next trip to hot humid central Europe later this month. Maybe TMI though about my feet. Everyone is different!

In warmer weather, my clothing goes from casual to business casual, depending on where I am and what I'm doing. I like Underarmour's black crew socks. They're made of a Nylon/Polyester/Spandex mix. They hand wash/dry overnight well. They are cushiony enough for a lot of walking but also good looking enough to wear as a dressy sock. There are several problems with cotton. One is drying time to wash, another is they stretch and only shrink back to shape when they are machine washed/dried, a third is they offer no insulation when they get wet or sweaty, and finally they can contribute to blisters because they lose their cushion when they get wet from your sweaty feet. I wear long pants for everything other than the beach or pool, then I don't wear socks. I normally pack three pairs of the exact same socks. That way if I lose a sock or two, I'm only down one pair of socks. If I was planning a lot of hiking, or cold weather, I like the hiking socks Costco sells. They're 4 for about $10 and 70 Merino wool. They seem to take wear well (Some of mine have been through years of camping/hiking/mt. biking trips).

Smartwool (mid-weight or light crew) socks are great for a lot of walking, but you may need three pairs if you do you own in-sink washing. You will likely need more than a day to dry out wool socks even after ringing out the wet socks in a towel. I found that light weight Coolmax socks from LL Bean will generally dry overnight. On feet intensive trips (walking holidays or XC ski trips), I will hve 3 pairs of Smartwool socks and one or two pairs of synthetic (e.g. Coolmax) socks, using the Smartwools for the outdoor activities and the Coolmax socks after walking/skiing.

Thorlo is what I wear. My feet stay dry no matter how hot the weather is. Also, extra padding around toes and boney protrusions to prevent blistering.

Check out World's Softest Socks...they have a website.
They come in lots of colors and truly are the softest ever. They also wear like iron...I have some that are 4-5 years old and show no signs of wearing out. I've worn them for years, winter and summer, and have never gotten blisters or hot feet. They don't dry quickly, but they are sure comfy.

my husband swears by his Thorlos.

I use cotton/polyester blend socks (Coolmax, I think). I wear one pair on the plane and take two more. I wash every night and they are almost always dry by morning. But if you have access to a washing machine and dryer, almost anything should work.

I bought a few pair of Smartwool socks a month ago in prep for a trip to Orlando to do WDW. First day I wore them for work (standing on concrete floor for 8 hours) and was amazed how much better my feet felt (no pain, no burning). Just got back from WDW in 90+ degree heat and feet felt great. Pricey but well worth it for me. Can't wait to do London in them.

I go to Europe every summer for a month and take a pair of Smartwool socks as well as three pairs of ExOfficio brand and also take two pairs of "sock liners" that I got somewhere that I wear under the socks that wick away any moisture. The ExOs and S.L.s all get sink washed and are dry in the AM. I found that it is better for me to spend more money for good travel gear than trying to cheap out and be disappointed.

Try Sierra Trading Post or REI OUtlet for deals on Smartwool and other good travel/wicking/walking socks.

I too swear by Thorlos (running version). As a regular 5 mile walker I find in combination w/ my Thorlos I must use an sport insert like Superfeet. Yes this all adds up in cost but comfort no blisters and no tired feet are worth alot to me. Thorlos are about $11 per pair, sport inserts range up to about $30 per pair however they all last along time. So for about $50 up front your set.

The proper socks make all the difference, so I wear on trips what works for me at home. So far, that is the Thorlos light hiking socks. They are expensive, but last a long time. My son is 21 and still has some he had in junior high. They are cotton and take a while to dry, but I manage with 4 pair, all alike in case one sock doesn't get dry. So, another vote for Thorlos. I think I'm going to order a pair of those Smartwool though since so many people swear by them.