Socks and underware

I buy my husband's fast drying travel undies at REI. On the www.REI.com/outlet they currently have some on sale, which is helpful because these high tech fabrics tend to be pricey.

Jim, I like Exofficio underwear and Smartwool socks. The "best" is somewhat subjective so every traveller will have a different answer. A lot of this kind of travel is trial and error. Try different brands until you find what you like and what works best for you.

What time of year are you traveling and what do you plan to do? That would help to answer the socks question. As for the underwear... um... only you can answer that question for yourself.

I'm a big fan of Underarmor underwear. I get the boxerbriefs (maybe called boxerjocks?) with 6" or 9" inseams. I bought some for travel and now am phasing out all of my other underwear. I have a pair of silk long underwear for cold weather.

For socks, I like Gold Toe acrylic fluffies crew socks. Underarmour also makes a non-cotton crew sock that works well. Gold Toe also has a wool blend dress sock that I might start using.

I only pack three pairs of each and hand wash a pair of each daily so I want something that will dry overnight. It's best to do a hand wash test at home to see which socks dry the best before packing them.

I am with Jim -- wool socks year around (both of us) and synthetic underwear. The big issue is to avoid cotton which can take forever to dry. The second issue is that most people vastly underestimate the importance of socks for comfort. It is a systems and the shoe and sock have to go together.

Silk, preferable with lacy frills ;)

Just kidding.

I've never tried silk, but I did find some polyester/cotton blend shorts and sox. I rinse them very hot and wring them out well with the bathmat, and they always dry for me overnight.

Another vote for Ex-Officio. Very comfortable and dries quickly after handwashing. They go on sale a few times during the year. Look out for them.

I was tempted to make a joke about "what underwear?"... but...

Higher percentage Polyester in underwear dries faster -- so I take those with me when I travel. (Usually 80/20 Cotton/Poly, travel sets are 60/40 Poly/Cotton) <-- but that's just my preference.

For running, lately, I've been trying out lycra / bamboo socks -- and they dry really fast (supposed to be moisture wicking in the first place). I will be trying some bamboo in some 'simulated backpack trip tests' to see if that is my new standard sock.

Thanks to this site and the advice given in 2008 regarding socks, we now all own only Smartwool socks. They are amazing. Don't leave home without them :-)

The underwear part I can't help with, but I am learning something today. Both hubby and son use 100% cotton and they take forever to dry, so I will have to get them the synthetic blends for travelling.

The only socks I ever wear, anywhere, any time, are World's Softest Socks. They take a day to dry, but they are SO comfy, winter and summer! I wear one pair and take 3, wash out the ones I wore during the day every night. This has worked so far.

I have to say I have given this much less thought than other items in my bag, maybe because a few extra socks and boxers are a small load and slipping into clean dry socks after a couple weeks of travel a simple but exquisite luxury. Basically, I go for comfort and pack enough to make it work.

Doug, obviously you have never worn cold, damp 100% cotton underwear in Europe or you wouldn't knock it, LOL Honestly, I am going to get them "travelling" underwear that I pack for them before our next trip! They won't have time to argue then :-)

Lee, I'm not too sure about the silk with lace! Does the lace itch or chaff !!! LOL

I wear whatever I like and visit the local laundry service often. Drop off the clothes in the morning and pick them up in the afternoon. Just a personal preference, but I find it's worth a few euros.

Listed from most expensive to least expensive: I have Ex-Officio, Magellans, Tilley's travel underwear and Target brand undies. All of them are suitable, but surprisingly this list is in the inverse order of how much I like them. My favorites are the cheapest: Target and Tilley. So, while there is nothing wrong with the more expensive brands I wouldn't spend the money again.

I would advise "Don't waste your money" except that advice is tempered by the fact that my husband likes Ex-Officio underwear so much that is all he wears now-- regardless of travel.

So, the point is the most expensive brands may not be worth it to you.

Silk undies dry FAST; try Wintersilks---they have quite a few styles for both men & women, including undershirts and camisoles . They're not cheap, but they do last sev years (we wear ours all time, not just when traveling).I take powdered lingerie soap,a couple of Pac towels, my RS clothesline, and 4 clips that have a hanger like a reg coat hanger (usually can be found in the laundry products section @ grocery stores). This combo lets me have clean socks & undies all the time, and I can attach clothesline and hanging clips to just about any knob, window latch, radiator pipe, etc.

Smartwool socks are the BEST!!!!!! Check out their website because most stores carry only a few styles. They have a low golf sock style that has a little cuff at the heel that works well for me because I have narrow feet and the cuff keeps my heels from rubbing. Like the Wintersilk items, these are not cheap but they last sev years

Ex officio & smartwool fan also. Wish other people in my family liked them as much as I do.

It seems like Ex Officio may be discontinuing some of its women's undies styles, because they are heavily discounted right now on their own website and also on REI's site and Sierra Trading Post's site. I just ordered some at half price from Sierra Trading Post--and at that price, I'll wear them even when not traveling.

Another good choice is Jockey's seamless no panty line undies line--I particularly like the modern brief boy cut ones, but they make all the usual styles in that line as well. You can get them in all nylon or in microfiber--both wash and dry well, though the nylon dries a bit faster. No heavy elastic at the waist or leg openings to bind, wear out, or cause VPL...And they go on sale pretty often at department stores.

Sam's club has been selling Omni-wool socks, similar to smart wool, a bit thicker but much less expensive, something like $15 for a 3 pair bundle.

I've replaced all my cotton athletic style socks with them. Been wearing them exclusively for a month now. Haven't tested the sink wash and dry yet though.

I do have a couple pairs of smart-wool, they have a tighter weave and a bit less cushion.

I forgot to say on my earlier posting that I also really like silk undies because they are cooler than synthetic fabrics.

Another vote for the Smartwool PhD Outdoor socks...

Ditto on the Exofficio underwear....I used them ( boxer briefs) exclusively on my last trip and they are excellent. A bit pricey for underwear but well worth the investment. Lightweight, antimicrobial, easy to wash and quick drying. As for socks,...wool and nothing else! LL Bean makes some good wool hiking socks, but anything wool( as opposed to cotton) should be okay. I find wool doesn't chafe or smell...

He wears Ex-Officio boxer briefs and I stick to Patagonia Hipsters but we both wear Smartwool socks (and bring the weight that goes with the shoe we happen to wear). It all washes well and dries quickly.