Re: Bodyglide? Who the heck recommended this stuff?

Repeating an earlier post of mine -
I use Wigwam Gobi liners with Smartwool outers. The weight of the outer socks is varied according to the weather - light hikers in hot summer, heavy expedition in places like Alaska or Antarctica, in between for summer Rockies or Sierra or for winter backcountry ski or ice climbing in the Sierra, Presidentials, Tetons, Cascades, etc.

For day training hikes and runs in my trail running shoes in the local hills, I have been using the Wright double-layer socks, the inner part of which is much like the Gobi, and the outer is a synthetic that is also wicking.

As others mentioned, the Smartwools do wick somewhat, but the primary wicking is the thin wicking liners.

I might mention, while on the friction question, that in colder areas (below 10 to 15F), I use VBLs between the wicking liner and the heavier wool outer. When I do, the liner sometimes gets very wet. But the VBL (from Integral Designs) is quite slippery, so there is no blistering.

STF mentioned taking the boots off at rest and lunch stops to let the socks dry out, and suggested changing to dry socks part way through the day. This is a good idea, and one I have used particularly when hiking out from a climb that I had to backpack to. For example, when coming down from Denali, we usually go the full 14 miles from the 17,000 foot high camp to the 7200 foot airstrip in a single push. One of the few times I got blisters was when I did the full distance without changing socks. When I have reserved a clean set of socks (at one of the caches so I didn't carry the extra pound up and back unused) and changed the socks half-way down, I have never even gotten hot spots in the plastic boots.

On the tightened boots -- boots that are too tight and boots that are too loose both generate more blisters. Adjust the lacing pattern and tightness throughout the lacing to prevent heel lift, while giving lots of room in the toe box and flexibility at the ankle (that means tight instep).

Oh, yeah, a comment of Steve's on overtaxing the "permeable" liner - I have observed that people who use boots with Goretex and similar liners often get sopping wet socks and blisters on longer hikes. Full leather without such liners and mesh tops (like my trail runners have) seem to work much better in reducing the wet sock problem. Mesh tops, though, have the problem of letting dust through, which can also produce friction and blisters.

Going back to the "breaking in" question - boots and shoes made of synthetics are the size they are. There is no breaking them in. Again, one of the advantages of real leather. OTOH, my trail runners and my light hiking boots are synthetic, and work very well - because I work with a trained, experienced fitter to be sure they fit properly from the start.