A few month ago,  I introduced the Injinji Toesocks to Outside San Diego, and indicated that the group hiking the Grand Canyon was going to test several pairs of their liners in this demanding backpacking environment.  After 100’s of miles on the liner socks, I can confidently say that they will become a permanent part of my backpacking footwear. That is if I can keep my wife from running off with them every time she finds a pair floating to the top of my sock drawer.   After a few minutes of initial weirdness at having cloth between my toes  the liners did their job at preventing any blisters or hot spots anywhere on my feet, or the feet of any of the three hikers wearing the socks. One of the testers remarked that she was going to wear the liners to work,  they were so comfortable.

Here is how Injinji describes their Liner Tetrasocks:

“Injinji’s patented Liner tetratsok is designed to be worn as a first layer sock to interface with your favorite traditional outer sock. Built with 5 separate toe sleeves for your toes to fit into like a glove and constructed with moisture wicking fibers, the Liner tetratsok keeps your feet comfortably cool, dry and protected from blisters.
We used the Injinji liners in two different materials,  Coolmax, and NuBamboo.  Both of these fabrics held up well,  and performed well, wicking moisture away from the foot,  and keeping it dry.”

One of the testers reported that the NuBamboo fabric took longer to dry after washing than the Coolmax counterpart.  Both of my pairs of Liner Tetratsoks still look great despite the abuse of wearing them multiple days beneath my traditional wool hiking socks, and washing them more than a half a dozen times.  The liner socks come up to about mid-calf,  and stay put exceptionally well.  The  socks are thin enough that they do not affect the fit of outer socks or boots,  and provide enough support throughout the sock, that it helped keep my feet feeling good despite the long miles. The support is evident as you peel them off at the end of a strenuous day, and you feel that gentle release of the compression the socks provide.  Multiple days in the socks did not build up any significant funk on any of our feet.  We were all able to hike near each other without wrinkling our noses.

The Toesock liners retail for $12.00 a pair.  But the real question is should you get NuBamboo, or Coolmax.  Frankly they seem to be pretty similar to me.  The Coolmax socks feel a little thicker while the NuBamboo socks have a silkier texture. Both have 25% nylon content.  The Injinji website touts the NuBamboo sock as being the more environmentally friendly fabric choice, made from an anti-microbial natural fiber. The Coolmax socks are a bright white, while the NuBamboo socks are more of a beige color.    Either way you are not going to wrong wearing a the Toesock liners on the trail.

I was initially skeptical as the the value of the Injinji Toesocks.  They seemed a bit “gadgety” to me.  As I began to think about the concept, the more sense it made.  Blisters are formed by skin on skin friction.  When I do get a blister, it tends to be between the toes, in a place where moisture adds to the friction.  When I feel a blister coming on I isolate the rubbing skin with moleskin, or duct tape.  Why not just take the problem of friction out of the equation?  The Injinji Toesock do just that, and do it well.

Injinji Toesocks on sale at Backcountry.com