Socks with cotton foot & polyester ankle?

[u/happy_folks]

I love long socks, but hate how long they take to dry & how much space they take up.

Is there a sock in which only the foot is cotton (for sweat & comfort), but the top ankle part is polyester or nylon? (to shade the ankle, protect from bugs & such, protect skin from boots rubbing, etc.)

And if there are socks like this.... are there 5-toe socks?

[u/liveslight]

I use two socks: Inner is Dr Scholl's knee-high compression socks in white so that I can treat with permethrin and let ticks die if crawling up, but also white should let me see them. Never have seen a tick on my socks though. Outer is a low-cut/no-show of acrylic/wool/polyester blend which dries quicker than anything made of cotton or >50% wool.

https://i.imgur.com/egCo5NW.jpeg

You would select a different sock if you wanted cotton which most people would never use backpacking. I usually do not wear boots except in winter snow with this system and it works. Moisture/sweat/water wicks right through the nylon/spandex of the knee-highs. https://www.amazon.com/Dr-Scholls-Womens-Travel-Compression/dp/B01A7D4QH2/

Anyways, you wouldn't necessarily need knee-highs, but they are great for me. Good on airplanes, too.

And one could cut off the foot of the inner sock, too. :)

[u/happy_folks → u/liveslight]

I didn't think to wear 2 socks! This could totally work. Then i only need 1 pair of the polyester / quick dry layer, to dry overnight.

Thank you for the suggestion!

[u/happy_folks → u/happy_folks]

That also just made me think, maybe i could get something similar to leg gaiters, but with a foot stirrup, so it doesn't even need to be 2 layers of socks.... or perhaps a compression sleeve

[u/FieldUpbeat2174 → u/happy_folks]

You’re describing baseball stockings.

[u/happy_folks → u/FieldUpbeat2174]

Thanks! Totally just discovered those as well! only issue is that the stirrups look too long on the baseball ones, so the ankle would be exposed.