Moisture wicking socks don't help.

AR15

Professional
I've been doing an unscientific study comparing moisture wicking socks to regular 100% cotton socks. I've bought Thorlos, New Balance and a couple of other brands of moisture wicking socks.

What I've found is that it doesn't matter if I'm wearing cotton socks or moisture wicking socks, the results are the same after about an hour of tennis: either sock is completely soaked in sweat. I take my shoes off and I can wring out a puddle of sweat from either type.

I believe the shoes keep the sweat from evaporating from the socks. So, in the inclosed environment of a shoe, evaporation is not allowed with either sock material.
 

beernutz

Hall of Fame
Dear Gun Nut. I believe you are correct about those socks in general because they don't work for me either. You can also add Nike moisture wicking socks to your list of those that don't work.

I have read on this forum (so it MUST be true) that if you wash your mositure-wicking fabrics with fabric softener, the moisture-wicking ability is temporarily disabled. I don't think this would really matter with socks, but after I noticed that my wicking shirts weren't wicking like they used to, I asked L if she uses fabric softener when she washes my tennis gear and she does, so perhaps there is something to that.
 
S

snoflewis

Guest
AR15 said:
Do they have moisture wicking shoes?

they have shoes w/ good ventilation, which in turn gets rid of moisture quicker than shoes that don't have good ventilation. adidas CC feathers and nike breathes come to mind.
 

AR15

Professional
When I wear out my B IV's and New Balance shoes, I might try some of those out.

I don't think they will help either, though.
 
S

snoflewis

Guest
AR15 said:
When I wear out my B IV's and New Balance shoes, I might try some of those out.

I don't think they will help either, though.

shoes w/ good ventilation should help w/ getting moisture out. of course your socks will get wet no matter what, but it will help prevent them feel soggy...
 
beernutz said:
Dear Gun Nut. I believe you are correct about those socks in general because they don't work for me either. You can also add Nike moisture wicking socks to your list of those that don't work.

I have read on this forum (so it MUST be true) that if you wash your mositure-wicking fabrics with fabric softener, the moisture-wicking ability is temporarily disabled. I don't think this would really matter with socks, but after I noticed that my wicking shirts weren't wicking like they used to, I asked L if she uses fabric softener when she washes my tennis gear and she does, so perhaps there is something to that.
Why don't you think that it would matter with socks? Of course it matters.
 

beernutz

Hall of Fame
10sstringman said:
Why don't you think that it would matter with socks? Of course it matters.

I don't think it matters with socks because even brand-spanking new out of the package, none of my moisture-wicking socks have worked worth a flip. So, no, in my case it doesn't matter.
 

mctennis

Legend
Make sure you have breathable shoes, i.e., not cheap plastic outerwrap or that mesh stuff. That mesh stuff makes my feet sweat too. I use cotton socks and change them after a few sets. I has had a terrible time finding socks that wick the sweat away. They don't exist for me. Good luck.
 
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