Bamboo Socks to Prevent Sweaty and Smelly Feet

Short answer: The smell does not come from the foot but from bacteria living in the moisture the sock holds on to. Bamboo viscose takes the moisture into the fibre and releases it into the air again, so the foot stays drier and the smell is reduced. Change socks before you change shoes.

Where the smell comes from

The foot gives off fluid all day, and in a closed shoe it has nowhere to go. Bacteria on the skin live on that moisture and on the skin cells that rub off, and what you smell is their waste products. So it is not the foot that needs washing more often, it is the moisture that needs to leave. Cotton absorbs a lot but releases it slowly, so the sock turns wet and stays wet. Synthetic socks do not absorb it at all, and the moisture lies directly against the skin.

What bamboo does about it

Bamboo viscose takes the moisture into the fibre itself and passes it on to the air, so the layer between skin and fabric disappears faster. The bacteria lose part of the wet environment they live in, and the smell is reduced. The fibre is also smooth with no sharp ends, so it rubs less at the heel, where blisters otherwise start. See the range under all bamboo socks for women and all bamboo socks for men.

The height matters

The more of the foot that is covered, the more moisture the sock can move. A low footie covers the least and therefore has the hardest job, but it is still better than a synthetic one of the same height, because the fibre absorbs. See bamboo footies for men. An ankle height tennis sock covers more and is the best middle ground in trainers on a warm day. See bamboo tennis socks for men.

The shoe counts too

The sock cannot rescue a shoe that does not breathe. A rubber sole and a synthetic lining hold on to everything the sock passes out, which is why it helps to own two pairs of shoes and alternate them, so one can dry out completely. Take the insole out in the evening if it comes out. And change socks in the middle of the day if you have walked far: a dry sock on a dry foot works faster than anything else.

Washing

Wash at thirty degrees, turn the socks inside out and use no fabric softener. The softener settles around the fibres and closes off exactly the moisture transport that keeps the foot dry, and then the sock stops working even though it looks fine. Dry on the line or on the lowest heat, because high heat wears the elastic. The rest of the range sits under bamboo for women and bamboo for men. See also bamboo and temperature regulation.