Sweaty Feet

Factual Questions
1

RIGHTY, my first ever straight dope message (how exciting)

anyways, i was busy avoiding doing work in some lesson at school and i started an argument with a group of girls in the class about feet. They were seriously suggesting that feet sweat more when you aren’t wearing socks with footwear on. I originally started thinking that how can less foot wear make feet sweat more? It’s a fact that more layers of clothing is warmer than one thick layer. They were also saying that its got something to do with the material and that you can get pools of sweat in the shoe. THIS drew me to another conlusion: Your foot doesn’t necessarily sweat more or less either way but it appears you’re foot sweats more without a sock because your socks soaks up the sweat making it apparently drier. So adamant that i was right, i walked home with one sock on one off, but to no avail, it was too cold to even work up a sweat. So i was wondering if anyone can answer: Does your foot sweat more with or without a sock on? - Thanks

2

I think somthing is afoot with your friends’ reasoning…

I will agree with you that if anything your feet will sweat MORE if you are wearing socks, but that they will appear drier brcause the socks wick the moisture away from the feet.

Some athletic socks even tout this ability on their packaging claiming that they keep your feet drier.

3

your feet will sweat the same amount with a sock on, or off. the problem is the evaporation of the sweat. Sweat will evaporate faster with no covering then your body will have to generate more sweat to compensate. with socks on they will retain the sweat and keep your foot moister. there are also better materials for your feet than the standard cotton sock, some will draw the sweat away from your skin and also are more “breatheable”.

4

I think the fact that you actually took one sock off to see if you sweat more means you’re a perfect fit here. :slight_smile: Welcome to the boards.

5

don’t know whether your feet sweat more without socks, but they do tend to get a little more niffy. I don’t like to wear socks, and have noticed this. I put those charcoal liners in my running shoes, and they really work.