So how do you get stickers out of your socks?

[XemaSab]

Things to avoid? Surefire methods? Commiserations?

[bemildred]

1. You wear socks?

:-)

Seriously though, high-top leather boots and long heavy jeans can minimize the problem.

But mostly, when that's the way it is where you want to go, you just sit down and pick them out from time to time, maybe picking your gear with that sort of thing in mind, i.e. avoiding knitted things.

[XemaSab]

2. Dunno that I've ever seen socks

that weren't knitted.

:-)

[bemildred]

4. Maybe knitted is not the right word.

I was thinking of shoes, and pants, and things.
It was early and the coffee had not diffused yet.
Some types of shoes pick up a lot of stickers, foxtails, etc.
Same for pants. Some (leather, thick denim) do not.
Socks pretty much all suck in that regard.
:-)

[XemaSab]

6. The question

is do you go for thin socks that the stickers are easy to pull out of, or do you go for the think socks that the stickers take longer to penetrate?

[bemildred]

8. I don't select socks on that basis.

I select socks based on what sort of walk it is, the weather,
etc. Thick socks are harder to get foxtails etc. out of, but they
might tend to keep them from irritating your skin a bit better,
so it would be a tradeoff, a personal decision. If stickers really
annoy you, you could use two layers of socks and see if that helps,
a thin hard layer inside and a thick layer outside. Some people
do that anyway for other reasons, to prevent blisters, to provide
warmth. I do find that thin socks, when you get a lot foxtails, tend
to be annoying, where with thick socks I can ignore the foxtails
pretty well until I get home, and then clean up the mess. Where I
expect a lot of that sort of thing, I look for armor, not special
socks, but that's the way I go anyway. I live in hot country and
worry about Yucca, thornbushes, ticks, etc. You could consider spats
or leggings too, although I've never done that.

Edit: FWIW, I always wear thick socks for serious walking, but it's
not about foxtails, it's about keeping my feet happy. When it's hot
I have to air my feet and cool them off now and then, but they need the
cushioning and support. I only wear thin socks for putzing around in
inhabited places or short, impromptu sort of walks.

[XemaSab]

10. I walk around all day

often in hot weather, so I prefer the thicker socks. Gaiters keep the burrs out, but they don't let the air circulate very well.

[bemildred]

11. No they (gaiters) don't.

And lighter shoes that do ventilate well tend to pick up a lot of stuff, where heavy leather will not. I have some light Montrails that I'm very fond of, but they pick up a lot of stuff when I walk in well vegetated areas.

I used to wear high-top work boots; they work well at protecting you, and they last forever, but they weigh a ton, and aren't necessarily nice to your feet.

[XemaSab]

12. Everything's a trade off

Lighter shoes that let stuff in versus heavier shoes that don't breathe.

[TX-RAT]

3. Wear boots

[Redneck Socialist]

5. Please excuse a New England boy's ignorance...

but, what's a "sticker?" Most of our jabby stuff tends to grow pretty tall out here so getting them in your socks isn't much of a worry. Arms, legs and face on the other hand...:(

[XemaSab]

7. Pointy foxtails

and burrs, mostly.

Those grasslands look so innocent, but they'll get you.

[TX-RAT]

9. Grass-burrs and Goat-heads

In some area's i have to run boots on my bird dogs, it's so bad.
Both will penetrate about an 1/8th of an inch, and are hell getting out.

[MrSandman]

13. Adhesive lint roller...nt

[idiosyncratic]

14. I bought some "desert gaiters" at REI and they work great. eom

[Kolesar]

15. I have the "Outdoor Research" version of Desert Gaiters

In beautiful royal blue. They keep my socks and insoles cleaner, which is a biggie during a long backpack trip when you cannot have new, clean socks every day.

[XemaSab]

18. I've got short blue gaiters

But the grass is taller than the top of the gaiters, and falls down and gets in the socks nevertheless. :(

[bmbmd]

16. I heard that that was how velcro was invented-

by a farmer pulling stickers out of his socks.

[IA_Seth]

17. They make a stone that makes it a cinch.

Couldn't tell you what the stone is made of...something pourous that looks sort of spongy, but it isnt.

They sell them at Gander Mountain, a outdoors store (if they have them in your area)...and I am sure others sell them as well.