Alpaca Socks: Everything
You Need To Know
Which socks you pick matters a lot. Plenty of thought goes into a perfect pair. Below is all you need to know about alpaca socks.
Hunting for the ideal pair of socks means looking for durable, snug ones that won’t leave your feet sweating. Blisters and stinky feet mean socks can easily spoil a day. Good socks are essential for keeping your feet healthy. A warm pair that breathes can greatly improve hikes outdoors or lazy hours curled up on the sofa. Enter: Alpaca socks. They come out on top as the best sock for every season. So why are alpaca socks so special? Below is all you should know about them.
Are alpaca socks good socks?
Shearing is in fact essential to the health of alpacas. Putting on alpaca socks therefore supports the animals, the farmers who raise them, and the planet. Kind to the environment and to your feet, alpaca socks let you walk more thoughtfully. They are tough and built to endure. They regulate temperature too, so you can wear them across the seasons. Alpaca fiber is also a natural, renewable resource, and unlike sheep's wool, cotton, and synthetics it needs no harsh chemical treatment when it is cleaned.
What are the benefits of alpaca socks?
We have already talked about the sustainable qualities of alpaca socks and why they are kind to the planet. Now, here are a few of the perks you get from wearing alpaca socks.
Moisture-wicking:Performance athletes rave about alpaca socks thanks to how well they wick moisture. Alpaca fiber ranks among the finest materials for evaporation and for regulating temperature. It is hydrophobic, so the socks push moisture off your feet and out to the sock's outer surface, where it dries off. That works well for sweat, but how do they cope if a rainstorm catches you or you splash into a puddle?
Low water retention:Of all natural fibers, alpaca holds back the least water, just 8%, so it suits soggy, muddy conditions really well. Even when damp, alpaca socks still keep their warmth and insulating ability. That minimal moisture uptake is also a big reason they stay fresh-smelling through many days of wearing.
Odor-resistant:Most socks smell bad because they hold onto moisture. That dampness lets bacteria grow and multiply, which turns the socks into soggy stink bombs. Since alpaca moves moisture away so effectively, alpaca socks can stay fresh for days - getting them to smell is a real challenge!
They wear for multiple days:Washing socks after every single wear is what most of us do. With alpaca socks, that often isn't needed. Thanks to their antimicrobial nature, you can usually wear a pair several days in a row, which is fantastic for hiking trips or long drives. Here at Paka, members of our community message us constantly to say they forgot to swap socks since they felt so fresh and comfy!
Thermoregulating and breathable:Temperature regulation is among the standout features of alpaca socks. The fibres are medullated, containing hollow air pockets that help balance heat. Alpaca breathes so well that the socks work in every season.
Extremely soft and cushiony:If you have tried wool in the past, you may remember it feeling scratchy and coarse on your skin. Alpaca socks are a different story. Alpaca wool is hypoallergenic, so it suits people whose skin reacts easily, and its fibre feels noticeably softer on contact than other kinds of wool.
Durable:Last but not least, alpaca socks are remarkably tough. The tensile strength of alpaca fiber is 50 N/ktex, and historians record that the Incas built bridges from alpaca wool. Hikers on the AT / PCT often cover hundreds of miles in one pair of alpaca socks and find the fibers still in excellent shape afterward. It is reassuring to know your socks will keep serving you for many months ahead!
Are alpaca socks good for sweaty feet?
Sweaty feet are a nuisance and a little mortifying on a good day. On a bad day they can raise the risk of hypothermia. When sweat is not wicked away properly, it gets stuck inside your layers and, in the cold, chills you intensely. Only 8% moisture is retained by alpaca fiber, the lowest among natural fibers, whereas most wools hold 16-20%. Bacteria multiply in the moisture that most socks trap, and those bacteria are what make feet and socks smell bad. Since alpaca socks remain dry, they remain fresh too. Your toes won't smell like roses, we admit, but kicking off your shoes won't be a worry.
How often should you wash alpaca socks
You can wear alpaca socks day after day and they stay fresh, though eventually you will want to launder them. They fend off odors and dampness far longer than cotton or synthetic socks, so they need washing less frequently. As a rule, 2-3 full days of wear is fine before they go in the laundry basket. Bear in mind that alpaca, as with any wool, can shrink if it is handled badly. It is the mix of heat and tumbling in the machine that damages natural fibres. Choose a wool or hand-wash setting, ideally a gentle one, and your alpaca socks will come out well and keep going for years. Air drying is the best option, and if you are pressed for time use a low, gentle tumble setting. Because alpaca fibre pulls moisture away and fights bacteria, you can go a long time between washes, which makes these socks ideal for long treks where laundry is hard or impossible. Add in the everyday comfort and the controlled odor, and alpaca socks suit just about everybody!
Alpaca vs other sock options
If you've read this far, you already know alpaca socks are something special. So how do they stack up against other kinds of socks?
Cotton vs. Alpaca:For keeping feet warm and dry, alpaca fiber wins on many fronts. Cotton soaks up moisture, and that can wear down the fibers, cause discomfort, create nasty odors and even lead to foot blisters. Alpaca, by contrast, is light, keeps feet dry and balances their temperature. It also resists odor naturally, an essential trait for extreme adventurers!
Merino vs. Alpaca:Merino is an extremely functional fiber, but the two differ in some important ways: alpaca wicks moisture twice as fast as merino, has a higher tensile strength (around 50 N/tex, where merino sits at 30-40), is 3x warmer (according to Yocum-McCall Testing Laboratories), and is hypoallergenic, since it lacks the grease (lanolin) found in most wools - a big deal if your skin is sensitive. On top of that, alpaca fiber usually feels softer and cozier against the skin than merino wool.
Synthetic vs. Alpaca:Making synthetics uses a great deal of energy and natural resources, and it frequently creates waste and pollution (i.e. microplastics). In their favour, synthetics wick away moisture and last a long time, but they do not breathe as well and tend to become smelly. Alpaca, by contrast, gives wearers the breathability, temperature control, and comfort that long activities demand - and it does so without shedding microplastics into the environment.
When to wear alpaca socks
Alpaca socks are wonderfully versatile. Wear them around the house to keep your feet snug, or take them out on the nearest hiking trail, confident that they will pull moisture away and stay odor-free the whole way. A high-performance sock is probably the better bet for intense outdoor conditions, yet even a standard alpaca sock is made to last. Their thermoregulating nature means you can wear them all year, so the pair you wear on a hot summer hike is the same one you would put on in a snowstorm.
Whatever the season or adventure, alpaca socks keep you snug and comfortable. To learn more about them, have a look at a few of our favorite pairs below.
