Last Updated on November 22, 2023 by Martina McKeough
The Hey Dude brand makes brilliant footwear which is just perfect for the warmer weather. Their loafer/boat shoes are incredibly lightweight and comfortable and have become hugely popular however people are always asking can you wear Hey Dudes without socks or are they supposed to be worn with bare feet?
There are loads of differing opinions on this with some people only wearing Hey Dude shoes with socks and others only wearing them without. So who is right?
Here’s what you need to know about wearing socks with Hey Dude shoes so you choose the best solution for your particular needs.
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Do You Wear Socks With Hey Dudes?
Do you wear socks with Hey Dude shoes? Well of course you can. Can you wear Hey Dudes without socks? Yes, that works as well.
There are no hard rules as to whether you should or shouldn’t wear socks with your Hey Dude shoes. It is a matter of preference and comfort as to whether you put socks on with your shoes.
As Hey Dude shoes are casual footwear you also don’t have to think about the etiquette that might be involved with wearing socks at formal occasions. These are shoes designed for everyday wear, particularly in the summer which means that anything goes when it comes to whether you wear them with socks or not.
Why People Wear Them With Bare Feet
Are you supposed to wear socks with Hey Dudes? Well as I said earlier there are no specific rules for you to follow.
If you are thinking should you wear socks with Hey Dudes then it makes sense to consider all the pros and cons first. Whilst putting your bare feet into Hey Dude shoes might be useful for some people it doesn’t work for everyone.
These are some of the popular reasons why I think that people are happy to wear their Hey Dudes without anything else on their feet.
The Weather Is Warm
Do you wear Hey Dudes with socks when the weather is warm? I know plenty of people avoid wearing socks when the temperatures start to increase.
Hey Dudes shoes are not really winter footwear but are ideal for the summer months. When the weather is warmer we naturally want to shed some of our clothing and that includes sock-wearing.
Socks are associated with keeping your feet warm so removing them naturally makes people think they will keep their feet cooler if they don’t wear them.
As Hey Dudes are lightweight shoes anyway a lack of socks just adds to a feeling of freedom.
The Shoes Are Breathable
Hey Dude shoes are for the most part designed not only to be lightweight but also breathable especially when you look at their canvas and knitted upper styles.
As the shoes are breathable they are more able to keep your feet dry because they have better airflow and ventilation. This means that they can keep sweaty feet at bay which can be a real problem in the summer.
Putting on thick or thin socks with Hey Dudes can interfere with that process.
They Don’t Have Hugely Sweaty Feet
Deciding whether to wear Hey Dudes with or without socks can be dependent on how badly your feet sweat. I can almost guarantee that the people who choose to wear their Hey Dudes without socks don’t suffer badly from sweat.
When you have dry and cool feet and your shoes are also made from a breathable material then it becomes so much easier to walk around without socks.
If you do have sweaty feet then the inside of any shoe can feel pretty uncomfortable quickly which is why socks especially moisture-wicking ones become more important.
Do Hey Dudes make your feet stink? Well like any shoe they are not impervious to sweat and smells so wearing them with bare feet can make them pong. If your feet sweat and you want to avoid the smells make sure you keep your feet clean and use an antiperspirant lotion like Carpe on your feet to keep them smelling fresh.
Hey Dudes Are Super Comfortable
Wearing socks with shoes is also usually a comfort thing. Socks help to protect the feet, keep them warm and minimize sweat. However, if your shoes already keep your feet comfortable then it is easier to ditch the socks.
One of the main reasons why Hey Dudes are so popular is because they have a memory foam insole and an EVA outsole that makes your feet feel as if you are walking on clouds.
The uppers of Hey Dude shoes are also usually comfortable especially the ones that have the stretchy textile upper material. When you have a comfy footbed, cushioning, support and soft fabric lining keeping your feet feeling good socks can be easily forgotten.
Not Wearing Socks Is More Convenient
The other thing about wearing socks is that it saves you lots of hassle and time.
Grabbing your shoes and sticking your feet straight into them is easy and means you don’t have to think. If you wear shoes with socks it is a little more of a problem as you have to wash them, store them and pair them.
Also if you do have bare feet inside your shoes it makes it so much easier to change into different shoes or wear them at the beach. This makes them more versatile and convenient, especially as most Hey Dudes are slip-on shoes in the first place.
The Shoes Are Machine Washable
The thing I love most about Hey Dude shoes is that most of the styles are machine washable in cold water. This means if they stall to give off a foul smell or look a little dirty you can throw them in the washing machine. You can read my guide showing you how to clean Hey Dude shoes to get more information on keeping them looking good.
Anything that makes shoes easy to maintain is great in my book. If only other shoes were as easy to look after.
They also have a removable insole as well which means that if your old one starts to look worn or smells too much you can buy another and your feet will be just as comfortable and fresh smelling.
Style Matters as Well
Finally Hey Dude shoes look stylish if you wear them without socks.
Style matters for some people and pulling off a certain look is important. Sometimes wearing socks with your shoes doesn’t create the right vibe especially if you are looking for that casual beachy surfer look.
Remember that wearing clothes or shoes in a certain way just to be stylish doesn’t always have to make sense. People just do it to look cool or to look the same as their friends.
How to Wear Hey Dudes Without Socks
So can you wear Hey Dudes without socks? Well as I’ve hopefully demonstrated there are plenty of reasons why having bare feet inside your Hey Dudes isn’t necessarily a problem.
If you are going to do this yourself however it makes sense for you to consider some things first. Here’s what I do before wearing any shoes without socks.
Consider the Weather
I like my feet warm inside my shoes but not uncomfortably so. I wear socks when there is cold weather and only take them off when there is a nice warm sunny day.
Don’t try the bare feet look unless you can keep your feet warm or you are going to feel cold and uncomfortable.
Keep Your Feet Scrupulously Clean
Yes, most Hey Dude shoes can be washed but it is a really bad idea just to take that for granted and ignore your foot hygiene.
Really make sure your feet are clean and also dry before putting on your shoes otherwise your shoes will make your feet stink because of sweat.
Wear Socks If You Have Problem Feet
If you have a fungal infection or other foot problem don’t be tempted to wear your Hey Dude shoes without socks.
Bare feet inside your shoes will only make the problem worse and spread the fungus around.
Adjust Your Laces
Many Hey Dude shoes have laces. If you have a pair make sure that you adjust the laces so that your shoes aren’t too much of a tight fit.
If your laces are too tight they will dig into your skin much more than if you are wearing socks and create marks or worse still shoe bits and blisters.
Clean Your Shoes and Insoles Regularly
Also, you are clearly going to need to clean your Hey Dude shoes and removable insoles much more if you are wearing your shoes without socks.
Think about using a spray or foot powder and putting it into your shoe after each wear to keep them smelling fresh for longer.
You can of course put them in the washing machine regularly if your Hey Dudes style is washable but that does of course mean they will take time to dry before you can wear them again.
Are Hey Dudes Comfortable Without Socks?
Can you wear Hey Dudes without socks and still be comfortable?
Well as ever your comfort levels in shoes will of course depend on personal preference but Hey Dude Shoes are known for being one of the most comfortable casual shoes on the market.
Wearing Hey Dudes is easy because they are lightweight, breathable, supportive and have cushioned memory foam insoles.
I have problem feet but find that they are great shoes to wear when I am running errands or using them for casual short-term use. I wouldn’t think about wearing Hey Dudes for longer walks and would swap into my sneakers for any form of distance walking.
Why Should You Wear Socks With Hey Dudes
Whilst I have mentioned plenty of reasons why it is ok to wear Hey Dude shoes without socks there are equally plenty of reasons why you should wear them as well.
These are situations where wearing socks makes more sense than bare feet inside your footwear.
The Weather
Whilst I think of Hey Dudes as perfect summer shoes there is no reason why you can’t wear them in the transitional spring and autumn months.
These seasons can be significantly colder than summer which means that wearing socks with Hey Dude shoes may be preferable to keep your feet warm and comfortable.
Sweaty Feet
If you have particularly sweaty feet then wearing socks with Hey Dudes makes sense.
A good pair of moisture-wicking socks can really help to keep your feet cool and dry. Without them, the inside of your shoes can start to get uncomfortable and your feet can slip and slide around.
Hygiene and Odor
Bacteria and sweat also create bad odors which can really make your Hey Dude shoes stink. Wearing moisture-wicking socks that are changed regularly can help to reduce the smells so your feet smell fresh.
Also if you are putting bare feet into your shoes then they are now coming directly into contact with your insoles and shoe lining.
If you have dirty feet or have been to the beach that debris and grime is not going directly into the shoe rather than on your socks.
Friction
One reason why I like wearing socks and tights is because I often suffer from friction inside my shoes if I don’t.
Generally, this is less of a problem with Hey Dude shoes because they are padded and have good cushioning because of their EVA outsole and insoles but this might not be the case for everyone.
If you do experience friction leading to blisters or shoe bites then it makes sense to wear some cushioned socks for comfort.
Style and Fashion
Whilst Hey Dude shoes look great without socks on a hot day when you are down the beach you can adjust your look by wearing socks if you are wearing pants or jeans for example.
The fact is that the shoes can be versatile and allow you to switch or change your mind depending on the clothing you are wearing or the weather.
What Socks To Wear With Hey Dude Shoes
So can you wear Hey Dudes without socks? Well, you can but equally there are plenty of reasons why I think matching socks might be the better option in some circumstances.
If you are going to wear Hey Dude shoes with socks then what type of socks are the best? Well, again that depends on what you are doing, how sweaty your feet are, and your need for comfort.
If you are going to choose socks I would think about:
- Breathable socks with moisture-wicking properties.
- Cushioned socks if you need extra comfort.
- No-show socks to get the barefoot look without the hassle.
- Thicker socks for colder weather.
- Statement socks if you are looking to make a fashion statement.
Socks To Wear With Hey Dudes
Breathable and moisture-wicking socks are great for Hey Dude shoes if you have very sweaty feet and they can help to keep your feet healthy.
They create a great barrier to stop all that sweat from seeping into the fabric of your Hey Dude shoes and creating terrible smells.
These Sox Town socks are a good example of what you can wear to keep your feet dry when you are wearing your Hey Dudes. These aren’t particularly colorful and don’t have a patterned design but they are a great example of a basic staple for your closet.
Cushioned socks are another alternative especially if you want to cut out friction or have sensitive feet. I 
These Ice Cream colored Cuangya crew socks have added compression as well as breathability so they make a nice alternative to the plainer designs.
If the weather is colder when you are wearing your Hey Dude shoes then think about pairing them with some chunky socks.
These Chunky Merino Wool socks are all the rage right now. In fact, plenty of people are now pairing them with sandals like Birkenstocks as well for that cozy vibe.
Best No-Show Socks For Hey Dudes
Finally, can you wear Hey Dudes without socks or is there a better alternative? Well in my view there is and that is by wearing no-show socks.
In my view, no-show socks are the perfect solution when it comes to getting that summery vibe when you are wearing Hey Dude shoes without the sweat, stink and discomfort.
A good pair of no-show socks are hidden when you are wearing the loafers so it looks like you have bare feet inside your shoes but in fact, the socks are invisible.
The type of invisible socks you buy really depends on how low-cut your particular shoes are. As most Hey Dude shoes have a pretty good foot coverage you can probably get away with a normal pair of invisible socks. There are however even lower-cut ones available if you were to need them.
More Articles About Hey Dude Shoes
Are Hey Dudes Good for Your Feet?
Are Hey Dudes Good For Walking?
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