Do Black Socks Make Your Feet Stink More?

Have you ever taken time to consider the implications of the socks that you place on your feet or is it something that you have never bothered to think about? Well, you may be in the minority as a number of people want to know do black socks make your feet stink more and are concerned about how their sock color can impact not only their smell but their health as well.

As ever the internet is filled with myths and half-truths even about the humble sock so what is important for you to know and what can you safely ignore?

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Do Black Socks Make Your Feet Sweat More or Is This a Myth?

Well let’s start with the first issue that people worry about when it comes to black socks and that is do these dark socks create foot odor? The answer to this question isn’t necessarily straightforward so let’s look at the reasons why you could have sweaty feet when you are wearing dark-colored socks.

Whilst indeed the color of your socks can have a minor impact on the heat that they absorb other factors that we have outlined below tend to have a far greater impact when it comes the root cause of sweaty feet.

Hyperhidrosis
Poor Foot Hygiene
Hot Weather
Your Socks Material
The Thickness of Your Socks
Your Choice of Footwear

The suggestion that one pair of black socks is enough to make your feet sweat and smell more is a bit of a myth because most people haven’t factored in the other elements of foot odor. In order to solve the problem of foot odor, it makes sense to address each element that might be causing the unpleasant problem.

Do Black Socks Hold More Heat?

Black socks are capable of holding more heat due to their color than lighter-colored socks however the impact of this will be marginal as most socks are not visible and hidden in your shoes.

As very little of a socks material is exposed to the sun there is likely to be a minimal impact on the heat generated. They may absorb warmth from your body but then again so will white socks so any differences due to color are likely to be small.

Smelly feet and foot odor however are much more likely to be caused by synthetic socks and the material of your shoes. Wearing natural materials that have maximum breathability can make a world of difference and keep your feet dry, making them feel cool and also odor free.

What Kind of Socks Make Your Feet Stink?

The fact is that whilst black socks absorb some heat they are not going to have as much impact as the materials that your socks are made from.

Choosing the right material for your socks can make a huge difference which is why moisture-wicking socks should be on your radar if you have problems with stinky feet. Dickies Dri-Tech Moisture Control Socks are an example of what you can use on your feet to reduce sweat levels and keep your feet dry.

The fact is that some materials such as cotton socks can make your feet stink. Even though cotton socks are are natural material they aren’t great at letting moisture produced by sweaty feet escape. In fact, the moisture tends to be absorbed into the cotton meaning your feet trap sweat and cause bacteria build-up.

Synthetic socks however that have been designed to wick away moisture are a much safer bet and keep your feet dry. Bamboo socks are another great type of socks that can help to eliminate moisture so your feet remain dry.

Are Wool Socks Good for Sweaty Feet?

Natural wool socks can also be a good alternative if you have a problem with sweaty feet as they allow your feet to breathe.

Merino wool is a good choice just make sure that you don’t pick very thick socks unless you are in the depths of winter. The thickness of your socks will impact how hot your feet get so it makes sense to choose lightweight socks in normal weather conditions.

Remember that wearing socks according to the seasons and weather makes sense so that you create more heat when you need it and less heat in the hotter months.

Foot Hygiene Can Make a Difference

In addition to choosing the right socks to make your feet sweat less, it makes sense to think carefully about your foot hygiene routine to lessen the problem of smelly feet.

Being fastidious about washing and drying your feet before putting on your shoes and socks in the morning means that you are less likely to have problems such as athlete’s foot or other bacterial growth that can make your feet stink when mixed with sweat. It should go without saying that putting on dirty socks is a big no-no.

Certain foot products can certainly help as well. We recommend soaking your feet in a tea tree oil foot soak to combat fungal infections such as athlete’s foot. When you practice good foot hygiene daily you are going to eliminate some of the conditions that make your feet smell worse.

In addition, make sure that you use Odor Eaters in your shoes to help reduce the smelling feet problem when you are wearing socks. Neutralizing the odor makes a difference.

You can also bring a change of socks with you to change into halfway through the day. This means that the sweat can’t build up no matter whether you are wearing black socks or some other color. Changing your socks regularly might involve more laundry but if it eliminates smelly feet it is well worth the additional effort.

Do Black Socks Make Your Feet Stink More Or Do You Have Hyperhidrosis?

It is worth noting that wearing black socks can often take the blame for other conditions which may be causing the real problem. One of these issues is Hyperhidrosis or excessively sweaty feet.

When your sweat glands are overproducing moisture it can be difficult for any socks to cope because your skin is continually moist and your socks will absorb sweat.

This is where you need a secret weapon such as Carpe Anti-Perspirant Foot Lotion which has been specially formulated to help reduce sweaty feet including those of you who may be suffering from hyperhidrosis.

You only need a small pea-sized amount on each foot and the sweat stops. This means no more smelly feet plus dry socks and shoes. This means you can wear black or colored socks to your heart’s content without the smell.

What Kind of Shoes Are Good for Smelly Feet?

Do black socks make your feet stink more? Well, your choice of footwear matters far more than the color of the socks that you are wearing on your feet. Whilst black socks make a marginal difference to how sweaty your feet are, not having breathable shoes is a different story altogether.

Breathable shoes are made from materials or fabrics that help the warmth and moisture escape from the inside of your shoe whilst at the same time allowing cooler air to enter from outside. When breathable shoes are working well you should find that it regulates your foot temperature and prevents the build-up of sweat which causes problems with any bacteria or fungus.

Breathable shoes are helpful at stopping that stinky smell and will also help you to wear black socks without worrying about them getting sweaty.

There are many breathable shoes that are on the market which can help make your feet smell better. For formal wear, leather shoes tend to work well providing you are not in very hot humid conditions. Leather is a unique material as it can get rid of moisture in the form of vapor leaving a person’s feet dry and moisture free.

Mesh sneakers are a good alternative for casual wear. A perfect example of this is Nike Men’s Tanjun Sneakers which are comfortable, lightweight, and also breathable to make your feet dry and sweat less.

White Vs Black Socks – What Should You Wear?

Whilst black socks have had a bad rap they make little difference to how your feet smell in comparison to other colors such as white socks. So if you are going to wear a certain color of socks do it because of personal taste or appropriateness for the occasion rather than for some misguided health myths.

The fact is that many people prefer black socks because they are more suitable for work or formal settings and they also don’t show up dirt and marks so quickly as other colors do.

It would look odd if you arrived at work in a smart suit and leather shoes to see white socks peeking out from under your trousers. Black, dark grey, or navy socks are acceptable in an office environment whilst white socks would just look strange and out of place.

The situation however changes in less formal settings as it is common to see people wearing white socks with sneakers. White socks are linked with athletic endeavors or more casual settings. Wear them at the gym or when at home relaxing but not when you are doing something formal.

Remember that the color of your socks will not make your feet stink however white socks will show up any dirt incredibly fast. If you want to wear white socks you are going to find yourself doing more laundry and also probably throwing them away faster.

White socks are less likely to last as long as colored socks because after a number of washes it can be difficult to get them back to that sparking white color again no matter what laundry detergent you use. As they start to look grey and dirtier people are more likely to throw them away and replace them with new ones even if they still are wearable.

Are Black Socks Bad for You?

Well over a century ago the dyes in black and colored socks contained poisonous chemicals which were detrimental to health. In fact, some sock dyes contained arsenic which of course can kill a person.

Technology and manufacturing thankfully have moved on considerably since then which means that if you wear black socks you can feel comfortable that the products used to make them are not going to cause you any problems. Of course, myths surrounding black socks have continued even though the old problems with the dyes have long since been eradicated.

The only possibility for wanting to wear lighter-colored socks could be so that the black color doesn’t mask serious problems in cases of conditions such as diabetes.

Diabetics can experience sores or infections more easily if these are on the feet a white sock will give away the problem as the blood or infectious pus stains the sock. This will alert the wearer of a problem. Wearing black socks, however, could mask these initial problems and prevent the problem from being looked at quickly.

In this case, the black socks aren’t of course bad for you it is just the color can hide problems in exceptional cases.

Do Blacks Socks Cause Foot Odor?

So do black socks make your feet stink more? Well, the conclusion is that wearing black, colored, or white socks will make very little difference to the way your feet smell.

Follow our advice on foot hygiene, wear the right types of socks and shoes and you should find a noticeable difference in your smelly feet and the damp environment where those bacteria could previously thrive should be a thing of the past.