Mid calf socks

Shins still tingling yesterday from Tuesday I was wondering the same. I was going to try some long running socks.

Don't know what your trails are like but people are getting stung through leggings here.

I also reckon it needs to be at the cheaper end of the spectrum or very tough as the brambles are savage.

Obviously a personal choice, but I just don't get socks this length...as much as I'm function over form, these just look utterly bizarre |(for the vain people it messes up tanlines!), and unless they are properly thick (and therefore far too warm) then they won't stop the brambles/thorns catching and cutting.

Each to their own, but I've not worked them out so tend to avoid them.

Saying that, nettle stings do seem to be lasting longer these days and the brambles seem to be cutting deeper - so there might be method in this new madness...

Would a pair of running compression sleeves for calves work?

That way you can stick to your normal socks and have something you can take on/off/roll down/etc.

e.g.  https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/running-900-compression-sleeves/_/R-p-338416?mc=8783983

I have some running socks that I bought years ago, I use them mostly in colder weather as they cover my entire lower leg. Keeps my legs cleaner as well which makes life easier at the end of a ride. I might not look cool but I'm too tall for trousers so it's the best compromise for me.

I've got some MotoGP motorbike socks that are between calf and knee length.

Very comfy, work well with knee pads, and stop the nettle and gorse stings really well.

A bit warm, but I'll take that over nettle rash anyday.

I tried football socks but they were too thin and I still got stung and scratched. I also tried my sealskins long socks and they were good but far too sweaty, my feet looked like I'd been in the bath for 3 hours when I took them off.

Trousers work about the best of the 3 but still a bit warm.

Ion do some socks with D3O on the front (I think a few others do as well), they might help.

I wear decathlon football socks, the better ones actually fit above the knee so with baggy shorts no gap. Canal tow path is so overgrown long socks are fab, no sunburn either.

Long past bothering about looking odd, usually call into supermarket too.

Thanks for the suggestions so far.

I'm not too bothered at being a bit warm, longish socks in the summer are better than wearing trousers imo.

I was hoping there was an easier answer, I think my only option is to go somewhere like Decathlon and look at what they have. The local (50 miles away) store had moved everything around the last time I went in, couldn't find anything suitable. Mrs asbrooks got fed up, I had to leave empty handed.

I once tried some football socks but they were too thin.

These days I put up with the odd scratch and tingle, but tend to just avoid certain paths at this time of year.

Instead of Decathlon you could always buy football socks from Sports Direct, Amazon or a local sports gear shop. There can’t be any cost saving at Decathlon if it’s a50-100 round trip.

Last time this was asked someone posted some Endura (I think) socks for about £30 with built in shin-pads. Same thing was available for football for about a fiver on ebay/amazon 🙂

I wondered about roadie leg warmers for the same purpose. But I’ve never worn them, so I’ve no idea what they would be like. My idea was to have something that I could roll down when not needed, and hoik them up when entering the nettle zone.

The endura or ion shin socks are surely the answer.