Footwear
Insect Shield Lightweight Hiking Socks with Permethrin
The built-in permethrin treatment gives me an extra line of defense against ticks, which are relentless on Texas trails from spring through fall.
Why It Makes The Cut
Where to Buy →Insect Shield Lightweight Hiking Socks with Permethrin are my first line of defense in what I consider the most tick-dense hiking environment in the country. Central Texas cedar brush is absolutely crawling with lone star ticks and black-legged ticks from early spring through late fall, and a single hike through tall grass can leave you picking off dozens if you are not prepared. I chose these socks specifically because the permethrin is bound into the fabric during manufacturing — it is not a spray-on treatment that washes out after a few cycles, but a durable integration rated to last through seventy washes. I wear them pulled up under my pant cuffs so they form a treated barrier at the lowest point of contact, right where ticks typically climb aboard. Combined with my tall boots and treated pants, they complete a layered system that has dramatically reduced my tick encounters on the trail.