You may have never thought about this, but there is much better products and materials than cotton as a sock material. Cotton is a Hydrophilic material, and easily absorbs and holds moisture. This tendency will keep your socks and feet wet with perspiration or water, which, with the heat from your feet, is a prime breeding ground for bacteria and fungus. Anyone wearing cotton socks, especially those whose feet sweat a lot, or athletes, who are more susceptible to athlete's foot and bacterial/fungal infections. In hot weather you will have a hot wet foot and in cold weather you will have a cold wet foot. Because cotton holds so much liquid, it holds that moisture against you skin, and in cold weather, lead to hypothermia and frostbite.

The alternatives are much better materials for sock materials, namely synthetic blends. Synthetics such as polyester, nylon, acrylic and Lycra are Hydrophobic materials. That means they do not hold liquids well, and make for a much dryer sock and foot. They keep your feet much warmer in the winter and cooler in the winter. Because they don’t hold moisture, they are an inhospitable breeding ground for bacteria and fungus. Most synthetic socks are blended materials, mixing a few different products to suit different applications. Wool and silk blends are great at insulating, but hold more moisture than synthetics.

Anyone can benefit from making the switch from cotton socks to one of the alternative blends. The only drawback is they can cost somewhat more, but most will agree, it is worth the extra cost. One final titbit of information... wash your socks inside out, your socks will get much cleaner as bacteria and skin accumulates on the inside of the sock.