While packing for my Thanksgiving trip home last week, I flashed back to a conversation held over the breakfast table on my junior-year study-abroad term in England. We students were preparing to head out for a week backpacking around Europe, and we were all trying to marshal our dwindling clothing resources in the most efficient manner possible. Thus the conversation turned to the following question: Which was the more essential item to pack: socks or underwear?
All of the girls at the table swore that underwear was by far the more essential -- two days in the same pair, ewww. But all the boys were equally vehement that a fresh pair of socks was required every day, and you could double up on underwear if absolutely necessary. I'm curious to know whether this division is a true reflection of gender attitudes, or whether I was just dining with some particularly granola-ish boys that day.
So, if you were forced to choose between taking a clean pair of socks or a clean pair of underwear on a trip, what would you do? Please read the poll choices carefully, and include not just your choice but your gender in your vote -- clearly an incredibly scientific and accurate polling method, as you can tell. And thank you for helping me to resolve this burning question, as I honestly have wondered about it occasionally for a whole ten years now: Socks? Really, guys? Hmmm.
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Silly Poll: Socks or Underwear?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
I think undies are easier clean in the sink and quicker to dry than socks. Although to be honest, I pack more socks and undies everytime I travel anywhere. I don't like to be without either, but I can wear more or less the same outfit for days.
ReplyDeleteI'm English and although I live in the US now, I think dry socks are more important on a long hike than sweat free undies. Wet sore feet make for a horrible hike. A litle sweat elsewhere just makes for a little sweat...no foot discomfort. What is worse? Smelling a bit sweaty on Hadrian's Wall or not being able to finish your walk because your feet hurt?
ReplyDeletePersonally, I'd rather smell a bit rather than missing out on a special experience.
Definitely underwear!
ReplyDeleteThe socks you wear should be hand knit and wool. It'll take them a lot longer than cotton (or synthetic) socks to get icky. Wool is naturally moisture wicking, so they'll feel fresher a lot longer.
Plus, would you rather wear something gross and dirty on your feet or on your crotch? I think the answer is obvious.
Depends on the agenda, I'd say. An easy walk on level ground? Underwear. Climbing a very tall mountain? Go for the socks.
ReplyDeleteOh, and I am female.
I'm a girl and I'd choose clean underwear, definitely. Moisture-wicking socks are widely available now, particularly in sports stores. I wear them for running and they really do work, so I think I could handle being in those more than one day. But not-clean underwear? Totally ew.
ReplyDeleteUnderwear, definitely. Especially if there might be other fun activities on your vacation agenda than hiking. (Trying to put it as delicately as I can.)
ReplyDeleteOh, my goodness! Absolutely underwear.
ReplyDeleteCheryl,
ReplyDeleteI think you should have asked those boys the 'boxers or briefs' question--every guy knows that wearing boxers for a couple days in a row is perfectly acceptable, but briefs? I had a friend that climbed Mt. Fitzroy in Patagonia; he and his climbing buddy had to hang out in base camp for weeks before the weather improved to make the ascent (a day's work.) He gave me the intimate details of the experience: sleeping together in one double sleeping bag for warmth, and wearing the same pair of gym shorts as boxers for the entire time...
When I travel, I always have a few pair of sox in my carry on bag--guys have a thing about smelly feet, I guess.
I have occasionally worn socks and underwear for more than one day, but not in cases where I might offend. But for the most part I would rather go without something else than sufficient pairs of either.
ReplyDeleteand I'm male.
Dry socks and lots of nice thin panty liners worked for me when I was traveling and didn't have time to do laundry.
ReplyDeleteI'm very fond of underwear, but for any trip where I was walking, unless it was specifically specified that it would be sunny enough to wear sandals, I'd take the socks. Oh, and in case it's not clear, I'm female.
ReplyDeleteIf it came down to a choice between the two, socks would definitely win. You could go without underwear if need be, but there's nothing quite like the feeling of putting on a fresh pair of socks in the morning. Maybe it is just a guy thing...
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteclean pair of underwear clean pair of underwear clean pair of underwear clean pair of underwear clean pair of underwear clean pair of underwear clean pair of underwear clean pair of underwear clean pair of underwear clean pair of underwear: No Excuses!
ReplyDeleteFemale Age 50 (maybe that's why!)
I would take the extra underwear, but I must tell you that I keep a clean pair of socks in my desk drawer, in case it is raining and my socks get wet in a puddle. It is terrible having to wear wet socks for the rest of the day.
ReplyDeleteI'm a girl and I would say I'd rather wear bring clean under than clean socks. However, I have done without either on trips by flipping underwear inside out. Same with socks. Washing them in the sink and attempting to dry them on the radiator at night. That sort of thing.
ReplyDeleteBut if came down to what I would rather have to deal with: I'd rather go with clean underwear. But I grew up in flip-flop country where socks are irrelevant.
Also, I think it's how boys and girls' underwear differs. I could conceivably imagine wearing boxers several days in a row and think nothing of it. Ask the boy about wearing briefs more than two days in a row and THEN see how they feel about it. :)
For a backpacking trip, it's clean socks. When you're on your feet for hours, fresh socks are essential. Plus, if the undies get a little ripe you can always take them off. My son hiked the AT all the way from Georgia to Maine and he relished a clean pair of socks. I'm a woman.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad that the underwear appears to be winning the poll. It restores my faith in humanity.
ReplyDeleteI am amused that this poll has received more votes than any other poll I've ever done. People clearly have strong feelings here.
ReplyDeleteI agree with LH - if you're really talking about packing, then pack more socks. Underwear washes up easily in a sink (or a river or any water nearby, if you're out roughing it) and dries overnight. You can have fresh underwear every day by doing some laundry. But socks? You have to take more with you. I'm not a guy, but I voted for socks.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful that you've gotten more replies for this than any other survey. It is so unpredictable, what stirs the human heart to action!
i'm socks for sure. is that bad?
ReplyDeleteI'm male. Socks for sure. I don't wear underwear (ever).
ReplyDelete