Socks

[Old26]

Dec 1, 2015 12:24:31 GMT -6 nate001 said:

Agree with what's been said so far. The last time I looked, not all smartwool socks are made in USA. Also, I find they wear out pretty quickly at the heel. For wool socks, Darn Tough is heads and above everyone else. I've had a few pairs for a couple of years and haven't been able to put a hole in them. They literally have a lifetime guarantee. There is a pretty wide range of styles; running, hiking, hunting, or "lifestyle" which is stuff I have for the winter. You can also wear them a few times and they don't stink.
I've had luck with Dapper Classics for thinner "dress socks" that you would wear with loafers or the like. Made in USA, nice quality. Pretty price competitive when compared to Italian brands.
For athletic socks, I've had good luck with Wigwam. Also all made in USA.
Other made in USA socks that I've looked at, but don't own: Fox River, FITS

Are the Keens made in USA? I went to the site and they don't mention where they are made, which usually means they are made in China. Looks like they are trying to make more of their stuff in the US. Good for them. I have a pair of their snow boots and they are awesome. Bought them before they started up US production though.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I am more inclined to buy a brand where at least SOME of their products are made in the US, even if the specific item I'm buying isn't made in USA.

I've got Smart Wool and Darn Tough's.  My two go-to brands.
Took me a while to find styles/models I liked, but I've now got a drawer full of them and I wear then year-long.  Even in the heat, good wool socks are cooler than cotton - and don't STINK!

[brentkuz]

Dec 1, 2015 12:30:42 GMT -6 ickes said:

Nov 30, 2015 19:01:23 GMT -6 brentkuz said:

ickes - what's the consensus for Chup socks? Cotton or wool blend? I want some sweet foot action. Jcrew has free shipping right now so $35 shipped ain't bad I guess. I want to dabble into awesome socks.

I really like them BUT..I think one of my pairs is already falling apart??? I'll post pics when I get a chance

I picked up one cotton and one wool based Chup pairs. If yours are already falling apart let me know. I'm hard on socks and I will return them.

[benjaminpersitz]

American Trench makes a great sock.

[northcoast]

Dec 1, 2015 12:50:28 GMT -6 Old26 said:

Dec 1, 2015 12:24:31 GMT -6 nate001 said:

Agree with what's been said so far. The last time I looked, not all smartwool socks are made in USA. Also, I find they wear out pretty quickly at the heel. For wool socks, Darn Tough is heads and above everyone else. I've had a few pairs for a couple of years and haven't been able to put a hole in them. They literally have a lifetime guarantee. There is a pretty wide range of styles; running, hiking, hunting, or "lifestyle" which is stuff I have for the winter. You can also wear them a few times and they don't stink.
I've had luck with Dapper Classics for thinner "dress socks" that you would wear with loafers or the like. Made in USA, nice quality. Pretty price competitive when compared to Italian brands.
For athletic socks, I've had good luck with Wigwam. Also all made in USA.
Other made in USA socks that I've looked at, but don't own: Fox River, FITS

Are the Keens made in USA? I went to the site and they don't mention where they are made, which usually means they are made in China. Looks like they are trying to make more of their stuff in the US. Good for them. I have a pair of their snow boots and they are awesome. Bought them before they started up US production though.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I am more inclined to buy a brand where at least SOME of their products are made in the US, even if the specific item I'm buying isn't made in USA.

I've got Smart Wool and Darn Tough's.  My two go-to brands.
Took me a while to find styles/models I liked, but I've now got a drawer full of them and I wear then year-long.  Even in the heat, good wool socks are cooler than cotton - and don't STINK!

I have about 4 pairs of Smart Wools but am thinking about adding some Darn Toughs to them. 

I bought a ton of no show socks from JC**W but I find the seam digs into the top of my foot and hurts after a few hours.  I also bought a ton of their wool/poly blends from their factory store but noticed that the toes are rapidly wearing out and that they run hotter than the Smart Wools. 

So I guess I'll just add a few models of Darn Toughs and see how that works for me.  I think I read somewhere that medium cushion is good for boots. 

The whole wear wool year round is a bit counter intuitive but I'm catching on.......slowly. 

[bentin]

DT's are much nicer than recent SW. My only issue is that I apparently bought lower rise than I expected.

[Old26]

Dec 4, 2015 10:51:58 GMT -6 bentin said:

DT's are much nicer than recent SW. My only issue is that I apparently bought lower rise than I expected.

It all depends on which ones you get.  I tried a bunch before I was happy with both brands.
What sucks is that you may find a killer model and then next year they don't make it again.  So...when I find some I like, I usually get 4-6 pairs on sale.
So at the moment, I have about 12 pairs of good DT and SW ready to roll.

[stinky]

My .02 on wool socks:

I love THIN wool socks (unfortunately DT does not make them), and in my experience, the KEEN socks wear a lot better than the Smartwool, which tend to get thin in spots fairly quickly.

[northcoast]

Dec 4, 2015 12:08:03 GMT -6 stinky said:

My .02 on wool socks:

I love THIN wool socks (unfortunately DT does not make them), and in my experience, the KEEN socks wear a lot better than the Smartwool, which tend to get thin in spots fairly quickly.

So if I was to buy no shows you are recommending Keen?

I was looking at these, they look pretty light.

darntough.com/men/mens-run/no-show-ultralight

[stinky]

Dec 4, 2015 12:33:05 GMT -6 northcoast said:

Dec 4, 2015 12:08:03 GMT -6 stinky said:

My .02 on wool socks:

I love THIN wool socks (unfortunately DT does not make them), and in my experience, the KEEN socks wear a lot better than the Smartwool, which tend to get thin in spots fairly quickly.

So if I was to buy no shows you are recommending Keen?

I was looking at these, they look pretty light.

darntough.com/men/mens-run/no-show-ultralight

Looks like i stand corrected . . . they must have added thinner socks at some point since the last time I looked.  They even have thin dress socks.  Sweet!

I don't have any wool no-shows.  I found some amazing, crazy thin, nike no-show foot specific running socks (I think they are called drifit elite or somethign like that) for like $5/pair at TJM (i think retail was >$20) a few years ago and i bought every single pair they had.  Those things are indestructible.

[devastitis]

I have a couple pairs of DTS no shows that I bought from Jcrew. Lasted me all summer, and no signs of wear, unlike my other cheaper brand no shows. Can't recommend DTS enough.

[Old26]

Dec 4, 2015 12:08:03 GMT -6 stinky said:

My .02 on wool socks:

I love THIN wool socks (unfortunately DT does not make them), and in my experience, the KEEN socks wear a lot better than the Smartwool, which tend to get thin in spots fairly quickly.

I've got super thin SW and DT.  Wear them with some of my slimmer boots and shoes.  All wool, all year™

[brentkuz]

I like the woolrich wool socks. Not overly thick but fill my boots nicely. Bean duck boots and iron rangers

[whiskeyriver]

Another vote here for Darn Tough. I've tried a lot of socks in my day. They're the best going, I think.

[Deleted]

All this makes me wonder how many sock mills that there are in the US. I'm guessing it's similar to shoes and that most of these brands are produced in the same factory. My favorite is Kentwool, they are affiliated in some way with smart wool.

[crabrangoon]

Dec 4, 2015 12:08:03 GMT -6 stinky said:

My .02 on wool socks:

I love THIN wool socks (unfortunately DT does not make them), and in my experience, the KEEN socks wear a lot better than the Smartwool, which tend to get thin in spots fairly quickly.

Then you'll love these, which spank DT: shop.outlier.cc/shop/retail/megafinesock.html
They're seriously the only sock I consider perfect year-round, if you're the kind who has cold feet or needs warm(er) socks, a second heavier pair can be worn over them. The only activity I do in which I'm not wearing the Outlier, and instead wear DT is hiking. Whether it's 30 or 105 degrees outside, indoors around the house, daily for work and gym, they're the bees knees. I can get 2-3 wears out of mine before I feel they need a wash, too. They really don't pick up stink (I have multiple pairs of other merino socks that do pick up / hold odor compared to these) and they don't stretch out of shape after a wear or two. I gave some as gifts to people last year for the holidays and people really love them (but are too lazy/cheap to buy more).

Darn Tough and Farm To Feet are great options too, since the look of Outlier's one and only sock doesn't suit everyone for all occasions, but the difference is real. Their return policy is also the best I've come across other than REI, you buy, you try, you don't love it? Return it within 45 days, no problems/questions.

[Old26]

One of the best things about the merino wool socks is that you CAN wear them for days (letting dry in between) without a wash.  Cotton socks are the pits.

*EDIT:  GUSTIN just dropped some socks...off to look now.
**EDIT #2: Ugh.  Cotton.  Nice looking, but no more cotton socks for me...

[Deleted]

Dec 11, 2015 11:09:06 GMT -6 Old26 said:

**EDIT #2: Ugh.  Cotton.  Nice looking, but no more cotton socks for me...

This.

[Deleted]

Dec 11, 2015 12:33:50 GMT -6 @david said:

Dec 11, 2015 11:09:06 GMT -6 Old26 said:

**EDIT #2: Ugh.  Cotton.  Nice looking, but no more cotton socks for me...

This.

X3, no more stinky feet, no more stinky shoes.

[brentkuz]

Wait you really don't wash wool socks every time? I mean feet sweat so much.

[Deleted]

Nope. Let them dry inside out. I wash them after three wears or so.

[brentkuz]

Dec 11, 2015 19:04:12 GMT -6 @61scout said:

Nope. Let them dry inside out. I wash them after three wears or so.

Mind blown. I wear mine working for 8hrs in my work boots. I always washed. Might try to not wash them once see how it goes.

[Deleted]

I never wear the same shoes two days in a row. Could make a difference.

[Winterland]

Dec 11, 2015 18:42:39 GMT -6 brentkuz said:

Wait you really don't wash wool socks every time? I mean feet sweat so much.

I wear my merino socks 2-3 days between washing. I smell them and I still smell nothing but wool. I do rotate shoes most every day also.

[Deleted]

Same here...2-3 wears between washes. Sometimes maybe 1 or two more if I was just around the house or something for a day

[Deleted]

I have graduated to wearing merino underwear also.