The best socks you’ve ever owned

healthyjourney33
healthyjourney33 Posts: 10 Member
edited December 19 in Health and Weight Loss
What are they? Need new socks that stay in place, hold up longer than 2 months and don’t make my feet sweat. TIA!
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Replies

  • JBanx256
    JBanx256 Posts: 1,479 Member
    DeFeet International. They started with making cycling socks but now make socks for running, hiking, skiing/snowboarding and more. Variety of materials including Merino wools. All made in the USA too.
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    Another vote for merino wool!
  • garystrickland357
    garystrickland357 Posts: 598 Member
    For running in spring/summer/fall I like my feetures. In winter I wear merino SmartWool socks.
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    garystrickland357 wrote: »
    For running in spring/summer/fall I like my feetures. In winter I wear merino SmartWool socks.

    That was the brand I couldn't think of!
  • FL_Hiker
    FL_Hiker Posts: 919 Member
    edited January 2019
    I like Belgae socks for running. I tried feetures and they were too thin. For sleeping I like big fuzzy ones 🙂
  • collectingblues
    collectingblues Posts: 2,541 Member
    I big puffy heart Balega Hidden Comfort for running. They're basically slip ons, and don't go much higher than my shoes, and are super super comfortable.
  • jjpptt2
    jjpptt2 Posts: 5,650 Member
    Different people will like different socks... so this is another one of those threads where recommendation may or may not be relevant to you.

    For hiking and similar - Ibex, crew, midweight
    For running - Smartwool or Swiftwick, ultralight/thin
    For cycling - Smartwool or Swiftwick, light weight

    In all cases, I prefer wool, polyester, or a wool/poly/stretchy blend. No cotton. Ever. Never.
  • Aetheldreda
    Aetheldreda Posts: 241 Member
    I hike in the mountains a lot and my preferred brand of sock is Darn Tough. Their merino wool construction is superb and they also have a lifetime guarantee!
    They also make merino leisure socks and running socks.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    For being able to keep my thermostat at 65 degrees in the winter I use any cotton socks (currently Gold Toe), any wool socks (currently Maggie's organic - pesticided wool can be problematic for me), and Sorel Men's Manawan Slipper:

    https://smile.amazon.com/Sorel-Mens-Manawan-NM1466-Slipper/dp/B001OTYZ2U

    81%2BQPhVJ7AL._UX500_.jpg
  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
    Yak wool from Mongolia. From Amazon.
  • Nativestar56
    Nativestar56 Posts: 112 Member
    Not the most helpful for you but the best socks I've ever owned I made myself. I used to think people who knit their own socks were a little weird, but I figured I should at least try it before I dismissed it and I found there's nothing quite like socks that ACTUALLY fit. I find it so annoying that manufacturers make socks to fit sizes 4-8. Something that will comfortably fit a size 4 foot (22.5") with negative ease will NOT also comfortably fit a size 8 (25.9cm). I'm fed up with sock heels on the soles of my feet.

    I also vote for anything merino, it's great for being warm but breathable.

    I don't make my own running socks though. My favourite running socks are Hillysocks. Their ranges are more reasonable; a medium is sizes 6-8.5 (UK sizes).
  • shaneozouf
    shaneozouf Posts: 59 Member
    Best socks I've ever owned is Polo Ralph Lauren black dress socks, they are light, long, and seamless. They don't slip or slide either.
  • KNoceros
    KNoceros Posts: 326 Member
    edited January 2019
    I take a UK 4 and sometimes find it hard to find socks that fit well for reasons Nativestar56 has already explained.

    I love Bridgedale “Trekker” socks for hiking, and SmartWool merino socks for skiing. Otherwise for day-to-day wear it’s Marks and Spencer or (if cold) Decathlon’s “Quechua” brand.
  • suziecue25
    suziecue25 Posts: 289 Member
    ach_75 wrote: »
    I hike in the mountains a lot and my preferred brand of sock is Darn Tough. Their merino wool construction is superb and they also have a lifetime guarantee!
    They also make merino leisure socks and running socks.


    I think these are the ones my daughter wears for hiking and mountain climbing in Wales ....they are made in USA and have a lifetime guarantee. They are so lovely to wear. She says she could have put down a deposit on a house with the amount of money she's spent on these socks [she and DH have an Expedition Business in Wales].
  • KWlosingit
    KWlosingit Posts: 122 Member
    What about for those of us who are allergic to wool.
  • Keto_Vampire
    Keto_Vampire Posts: 1,670 Member
    ffdfpaf152wp.png
    74% Exclusive THOR•LON® Acrylic , 4% Elastic , 20% Nylon , 2% Polyester

    Acrylic running socks...no issues with blistering whatsoever
  • jennifer_417
    jennifer_417 Posts: 12,344 Member
    I used to buy socks by mail order, a monthly subscription type thing. Silkies, I think, was the name brand? Anyway, some of those socks lasted for 15 years. They've long since gone out of business, I believe.
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,699 Member
    Merino, cashmere and/or angora socks.

    I used to be able to get cashmere and/or angora socks relatively inexpensively in Canada, but they're less available in Australia.

    After some hunting here, I've discovered that these are pretty good:
    https://www.macpac.com.au/womens/footwear/socks/merino-footprint-socks/113319.html?cgid=womens-footwear-socks#srule=Sort+By+Price+Asc&sz=12&start=1
  • Deviette
    Deviette Posts: 978 Member
    I literally just buy socks. Generally fun patterned ones that make me happy.

    Basically I just check they're reasonably cotton rich, but that's it...
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,699 Member
    Deviette wrote: »
    Basically I just check they're reasonably cotton rich, but that's it...

    I check that too, so that I can avoid them. I've found that cotton rich socks give me blisters. Sadly, there are so many socks available that are cotton rich and advertise that like it's a good thing!! :astonished:

  • youngmomtaz
    youngmomtaz Posts: 1,075 Member
    edited January 2019
    Merino. Warm in winter, breaths when I am hot/sweaty. You can find it in all weights and knits for the different variety’s you will need. I am mostly a barefoot person. In my garden, my house, hiking, all barefoot, the second I get home from being in public my shoes come off with socks tucked inside. That said, I don’t wear socks out very quickly. So while merino is more pricy, I have converted nearly all my socks to them and my husband has recently realized how nice they are as well.
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    edited January 2019
    healthyjourney33 wrote: »
    What are they? Need new socks that stay in place, hold up longer than 2 months and don’t make my feet sweat. TIA!

    For hiking or walking I like merino wool socks. I generally get either the light or medium hikers since I live in an area that gets hot in summer and cold in winter, My favorite brands are Smartwool and Wigwam (both easy to find in a sporting goods store or on Amazon).

    When I am just doing pavement walking in summer, I really like Thorlos light padded ankle sock. They are thin and breathable where they need to be but padded and absorbent where you need that. They even make a compression version I have used when my arthritis flares up in one foot.
  • Ninkasi
    Ninkasi Posts: 173 Member
    Smartwool, also Point Six. Less expensive than Smartwool but just as good.
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    My feet get cold and my favorite current socks are a wool blend. I don't know the brand but have them last more than one season.
    For summer/workout socks I get something cotton athletic socks I guess. I haven't found a brand I love exclusively. I think the last I got were just Fruit of the Loom brand.
  • Deviette
    Deviette Posts: 978 Member
    edited January 2019
    Machka9 wrote: »
    Deviette wrote: »
    Basically I just check they're reasonably cotton rich, but that's it...

    I check that too, so that I can avoid them. I've found that cotton rich socks give me blisters. Sadly, there are so many socks available that are cotton rich and advertise that like it's a good thing!! :astonished:

    Really? Huh, wonder why that is.

    Cotton rich normally mean that you don't get sweaty feet. I was stung once with non cotton rich socks and they were slidey and made my feet really really sweaty (not good)
  • carakirkey
    carakirkey Posts: 199 Member
    JBanx256 wrote: »
    DeFeet International. They started with making cycling socks but now make socks for running, hiking, skiing/snowboarding and more. Variety of materials including Merino wools. All made in the USA too.
    Yes These! Also Called woolie Boolies. MEC carries them if that's available in your area

  • SCoil123
    SCoil123 Posts: 2,111 Member
    My ASICS running socks
  • ritzvin
    ritzvin Posts: 2,860 Member
    edited January 2019
    jjpptt2 wrote: »
    Different people will like different socks... so this is another one of those threads where recommendation may or may not be relevant to you.

    For hiking and similar - Ibex, crew, midweight
    For running - Smartwool or Swiftwick, ultralight/thin
    For cycling - Smartwool or Swiftwick, light weight

    In all cases, I prefer wool, polyester, or a wool/poly/stretchy blend. No cotton. Ever. Never.

    A million times this. Why TF do cotton socks even exist?! They hold moisture, lose warmth when damp/wet, and tend to cause blisters when damp/weight. I can't think of a single purpose where they don't suck compared to other materials. (I feel similarly about cotton gussets FYI).

    I love my Asics ankle socks with 2 tabs, except for winter mountaineering (not warm enough). I have a few Alpaca socks (forget the brands) that are great for that (or will throw liner socks under the summer socks).

    edit: fixed brand name typo
  • nowine4me
    nowine4me Posts: 3,985 Member
    Hands down best socks:
    Wigwam Women's Ironman Lightning Pro Low Cut Running Sock
    .....and I prefer black, they are very light weight and last forever
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