Stumpalump
Expedition Leader
Are wool socks still the best? I've had good results with the REI brand.
Sock preference
- Thread starter Stumpalump
- Start date
REI brand is a design ripoff that puts others out of business because they are cheaper, not better.
Smartwool is OK, just OK. They still dont last very long, I wouldnt rely on them for any serious use, around town is OK..
The best I have found are Bridgedales. They last three years, guaranteed (if you dont buy the seconds from sierra trading), and I can hole a sock pretty quickly. They dont get smelly after a few days and they maintain their loft well. I'd bet my life on them, uh, I have.
Smartwool is OK, just OK. They still dont last very long, I wouldnt rely on them for any serious use, around town is OK..
The best I have found are Bridgedales. They last three years, guaranteed (if you dont buy the seconds from sierra trading), and I can hole a sock pretty quickly. They dont get smelly after a few days and they maintain their loft well. I'd bet my life on them, uh, I have.
Co-opski
Expedition Leader
Wigwam wool socks here. All the other brands I have tried Smartwool, Bridgedale, and Darn Tough make a good product but up here they are at least $5 more per pair. I have had less than good experiences with REI and Patagonia socks with them wearing out quickly. Just my $0.02
Newtac11
Observer
I've worn the wigwam, smart wool, and REI, but I decided on Lorpen.
My heals make quick work of cotton socks, and wool socks last much longer for me, but over the past year, I have been switching between 4 pair of Lorpen T2W's. Wearing them over and over, every three days is wash day. I wear them when hiking in Colorado, and in the office in Galveston. They still feel like the day I bought them. Its a personal preference, but they are worth a shot.
I bought them at a sportsmens warehouse, but this liknk popped up when i did a quick google search http://www.muckbootsonline.com/Lorpen_Socks_s/39.htm
My heals make quick work of cotton socks, and wool socks last much longer for me, but over the past year, I have been switching between 4 pair of Lorpen T2W's. Wearing them over and over, every three days is wash day. I wear them when hiking in Colorado, and in the office in Galveston. They still feel like the day I bought them. Its a personal preference, but they are worth a shot.
I bought them at a sportsmens warehouse, but this liknk popped up when i did a quick google search http://www.muckbootsonline.com/Lorpen_Socks_s/39.htm
bobholthaus
Observer
Patagonia makes killer socks. Last me for years. Three different weights (which are color coded, which is nice). I highly recommend them.
RangeBrover
Explorer
Used to wear the wigwam socks but I switched to smart wool and they've been nothing but good to me. I've got a couple of pairs of the rei brand also and they've held up just as well.
Filson Merino Wool Primaloft, these are a midweight compression over the calf sock, while pricey these socks last, I bought my first pair to replace
the Barbour Military socks which were discontinued to wear as my duty socks at the fire dept. I used one pair every day on duty for one year (and yes
I did wash them) at the end of that year they showed very little wear and are now the only socks I wear.
the Barbour Military socks which were discontinued to wear as my duty socks at the fire dept. I used one pair every day on duty for one year (and yes
I did wash them) at the end of that year they showed very little wear and are now the only socks I wear.
Christophe Noel
Expedition Leader
I'll order close to 6,000 pairs of socks for the store in a year. We carry Fox River, Smartwool, Icebreaker, Darn Tough, Injinji (weird), and a couple others. Based on customer feedback, as well as our personal experience, the Darn Tough socks seem to earn the most fans. Family owned, guaranteed for life, they're also just great socks. I've also become a fan of Fits socks, although their selection is a little small. The only Smartwool sock I like to wear anymore is the PhD line of socks. They're unique as they wrap the lycra yarns around the wool yarns prior to weaving the sock instead of just weaving lycra and wool together. That's why the regular SW socks poop out too easily.
The sock we see come back most often with premature failures are Fox River socks. The sock we hear most fit complaints about are Wigwam.
The sock we see come back most often with premature failures are Fox River socks. The sock we hear most fit complaints about are Wigwam.
Mountainhound
Explorer
Dang how long you need them to last? I started wearing smartwool socks 8 years ago bought 5 sets. And just recently (couple months) started wearing some new sets. I still wear the old ones to on occasion. There thin but no holes.
Containerized
Adventurer
Agree with shogun. Bridgedale are amazingly rugged. I bought half a dozen pairs for the house in Uganda and two pairs of my favourite Ecco boots.
Only one pair of socks (and neither pair of boots) wore out over 18 months of daily use (and hand washing).
Only one pair of socks (and neither pair of boots) wore out over 18 months of daily use (and hand washing).