Personal-branding and lifestyle consultant Victoria Hitchcock agrees that American Trench makes a “gorgeous sock” that’s both “old school and hip.” Trying a pair for myself, I agree that these are uncommonly old-fashioned socks, but in a good way. Though pleasingly autumnal in hue, they’re a little less crunchy in their aesthetic than the hiker-specific socks on this list - note those little flecks of color designed to peek out between your shoes and pants. Like the Darn Tough socks above, these are knitted in a small, family-owned North Carolina mill. He says they’re ideal for cold weather because they’re warm and come up “superhigh,” which makes them perfect for wearing with winter boots. These hardy wool socks are even beloved by Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who wore them while serving in Afghanistan and still puts them on for long-haul flights.ĭurability: No guarantee | Materials: Merino wool and silk | Comfort: High length | Intended use: Everydayĭan Snyder, a menswear designer and founder of Corridor, is a fan of these wool-silk-blend socks from American Trench. “Which is handy, especially if you’re sharing a tent.” REI’s virtual outfitting team lead, Forrest Jarvi, tells us that it’s worth paying extra for the brand’s merino wool socks when embarking on multi-day backpacking trips, specifically because they’re anti-odor. You’ll also hear Darn Tough praised by many hikers and backpackers - especially those who venture out in all four seasons. “I can’t say a bad thing about them.” He thinks you can’t beat Darn Tough’s lifetime guarantee, and adds that it’s a small-scale, independent operation with a higher degree of oversight than you might get with multinational outdoor brands: “Once you get that big business scale with merino, it’s hard to maintain quality.” “They’re the kings of the industry for sure,” he explains. He’s been rotating between the same six pairs for years. “They’re padded to add comfort, so you will immediately notice the thickness in comparison to medium-weight socks like Uniqlo’s and Muji’s,” he explains.ĭarn Tough is Spring’s wool sock brand of choice, too. Former Strategist writer Jordan Bowman says his pair stands up to snow shoveling and hiking expeditions. They also come with a lifetime guarantee, meaning the brand will replace your socks if you get any holes. Darn Tough socks have a thick, bootie-like weave that makes them a pleasure to wear. I’ve worn my favorite pair of the Vermont brand’s famously comfortable and durable merino wool socks while clambering up volcanoes in Guatemala and working from home in a building with capricious heating. We here at the Strategist are big Darn Tough fans. And, well, walk around in.ĭurability: Lifetime guarantee | Materials: Merino wool and nylon | Comfort: Extra cushioning | Intended use: Hiking and outdoor To find out which are worthy of your top drawer, I tried out a number of best-selling brands and consulted with textile experts, outdoor enthusiasts, and stylish people about what wool socks they stand by. Wool socks also tend to be much more expensive than other kinds, and not all of them are created equal. As Merino Wool Gear’s Jay Spring puts it, merino wool just has a nicer “foot feel - it’s softer, and it cushions more.” It’s also the only natural fiber that is odor absorbent.” This makes wool socks ideal for hiking, biking, and other sports and outdoor activities. “But merino is so light that it’s able to let go of the moisture, and that provides a cooling effect. “Traditional thicker lambswool, when it gets wet, it gets heavy,” explains instructor of textile science Deborah Young. Despite stereotypes, merino wool tends not to be itchy, and is still warm and comfortable to wear when it gets sweaty. That’s because the very best wool socks are woven from merino wool, a high-performance natural fiber that feels soft on the skin and has odor-fighting properties. The latter are comfier than their cotton or synthetic counterparts - even in summer, which you might not expect. There are socks, and then there are wool socks.
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