WARNING: Don’t Buy Cheap Merino Wool Socks!

[livingston]

In this video, I compare expensive Merino wool socks vs cheap ones. I purchased a lot of different affordable Merino wool hiking socks to see if I could find a viable alternative to my expensive Merino wool socks. And I noticed that I get a lot fewer blisters when wearing my expensive Silverlight and Darn Tough Merino wool socks.

 

[livingston]

https://www.youtube.com/@OscarHikes

folks you can find this above post at this site.

 

[libertysnake]

In this video, I compare expensive Merino wool socks vs cheap ones. I purchased a lot of different affordable Merino wool hiking socks to see if I could find a viable alternative to my expensive Merino wool socks. And I noticed that I get a lot fewer blisters when wearing my expensive Silverlight and Darn Tough Merino wool socks.

I have about 10 pairs of Darn Tough Merino Wool socks. I've had the socks for roughly 3 years so far. I take approximately 15,000 - 20,000 steps daily, more if that is one of my three jogging days during the week in which I also jog in the socks.

None of them have holes in them. They are pilled up as hell, sure, but they are intact. By contrast, my running shoes last about 2-3 months before they are literally torn to shreds at the back. My hiking boots last longer (Merrels) and normally die around month 8-12.

As someone who aggressively uses the socks, I have no nothing but good things to say from countless hours on my feet.

 

[libertysnake]

Also I disagree you won't get blisters. You will. The best defense is to continue to walk, daily, many steps. Your feet will naturally toughen. When a blister is too painful to walk on, use a clean sewing needle and sterilize it with a lighter. Clean the blister. Drain it. Coat with petroleum jelly (barely) and then cover with 3M waterproof tape.

I've had many, many blisters. I think probably 15+ this summer alone. It happens.

 

[MothMan]

I use both Smart Wool and Darn Tough socks. They last so well I sometimes hand them down to my oldest son.

 

[livingston]

I just purchased a few pairs of this sock

Darn Tough Mountaineering OTC Extra Cushion Sock - Men's​

Amazon.com

Girlfriend gets pissed .. I do have some arctic muck boots and these will be a good addition. At times I could be working all day in the cold. She says I have wool socks that I don't wear ... You know the kind real thick socks we wore 30-40 years ago. I believe these are much better. More comfortable .
Some say we could be in for a cold winter and at times I am out driving and I have hardly ever been pulled off a run because of snow. (snow storm ) . I have been broke own at 1 am with no heat and the temp is below zero. .. When you report the break down you are told it could be hours before a service truck can arrive. .... That temperature drops real quick folks. I had a co-worker go out on a run with just a T-shirt with the temp at zero. .. One just shakes their head,

 

[livingston]

Also I disagree you won't get blisters. You will. The best defense is to continue to walk, daily, many steps. Your feet will naturally toughen. When a blister is too painful to walk on, use a clean sewing needle and sterilize it with a lighter. Clean the blister. Drain it. Coat with petroleum jelly (barely) and then cover with 3M waterproof tape.

I've had many, many blisters. I think probably 15+ this summer alone. It happens.

I have been following this site for a while and these folks are the real deal. One can go to some sites and get a review and you just shake your head at what little knowledge they actually have . At times one can pick up ideas from folks that can "walk the walk "

 

[livingston]

We are Matti and Stina and we live year-round in Jokkmokk, North of the Arctic Circle in Swedish Lapland with a bunch of Siberian Huskies and 2 Border collies. We run Jokkmokkguiderna which is a small lifestyle company (the two of us and our dogs) that offers guided outdoor tours. During winter we mostly run dog sled tours and summertime it's canoe, hiking tours and wildlife safaris. Since the Corona pandemic hit us all in spring 2020 we´ve started to post videos more frequently here on YouTube to try to share our life, knowledge and somehow move the adventure to you instead of your physical self to the adventure.

https://www.youtube.com/@JOKKMOKKGUIDERNA

 

[Saltwater60]

I’m switching to 100% darn tough socks. It will take me some time to get there at the prices but I love them and they hold up really well

 

[MothMan]

I wear this in my Kamik insulated boots.

Heat Holders® The Warmest Thermal Sock™

Heat Holders® are the warmest socks ever! They are over 7x warmer than regular cotton socks and nearly 3x warmer than ordinary thermal socks.

www.heatholders.com

 

[tony]

I get good service and wear from Wig Wam "El Pine" ragg wool socks. (76% Wool, 22% Stretch Nylon, 2% Spandex - Made in the USA.

I wear these year round...

 

[SomeSoldier]

I buy Wigwam socks, they have lasted me a couple of years so far. Also if you wear a hole in the socks they will replace them for free.

Men's Socks

Shop Wigwam Men's Socks for Low Cut, Quarter Length, Crew and Winter Sport Socks. USA made since 1905. Free shipping on qualifying orders.

www.wigwam.com

Edit:

Just did a materials comparison. They are pretty close.

Axiom Mid Crew Sock With Merino Wool

With the addition of Merino Wool, this lightweight mid-crew sock fits like nothing else. Patented SynchroKnit construction drops stitches out of the knitting process to create a sock shaped like a foot, not a tube, for proper support and a contoured, compression fit. Guaranteed not to slip/slide...

www.wigwam.com

Men's The Standard Crew Lightweight Lifestyle Sock

The Standard with cushion has a high-density knit for durability without bulk and a performance fit that yields no slipping, bunching or blisters.

darntough.com

 

[GOPerfect]

This is where I buy my wool socks. I love these socks. I have dozens of pairs of their products.

I have never had an issue with anything purchased from them.

And, yes, I love their patterns.

Mountain Collection

"Stay warm and comfortable with our Mountain Collection. Made with premium Merino wool, our cozy Nordic socks will protect your feet during the winter."

www.nordicsocks.com

 

[FP1201]

I could have saved myself years of misery IF I'd had listened about socks...
I've learned a lot from this thread about different brands...
One thing I'd like to add since the first Merino Socks I bought decades ago: READ THE COUNT; There are Socks sold as merino with very low percentages of Merino Wool.
Wife bought me several pairs of Alpaca Wool Socks and they're damn nice, I think they're better than Merino, but I'm not certain of their lifespan yet...they are thicker, works great with Boots, but not so well with Shoes as they tend to be tighter.

 

[Robin]

Those Army wool socks were excellent!
Robin

 

[FP1201]

Those Army wool socks were excellent!
Robin

It was the Army Wool Socks that I hated back then, and I'd always worn Cotton Athletic Socks, stupid and hard-headed as I was...
I bought a pair of Polypropylene socks (we were issued Poly-Pro tops & bottoms. which were the cats-ass!) and they probably actually saved my feet from serious damage.

 

[repete]

Those Army wool socks were excellent!
Robin

My feet froze in those damn things, better boots would've helped.

 

[tony]

Those Army wool socks were excellent!
Robin

Yep, I agree. I liked the army wool socks too. In the early 70' the issue boots were garbage. A much better boot were the Cochran boots sold at the PX. (no Amazon then...)

The only socks I wear now are the Wigwam "El Pine" ragg wool socks, all year long... The actual wool content has dropped a bit over the years. At present they are 76% Wool, 22% Stretch Nylon, 2% Spandex and still work well for me.

 

[Cooolone]

Coolmax (hard to find any more) or Merino Wool is the way to go...

 

[masterswimmer]

I've been wearing Darn Tough Vermont for about 2 years now. I'm rotating between about 10 pair. I just got my wife started on them. She is now converted and understands my affection for DTV socks. I bought her 5 pair for V-day.

I had an issue with 2 pair pilling. I reached out to the company, they replaced them. No questions asked. I sent pictures of them. I said I'd ship them back so they could evaluate them in their R&D dept. They told me to keep them and get as much use out of them as possible.

I won't buy another brand of socks again, ever. For the record, I was a Wig-Wam wearer before DTV. The difference is night and day.

 

[GTN]

I don’t like Darn Tough socks. The quality is great but the sizing is off for me. I wear size 11 regular width shoes so I ordered their large socks which I think is 9-12. They are so tight they’re hard to get on and cuts off circulation. My wife got my some XL and they’re way to loose.
It’s probably just me but..

 

[masterswimmer]

I don’t like Darn Tough socks. The quality is great but the sizing is off for me. I wear size 11 regular width shoes so I ordered their large socks which I think is 9-12. They are so tight they’re hard to get on and cuts off circulation. My wife got my some XL and they’re way to loose.
It’s probably just me but..

I totally get that. I never understood why we order shoes/boots in a specific size, and yet socks are a range of sizes.