What socks do you prefer?

i got some nice alpaca socks from gofastandlight.com and really like those

I like my ThorLo Hikers. I have four pair and use them almost exclusively for hiking and backpacking.

When backpacking I use them with thin polypro sock liners.

AND, they're made in USA! Probably one of the last domestically made hiking socks.

Eric

Darn Tough Vermont boot socks full cushion (DTV).
Also made in USA (Vermont).
As Thorlos are better than average, so I think DTVs are better than Thorlos.

My 2c.

Cheers

Best socks I have ever had, and still purchase now are by DeFeet. I like the Cloud9.

Solved a few feet heat issues which were contributing to blisters and sore spots.

http://www.defeet.com/prodline.php?line=Cloud%209&type=s

Cheers

Teko Summit Expedition merino wool for winter weight boots – wore a pair for 12 days in plastic ski touring boots last month with no problems. They were never taken off as I slept in them as well.

For trail shoes and light boots Teko Summit Hiking Medium in cold weather and Teko Summit Hiking Light or Smartwool Light Hiking Crew in warm weather.

> Should I stick with my thicker Smartwools I've always used in boots or go thinner?

I would go thinner.
I use Fox River X-Static liner socks as my primary sock.
Very light, quick drying, no stink silver fibers, nice smooth seams, and they fit very well in low volume Inov-8 shoes.
The hold up really well too.

Did I mention that they dry quickly? This is key in my system.
YMMV

I go with a light cushion SmartWool – Adrenaline Mini Crews – for summer hiking. I have five pairs, wear them almost every day for knocking around and for running. Two of them have a thru-hike onthem (SHT '08) and the only noticeable wear is in the Achilles of the thru-hiked socks – it's wearing thin there.

When those socks die, I'm going to Darn Tough Vermonts.

I've worn Smartwool socks for years and favor them over all others I've tried. My current favorites are the Adrenaline Light Micro, as seen here:

https://www.smartwool.com/default.cfm#/Mens/Socks/_/_/203/

They fit me well, provide adequate cushioning, dry quickly, and are hard-wearing. Bear in mind I use mine for 3-season hiking in Southern California. If you live in a different region/climate you may prefer a larger sock.

Michael

Usually use some thin Pearl Izumi cycling socks. They are thin and have lots of meshy stuff on the top of the foot. They come in some great colors as well!

Thankfully, my feet aren't very picky when it comes to socks. My favorite are whatever Smartwool/Merino Wool socks the local LL Bean Outlet store has in their canoe full of socks and I wear them year round. Usually these rejects can be found for $5 to $7 per pair at LL Bean outlets and I have never noticed anything wrong with any pairs I have ever bought.

please dont try to fill in an ill-fitting shoe with thicker socks.. to me getting the sock and then fitting a shoe is doing things backwards!

ive used defeet wooliator (great) and smartwool adrenaline (wear out quick-but good) and the lesser Bridgedale and Thorlo, and even way back in the day the Fox River. I never thought those were any good..

i purchased a few pair of Injinji toe socks due to the popularity and great reviews, and now they are my go-to trail socks. Im wearing a light Montrail shoe. The Injinji socks are wool/synthetic blend, but my fave's are the Bamboo style. Stretchy, form fitting, cool and stink free.

I must be the biggest cheapskate in the world. I just buy Coolmax socks by Starter at Wally world.

Oh wait, I take that back. I do buy the double layer Wrightsocks when I can find them on sale at REI-outlet.

Defeet, enough said!

Aireator – Summer
Levitator Lite, Wool – Spring/Fall
Blaze, Wool – Winter

I only wear Injini socks. Nothing else works for me. Yes, they do wear out faster, I deal with that. Not having blisters is worth the cost.

I will 2nd the Injini socks….never had had a blister since wearing them.

-Tony

Exclusively Smartwool for pretty much everything: daily wear, summer/winter backpacking, skiing, etc. They have socks for everything.

They've never given me any problems and are extremely comfortable. I admit I've never used most of these other brands everyone is mentioning, but now I want to try some DeFeet!

-Collin

I have several pairs of the Smartwool merino wool socks, in the crew cut length and find them to be very comfortable for general duty use, they are soft and dry relatively quick, granted I live in NM and the air is like a brick oven this time of year. Poly liner socks are my go to socks for simplicity and functionality, I use those solely for trail running, dayhikes, and longer trips.

I also have to second Joe, the polyester Starter Duo Dry whatevs' at Wallyworld are actually really good socks for 3 pairs at $7, for weekly dayhiking, running and gym, they are sufficient and don't require you to look after them like babies when they get piled up in the rest of your laundry, I throw these in the mix during the week too. I have no fuss feet though and could probably run a mile in soggy burlap sacks for socks and not get a blister, so to each his own. Good luck narrowing things down.

Another vote for Darn Tough.

Simply the best socks I have ever worn.

Much better than socks twice the price. And IMHO much, much, much better than Smartwool (I have both brands).

Darn Tough are superbly made, very durable, and sooooo comfortable.

Ya gotta try a pair!!!!

Just wanted to say that I have 2 different styles of X-Socks, and haven't been impressed. Even with all the fancy knitting, they are not all that breathable.

Add one more vote for Darn Tough. I like the short light-weight ones. Darn Tough Merino Wool Mesh 1/4 Sock. Available on sale occasionally at BackCountryOutlet.

I like them short (lighter weight). The one caveat is that with short socks you need to make sure your long johns are long enough to tuck into the short socks. Some of my long johns keep pulling out of the socks, and I get cold ankles when and eating.

I prefer them thin, they never feel soggy or sweaty.

Somehow Darn Tough has managed to make a wool sock that holds up well – in my experience MUCH longer than the Smartwool thin wool socks.

The Darn Tough Mesh sock doesn't have much stretch, so if they don't fit you they won't be comfortable – unlike a sock that are really stretchy and can fit a wide range of feet.

Darn Tough. I put 1200 miles on one pair and only then did they start to form a hole in the bottom (that my mom offered to mend for me).

I use injinni's as liners and smart wool adrenaline mini's for outers. Never had a blister.

Darn Tough & Smart Wool Adrenaline (daily w/ flyroc 310's)

"I use injinni's as liners and smart wool adrenaline mini's for outers. Never had a blister"

I also use Injinji's next to skin with a CoolMax liner over them to reduce wear on the tops of the Injinji toes, where my Morton's 2nd toes tend to wear a hole. No blisters and supremely comfortable.