So, I’m not necessarily looking for brands (but that’s fine), but I’m wondering what sort of socks should I be looking for if I want to get a couple pairs of heavy duty, really warm ones? Wool? What kind of wool? Is there some new super-innovative warming technology fabric that does for warm what gore-tex did for wet?
I’m not looking for hiking or anything of that nature, just some every day warm socks.
For warmth, you definitely want wool.
Warm wool socks with a loopy terry lining (like a gym sock) are wonderful if you can fit them into your shoes.
If you have a farm/hunting/hardware store like Fleet Farm around, you should probably be able to find them cheaper than in dedicated hunting/sports stores.
If that’s too much warmth, I’ve heard good things about Smartwool, though those are rather spendy for my tastes.
If all that’s not enough, consider silk sockliners. In general, stick to either animal fibers or specialty “wicking” fibers. Cotton and normal acrylic will just lead to damp, cold feet.
Some of the old men I know swear by Monkey Socks.
I’d lean towards wool, though I can’t say I’m particularly knowledgeable about the high-tech alternatives.
An important consideration is fit. Thicker socks, in and of themselves, will be warmer than thinner ones. However, there has to be enough space in the shoe/boot for a bit of wiggle room, otherwise the feet will be squished and circulation may be hindered. This can result in being colder than one would be with thinner socks and adequate space.
SmartWool is pretty good. I spend a lot of time in outdoor Wyoming in the winter, with steel-toed boots on… and upgrading to SmartWool keeps my feet warm. They are pretty pricey though…
Warmest, most comfortable pair of socks I ever owned were made of terry cloth.
I think I’m going to buy me some more of those…
Another vote for Smartwool. If you can’t find it, look for socks of Merino wool, they are less itchy.
I’m a wool sock man, myself, however there are a number of good synthetics on the market as well. Check your local outdoors store - REI for example has a huge selection of socks. Their “house brand” is quite good. You can get anything from light hiking socks up to a thicker “expedition” weight sock which is intended for winter mountaineering. As GaryT said you don’t want to try cramming too much into your boot, it’ll squish your feet and leave you uncomfortable.
For everyday wear (including hiking and even snowshoeing) I have been wearing wool socks that I buy at Costco - I think the brand is Fox River, it’s a medium hiking sock (wool) that they sell for something like $10 for 4 pairs. Unbeatable bargain.
You can also think about warmer boots - there are tons of insulated boots out there, usually sold for winter sports and hunting (take a look at Cabela’s catalog online, you’ll see plenty of examples), also workboots. I recommend waterproof boots (something with a goretex liner or equivalent) - wet feet=cold miserable feet. You can get waterproof socks (SealSkinz) but I’d stop moisture at the boot before it has chance to get inside.
Costco aside you can easily spend $10-15 on a nice pair of socks and trust me they are absolutely worth it. They will keep your feet warm, dry, comfortable and they will outlast any pair of crappy cotton socks. Keep your feet happy and you will be happy.