# Let's talk about socks.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-socks/671720
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [October 20, 2013, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-socks/671720 "2013-10-20T14:15:06Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2013, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-socks/671720/1 "2013-10-20T14:15:06Z")
The kind you wear, not the ones that get banned.
I need some new socks. Every pair I buy these days ends up ripping at the toes after one or two washings. And that’s not just the cheap stuff.
I prefer knee highs, but nothing too thick to wear with slip on shoes.
Anyone have any brands out there that they like that seem to hold up?
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### Author:  [@SerafinaPekala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SerafinaPekala)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2013, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-socks/671720/2 "2013-10-20T14:19:49Z")
Gold Toes have a nicely done toe that lasts a long time and isnt bunchy.
I like SmartWool too but some of them are thicker - nice for boots.
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### Author:  [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2013, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-socks/671720/3 "2013-10-20T15:24:13Z")
> [@SerafinaPekala](#):
>
> I like SmartWool too but some of them are thicker - nice for boots.
Seconded. Don’t know if they have a thinner knee high though. It’s probably worth checking out.
Just did 3 weeks of walking around in Germany. Wore lightweight hiking shoes and Smartwool socks. I’m an office worker by day. I never had any issues.
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### Author:  [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2013, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-socks/671720/4 "2013-10-20T15:29:29Z")
Your problem probably is upturned toes and/or long or sharp/ragged toe nails. Ask a podicurist if this is the case. It that is so, be religious about keeping your toenails short and smooth.
If you really want to make your socks last longer, [learn to darn a sock.](http://www.wikihow.com/Darn-a-Sock)
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### Author:  [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2013, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-socks/671720/5 "2013-10-20T15:46:25Z")
Moved MPSIMS --\> IMHO.
twicks, who is, as usual, wearing a pair of socks she knit herself.
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### Author:  [@SerafinaPekala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SerafinaPekala)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2013, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-socks/671720/6 "2013-10-20T16:06:25Z")
[SierraTradingPost](http://www.sierratradingpost.com/womens-socks~d~271/smartwool~b~19440/) is a good place to look for SmartWool and other brands on sale too.
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### Author:  [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2013, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-socks/671720/7 "2013-10-20T16:08:37Z")
I have every pair of knee-high and over the knee sock that Payless sells. I wear them all the time with my boots and my slip on shoes. They are definitely not too thick and I haven’t had a single hole in any of them yet.
(Yes I do work for Payless but that doesn’t change the fact that the socks are good socks). The only Payless socks I have holey issues with are the no-shows, which aren’t what you’re looking for anyway.
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### Author:  [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2013, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-socks/671720/8 "2013-10-20T16:16:25Z")
No. But while we’re here, button-zip or zip-button?
😃
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### Author:  [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2013, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-socks/671720/9 "2013-10-20T16:23:23Z")
I love my wool socks in cold weather, or when I’m mucking around in the outdoors with boots on. Ever warm, ever dry!
My preferred brand: [Wigwam](http://www.wigwam.com/).
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### Author:  [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2013, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-socks/671720/10 "2013-10-20T16:58:33Z")
> [@congodwarf](#):
>
> I have every pair of knee-high and over the knee sock that Payless sells. I wear them all the time with my boots and my slip on shoes. They are definitely not too thick and I haven’t had a single hole in any of them yet.
> (Yes I do work for Payless but that doesn’t change the fact that the socks are good socks). The only Payless socks I have holey issues with are the no-shows, which aren’t what you’re looking for anyway.
Are those the nylon (really thin) ones? Because they’re great.
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### Author:  [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2013, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-socks/671720/11 "2013-10-20T17:20:12Z")
The no shows? Yeah, they’re 97% nylon and they’re great for their intended purpose. I actually have to put the heel over the toe because I can’t get them to stay on otherwise. The toe part is deeper so it stays on my heel better. I’m glad it’s normal sock season again though because I love socks. I actually started wearing the boot socks so I could give an honest assessment of them to my customers. I ended up buying them all. They’re comfortable and warm but not too thick so I can wear them over tights and still not have sweaty, cramped feet.
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### Author:  [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2013, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-socks/671720/12 "2013-10-20T17:24:55Z")
Many years ago, an expert hiker advised readers to wear two socks: a thin and close-fitting nylon one with a thicker padding one. All slippage would happen between the two socks and prevent blisters, and be more comfortable besides. Anyone follow this practice?
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### Author:  [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2013, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-socks/671720/13 "2013-10-20T17:26:44Z")
I don’t hike so no but my first aid teacher said the same thing.
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### Author:  [@Strangeland64](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strangeland64)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2013, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-socks/671720/14 "2013-10-20T20:05:20Z")
I like Smartwools too. They are pricey for me… but I’m on the low income range. However : They last, they wick away the sweat ( if your feet sweat) and they aren’t too thick but in
warm and surprisingly not hot, at least to me , in fairly warm weather, still wicking away the sweat.
I am going to check out what others recommend, I hope you find some that you like, because socks are as important as good fitting shoes … if your feet aren’t happy, you aren’t happy 🙂 Good luck!
P.S. I love these kind of questions, this is where I have found the best brands of stuff , when people recommend what they have found to be great products ! It turns out one persons question./need helps a lot of people sometimes …
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### Author:  [@SerafinaPekala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SerafinaPekala)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2013, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-socks/671720/15 "2013-10-20T20:08:28Z")
You can find SmartWools at places like TJMaxx too, marked down.
They can be washed and line dried w/o shrinking or pilling, they dont need any babying. And they dont get soggy, as others have said. They wick any moisture away and keep the tootsies toasty. Naturally cushy. So worth it.
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### Author:  [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2013, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-socks/671720/16 "2013-10-20T20:13:50Z")
> [@Maastricht](#):
>
> Your problem probably is upturned toes and/or long or sharp/ragged toe nails. Ask a podicurist if this is the case. It that is so, be religious about keeping your toenails short and smooth.
I tend to agree that if you are literally seeing holes after one or, at most, two wearings, across many brands, you have something odd going on. That’s not usual. Could be toenails, could be your shoes, could be a habit of walking sock-footed across the gravel, could be gremlins. But I don’t think it’s the socks.
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### Author:  [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2013, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-socks/671720/17 "2013-10-20T20:29:24Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#):
>
> Many years ago, an expert hiker advised readers to wear two socks: a thin and close-fitting nylon one with a thicker padding one. All slippage would happen between the two socks and prevent blisters, and be more comfortable besides. Anyone follow this practice?
I do this when I wear boots, and it works great.
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### Author:  [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2013, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-socks/671720/18 "2013-10-21T00:00:53Z")
> [@SerafinaPekala](#):
>
> Gold Toes have a nicely done toe that lasts a long time and isnt bunchy. . . .
Been a Gold Toe guy for years. They last.
(Yeah, you’ll have to darn holes in the toes over time. I’m very glad to have learned that abstruse skill!)
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### Author:  [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2013, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-socks/671720/19 "2013-10-21T00:35:06Z")
:eek: I don’t have long toe nails, ick. Makes me sort of sick to even think about long toe nails.
I do have a long second toe though.
I’m probably being too tight with my money and spending too little. Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I’ll check these out.
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### Author:  [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2013, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-socks/671720/20 "2013-10-21T01:14:15Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#):
>
> Many years ago, an expert hiker advised readers to wear two socks: a thin and close-fitting nylon one with a thicker padding one. All slippage would happen between the two socks and prevent blisters, and be more comfortable besides. Anyone follow this practice?
We were told to do the same thing when I played basketball in hs. The inner socks were called sanitary hose, and were white thin nylon, covered with regular cotton socks.
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