Wear Smartwool socks full time?

[Edd]

I'm at an L.L. Bean outlet last week, finally feeling the cold this year. I buy a few items including 3 pairs of Smartwool socks, a model called something like "Ultra Comfy Socks". I get to my friends ski cabin and start wearing them just hanging around the house and they sure as f**k were comfortable.

After mentioning this one of my friends discloses that he wears nothing but Smartwool socks...period. I'd never heard of this. I think I'm nearly sold because, flip-flops aside, you pretty much wear socks constantly. The obvious problem is cost, considering they are roughly 20x more expensive than the crap socks I buy at Target.

Anybody wear these full time?

 

[drjeff]

I'm at an L.L. Bean outlet last week, finally feeling the cold this year. I buy a few items including 3 pairs of Smartwool socks, a model called something like "Ultra Comfy Socks". I get to my friends ski cabin and start wearing them just hanging around the house and they sure as f**k were comfortable.

After mentioning this one of my friends discloses that he wears nothing but Smartwool socks...period. I'd never heard of this. I think I'm nearly sold because, flip-flops aside, you pretty much wear socks constantly. The obvious problem is cost, considering they are roughly 20x more expensive than the crap socks I buy at Target.

Anybody wear these full time?

I will admit to having quite a quiver of smartwool socks! Everything from really thick, warm, extra cushioned hiking socks (just amazing to put on your feet right after you get out of your ski boots, especially if your feet are a bit cold), to some of their "dress" socks to some of the ankle height thin athletic socks. Love them! It's like a guilty pleasure for your feet!

 

[Nick]

I normally wear something non-cotton all the time, but wool also makes my feet sweat, so i have wool socks but i almost never wear them. Smart wool must be different though, never tried em.

 

[vdk03]

I bought about 6 pairs before going backpacking this summer and ever since I've been back I wear them (and a few new pairs) almost exclusively. I have a bunch of thicker wool socks that I used to wear all winter, now I just wear them when I'm out of smart wool. I don't think I even own any more cotton socks. They are pricey but worth it in my opinion.

 

[deadheadskier]

My sock quiver:

Smartwools for skiing
Cheapo Target socks for everyday wear
Cheapo Target dress socks for when needed
Wigwam's for hiking or when I want a pair of warmer socks for everyday wear

 

[severine]

I wear my Smartwool ski socks often, but part of that is because I also have an ankle-foot orthosis I need to wear now, so I need tall socks to wear it. That said, I do find them to be quite comfortable and did have to wear them during the summer. If it works for you, go for it.

 

[o3jeff]

That's all I wear are wool socks, light ones in the summer, thicker ones in the winter

 

[Warp Daddy]

Yep got a sock quiver of those plus Hot Chillys that are my "cold" weather gear skiing or not

It was 24 below zero here this am and will bearly break zero - wanna guess what i got on :>)) oh yeah and my LINED Carhart Jeans too !!

 

[Edd]

I'm on board. Just bought 8 more pair at an outlet. Still not enough....

 

[ScottySkis]

I love smart wool socks i wear them all the time

 

[playoutside]

Smartwool socks are the bomb! Price is tough to take, but the socks are so much better than others. If I have socks on, they are Smartwool. They have a ton of styles from burly hiking socks to casual/dress. They are expensive, but you can sometimes find sales at Sierra Trading Post, Bean, EMS does an Xmas sale usually. As weird as it sounds, I usually give my siblings Smartwool socks for stocking stuffers...they are always happy!

 

[ski stef]

i think if they are comfortable for you, go for it. I wear only smartwool for skiing and hiking.. and would never wear anything else. My feet are super comfortable and stay warm and dry.

Smartwool is very durable as well so even though they may be expensive you should be able to get a lot of use out of them, unlike cheap cotton socks that rip easy or wear in the heels super fast.

 

[darent]

I am a darn tough,smartwool and thorlo fan. those brands just seem to last and last.

 

[catskillman]

If you are eligible for pro forms, smart wool is 50% off on everything they make.

They have clothing, hats..........

I do find the socks run a bit big...

 

[BackLoafRiver]

I have several pair in rotation.

Every time I am in freeport, I stop by the LLBean outlet to see what they have on sale. Usually I find a pair or two of smartwool ski and hiking socks. Cheap...almost $10 off retail and they say they are "irregular" but I have yet to notice a difference.

 

[Cheese]

I have several pair in rotation.

Every time I am in freeport, I stop by the LLBean outlet to see what they have on sale. Usually I find a pair or two of smartwool ski and hiking socks. Cheap...almost $10 off retail and they say they are "irregular" but I have yet to notice a difference.

It seems that the women's models are fine but the men's models are always labeled "irregular" at the LLBean outlets. I don't usually put SmartWool in the dryer, so that inconvenience means I don't wear them all the time.

 

[o3jeff]

Costco sells a three pack of wool socks under the Kirkland name for around $10 and they look identical to the Smartwool. Pretty sure Costco doesn't own a sock company so someone is making them.

 

[nikkiski]

smartwool is where it's at...the only socks I own

 

[Cheese]

Sorry, I should have clarified that the SmartWool socks that I wear are the PHD Skiing variety with the padded shins. The shin padding comes out of the dryer rather tattered so that's why I line dry them. Other SmartWool varieties might survive the dryer better.

 

[o3jeff]

Sorry, I should have clarified that the SmartWool socks that I wear are the PHD Skiing variety with the padded shins. The shin padding comes out of the dryer rather tattered so that's why I line dry them. Other SmartWool varieties might survive the dryer better.

I never put any my wool socks in the dryer, wash them inside out and hang them to dry.