Interested to know what you guys are using and where you got them from.
With heavy boots, trail shoes etc.
Most of mine are purloined from huts and worn with the sandals on tramps. I do have 10 year old Mtn Design woollen socks I was told to buy by Lydia Bradey when I went on a climbing tour she guided. I decided I'd better start wearing them out so I wear them with the sandals now on tramps. They have a good thick sole.
I've got some lovely Bridgedale sock liners that are awesome - found in a hut.
White and dark green ones from hunting and fishing. Merino blend and sold in 5 pair packs for the same as a lot of single socks
Back Road Alpine Boot Sock ($38.95 / 3-Pack) from Farmlands (CRT)- only from the hill country branches. Not the wussy flatlanders !.
"A sock designed specifically for work boots to be tough and hardwearing. Built to withstand the rigours of the demanding mountainous regions, the Alpine sock features a reinforced toe and heel panel to offer non-slip durability and comfort against abrasion. Wool is the fibre of choice because it offers natural moisture and temperature control with anti-bacterial properties.
Long lasting, extra-wide fit, 78% merino wool 28%nylon, ankle & arch support, towelling footbed.
And, they're black.
"God of Nations, at thy feet ..."
https://www.farmlands.co.nz/Online-Shop/Apparel/Socks/Mens/BRoad-Alpine-Boot-Sock-3Pk/
This post has been edited by the author on 17 January 2016 at 19:30.
The hefty seam on the back road trashes my toes, a problem I have with many brands. Best ever were the doc-issues ones with the green band at the top. 6 years of daily boot use I got from them. DOC have gone over to another supplier now which just sweats your feet till you might as well have walked up the creek. Not impressed. You still find the odd pair of the old ones forgotten in huts.
Anyone know who the original manufacturer was? Maybe they still make 'em.
This post has been edited by the author on 17 January 2016 at 18:14.
I have several pairs of these.They're similar to the ones @Proactive linked, but I don't know if there is some sort of manufacturing connection, and they are more expensive.
http://www.nzsock.co.nz/shop/prod-965/Tramper-Sock.htm
http://www.nzsock.co.nz/shop/prod-924/Gumboot-Sock.htm
Very comfortable and durable
They used to be sold through FTC & Mitre10 but I bought my first few pairs at a Field Days stall.
They do some fancy technical ones as well but they look a bit gimmicky
http://www.nzsock.co.nz/shop/prod-1108/Active-Trekking.htm
This post has been edited by the author on 17 January 2016 at 20:50.
Last week I purchased a pile of Active Intent Merino Wool Hikers from the Warehouse, they were half price so decided to take the risk at $9 each.
They are 82% Merino, 14% Nylon and 4% Elastic.
Probably slightly more wool then ideal.. but they were cheap.
I mostly wear Bridgedale Trekker socks.
Have used the Back Road Alpine Boot Sock and an eclectic variety of others -mainly wool. I have noticed the same issue as Mad Pom re toe seams on quite a few brands so any like that I wear inside out wich seems to solve the problem
My favourites are a pair of Mund socks from H&F - I recently bought a second pair only to find they're now cheaper (and entirely different and not as awesome any more). Hate it when that happens.
Torpedo 7 have got a good deal going on Teko merino socks right now, I ordered one of each thickness. Apparently they have a seamless toe @madpom , I have no idea what they are like but I wanted my first post to be on a gear thread, since I enjoy reading gear talk so much.
Other socks I have enjoyed are my dads classic super thick, marled grey, woollen gumboot socks which are at least 5 sizes too big for me and end up in a clump off the end of my toes which surprisingly makes my gumboots fit better. Also some Kathmandu socks I had which were exorbitantly expensive and lasted all of 3 trips to the cafe. I don't like wearing socks inside, it always made me feel nerdy like when tom cruise does that slide in his undies and sunnies on that movie where he's wearing socks. I always thought he was a total nerd. Why do girls like him? For some reason I think I would be OK with wearing toe socks inside, something about the definition of my toes.
I once tramped up near the Himalayas in some locally handmade 100% Angora socks. That was a real treat.
