Got a pair of Filson Heavyweight wool socks a few years ago, love them and my feet never got cold. Got a new pair of ‘Heavyweight’ Filson socks and my feet froze today. Not the same pair of wool socks. Not sure what happened to Filson. What are you all wearing? Needs to be close to 100% wool. Thanks!

My best socks are wool blend. Can't even remember the maker as my brother bought them for me in Maine this past June..at the Kittery Trading Post. They are quite warm but have some stretch to them. I know there is Marino wool in them but it's definitely a blend. I don't sit all day though in the cold so I'm not necessarily a good judge of that.

Smartwool.

Rick

I wear wool socks that I buy at Costco. They work as well as any wool socks.

Your feeting getting cold may not have anything to do with the socks.

These days i only wear mrino wool socks. Lighter ones in the summer, heavier in winter,and double up in ectreme cold. Browning is one brand i like. Sandy

Smart wool or Minus33.

Michael

Smart wool or Minus33.

Michael

Merino wool socks by Lorpen the best socks you will ever wear. always stay conformed to your foot, last a long time.

Merino wool is great although some of it will wear pretty quickly. The best wool socks I have were from my mother. She spun the wool into yarn and then knit the socks. There are still a lot of artisans doing exactly that.

DDave

And Rick is correct. Smartwool, although expensive, is very good and long wearing.

I have heavier wool socks but it hasn't gotten that cold here yet - though it was getting there today.

Bought some mid-weight Ballston brand wool blends before my Colorado trip in September that seem to be good so far. I like wool socks year round, in an appropriate weight for the season, Breathe better than cotton, IMO.

Darn Tough. And they have an unconditional lifetime warranty.

Don't even bother with wool. Alpaca is way superior. As much as wool is better than cotton, alpaca is better than wool. It's what the mountain climbers who go up Everest use.

TMBB

I’ve been wearing Cabela’s brand socks. They are 70% merino wool and a mix of the other 30%.. I have the medium weight...they are probably not the warmest sock that you can buy but I’m convinced they are the most durable. I own about 15 pair and wear them every day to work, hunt or whatever. A couple pair are 12- 13 years old. They are about $10 a pair to buy individual but they usually discount off of that if you buy several pair.

Stickhunter is right. The 70% merino wool ones are some of the best. You can find them on the big auction site for about $25 for 6 pair. I have been wearing these winter or summer for the last 3 years.

Smartwool PHD. For me the PHD lasts way longer than the regular version and is more comfortable.

Wigwam and LL Bean hikers have been favorites of mine, as far as brand is concerned. For some years now I have not worn cotton socks. I know alpaca is warm, but haven't seen socks. I think it is a more coarse fiber and am not sure that when woven, will be any more durable, when in constant use. Hanging wool socks to dry, when washed, helps extend their lifespan.

For keeping my feet warm on stand, the first thing a I don after climbing, are my ArcticShield boot covers. In temps below freezing, I sometimes put a dry chemical hand warmer on top of my boot toe, inside the covers. I consider them a critical piece of gear for hunting, and they have paid for themselves many times over. I use to use BootBlankets, but ArcticShields are more compact.

I love Smartwool heavy hiking, have three pair of Wigwam heavies, and a couple pairs of midweight from Fox River that are great for casual wear. Among others...

Don't overlook over-the-calf 'ski' socks. Funny colors but very warm.

And if you're walking much, a thin liner sock under the woolies adds comfort, prevents blisters.

Darn Tough or Smartwool.

Darn tough are the best, Smartwool next, and I have some Cabelas heavyweights that go all the way to the knee that I like because the don't fall down in the boot and crumple up at my toes. HATE that. They keep my feet warm in my Muck Wetlands all day in the coldest of weather too. So actually, my go to socks are my Cabelas.

Best wool socks I've found are the Smartwool's. They make an extra heavyweight, over the calf hunting sock that are demy favorite, but so thick you need to be sure they're not too tight a fit, or you'll get cold from the constriction. They also hake a regular and medium weight. Hold up better over the years than others.

That said, I've never tried alpaca like Too Many Bows Bob recommends; they're likely warmer still.

Alpaca is wool...just FYI. Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and certain other animals, including cashmere from goats, mohair from goats, qiviut from muskoxen, angora from rabbits, and other types of wool from camelids.

There are lots of choices you can make, and everyone can chill at different levels so it's not a one-size-fits-all thing. Pun intended. If you live in the southern U.S., you don't get minus twenty weather so someone in northern Maine likely would want something different....and vise versa.

Olive drab.... get'm at the Army surplus store. Use silk socks them put on a pair of the above mentioned socks and feet stay cozy warm.

I've worn wool socks for a warm super-humid summer day 3D shoot. The rest of me was sticky but my dogs were fine.

Not-too-tight boot fit is as important as good socks.

And a dry pair of socks in your daypack is royal luxury.

My wife knitts so I get all the wool socks I want 100% wool.

Can't remember what wool socks I have, but, I bought Two Tracks wool shoe inserts, and my feet are good to go.

Farm to Feet is where I get my wool socks these days. American made from American wool. I wear wool socks 24/7/365 in varying degrees/amounts of wool. Colder it get the more wool in my socks.

Trick to keeping feet warm when it’s cold outside is wear liner socks underneath your wool ones and never have your boots/shoes to tight.

Hunting in the 30s up to -40s, for me it’s alpaca. Usually smart wool above that.

Depending on your boot fit the heavy weight Filson socks just may have been too bulky and made the boot fit too tight. you need trapped air to keep your feet warm and tight boots will prevent it. I use different boots in winter that are a bit larger in fit so I can add extra socks or wear heavier ones without the boots fitting so tight as to defeat the purpose of insulating socks. By the way I use Smart wool.

I second the use of tight liner socks esp silk if you can find them. As for alpaca we have a friend from New Zealand who gave my wife a pair of alpaca gloves, she loves them but i have never seen it in socks. Sandy

Someone recently told me about alpaca socks. You can find them at kentuckyroyalty.com or on the big auction site.

I like Wigwam. Wear them while playing golf(walking) and they hold up well. I have tried other brands that wore out quick and were too thick.

Y’all might not give much gravity to my opinion because I’m from GA and it’s pretty mild here. But I’ve hunted in PA plenty and one time the mercury never got out of the teens. I had on smart wool socks and muck boot arctic pros. My paw in law marched me up the side of a mountain and showed me where to sit and he left me there to freeze to death. I sat there all day and my feet never got cold at all.

Wool for warmth

Acrylic for dryness

Don't ask me how I know .... I just do

Silk covered by polypro covered by wool. Thickness depends on temp. My winter boots are a size larger than my size.

I failed to mention that I also wear poly/silk liners. My feet sweat, which I guess is due to the boot. Fit could be an issue too, as they are tighter with the heavier socks on.

Add to that question, what boots are you using? I’m wearing the heavier Lacroas Aerohead, have a pair of the Woody Max made by Muck and Bunny Boots. The Bunny Boots/Mickey Mouse boots are crazy warm, but not made for a lot of walking.

These are for WT hunting in S IL. My feet haven’t gotten cold in recent years, but it hasn’t been as cold as it has been this past week in years. Temps in the mid 20’s w 15 mph winds, high humidity. It could be that I’m not used to these temps either.

I also like the polypropylene/silk liners first and then a good Merino wool blend sock. As stated, tight boots are also an issue, you need a little air space.

Anybody use the wool blend socks from Kenetrek?

1st choice Fits 2nd choice Smart Wool PHD. Fits are also USA made, and actually fit better than any other I've ever tried.

Form to feet Lifetime Warranty

Fits Sock website -

https://www.fitssock.com/

Looks interesting.

Noticed also, they give a 25% military discount.

Im still using Filson merino socks from the '90s.

Alpaca

I just by the ones from Walmart. If it is real cold I wear something over my boots anyway.

buy

Bass Pro sells a wool sock with a lifetime guarantee. Wear them out or damage them and they are replaced free. Warm and comfortable. Years ago I bought 3 pairs on sale and 2 are still new and unworn. Alpaca were OK but these are better.

Smart wool, always

been using the Cabela's 70% merino wool for a few years...a polypro liner under them. It's pretty good unless I start to sweat.

I bought alpaca socks a few years ago. Here in western NY temps get pretty cold on stand. I have been extremely happy with them.

I hunt in very cold weather and the warmest sock I have found is made By Fox river its very thick and is about 85% wool. All wool socks will get holes worn in the heals very quickly .

I wear wool most all year just different weights. Either smart wool or Cabela's.

When it's really cold, silk liners then a heavy pair of over the knee Ragg Wool socks that I have had for close to 40 years in an also old but like new pair of Red Ball -60 Boundary Pacs, which I don't think are made anymore.

All Merino wool socks are good.

I used to wear the liners....but my feet stay drier without the liners....who knew?

I've used the REI, Smartwool and the Darn Tough. The DT's are a finer tighter weave. I think the DT's are best but at a cost. The REI merino socks are the best bang for the buck.

Another Walmart stock guy here.

Smartwool heavy and medium hikers have been v good for me. The ones I wore on tonight's hunt are at least 19 years old, and are showing their age. I hope the batch I bought for great prices a year or so ago from Sierra Trading post are as good. I also like the light weight Smartwool socks for everyday wear at work. The Costco Merino socks are very similar to the medium Smartwool hikers, but don't seem as durable - nevertheless they are a bargain!

Bass Pro Red Head is another brand i like. I must have bought their socks about 10 years back.,i'm going to wash them pretty soon. ?? Sandy

Smartwool PHD and Darn Tough.

81%from walmt.good in rarm weather too

Darn Tough or Smart Wool works for me.

alpaca,,,, bought a pair at the PBS this spring, best 20 bucks I ever spent

I've recently been wearing a pair of Orvis Wader socks that are very nice.

Woolpower come in 200 gram. 400 gram and 600 gram and I think I even saw 800 gram once. A bit expensive but warm feet are worth it.

defeet Woolie Boolie when its cold.

70% Merino Wool, 27% Nylon, 3% Lycra

Alpaca may be OK if it's in the mid. 20s and up. But when it gets in the teens and a lot lower wool is the answer. I've used both so I know what I'm talking about.

Wear what you want just keep those toes warm.

I got the altera alpacas from Big Jim's and was blown away.

Wiggys Lamilite Socks and mukluks if it would get really cold.

DanaC posted a website address for Fits socks and I went there. They offered a great veterans discount so I bought three pairs of their heavy expedition boot socks. I've worn many different brands, but these differ in that they hold their shape, are warm and always comfortable. Because I ordered brown, which were on back order, I had to wait four month. The wait was worth it.

The care instructions suggest turning the socks inside out when washing and I believe I will use that suggestion on all my wool socks from now on.

Thanks Dana.

74% wool,13% nylon,6% acrylic,3% polyester,2% Lycra

I really really hate to do this, but I guess that there is no reason to hold back. I believe that I even put in an entry here about my alpaca socks being outstanding...and they are. BUT since that time I have discovered something beyond that. BISON. Now it isn't actually that simple. I had asked for a pair for the Holiday, and I got them as a present bought from Orvis. They are labeled as a Blue bison sock and they are warmer than alpaca. BUT, here is the thing: they are only like 18% bison. Now that really ticked me off and at the price that they cost I thought that it was misrepresentation but each to his own and buyer beware and all that . HOWEVER, the last part of the story is that at the Harrisburg show there was a bison products vendor THE Buffalo Wool Co. I discussed my experience (and surprise at what I perceived to be a very modest amount of bison fiber content for a "bison wool sock" with him. I found out that he is the source of most of the commercially distributed bison wool to other manufacturers in the US, including the ones that I have. More importantly his socks come in several different levels and styles all which have a noticeably higher bison wool content. Of course the price is commensurate but that is unfortunately the cost of a limited material. If you want THE WARMEST wool sock check out TheBuffaloWoolCo.com

Steve

In really cold I use a mid weight Smartwool and the Bass Pro Lifetime heavyweights. I bought two pairs and after several years they are still like new.

smartwool and darntough. for everyday i use costco smartwool knock offs 10$ for 5 pair! ive some cabelas outfitter midweights that are good too but not as good as sw and dt.

I layer my feet, too, with 2 pair of 100% or wool-blend. A "thinner" pair underneath the heavier pair. I don't stick to a particular brand, other than they must contain a majority of wool fiber. No problems here with my layering.

I have Darntough socks but nothing compares to my hand knit unscoured wool socks. Warmest ever and my feet stay dry. A lady in Rocky Harbor, Nfld knits them for me.

Minus 33 merino wool boot Sox. Keep my toes warmer than most Sox, and they’re the only ones that don’t fall down.

OmniWool has been the best I've worn so far, at least for me..

Can I suggest bamboo socks ... change your life . I wear them everywhere . And warm ? Heck yes !

Darn Tough. They are here in VT, and they have a lifetime warranty. For what these kind of high end socks cost from anyone, it's "Tough" to beat that. That said though, most of the time I am not hunting as much as going for hikes, cutting wood, or skiing. None of these require sitting, and when that is required I find that boot covers work the best hands down.

2x on boot covers

Used both FITS as well as Farm to Feet merino and been great.

I like Smartwool

now i need to try bamboo!

The older Filson wool socks, can't beat them for warmth and long lasting too.

I heard about Russian Wool socks knitted by little old Russian ladies that are sold on ebay and had to look them up and order a pair. The socks were $6 the shipping was $10, Olga put a little bag of Russian candy and a coin in the toe.

Too late in the year to try them but I suspect they will be very warm.

Darn Tough

Darn Tough, a great sock!

What about below Zero socks anyone try those yet?

Hmmmm. I've been wearing Filson wool socks for a lot of years. Never had a problem with them and they're quite warm and durable. Also have Smartwool and several other brands. I find the all wool or nearly all wool brands to be the warmest.

Have tried alpaca a couple of times. Bought my normal size Large and they were fine until I washed them (in cold water, hang dry). They shrunk and i could no longer wear them. Tried one more time with a pair of XLs from another maker. Same thing happened. Not all was lost. My wife (size 7-8) can still wear both pair.

I have had good success with Smartwool as well.

DDave

I gotta say, I threw my dime in for Darn Tough, but the "little old lady from Russia with the candy in the toe" ..... That takes the cake for the whole thread! How can you beat that? It takes a special person, and a place to be able to share such feats of international trade. Live long, prosper, may your toes stay cozy.....

i really liked that too

Smart wool shrinks if you wash/dry hot. The company warns about that.

The US Army winter socks are all wool and are great socks for people who get cold feet while sitting. Find them on line or at a Army&Navy store.

I'm with stickhunter on this one. Usually pick up a pack of 4 for $19.99 . Not the best but they are comfortable.

Good advice from the Wolf!

Woolies

$30 cad

Farm to feed American made American wool Lifetime guarantee

Usually hunting in northern Mn. where it can drop down -degrees very fast, wool is king, doesn't matte what name it is called as long as it is wool with good pac boots, once my feet or hands are gone I am gone, just cannot stand up to the cold like I use to.

Firstlite, you don't need the thick things after using first lite wool socks. Tedd

Agree with Riverwolf about the insoles. The one part of footwear that is in contact with cold or frozen ground, and the one part that has no / little insulation. They are a difference maker.

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