I wear pull on western-type work boots 10-12 hrs a day, 6-7 days a week. This is a fairly recent development (last 2 yrs), but I don't see myself going back to lace-up shoes/boots in the near future. Love 'em. But, they require over-the-calf socks, which are rather uncommon these days. All I can find is dress socks (no way) and cheap athletic tube socks, which is what I currently wear, and which are only about a half step up from dress socks in terms of cushioning and moisture wicking and all that good socky stuff.
So help me with my hosiery. Here are my criteria, in relative order of priority:
I'm guessing some kind of outdoorsy store is my best bet, but if there are options I'm overlooking in my hunt, please set me straight.
For a while, these were the only thing I'd wear under firefighting boots. Now I wear them all the time unless I'm wearing shorts. They're awesome, though they may be just a little shorter than what you're asking for.
http://www.amazingsocks.com/web-pid-130-SmartWool-Hiking-Medium-Crew-Sock-item.htm
The house brand men's dress socks from Costco used to be the tallest socks I could find. They would stay up over my calves all day. Not sure if they are still like that, it was a few years ago.
rotard wrote: Buy some of the military socks You should be able to find some of the long green Army socks cheap.
Ha! Those things are all garbage.
+1 for Smartwool.
rotard wrote: Buy some of the military socks You should be able to find some of the long green Army socks cheap.
I sell them in olive, brown, and black. We also have black bates which are thick, but the BDU socks have padding specifically on the bottom.
I'll check on prices tomorrow.
Good lord. GRM is like ebay. I come on here for one thing and we end up talking about socks and 1/2 of a cow. I was content with my socks, but suddenly I am (yet again) woefully inadequate. Sperlo, shoot me an IM when you get some prices and info. My dogs are barkin'!
I have abotu 20 pairs of grey hanes mid calf socks, and they have amazing staying power. For some reason it seems like my black pairs aren't as good at not falling down? don't understand it. they don't make my feet sweat too very much, though. I have worn nothing but mid calf socks for probably the last 5 years and these are the best I've found that are easy to locate.
my aunt bought me some socks for christmas that were better (they say G2 on them, I have no idea where they came from but since they were from her I assume they are expensive) but, like I said, impossible to find.
http://www.sierratradingpost.com/mens-socks~d~150/
Of all the brands they carry (and there are a lot), I like Point6 and Lorpen best.
There used to be a 'dry sock' sold at Wal Mart that have been probably the most comfortable I have ever owned. Wally no longer carries them, I'm running low and need to start looking for a replacement. Any suggestions?
Osterkraut wrote:rotard wrote: Buy some of the military socks You should be able to find some of the long green Army socks cheap.Ha! Those things are all garbage. +1 for Smartwool.
The guy wants cheap. Smartwool isn't cheap.
Jockey outlet store. Done. I have some that are over-the-calf (but my calves are huge so they don't really go over) They stay up for all but the longest days with my pull-on Durango boots.
Lesley wrote: McGregor's are good, and they run about $12 at Zellers.
McGregor's and Zellers - they may not know what you're talking aboot, eh.
rotard wrote:Osterkraut wrote:The guy wants cheap. Smartwool isn't cheap.rotard wrote: Buy some of the military socks You should be able to find some of the long green Army socks cheap.Ha! Those things are all garbage. +1 for Smartwool.
Somebody already linked to Sierra Trading post, you can find Smartwool cheap on there (even moreso if you Google for discount codes). Not Wal-Mart cheap, but way better than the stuff the military issues (I'm suffering in a pair right now!)
How about this for timing? My wife had a bunch of thick, over the calf socks that she bought and decided that she didn't like and gave to me last night. They are just basic black, and look like a men's dress sock except that they are at least 6" longer than any "over the calf" sock I have ever found. I like them a lot, but my wife keeps calling me Shirly.
My wife loves Thorlo's. Not sure they make a boot sock though.
This looks close. Grreat quality at a fair price.
pinchvalve wrote: How about this for timing? My wife had a bunch of thick, over the calf socks that she bought and decided that she didn't like and gave to me last night. They are just basic black, and look like a men's dress sock except that they are at least 6" longer than any "over the calf" sock I have ever found. I like them a lot, but my wife keeps calling me Shirly.
If they fit and work - who cares about "labels"?
I used to have the heel half-way up my ankle problem until I started buying socks in the kids dept. The largest boys' socks are ideal if you're less than a size 10. Walmart carries Hanes in the white with gray toes variety as well as basic black.
And they're cheaper too, Shirley.
1988RedT2 wrote: My wife loves Thorlo's. Not sure they make a boot sock though. This looks close. Grreat quality at a fair price. http://www.thorlo.com/hunting-socks.php
Thorlos last a LONG time. I have a pair that, while admittedly holing out in one heel and thin in the other, I bought in around 1994. The price you pay for them is totally worth it, IMO.
I haven't found SmartWool socks to be nearly as durable; however, they are very nice. Tough to justify the cost.
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