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alex
alex SuperDork
12/28/11 7:30 p.m.

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:

  • over the calf, or something that stays up mid calf; this is an absolute necessity - if they fall down they'll drive me totally batty
  • fairly thin - pull on boots are necessarily snug fitting, so there's not much wiggle room
  • moisture-wicking of some kind would be a plus - things get swampy down there
  • some kind of padding would probably be nice, but I've lived this long without it, so it's not necessary
  • last but not least is price - I can't afford to drop $25/pair of socks, even if they're super nice.

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.

Woody
Woody GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
12/28/11 7:38 p.m.

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

rotard
rotard HalfDork
12/28/11 7:38 p.m.

Buy some of the military socks You should be able to find some of the long green Army socks cheap.

petegossett
petegossett GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
12/28/11 7:41 p.m.

I was going to suggest Smart Wool socks too, but that might break his $25/pair budget.

Lesley
Lesley SuperDork
12/28/11 7:52 p.m.

McGregor's are good, and they run about $12 at Zellers.

mndsm
mndsm SuperDork
12/28/11 7:54 p.m.

I thought Hanes made a full boat one, but maybe i'm wrong. I LIVE in the grey toe hanes socks.

pinchvalve
pinchvalve GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
12/28/11 8:04 p.m.

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.

Osterkraut
Osterkraut SuperDork
12/28/11 8:08 p.m.
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.

N Sperlo
N Sperlo SuperDork
12/28/11 8:29 p.m.
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.

DrBoost
DrBoost SuperDork
12/28/11 8:33 p.m.

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'!

corytate
corytate HalfDork
12/28/11 8:40 p.m.

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.

02Pilot
02Pilot Reader
12/28/11 9:07 p.m.

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.

Curmudgeon
Curmudgeon SuperDork
12/28/11 9:58 p.m.

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?

peter
peter Reader
12/28/11 10:21 p.m.

+1 on the SmartWool, also +1 on the Costco brand "dress" socks.

rotard
rotard HalfDork
12/28/11 11:27 p.m.
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.

curtis73
curtis73 GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
12/29/11 2:02 a.m.

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.

akamcfly
akamcfly Reader
12/29/11 7:13 a.m.
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.

alex
alex SuperDork
12/29/11 9:22 a.m.

Is there a Zeller's next to Tim Hortons?

(I have now exhausted my knowledge of Canadian culture.)

Osterkraut
Osterkraut SuperDork
12/29/11 9:46 a.m.
rotard wrote:
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.

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!)

pinchvalve
pinchvalve GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
12/29/11 9:50 a.m.

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.

alex
alex SuperDork
12/29/11 9:59 a.m.

Yeah, I had completely forgotten about Sierra Trading Post. Thanks for the link, 02Pilot.

1988RedT2
1988RedT2 SuperDork
12/29/11 10:05 a.m.

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

akamcfly
akamcfly Reader
12/29/11 10:05 a.m.
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.

procainestart
procainestart Dork
12/29/11 10:49 a.m.
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.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker
Giant Purple Snorklewacker SuperDork
12/29/11 11:32 a.m.

My nomex racing socks come up to my knees. They are $20 a pair though so that might be a bit of a drawback.

I'd hit up a buddy who can go to the PX for you.

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