As above really which are the best Merino socks ?

Ta

Depends what you deem “best”. I love my ones from Embers, http://www.embersmerino.com worth every penny, different lengths, nice texture, soft and had them for a good few years now. I’m sure otherws will come along shortly to suggest cheaper options they find best!

Loved my smartwool ones, though haven’t found any recently.

i use smartwool. normal thickness for work, and hiker for biking duties.
pretty pricey but worth it.

Rapha ones are my favourites by a long shot.

I like the Garburn merino socks from http://www.bikemaps.co.uk. They wear out pretty quickly but i find them warm & comfortable. I got 2 pairs of the Endura Baa Baa socks for Xmas which are also ok but i still prefer the Garburn’s.

woolie boolie for winter – warm, tough, comfy
wooleator for warmer days, and work (prefer them to my Raphas)

woolie boolie for winter – warm, tough, comfy
wooleator for warmer days

+1

Best socks ever.

tollah – Member
Rapha ones are my favourites by a long shot.

Gotta agree with you there…

Can certainly confirm the Embers socks definately DO NOT wear out!

Rapha summer socks under Rapha winter socks for me. Toasty.

I used to think woolie boollies were nice.
Then i got some rapha winter merinos.
I don’t use the woolie boolies any more.

I was going to get some rapha merino socks but read another thread on here talking about how they wear out quickly? Haters?

I used to swear by woolie boolies for winter and the woolerators for summer. But I think the quality has dropped from few years back.

You also have to remember that merino isn’t that good when wet, its still a wool, holds water and stays damp for a long time compared to man made fibres, a lot of the claims made are just fantasy marketing BS.

Nowadays I use thesemost of the time, and some nice thick brigedale walking socks for when it gets really cold. They blow the likes of defeet and smartwool away for quality.

Wool should still stay warm when wet though? which is why I prefer it to a synthetic which never really dry when used in layers in my experience (im pretty sweaty)

Wool should still stay warm when wet though?

Only to a certain extent, it traps more air than cotton, merino traps more air than standard wool, but water still transmits heat away from the body. So say a cotton sock would lose 80% of its thermal properties when wet, normal wool 60%, merino 50% a well made merino/man made fibres only 25%. (figures for example can’t remember accurate percentages)

When you also take into account the time it takes natural fibres to dry, they just aren’t that effective.

Although, they do tend to feel nicer and not pong as much.

Ice breaker mid weight hikers, as big a deal as when you first tried sealskinz.They also come through wash after wash without tranforming from £20 luxurys to market specials.

I have garburn ones, maybe not the best technically but a good trade off with value for money

Timberland stores sell Smartwool socks, they seem to have disappeared from the outdoor retailers.

+1 for Rapha

I’m a sock nerd –

All my socks are Bridgedale & Icebreaker (merino or not, who cares), nothing else.

The best sock drawer I know. 😛

Costco do Kirkland hiking socks £12ish for 4 pairs..85% merino wool
Blinding value great for cycling/walking/I’ve worn mine to death and
Still going strong 🙂

Teko socks all the way. I have a biased view though!

Merino can be made more durable by ‘plating’ with nylon in high wear areas or blending with synthetics. It’s all about balance

Smartwool. Available in Snow and Rock, or Ellis Brigham. Awesome. I have a drawer pretty much full of them! Ski, walk, bike and just wear everyday.

I’m sponsored by keen and their sock range is fantastic, all merino or merino mix and the cycle specific ‘spring water’ are perfect for summer/spring. Great fit(foot specific a gimmic that works) They do various weights and lengths. I’ve got about 20 pairs!

I’m sponsored by keen and their sock range is fantastic, all merino or merino mix and the cycle specific ‘spring water’ are perfect for summer/spring. Great fit(foot specific a gimmic that works) They do various weights and lengths. I’ve got about 20 pairs! anything else I say is very, very biased.

FTFY.

chocolate fish

Above, they are ace

L&R specific foot fit is snake oil

Snake oil you say! hmmmmmm will it cure all that ails me?

Sorry but last time I didn’t big up my sponsor on a sock thread njee was not impressed. That ones for you njee 😉
Amazingly with high arched feet a sock that hugs the instep is more comfortable, I thought it was snake oil when I got them.