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Warm Woolies

November 1st, 2014

I’m finally ready for winter – I received my shipment of 9 pairs of knee high wool socks.
socks 1
I wear knee high wool socks all winter long, they keep me much warmer in our chilly house. If you’ve never had the joy of wearing a pair of knee high wool socks on a cold day, give it a shot, I guarantee you’ll become a convert! It’s amazing how much warmer they are than mid-calf socks.
socks
Most of my socks were purchased years ago and they all wore out last winter. For most of the winter I had toes poking out some socks and no wool left in the heels/bottoms of others. Needless to say, they’re not as warm that way!
raining on my socks
For many years I’ve been a big fan of Smartwool socks, but my most recent pairs have worn out quickly. I have found that the less wool and more nylon in the socks the quicker they wear out. I purchased a few pairs of Smartwools last week and then noticed that the percentage of wool has been lowered once again. Thus they went back to the store and I started my search for socks with more wool.
socks 2
Lucky for me, I found some at REI, and double lucky for me I had a $20 gift card. Now I’m stocked up on socks again for a few years. I’ll be warming and toasty when I get up in the morning and while I’m outside feeding chickens and snowshoeing. Nothing beats knee high wool socks!

Are you a wool sock lover? Do you ever wear knee high socks?

17 Comments to “Warm Woolies”
  1. kristin @ going country on November 1, 2014 at 5:27 am

    Well, this is a timely recommendation. I also wear knee-high wool socks all winter long, and all of mine also seemed to wear out last year (funny how they all go at once). Mostly I buy snowboarding socks–long and relatively thin for the warmth. I’ve been thinking for the past few months that I need to stock up. I usually buy Smartwool too, mostly because other brands I’ve tried are maybe too thick or something and seem to make my feet sweat and thus, my feet get damp and freezing cold despite my socks. I’ll check out the REI ones, though.

    Nine pairs is a serious investment.

    Reply to kristin @ going country's comment

  2. Emily on November 1, 2014 at 6:58 am

    Nice socks! I love wool socks. I knit all my own socks and spin the yarn for some. My favorites are my handspun, 100% wool. I have knit a couple pairs of knee high. I need to knit more of this length someday.

    Reply to Emily's comment

  3. Adriana on November 1, 2014 at 7:43 am

    Have you ever tried Darn Tough socks? They are made in Vermont and it’s all we wear here!

    Reply to Adriana's comment

    • Troy on November 2, 2014 at 1:48 pm

      I remember seeing a picture of Darn Tough’s on here somewhere, but I can’t seem to find it now. DTs are my favorite and changed the way I look at socks, though I don’t have much experience with Smartwool. I’ve been buying and wearing them exclusively for a while now, and I’m a huge fan of the full/extra cushioned boot socks. Made in Vermont and guaranteed for life. If you put a hole in it or wear through for ANY reason (even if your dog chews through it), they’ll send you a new pair. I’ve had good luck on trekt.com and a few other places (15% off for new customers, free shipping, and way cheaper than list price), but I always have an eye out for more DTs. Can’t recommend these enough.

      Reply to Troy's comment

  4. Alice R. on November 1, 2014 at 9:06 am

    my indulgence is wool socks from Blu Foret, made in France. They also make silk… so nice! They also make pure wool tights.
    But I will check if I can get Darn Tough socks in Canada! You just can’t beat woollies for warmth and comfort.

    Reply to Alice R.'s comment

  5. Bettina on November 1, 2014 at 9:17 am

    Yes, knee highs and calf highs. The calf highs are all handknit, and I am now working on my first knee high socks.

    Handknits do keep feet toasty warm.

    Reply to Bettina's comment

  6. Nebraska Dave on November 1, 2014 at 9:25 am

    Susy, I just bought some knee high socks but they are cotton blend. I have always been a shoes off at the door person all my life. I grew up that way and never changed. My only experience with wool was a pair of army green pants that I wore to school in the winter when I was in Junior High school. I can remember the itching but also that the bitter cold wind could not penetrate the pants even if they were a bit wet from the snow. I think I finally out grew them. They just wouldn’t wear out. I wear socks to bed at night to keep my feet toasty warm. The temperature in my bedroom can be in the 50s during the cold winter nights. I do have a wool blend blanket that I cover up with at night when the cold creeps in. Flannel sheets help with the itching barrier to the wool blanket. I also have a flannel blanket to watch TV. My house is about 68 in the main living area during the winter months.

    Have a great warm woolies day.

    Reply to Nebraska Dave's comment

  7. Kristin on November 1, 2014 at 10:13 am

    How well do the REI socks stay up? My smart wool socks are great, but I find that some of the other brands I have purchased are constantly slipping down below my calf.

    Reply to Kristin's comment

  8. DebbieB on November 1, 2014 at 10:14 am

    Pretty – I love the colors you got! I totally agree, Susy – there’s nothing warmer than wool socks. I’ve never had any commercial ones, though – I knit all my own, and spin all my own yarn for them. I only use wool, I have found (like you) that adding nylon (which sounds like a good idea) doesn’t extend their life, it shortens it. I just recently got a darning egg so I can repair the inevitable holes and keep my pretty socks alive for longer.

    Reply to DebbieB's comment

  9. Mich on November 1, 2014 at 11:57 am

    Oh yes I wear knee high wool socks all winter…a cold house & an outdoor lifestyle makes then the perfect for keeping the tootsies toasty.

    Reply to Mich's comment

  10. harper on November 1, 2014 at 12:30 pm

    I too have been increasingly disappointed with the quality of SmartWool socks. We’re given a pair each year for Christmas from my mother-in-law and each year they wear out quicker and quicker. My 10 year old pair is still in the best shape! So great to hear about the REI socks, I’ll have to take a look, thanks. And YES to the knee-highs! Winter doesn’t feel right without them.

    Reply to harper's comment

  11. Lorna on November 1, 2014 at 8:45 pm

    I love wool socks this time of year, but do need to get a ‘blend’ as the all-wool are just too itchy for me. Last year I bought a pair of alpaca socks–oh my goodness! They are warmer than warm and soft and no itch. I’m in love.

    Reply to Lorna's comment

  12. Suzanne on November 1, 2014 at 9:46 pm

    Yes, Smartwool socks are not what they used to be. Been disappointed in them for years now. Darn Tough Socks out of Vermont are great. Highly recommend.

    Reply to Suzanne's comment

  13. Wendy on November 1, 2014 at 10:41 pm

    i love my wool socks, and as the cold weather has returned I’ve noticed that many of mine are due to be replaced. I completely agree about Smartwools (and have heard several others say the same)–their quality is not the same as it used to be. I’d love to hear what your experience is with the REI socks once you’ve worn them awhile.

    Reply to Wendy's comment

  14. Amy on November 2, 2014 at 9:40 pm

    I pulled my wool socks out of storage- mid calf – and after wearing them most of the weekend noticed that they pulled all of the moisture out of my legs! I can see a scaly line starting right at sock level. Has anyone else noticed this? I guess it makes sense that they would wick the moisture away. I guess I better pull out the lotion too.

    Reply to Amy's comment

  15. whit on November 3, 2014 at 12:48 am

    Like Emily, I am in the process of knitting all our own socks. My daughter is learning to knit too, so may the process will go faster in the future. :)

    I’m more of a calf length girl when it comes to socks. I still have a few pairs of 80’s leg warmers from my childhood that I use when I need a little extra warmth.

    Reply to whit's comment

  16. mandie on November 11, 2014 at 11:07 am

    My mom has worn knee high socks all my life, and I’ve started that route too! I haven’t mastered knitting my own socks yet, getting steadily closer though. I have not attempted knee highs yet. The socks you got are beautiful, I’m definitely going to look into Darn Tough socks now!

    Reply to mandie's comment

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This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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