So, I am in the process of trying out different wool socks for work during the winter. I work in a power generation field and very often we have to work on power units even if it's snowing. Sometimes you remain stationary if you're troubleshooting something so we don't have the ability to move around and get blood circulating. I'm also a volunteer with my local search and rescue and needless to say, when it's cold out, it's nice to be able to keep your feet warm in cold weather.
I have used WigWam socks at different times in my life, but the last time was years ago and I remember them being itchy. I decided to shop around and check different brands and wool blends, and actually bought a few different brands for testing.
I actually stumbled accross these Carhartt boot socks by accident when looking for Wig Wams and decided to try them because my work supplies other Carhartt clothing. I had read reviews of other socks coming apart with use or in the wash after a while, so for a test, I decided to follow a process that actually let me cycle these socks every other day.
I washed them immediately upon arrival and dried them in my dryer. As every single guy knows, there is only one temperature setting on a drier (hot). I kind of expected them to shrink and that would have been ok, since they run a little large. When I first put them on I noticed two things:1. They didn't shrignk... which is pretty good, and 2. they are nice and thick and soft. The inside of the sock is not itchy like I expected. Instead it was nice and soft next to my skin. Since I had expected to wear a thick, wool sock, I paired this with the Salomon Men's Toundra Mid WP Snow Boot which I will review at a later date. This combination kept my feet warm and dry, even in a couple of feet of snow. In addition, just to test the durability of the material, I alternated the wearing of these socks with other socks by wearing them, then washing them the next day, then wearing them again. I have done this skipping a couple of cycles for almost a month now and I've noticed no change in the shape, elasticity, or warmth of the material. It's still pretty soft and has not torn or worn. Of course, this doesn't replicate long term wear and tear, but I wanted to be able to tell if I could buy more or not.
So far, this sock has done all that I asked of it. Key points:
Favorable:
1. Soft not itchy, big plus for comfort.
2. The wool/synthetic blend definitely does the job of keeping your feet warm and dry.
3. Although not scientific, my test of wearing/washing over and over does tell me that these socks will be durable, I'll keep looking at them and update if necessary.
4. The material is predictably thick, this allowed me to anticipate wearing a boot that was a little bit bigger.
5. The material has not thinned out. That is to say: it's still nice and thick and feels almost new, even after a month of washing/wearing constantly every other day.
Not so favorable:
1. I have little feet (Size 8) the smallest size Amazon shows it the 10-13 which it states should fit a size 6-12 shoe. Although I'm still able to wear the sock, I can feel some of the heel material behind my Achilles. It's not a deal killer, but just be aware of this when ordering. I think if you have bigger feet, you should be ok.
2. In reference to the size, it does ride above my calf almost to my knee. I realize different people wear their socks in different ways. It's not the usual way I wear mine, but hey, it won't keep me from buying again. In fact, I ordered a second pair just because.
All in all, this is a good product if a bit pricey for just one pair of socks. If you value your toes, or if you're like me and like to have a little bit of comfort while you're working outside, you could definitely do a lot worse. These socks are good to great and definitely better than regular, athletic cotton socks. I would recommend them.
I did purchase other socks and am in the process of trying them out. I'll add more reviews as the time comes.
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