Sock(s) it to me

We both wear medium weight merino wool hiking socks. However, it you go to a heavier sock make sure it is compatible with your shoes. And before someone suggests that wool socks in the summer are too hot -- they are not and much better for your feet than cotton.

We like Wigwam Ultimax socks.

In one word? SMARTWOOL! :-) Yesterday I reached for a pair of socks and pulled out some I had bought from Banana Republic awhile back. Was in a hurry. Put them on, put on my boots and wondered what the heck had happened to my feet. No joke. It was awful. Found my "dressy" Smartwool socks, and was in heaven. They're that great. I use mine in the spring, summer, fall and winter. I do not sweat in the summer with these. They wash and dry quickly from my experience. Spend the money. They're so worth the cost.

Thorlo - they are swedish or scandinavian, padded, like walking on Memory Form, developed for runners so imagine them for walking 6-7 miles in a day. Heaven.

Smartwool Outdoor PhD Medium Crew socks... probably just what you're looking for

We each take 2 Tilley & 2 Smartwool. Covers all bases and we don't need to clean socks EVERY night! They don't weigh that much but take as few as you need.

Go to REI, they will have what you need, they carry just about everything sock related for hiking and walking.

I like Keen socks. One sock is marked for left foot and the other for the right foot. Their Bellingham is light weight
wool and dries overnight. Got mine at shoebuy.com for about $15 a pair.

I had no idea that Keen makes socks! I'll definitely be checking them out, along with SmartWool and Thorlo. Thanks, all!

I second the suggestion of going to REI. They seem to have a different sock assortment for everything believable plus a very informed staff. There is currently a 20% discount for REI floating around the internet - try googling REI. I personally take ExOfficio socks (4 pairs) to Europe every summer. They are light weight and sink-washable but would not meet your needs. Good luck. Happy hunting.

For the past 12 years I have been buying all of my socks at Marks and Spencer. Last summer I ventured over into the kids school uniform area when I couldn't find my usual 3/4 style that I like and I was in nirvana. They aren't too thick so they work in most shoes I already wear and they dry quickly. They don't make any special with extra padding though for your special needs. But, for a comfortable (happy feet, happy feet) feel when you slip them on and they disappear for the day feel, I love my M&S.

My socks are normally one of three options. I'll either bring: When I'll need to dress up, three identical pair of black non-cotton socks (wool or synthetic) that have enough bulk to be used for walking. When I will be "business casual", three identical pair of brown non-cotton socks. When I will be very casual, three identical pair of the wool blend socks from Costco, they are the best overall value in a hiking/camping sock I've found (three pair for $10). Why three identical pairs of socks, I can lose a sock to laundry, careless packing before checking out of a hotel, and/or worn hole(s) from doing a ton of walking and still use it's mate. Losing two socks only makes me down one pair.