Merino wool fail

Wrong brand?
I only wear wool socks and have bought Smartwool, Darn tough, and Minus33. All have machine washed just fine.
Edited to add
My favorite is Darn Tough and I've worn them the most. Minus33 has more subtle colors, and so far are at least as good as Darn Tough. I stopped buying Smartwool because I thought they bagged out too much.

Could be. I bought them on the advice of a shopkeeper who had a small sporting goods store.

Always annoying to spend money on things that aren't good.

I've been wearing Smartwool for years. Never ad a srinkage problem after dozens of machine washings.

Usually was on warm or cold.

Maybe I should get a pair of Smartwool and give them a try.

With significantly higher Merino wool content compared to the popular brands mentioned, REI branded socks work well for me...and have for years. And yes, they will show wear sooner given the higher wool content, but when I am out and about, even during very wet weather, my feet are always happy happy.

Bruce, I'll check them out. Thanks!

Sandra, I’m a big merino wool socks fan, worn them for years, never had a problem with them shrinking and I dry them too. I do wash everything in cold. I almost always wear Smartwool knee length but I just took a chance on Welwoos brand on Amazon. Got 5 pairs of crew socks for 17.99!! They are great, 73% merino, I’ve been wearing them steadily for 2 months. No shrinkage, no unusual wear etc. And I throw them in the dryer as well. I usually spend more for one pair so it’s a smokin’ good deal.

We live in the Pacific Northwest so merino socks are worn almost continually. Hiking in the summer and for warmth in the cold months. Darn Tough fan here. We’ve been wearing them for at least 5 years now. Before that Smartwool but I was finding that my heels were wearing thru after a year. I wash with cold water and throw in the dryer.

We bought two pair of Smartwool socks a few years ago, have heard about them here on the Forum. I must say I'm underwhelmed; I inadvertently put my fingers fight through the ribs or top part of 3 of the four socks. Not good.

Sorry that happened to you. It shouldn’t. I’ve been wearing merino wool socks, underwear, long underwear, t-shirts for more than a decade. I’ve bought Smartwool, Minus33, Darn Tough, among others. I’ve found the Minus33 underwear and long underwear to be exceptional. Darn Tough is a company based in Vermont that makes socks and they’re really durable. Made in the USA, not China like other brands, like Smartwool, whose products I wasn’t impressed with. If you’re looking for socks, Darn Tough is the way to go. I still have my original pair that I bought in 2013. I don’t wear them all the time because they’re the heaviest I own but, darn, they’re tough. Pun intended.

Tactel is nylon 66 made by a company named Invista.

I put the Welwoos on my wish list. I was looking into Darn Tough a while ago and it seemed like a lot of different options--to the point where it was confusing. I'll have to take another gander.

I'm glad to hear my experience was most likely due to bad product. Because I'd also like to get a merino wool top for an upcoming trip.

Thanks, all!

Produced by Invista, the maker of Lycra, TACTEL is a nylon 66 microfiber that dries eight times faster than cotton. It's also at least twice as soft and 20% lighter than most fabrics. The suppleness and softness of TACTEL help minimize chafing. Two other important aspects of TACTEL are its breathability and noticeable strength.
As with other nylon fibers, TACTEL is hygroscopic. It absorbs moisture out of the air or out of its surrounding (such as our skin). The higher the humidity, the faster nylon will absorb moisture, until it becomes saturated. When exposed to dryer air, the moisture will evaporate and the fiber will dry out.https://www.covetleisure.com/pages/what-is-tactel-fabric

I doubt the Tactel was the problem regarding shrinking.

I like the merino wool socks I’ve been getting at Costco for the past few years.
I wash them in cold water and hang to dry.
It looks like they are out of stock now but here’s what they look like: Costco.com.

This topic comes up often so read the archives by searching for merino wool socks.

My latest find is by the Colorado-based company Point 6,
and I'm not the only forum member who finds them super.

I have had luck washing and drying my Paka socks and I also really like Bombas, a couple other options I don't see on the thread yet?

I have been using Smartwool socks for years. i just throw them in the washer and dryer with the rest of my clothes.. No problems.

Another fan of Darn Tough here. Agree that the number of options can be confusing. My favorites for travel are these:
https://darntough.com/products/womens-merino-wool-light-hiker-micro-crew-lightweight-hiking-socks?variant=44482516025530

The ones that I really like are Rototo, Point 6, and Woolx. We have a bunch of Smartwool ones from REI from ages ago, so use those on occasion as well. The Costco ones are ok, but they tend to wear out in the heels.

I wash all of these in regular warm and out them in the dryer and have not had any issues with shrinkage.

I only buy Darn Tough for me. These are my favorite. I like these when I feel I should wear black.

I have all weights, cushion/not cushioned, that I wear accordingly for the activity and weather, but I prefer lightweight with no cushion for everyday wear. We line dry all of our socks.

While wool works great for my feet, the rest of my body doesn't love it.

For my husband I buy whatever brand is the best deal at REI.

Travel often to London in November. Wear Smartwool socks.

Last trip realized 1 pair of Smartwool socks I’ve had for a decade. No wear, no tear. Cozy and comfortable as always.

Wear them with both Keen Slip Ons and my venerable Keens low cut Targhee hiking shoes.

I love to travel with Merino Wool socks too and do like DarnTough & SmartWool, but they are not my favorites. I tend to travel with Compression Socks & the Sockwell brand is excellent - they have a Merino Wool/Bamboo blend that is so good. Instructions say to wash on cold and hang to dry. I'm a nurse and wear them daily - they hold up very well.

Also, for those who don't know, DarnTough also owns' Wide Open' socks for those with wider feet or calfs (my brother buys these) - they are just an excellent as the DarnTough socks.

I've never owned a pair of merino socks, but I think a cold hand wash is the way to go, based on what I'm reading here. I don't know if I'd wash my merino socks every time I wore them. I think I'd wear them a few times before I could be bothered giving them a cold or cool hand wash. I have some Japanese selvedge denim that I've never washed as yet. I've given them a brush and called it good. Washing them is going to be a big deal. Same goes for my cashmere sweater.

I've never worn much but cheapo cotton-nylon blend socks really but I am considering trying merino now. I just don't know if merino socks are too much of a pain if they're too shrinkable in the normal 60°C (140°F) wash cycle I do.

The only Merino wool socks I've ever used are the ones that Costco sells, the Kirkland brand. I wash them in cold water and even put them in the dryer on a delicate cycle and they have been great. I noticed some in my local Costco last week on clearance and picked up another set of four.

Edited to change "cold weather" to "cold water".

....in the normal 60°C (140°F) wash cycle I do.

I believe most locales in the US mandate, or at least strongly suggest, a water heater temp of no more than 120F (49C).

Most, if not all, laundry detergents in the US are formulated for cold water washing.

It has been 30 yrs since anything but cold water has been used for laundry in our house.

Hmmm... how interesting. I used to wash at 40°C but I've been washing at 60 more recently. Probably too hot, you're right.

Wow! Lots of responses on this one.
Thank you all very much!

Yes, Gerry, try merino socks. I usually wear cotton at home but Smart wool or similar Costco travelling. I also have Sockwell compression which are a little thinner which I also take on the trip, mostly for flying or dressier shoes. The beauty of the merino IS not having to wash with each wear. I use cold water to wash and the wool socks usually go in the dryer at home, although I often air dry the compression socks at home. They are saved for long drives and flights.

Yes, Gerry, try merino socks

I've been doing some browsing this morning. I'm attracted to these -

https://www.pairs-scotland.com/products/merino-everyday-neutral-bundle?variant=43646846402798

They're a 60% merino blend. Machine washable at 40°C (supposedly). I had a look on Amazon and there's 40% merino blend packs at a much lower price, but I like the colour selection these "Pairs Scotland" ones come in. I don't think I could justify the cost of Darn Tough or Smartwool socks. I don't think my lifestyle is active enough to pay that for one pair of socks, but Claudia does make a good point that hers have lasted years.

Gerry, what a find! I love all those colors. I also like that the socks are not as bulky as many wool socks.

CONTENT: Outer Layer - 60% Wool, 40% Nylon, Inner Layer - 100% Tactel®
https://www.ebay.com/itm/185736707086?var=0&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5338590836&toolid=10044&customid=719d7503d17c1f9dcca412968f38d671

Current product on ebay. Note the difference in content mix in the OP ( exterior was 54% merino wool, 45% nylon and 1% lycra.) vs. what now currently for sale.

I wonder if they found a new 'formula' was better.

Writing from the land of Darn Tough here....

I am outdoors several hours a day, 365 days a year. Socks are super important to me!

In the winter, I wear Darn Tough lightweight cushion crews (same as Accidental Southerner!). They are warm (I wear them outdoors for hours in below zero weather with my uninsulated barn boots, and my toes stay toasty), they stay put, and they last forever.

However.... in the summer, I wear Smartwool zero cushion, low ankle socks. I like how they fit; for some reason, Darn Tough equivalents are wonky on my toes. My younger daughter, an avid outdoors person, agrees, and we keep our summertime Smartwool preference a secret from the neighbors, lol.

I used to use the Costco merino crew socks and loved them; however, in the past two years, I've found that they've changed something and the socks wear out super fast and don't fit very well -- they're too loose and scrunch up. So I've stopped buying them. It's a bummer, because they were such a good deal. Now I just stick with my Darn Tough and Smartwool.

I wash and dry my socks with my other laundry -- warm water, medium heat dry, no special care. They've lasted forever (except the Costco ones) and no shrinkage.

My favorite is Darn Tough

Mine, too. They hold their shape and resist shrinkage far better than Smartwool IME. I won't be buying Smartwool again. I have used Darn Tough as my golf socks for the past year, and I've never owned better socks. Looking forward to traveling with them.

I've also had excellent success with Polo Ralph Lauren tech socks, except their white socks have grayed and are now unattractive. OK for hiking, but a bit embarrassing when getting together with my buds for golf and beer afterwards.