Keen socks or Smartwool for riding?

[Yelsel]

I have many pairs of the Smartwool heavy trekking socks - I love these and wouldn't consider anything else for crew-height socks. I just purchased 2 knee-length Burton Ultrawool Socks on closeout from REI for $10 and they are a steal - I'm getting 3 more pair now. No specific padding as with the Smartwool socks, but they are thick all over, which makes them very cushioned on the bottom. I've worn them around the house and on one commute, and they are going on a 47 mile bike ride tomorrow. Note that the sizing on the REI page is wrong -- M/L is 8+ in women's sizes, not 10+ (there are no S/M left). I would also pay full price for these socks... though I never pay retail if I can help it. In comparison, I was disappointed in the Smartwool Kneehigh Sock -- it was not as thick as the Burtons, and alternatively didn't have the nice variable cushioning found in the thick trekking socks. I am returning these.

For snowshoeing, I recommend getting felted inserts into your boots if they fit. We have dry powder here most of the year, so I wear Steger Mukluks with thick felted insides, and use modified bearpaw wooden snowshoes (I want Ojibwe ones now though). When snowshoeing with my BH -- I swear he has no circulation to his hands or feet -- so I ended up taking off my Smartwool Trekking socks and giving them to him to put on over his own socks as well; with just polypro liners and the felt insert my feet were toasty warm (about 10F outside).