Sock repair...

[Catrin]

Those weren't different brands of wool socks. They're styles within Smartwool's line of products. I was curious as to which style of Smartwool sock you're wearing, as mine (various types of Ultra Lites) have never worn prematurely.

But if you want to try different brands, I'd suggest Swiftwick and Darn Tough as alternatives to Smartwool.

Silly me, I didn't realize that, thanks for the clarification! I've looked them up now and those are not what I have. I have the PhD Smartwool socks. It does help to know the specific line, especially where wool socks are concerned. I think I will try and darn the ones I have for around the house use, but will likely be asking for trouble if I try to wear darned socks with my current shoes.

[indysteel]

Silly me, I didn't realize that, thanks for the clarification! I've looked them up now and those are not what I have. I have the PhD Smartwool socks. It does help to know the specific line, especially where wool socks are concerned. I think I will try and darn the ones I have for around the house use, but will likely be asking for trouble if I try to wear darned socks with my current shoes.

Not to beat a dead horse, but all of the socks I mentioned are within the PhD line. Mine are PhDs with Ultra Lite cushion. I assume that's what you use, too, since they are their thinnest socks. Mine are good for at least a year or more of heavy use; I can't imagine getting holes in them after only a handful of uses. So, I have to wonder if if you're wearing the wrong size of your shoe is too tight. What size is your foot and what size are you using?

[ny biker]

Woolie Boolies are thick but DeFeet's Wooleator socks are thinner -- they're a wool version of the Aireators. I have several pairs and have never had a problem with them.

For everyday I wear Smartwool's cable socks, and I've worn them a few times on the bike too when I needed something tall enough to cover my ankles up to the bottom of my leg warmers. They are also thin.

http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodSW_SW711.html

...and while I was looking up the link to those socks I decided to take advantage of the sale and buy some new pairs. Navy, wine, chestnut and crimson.

[jessmarimba]

I've worn through a couple pairs of Smartwool (the compression ones! ) and Teko socks lately. The next size up is definitely too big, though I'm on the large end of the spectrum for the mediums. It's aggravating. For now, I'm just wearing them so the hole is on the other foot (not on my big toe anymore) and no longer running in them but I'm pretty exasperated with the Smartwool compression socks. Wore those on one run and ripped through the left big toe in the first six miles (and my left foot is my smaller foot, for pete's sake). I can still wear them for recovery but wanted them for running, and the next size up isn't compressive enough. Grr. Those cost way too much to wear through like that.

[SFLiz]

If you're going to try other socks, I really like my swiftwicks, in all varying styles. They have been durable and comfy.

[Crankin]

I would try the thinnest Tekos. I wear them for running/gym, and they are awesome.
Also, no cushioning. Ever. My feet are exquisitely sensitive to padding and so are my hands. I have ultra thin wool, thin wool, medium wool, and my thickest are Woolie Bullies. I also can barely close the velcro on my shoes, or my feet swell. I leave the ratchet pretty loose, too. The shoes fit, the next size is definitely too big. My feet do much better with the wool; Saturday I wore regular socks as it was warm and they were burning after 30 minutes.

[pll]

Just a clarification on my earlier post: my smartwools wear down in the heels.