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Keep Your Feet Warm with These Women’s Wool Socks

While socks of all materials serve the purpose of keeping your feet warm, wool socks are among the best, if not the very best, for this particular task. Wool is an excellent insulator, far superior for maintaining warmth than a thinner material like cotton. It keeps its insulation even when wet, unlike many other fabrics, and dries out quicker than cotton or synthetics. Wool fibers are naturally anti-bacterial, which means that even if you find your feet sweating in a pair of wool socks, the wool fibers are naturally odor-resistant. Wool is also naturally moisture-absorbing and can retain high amounts of moisture before it begins to feel damp or wet. This means that not only are wool socks toasty and warm, but they’re well equipped to protect your feet in the rain and will keep your feet from feeling sweaty or smelly no matter how warm they might get. Wool is a soft and cushiony fabric, so your feet will be comfortable as well as warm and dry. If you have poor circulation in your feet, need new socks for cold weather, or are looking for a good pair of hiking or camping socks, a pair of wool socks is the way to go.

What to Consider in Wool Socks

Here are a few things to look into before buying:

  • Merino Wool: Handy as wool socks may be, they can be itchy at times. Merino wool is a higher grade and quality wool, so it lacks the itchiness of other, more commonplace wools. Merino wool is also temperature regulating, so it can adapt to a range of temperatures, not just cold weather. It is, however, often a bit pricier by comparison. If you think the extra comfort is worth the slightly higher price tag, a pair of Merino wool socks may be right for you.
  • Washing: Some companies don’t recommend machine-washing their wool socks. These wool socks will require hand washing and air drying, which is a factor to be aware of before buying your socks. If you want the convenient ability to wash your wool socks in the washing machine, be sure to check and see that they’re listed as machine washable before you purchase them.
  • Style: Do you want a pair of tall, standard, or short socks? Taller socks are an excellent choice for activities like hiking, skiing, or camping since they offer extra protection against abrasions caused by high-cut boots those activities require. Do you want regular socks or taller socks to help prevent blisters? What about the color or design? Do you want wool socks that are one solid color, multi-colored, or patterned? Do you want a raised knit pattern or not? These are all considerations when it comes to buying wool socks, especially since they can come in just about any pattern or color known to humankind.
  • Quantity: Are you looking for multiple socks or just one individual pair? Many socks will come with at least three or four pairs in a set, sometimes as many as six or more. This is a great option for saving money and wear and tear on socks. You can find individual pairs of wool socks, too.

Top Choice: Loritta Women’s Vintage Thick Knit Wool Crew Socks

No matter what you’re looking for in a pair of wool socks, these crew socks have you covered. These socks are snuggly, plush, and warm, yet breathable, durable, and stretchy all at once. Thanks to the cotton and polyester woven in with the wool, they won’t itch or scratch your feet. They’re also moisture-wicking and anti-odor for additional comfort and peace of mind, even if you wear them every day. And since you can order them in sets of five or six, in 25 different color combinations ranging from solid colors to simple patterns to elaborate patterns, in subtle, classic shades or vibrant rainbow hues, there’s sure to be a design and color scheme that matches your specialty outfits and everyday outfits alike.

Top Choice

Loritta 5 Pairs Womens Wool Socks Thick Knit Vintage Winter Warm Cozy Crew Socks Gifts,Multicolor 021a

A plush, snuggly, stretchy set of crew socks that are moisture-wicking and anti-odor.

Best Merino Wool: EnerWear Women’s Merino Wool Outdoor Crew Socks

Merino wool is known for its top-notch quality and extra soft, comfortable, and non-itch properties. These merino wool socks combine all these properties, in addition to the ability to keep your feet at the ideal temperature regardless of the weather or climate, even in extreme cold or heat. They offer 72-hour odor control and are equipped with terry-loop cushioning throughout the entire foot for additional comfort, with a reinforced heel and toe. Since these parts of socks see more stress and wear down the easiest, the reinforced area of these socks will give them a longer product life. This makes them ideal for outdoor activities like skiing, hiking, and camping. However, these socks are not limited to these types of activities and can be worn as everyday wear, casual wear, or even work and office wear. The socks are sold in sets of four, and each can accommodate any women’s shoe size between 4 and 10.5. You have five multihued, gradient colors from which to choose; four of the socks are all the same color, while the other options offer four socks in four different colors and patterns.

Best Merino Wool

EnerWear 4 Pack Women's Merino Wool Outdoor Hiking Trail Crew Sock(US 9-11,Gradient Mix Color)

Merino wool socks that are temperature regulating and provide 72-hour odor control and terry-loop cushioning.

Most Colorful: Justay Store Women’s Wool Socks Vintage

Bright and colorful socks with unique and interesting patterns are all the rage these days, so these vividly, vintage-style cabin wool socks are sure to be a hit. The jacquard weave is extra lush for a cozy and soft experience that’ll make you feel like you’re standing on a plush carpet all day. They’re not only thermal, warm, and comfortable but breathable, lightweight, and versatile to boot, suitable for a whole range of outfits and looks. Wear them to school or the office, hiking or at home, no matter the season. You have the choice of 20 colors and designs, ranging from checkered to animal patterns to stripes and zig-zags. Most are multicolored and bright, but there are a few solid, more subtle colored shades if that’s your preference. These socks will fit any woman with a shoe size as small as a 5 or as large as a 9. All socks are sold in sets of five or six, depending on which color you choose.

Most Colorful

Best for Outdoor Wear: EnerWear Women’s Outdoor Hiking Sock

While it’s always a good idea to keep your feet well insulated, it’s especially important to keep them warm and protected while hiking, camping, or doing other outdoor leisure or work activities. If your feet get wet or cold during these pastimes, you may have to wait several hours before you can change your socks and shoes. These wool socks are perfect for outdoor adventures in all types of extreme weather and temperatures. They’re made of extra fine merino wool with a slight blend of polyester, nylon, and spandex to give them a little stretchiness. The terry-loop cushioning throughout gives your feet padding and support to help ward off fatigue, even if you’ve been on your feet for hours. The merino wool make means they’ll keep your feet at just the right level of warmth no matter the conditions, and their length means you can match them with just about any type of shoe, sneaker, or boot. Each purchase provides you with a pack of four pairs available in three different multicolored stripes. They’re one size fits most, able to accommodate the feet of any woman who wears size 4 to 10.5 shoes.

Best for Outdoor Wear

EnerWear 4 Pack Women's Merino Wool Outdoor Hiking Trail Crew Sock (US Shoe Size 4-10, Black/Blue/Multi)

A package of merino wool blended socks made to withstand even extreme weather conditions and temperatures.

Meghan Herlihy Meghan Herlihy
Meghan Herlihy is a full-time writer for LifeSavvy and How-To Geek and has written across a wide variety of topics, genres, and formats, including radio talk shows, local sports journalism, and creative original fiction. She received her bachelor's degree in communications from Ithaca College and a master's in writing from Johns Hopkins University. When she's not writing, you're most likely to find her reading a book, petting every dog within eyesight, and indulging in her love of travel. Read Full Bio »
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