Which Sock Style is Best for You?

We currently carry 6 styles of socks. The Boot Sock, Warmest Sock, Therapeutic Sock, Therapeutic Knee Sock, Trouser Sock and Ankle Sock.

So which one is the right one?! Lets break them down…

I’m going to use my made up scale for warmth, this will be based on my personal experience as well as information gathered from our amazing customers.

The 4 levels of warmth.

1-The summer sock wearer: being compared to a regular store brand sock but these are alpaca so they are WAY cooler

2-The I have cold feet even in the summer sock wearer or the I wear socks everyday of the year sock wearer: warmer than box store purchase but it’s not going to make my feet overheat sock and awesome because again… it’s ALPACA!

3-My feet are cold but I don’t want to sweat or I work outside in the cold sock wearer

4-My feet are always cold nothing else works to keep them warm or I’m going ice fishing sock wearer

Starting with my personal favorite: The Ankle Sock

Ankle socks are a very versatile sock. They have a thicker base to provide more comfort. A nice fitted arch area, with a breathable mesh on the top of the foot. The banding around the ankle is a snug fit but not so snug it leaves indents. It’s perfect! I wear and recommend this style for an all season everyday sock. It has incredible warmth and breathability to adapt to all seasons. I give this sock a warmth rating of 2. The bottom provides incredible warmth while the top is very breathable. I do not naturally have cold feet and frequently have barefoot months in the summer, I do however wear this sock from mid-fall all through until mid-spring. My husband, who wears socks all year round, even wore them in a softball tournament in late July (for NW PA that’s usually 75-80 degrees with 70% humidity) and he actually thought they were perfectly comfortable.

Trouser Socks

In the trouser socks we carry two weights. Most of the styles are in a thinner, light weight but we have a few in a thicker, mid-weight. The height in these also vary but mostly they come up to about mid-calf. These do not have a lot of stretch so if you have larger calves, like me, they will slouch a little to be in place or can leave marks. This style of sock is recommended for the office or for everyday in the summer months. They provide a fashionable style with a touch of comfort and warmth that alpaca is well known for. Definitely a great everyday sock, but not my go to when the seasons change and the temperature and leaves start to fall. I would warmth rate this sock a 1 in the standard light weight version, the mid-weight styles are a 2. Perfect summer sock!

Therapeutic and Therapeutic Knee Socks

Why are they therapeutic? It’s in comfort. Quite the opposite of a compression sock. So if you have large calves or leg swelling this sock is for you. They are designed with extra elasticity in the calf to allow for a more comfortable fit. They also have a flat toe seam which helps people with sensitivities in the feet. It is also my mother in laws favorite sock in comfort. We call these the “cloud sock” because they have been described as being as soft as clouds. They are also very warm. These socks are great for everyday use in the cooler to cold seasons. The regular therapeutic style comes to mid calf and has a great looking slouch effect. It does not fall down, just sits comfortably on the calf. The knee style truly does come to the knee and stays in place. My family members use these for both house wear, stylish under the knee boot wear as well as hunting in mild weather conditions. Perhaps teamed with a felted boot liner, this could be a great option for colder active hunting, hiking, ice fishing etc. I rate the regular therapeutic a 2, perfect for most everyday even winter days if you aren’t outside for long periods of time. And I rate the Knee version a 3.

Warmest Sock

Do not be confused by the name, I’m not suggesting this is the “warmest” alpaca sock. We simply named it “warmest sock”. It does have the highest content of Alpaca in our line up. Synthetic fibers are blended for shape and elasticity in this all natural, undyed and as close as we carry to wearing the animal, sock. These have a crew height which is perfect under most boots. They do not slide down and do not tend to constrict. These are what I recommend to folks who work outside, are actively hiking, hunting, skiing etc. They have the best balance between breathability and warmth. The overall thickness fits well under most boots/shoes. These are one of our top 2 selling socks. This warmth is 3-4. Nearly perfect for all needs. When you wash them, they can get fuzzy, creating a felted look because they are so very close to a raw alpaca sock, I think this makes them even softer!

The Boot Sock

This is our warmest sock, in my opinion. Even with less alpaca content, this sock standing alone, tends to be warmer than the “warmest sock” (in my opinion). It is a thicker sock so where it lacks in content it makes up for it in thickness. It also has an incredible softness making it a truly comfortable house sock. I do recommend these to folks with poor circulation and cold feet. I have a family member who is diabetic and wears them as a slipper sock. They also have hardwood floors and because of the extra thickness they do stand up well to this harder wear. These socks are also great for stationary outdoor activities. I have been told your feet can actually get too warm when you are wearing them in active outdoor situations. These are a thicker sock, so take note of this and how your shoe/boot fits. If combined they become too tight, no sock will work to keep your feet warm. There must be a little breathing room. This sock gets a warmth rating of 4 from me. This is the other top selling sock we carry.

In closing….

When it comes to the warmest style and the boot style, my favorite is the boot sock and my husbands favorite is the warmest style. So these really are a toss up and come down to personal preference, style and needs. Please note again this is all a matter of opinion but this is how I best explain to those who ask. This is meant to be a helpful guide based on my own experience. I have customers who swear by each style for their own uses. We have reviews under each sock style on their corresponding pages, please read through them to see first hand experiences with each.

Washing instructions for our socks: you CAN machine wash and dry, I have with every style and have not encountered shrinking. However if you want the longest life out of them - hand wash with a mild detergent, cool water, do not agitate or wring and lay them flat to dry. Feel free to reach out for any questions or more assistance!