Reddit mentions: The best men hiking socks

I live in Anchorage, having moved up here from Southern California. Fairbanks is definitely a lot colder in the winter than A-Town.

You're going to want to sacrifice fashion for warmth, especially up there. It easily gets to 20, 30, 50 below zero, especially with any wind chill factored in. Practicality will ensure your livelihood. You can look good when it's warmer, but there ain't gonna be nothin' sexy about layers and puffy jackets and warm accessories when it's that cold.

Invest in good thermals. I have some regular grey thermals I'll wear when it's a tad above zero, but they have little function in colder weather. You'll definitely want to get Under Armour and the like. I bicycle in the wintertime, so take whatever I say, and layer on more for the absolute frozen hell that is Fairbanks.

My usual routine for biking will consist of the following layers: one pair of thin white socks, one pair of thick wool socks (think SmartWool), skin-tight UnderArmour pants and turtle-necked long-sleeved shirt, another pair of thermal pants or rubber pants if it's wet (sometimes I squeeze a pair of jeans on in this mess), long-sleeved wool or synthetic top, one pair of gloves under a pair of thicker mittens, scarf, ear muffs, beanie, sub-zero jacket. I also have Reynaud's Syndrome, so my feet and hands typically get extremely cold, so I try to get the most expensive and warmest gloves that I can. This is when it's about -10, and I have to bicycle somewhere 4 miles away.

I just went through a closet cleaning, and organized all of my winter stuff. My winter stash consists of about six or eight pairs of gloves/mittens, three pairs of boots, beanies, scarves, balaclavas, a giant sub-zero faux fur-trimmed coat, tons of wool socks, spikies, Under Armour and thermals. I prefer synthetics entirely for underlayering, only topping off with wool/natural fibers.

You do not want to half-size. When I wear thick socks (or two pairs), my feet stay warmer when they're cozier. I have a few pairs of boots, but my favorite are my insulated ski-like boots with drawstrings and velcro straps. I would even recommend wearing a pair of toe socks under thicker, warmer socks.

I also prefer scarves that are not pure wool/knitted. I had this awesome scarf (that I lost, boo) that was thin, but very warm because it wasn't very breathable. I think it was a mixture of synthetic and woolen fibers. Some things, you just don't want to be breathable, because they can retain more heat.

I told this to another person who's moving to Alaska, and this is just some general moving-to-AK advice: bring only what you need. Do not saddle yourself with a bunch of crap to bring up here. It's expensive, and you'll end up throwing a bunch of stuff out anyway, especially if you don't need it. I've been up here 5.5 years, and aside from mementos, books, and a few articles of clothing, I've pretty much started anew here.

If you're able to swing through Anchorage on your way to Fairbanks, I would recommend going to REI and the military surplus stores here. Unless you get a really, really good deal on stuff back at home and can ship it up, I would buy things here. You'll be able to get a better feel for what people wear/need up here.

Fairbanks is colder, because it's smack in the middle of nowhere, with no major bodies of water to buffer it. Anchorage gets fucking cold, but it's nowhere near the insanity that is Fairbanks. Even if it's not snowing, you have to be careful. It will be very, very icy. Sometimes, you'll be in "ice fog," which is where it is so cold, the particles in the air literally just hang there in a fog. You will want to get a pair of spikies, which are rubber or silicone things studded with metal spikes you snap on the bottom of your shoes. I wear a balaclava (full-face or nose/chin that velcros on the back), and you'll definitely want that if you're walking around town in December.

Okay, and wow, that was exhaustive.
TL;DR shopping list

• Form-fitting Under Armour pants and Under Armour tops to be your first layer; Mountain Hardware also has some good base layers
  
  
• Toe socks + warm woolen socks
  
  
• Shoe Spikes
  
  
• Balaclava
  
  
• Warm beanies Don't be afraid of ear flaps; they're really nice
  
  
• Water-proof boots that have an actual ankle. None of that low-crew cut stuff.
  
  
• A really-warm overcoat that would ideally be worn over your base layers, and long-sleeved shirt/fleece jackets. You'll want to wear this while walking/getting in-out of your car.
  
  Other advice
  
  
• Do not go out in the cold with wet hair. Your hair will freeze. I have made this mistake while biking with a wet braid, and I could have snapped my hair off of my head if I wanted to. (But I did not want to, so I did not try..)
  
  
• If you wear contacts, and it's registering as something like -30 out, I would wear goggles if I were you. Even without glasses, if you do not blink enough, your tears can start freezing on your eyelashes and your eyeballs. It is very uncomfortable..
  
  
• A half-balaclava like this is nice when going from one place to another. It's less bulky and warmer than wrapping a scarf around your face to keep your nose warm.
  
  
• Earmuffs that folder behind your skull are better than the ones that sit on top of your head.
  

Aww, first and foremost, I hope you get well soon! D:

I don't know how relaxing others would find it, but I find hiking and camping extremely relaxing. I am also a very anxious person (just ask my girlfriend), and doing those things and "getting away" from life is a great way to relax - if you like the outdoors. I couldn't pick just one thing, so here are a two things from my wishlist that would relax me, and the reason why:

1. These socks would be nice for hiking around. I think everyone can agree, good warm socks in and of themselves can be plenty relaxing.
   
2. This hammock is light enough to pack along anywhere, and is easy enough to set up. Relaxing in a hammock out on a hike, where all you hear are the birds and wind... That sounds like a great way to spend an afternoon.
   
   Anyway, welcome back! I have yet to meet you, I am Brandon. How goes it?

That sweater looks good and the price is good. Go for it.

The socks look okay, but the reviews are rather mixed. Apparently Costco brand wool socks are supposed to be of good quality and receive much praise from frugalmalefashion. As another option, these People Socks are on a great sale and have great reviews. I own 4 pair personally and they are quite thick and warm. Seem like they are going to hold up well through the winter.

I don't use Instagram, and unfortunately I'm pretty sure the photo groups might not either. I'm not on Facebook too often anymore either though (mostly just checking in with various businesses these days). I'll see if there's some other way to contact them.

I just found this helpful site that will give a bit more info on what types of things to wear:
https://www.alaska.org/advice/what-to-wear-in-alaska-in-winter

For boots I found this pair of Kamiks that aren't too expensive:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M0463OY/ref=twister_B0078J8BF2

Baffin is big up here, and Sorel used to be but I'd stay away from that brand since they were bought out by a company that's manufacturing them overseas now. Baffins are quite a bit more expensive, and since you aren't staying up here very long I don't think you need to be spending quite that much on footwear.

Don't forget good socks too. I found a few on Amazon that might work:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003CMYT8W?creativeASIN=B003CMYT8W&linkCode=w61&imprToken=ujfd3380l8yo9Mv7kBEe0g&slotNum=15&ascsubtag=[]st[p]cjcauc89h00s4uhyegd7k3gd6[i]gGa3FL[d]T[z]m[t]w[r]google.com&tag=thestrategistsite-20

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000XG1BC2?creativeASIN=B000XG1BC2&linkCode=w61&imprToken=ujfd3380l8yo9Mv7kBEe0g&slotNum=17&ascsubtag=[]st[p]cjcauc89h00s4uhyegd7k3gd6[i]oVsTkD[d]T[z]m[t]w[r]google.com&tag=thestrategistsite-20

As for jackets, that's really up to your preference. Marmot, Patagonia, and Carhartts are popular up here. You can never go wrong with Carhartts in Alaska lol. Get the one big, heavy, outer jacket, and bundle up with under layers like fleece and wool.

If you have any sporting goods stores down there I'd recommend giving them a visit to see if they have any good stuff too. They might be able to give you some information on what to look for too. If all else fails, you can wait to purchase things when you get up here, but it will be more expensive; on the other hand, you'll be able to talk to knowledgeable people about what to buy.

Have you checked AirBnB yet? There's probably some apartments that you could rent that are close to hotels that are used as pick up points for excursions.
I used these guys when I was there in December 2015, https://www.re.is for couple of my tours.
I went on the following tours;

Warm Baths Cool Lights ( A geothermal pool, then northern lights )

Game of Thrones tour ( used greyline.is for this )

South Shore Adventures (Get to see the Skógafoss waterfall and the Black Sand beach, couple other stops as well )



Here's what I wore on most days.

Underwear ( http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00Z8HWXIM )

Thermal Pants/Long Sleeve (http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0064D1DNK, then the same kind of top)

3 in 1 Jacket ( http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00HQ33NTY )

Snow Pants ( http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00AHJM8CM ) I used a different set of snow pants, that I ordered through aliexpress, but had these along incase the ones I got from China didn't work out. They ended up being perfect, so I never even wore these.

Boots : Good set of Hiking boots, that were waterproof.

Wool Socks were a must as well ( http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00TOWNXO0 )

I also had two sets of gloves. Ones that were windproof but touchscreen capable so I could take pictures with my phone. Then another that were heavy duty/waterproof just in case. I mostly just wore my windproof ones, as they were slightly waterproof as well. Also a really good beanie hat. I also carried a neckgator just incase the wind got to be to much for me.

Photos: http://imgur.com/a/abSc2
[X-Post from r/UltraLight]
Not your normal 3 season conditions, at 10,000 ft elevation
Destination: Mitchel Lake in Indian Peaks Wilderness
[2 miles from the Continental Divide] gps[40.087033, -105.594174]
Trailhead: Brainard lake Winter parking lot
Here is my gear list: https://lighterpack.com/r/3fawko
Base weight is: I brought what I needed to stay alive!
Gear I didn’t need:
Insulated pants (M65) were the only item of clothing that I didn’t need to wear to bed
Whisperlite: I got to the lake and saw it was frozen over so spent some time melting snow, while just 10 minutes down the trail there was an inlet flowing … DOH! Could get by with MSR pocket rocket next time
Gear I wish I had:
trucker hat, sunglasses, towel to make hat into sun hat, sun shirt [soon to be umbrella convert?]
with all the snow and almost getting frostbite here a few weeks ago I figured beanie and buff would be enough. The snow is like a bunch of mirrors. My face and lips were so burnt that I only stayed for 1 night, even with tons of sunscreen.
Thoughts on some of the new gear I used:
I didn’t pitch my tent because the winds were nonexistent [rare for ‘w’Indian Peaks Wilderness]

4 CCF pads: the correct amount for sleeping on snow at this altitude (GG thinlite, gg torso pad, full length ¼, torso sol lite) an air pad would just get way too cold on the sides, you would need to get it into your sleeping bag/bivy. [2 full length, ¼ inch pads would have been easier to manage but use what you got, right?]
SOL Lite Bivy: was great for keeping frost off of sleeping bags. The feet of my outter sleeping bag was rather wet in morning from the bivy not ‘breathing’ super well, but my inner sleeping bag feet were still dry! Sun so bright it instantly dried everything, so this would work fine for multi nights I believe. Might have been too small, compressing bags more than I’d have liked
Waterproof Breathable socks: I wore my trail runners which later in the day after snow became slush…. Were wet as expected. At first I tried them by themselves and then later used my wool socks as liners. This was great, the wool kept feet warm and only moisture was from sweat which was easily dealt with by swapping liners during breaks.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BZLSMB6/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I also tried a pair of neoprene socks and much preferred the waterproof breathable
NiteLite Thumb: has been on my keychain since I got it. Has been great when out later than expected and I’m like oh shit I can’t see, but since always have keys, always have a light..my leatherman squirt is on there as well.
Plastic bags for stakes: a horrible Idea… not sure where I heard this. Snow was rock hard Ice in the morning, if I had pitched my tent and used bags it would have been a pain getting them out of ice in the morning
BEAR prints were visible in snow in morning. It was just passing thru, smelled me, and went the other direction. ~25 feet of where I slept. No bear canister, food was beside me OP sack. Bears are cool. as long as you keep smells down and don't cook dinner where you sleep, Andrew Skurka has some decent bear advice for Colorado camping. bears vary. I'd bring a canister to RMNP

So I am a southerner (Florida) who relocated to Upstate NY for college and now New England. I was in your shoes before and would recommend the following strategy. Buy a combo Shell + fleece for the $100. Like I said in my previous post, LL bean outlet stores or the clearance rack will be a good bet. They guarantee their stuff for life. This combo + a Flannel shirt will keep you warm. As a College student you will want to locate your closest Goodwill, at which point you can acquire some other essentials: a puffy jacket for the coldest of days: http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/75140?feat=75144-ppxs&dds=y or http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/75141?feat=75144-ppxs&dds=y

Another tip for the winter, flannel lined pants are pretty nice: http://www.amazon.com/Carhartt-Flannel-Lined-Washed-Dungaree/dp/B002G9U4PE

Wool socks shoot for > 70% merino wool (100% is best) http://www.amazon.com/Super-wool-Hiker-Merino-Hiking-Womens/dp/B004N8ATV0/ref=sr_1_1?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1407802517&sr=1-1&keywords=merino+wool+sox

Also, get a scarf, beanie, and a decent pair of above your ankle boots. Again, goodwill / thrift store is your friend.

Good luck in college.

I'm at work so I don't have photos of my stuff. But here is the list of the basics. The stuff below, plus food, and a change of clothes will get me through a long weekend and on top of some nice terrain. I include my sock liner/sock combo below because I am so damn happy with them (and not expensive).

• Black Diamond Infinity 60 pack
  
  
• Surplus Military Woodland Cammo Bivy Cover
  
  
• A 40° Slumberjack Sleeping bag and a 20° Slumberjack sleeping bag that can nest to be a 0° sleeping bag (Not sure which model... they are about 10 years old).
  
  
• Yukon Outfitters Parachute hammock with net
  
  
• 2 Sierra Cups and a spoon from when I was a Boy Scout over 30 years ago.
  
  
• Whisperlite MSR stove
  
  
• Wigwam Ultimax Sock Liners with Merino Wool Socks
  
  
• Frog Toggs Rain suit
  
  
• Estwing Hatchet (If needed. If I am going distances, I don't take the weight, but it is an amazing tool for the size/weight/practicality)
  
  
• Leatherman PST
  
  
• Cheap walking sticks from wal-mart
  
  
• 2 Nalgene Water Bottles
  
  
• A Fly from my old Kelty 2 person tent.
  
  
• Some cheap Chinese made waterproof hiking boots that I got at Wal-Mart and have been unstoppable.
  
  
• A pump style water filter Mine isn't MSR, but it looks like this.
  
  
• Coleman Chilko River Parka for my outer shell, various synthetic fleece and wool layers for my inner layers. A dry fit long or short sleeve synthetic shirt for my wicking layer. I have gone down to single digit camping in that without a bulky coat.
  
  
• Energizer headlamp (AAA batteries!)
  
  
• 100 feet of this orange reflective cord
  
  
• A very comprehensive first aid kit I have assembled over the years to deal with everything from cuts and scrapes up to broken limbs and serious bleeding. (Sam Splint, Quick Clot, Homemade Cravats sealed in vacuum packs, trauma shears, various OTC medications, epi-pen). It is a little heavy, so I have various sizes I bring depending on the duration of the trip, my traveling companions (usually Boy Scouts) and our distance from help.
  
  
• A Yaesu VX8R Radio I'm a HAM and it is a great emergency radio.
  
  
• Garmin eTrex 20 GPS (AA Batteries!)
  
  I am pretty frugal so I don't have top tier stuff, but if I spent 10x more I might save 2-3 pounds... easier for me to put down the spoon and lose that much weight from the engine (me). I mostly go with the Boy Scouts as an Assistant Scoutmaster, so I don't do much "extreme" stuff. We mostly do 10-20 mile hikes in New England (4000' peaks with cold, wet, unpredictable weather).
  
  

DTS has the return policy to make them awesome and they're definitely comfortable, but they're a bit pricey for me. I just found it silly to send back a pair of socks after I've worn holes in them with my caveman feet.

My most recent purchase was people socks and I've loved them. Three seasons with them and I am on my original 8 pair. They're definitely durable and a bit more reasonable on the wallet. I've hiked, worked and lounged in them and they still feel great.

http://www.amazon.com/4pairs-Socks-2pairs-X1pair-Mixed/dp/B009Y9QCCS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1462799529&sr=8-1&keywords=people+socks

71% merino wool

Underwear: Under Armour O Series Boxerjock 6" Bottoms. I wear these for any athletic or active event. Too expensive for me to wear for every day use.

Socks:
Wool always trumps cotton. Always. My favorite sock of all time is the Thorlo Light Hiking Crew Sock. Wool is amazing, in that even in warm weather, they breath well and wick sweat well. Thorlo makes amazing socks for all occasions from running (short, special padding), to skiing (long, extra padding around shins).

I usually just wear jeans and a jacket+hoodie and I'm gucci bro. I live in Queens but then again I'm the kinda guy that walks outside during winter in basketball shorts lol. I'd invest in some wool socks though, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00011VJ80/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1. I bought two pairs of these in 2013 and they still hold up great. Take into account the reviews and choose your size accordingly. One thing to be careful of is the puddles when the snow melts. Especially in the city, it can be very deceiving as to how deep the slush/water is. I'd buy some boots or get really good at jumping over stuff as if you were Mario or something. GL!

I'm leaning towards the super breathable quick drying trail runners after doing more research but I do think it would be nice to have a pair of waterproof socks for when it rains and for after river crossings where I wouldn't wear socks and the waterproof sock would protect my wool sock from my wet shoe. These ones on amazon have pretty solid reviews: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BZNQEXM/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A30P12WY6PFV27

People socks!!!

They aren't super cheap but they last sooo long and are super warm and comfy. We have 8 pairs that have lasted us three winters of heavy use and are still going strong. Plus they are made in the USA! Stay warm!

The Spirit of Detroit...
If you don't already have smart wool socks, buy a couple of pair now! It's the only way to go. They seem expensive but they keep your feet warm and dry faster than cotton.
Like these but in your size:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B009Y9QCCS/ref=aw_wl_ov_dp_4_14?colid=3SHLFA9GMR2ID&coliid=IYRO9TXN6JRFB&vs=1.
Also, if you can find some Ex-Officio underwear, these are great!
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001M0MN02?cache=55404ae8e247335d09249fab5f69df62&pi=SY200_QL40&qid=1411767898&sr=8-1#ref=mp_s_a_1_1.
They're warm and they wash and dry over night while traveling!

Darn Tough's are the only socks I wear.

Summer is Darn Tough Men's No Show Ultralight (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002DWVS1S)

Winter is Darn Tough Vermont Men's Merino Wool Micro Crew Cushion Hiking Socks (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0010Y26NY)

I know a lot of people like Smart Wool but I've personally found them to wear out fairly quickly. Also you just can't beat the Darn Tough life time warranty.

I own three pairs of each. When traveling / one bagging I just bring two pairs and it works out perfect. I wouldn't hesitate in the slightest to give them a go.

Good luck!

I couldn't recommend trying merino wool more. These ones are my favorite ever because they're so plush and warm, but these ones have a lifetime warranty and they're supposed to be incredible as well.

Brands aside, I'm not kidding when I say that wool socks made my life better. They don't hold odor, they're super warm/cozy but also super breathable and fast drying so it's nearly impossible for your feet to feel clammy on an average day.

Socks can matter quite a bit for running, especially running long distances or if your feet get wet.

Running in normal cotton socks is a no-no. Once cotton gets wet it doesn't dry easily and can cause blisters. For moderate distances (say 5 miles or less), any merino wool or synthetic athletic sock should be fine, although I tend to avoid getting socks that are really thin because they arn't as good at preventing blisters. I pretty much always run in Darn Tough 1/4 Socks. They are about as thick as you'd ever want to go for a running sock, but they are super durable and prevent blisters pretty well. I have over 1000 miles on one of my pairs and I can still wear them.

I do thermal pants and top (found some cheap at a REI outlet sale).

Wool socks

tshirt and shorts.

If it's below 35 I'll add a windproof riding vest because it keeps my pits open (rei sale).

The head is important. Balaclavas are great for coverage. I really like a scar for versatility and I combo it with Ear Bags. A ridiculous name but they fit perfect in between helmet straps.

A bunch of wool socks and a Gerber Shard!.

The shard seems a little strange, but right now I need something else to put on my keyring just to give it something more to grab onto when I pull it out of my pocket! The shard seems like a good solution. If I can get one use out of the little phillips and perhaps the pry bar it'll probably be worth it!

I don't think I am there yet. There are quite a few outfits I have, where I have no idea objectively if they look good or not. I am pretty good at seeing whether something fit's properly, but not very good with color and style matching. That said there are certain items I do know go well together, and this is one of them

The outfit:


Waxed Olive

Canvas in black

Express Crew Neck (Small) in Black

Gustin Brass Roller - Saddle Brown Belt (Second notch) Size 32

Redwing Beckman 9016 Size 9 (Probably a half size too large, but made better by thick merino wool socks)


Levi 511 Rigid Dragon 29x32

People Socks - Merino Wool Blend

All in all it's a super simple outfit, and not very hard to pull off. The belt is not naturally the right color to match the shoes. It's a much lighter shade of brown, and with all of the other dark pieces does not work well. I darken the belt by massaging cocnut oil into it, letting it sit for 24 hours, and then polishing with Red Wings Dusky Brown polish (same polish I use on the shoes). I do this whenever I notice the color getting a bit too light.

One of these days I might upgrade but spending 15 on one pair of socks is still outside of my range, haha. I buy these which seem to not be anywhere on amazon right now so hopefully they come back soon but they are awesome and usually run 16-19 bucks for a set of two.

Columbia North Plains WP are the best affordable option out there. I paid like 50 for mine. I've worn them all winter along with wet rounds. I recently got a pair of waterproof socks that are amazing just as added protection.

Here they are for $33. Here are the socks.

>I think the next thing up is all this merino wool talk

I think that these three articles will provide most of the information you would want to know about Merino wool.

General overall knowledge: https://www.smartwool.com/discover/why-merino-wool/merino-wool-101.html

The "best" weights for different climates: https://www.newzealandmerinoandfabrics.com/blogs/news/which-merino-wool-fabric-weight-do-i-need-for-each-season but of course everyones body is different. I'm the kind of person who is always cold so I'll never buy a lightweight merino shirt.

Maybe a half to whole step up from general knowledge: https://woolandprince.com/pages/about-merino-wool

The only other thing I think you should know that I don't have an article for is merino wool blends. You'll undoubtedly come across a product with something like "61% Merino Wool, 36% Nylon, 3% Lycra® Spandex " like in Darn Tough's socks. That's done because 100% merino wool has downsides that other fabrics can cover when they are blended together.

But if you have any questions this is a great subreddit full of knowledgeable people :)

I recently got these to go with some Beckman Rounds I ordered. They're amazing. They fit snug on my feet, I always seem to be too small for socks. Really warm, nice cushioning. Couldn't recommend enough of you're wearing boots.

I just picked these Kirkland trail socks for a decent price. I've been wearing them with my work boots and they are very comfortable.

I hear Darn Tough makes some great socks with a lifetime guarantee. People socks are another option for thick boot socks.

I buy the brand people socks on amazon. 4 pair packs for like $28. I’ve been progressively replacing them when they wear out, and I love them. I wear them year round as well. Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009Y9QCCS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_r9RSAbZF9512W

Buy an Amazon gift card at Walmart. Go on Amazon and get the socks you want.

These are what I've been rocking lately, really enjoy them.

Socks.

I'm partial to Mirmaru socks, you're going to make your living on your feet. Take care of them.

Of course there's other basics such as high energy snacks, sanitary supplies and if you want something better than what your agency will give you, pick out some canteens.

You'll get the list of rules for your barracks the same day you move in. Barracks are a lot like college dorms, only way older. Clean up after yourself, if you blow up the shitter clean it, follow the golden rule, don't drink if you're underage. When you wack-off in the shower, make sure it all goes down the drain so the next guy doesn't step in it. If you chew, spit in a bottle and throw it away in a outside trashcan.

Turn your music down at night and get a pair of head phones because of the jerks who don't. Some dorms have wi-fi now a days, but you'll be sharing it with 12 other people so get out of your room and socialize.
Don't let your laundry get out of hand, you will stink up the whole place. If there is a chore list, do your share and make you crew look good. You won't just be sharing you barracks with firefighters, other departments have seasonal employees too. They get used to firefighters not being around, so they will get annoyed when you are. They will find anything to bitch about, so don't give them a reason to.

STAY OUT OF THE GIRL'S BATHROOM(S).

Depending on how much snow is in your area, I would recommend these or maybe these. I think Amazon has a 20% off coupon FALSHOES. Not sure if it applies to both of these boots, I have not tried.

In addition to these boots, for warmth, get some wool socks like these or these. The costco socks are half the price, but owning both, I can say personally that the People Socks are thicker and nicer quality.

If you're gonna be wearing them with shorts get something like these.

For wearing them with pants I'd definitely get some merino wool socks. I've had good experiences with Wigwam socks.

Get your brother (and/or your dad) these darn tough socks. I think they make good gifts because they are relatively cheap as far as gifts go but they are awesome socks that people wouldn't necessarily buy for themselves.

People Socks are excellent. Pricier than Kirkland, but less expensive than Smartwool. I've found them to be very comfortable and durable.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009Y9QCCS/

Has anyone had any experience with Mirmaru Hiking Socks? I am going to be doing some day hiking (~8 miles max) in Rocky Mountain National park next week, and Zion in november. Other hiking socks are $20/pair, but I am wondering if those more expensive ones are more for multi-day hiking, and if the ones linked are sufficient for my needs.

The Mirmaru have really good amazon reviews, but my understanding is sometimes the reviews are faked.

GET THESE if you need warm socks whatsoever, or will. Crazy good deal considering the quality, made in Brooklyn I believe http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009Y9QCCS/ref=ox_ya_os_product_refresh_T1


I took some FMFA and tried them out months ago, they are wonderful warm socks. *down to 19.90 shipped, for 4 pair (prime, amazon)

specifically i'd recommend - this underwear, and these socks

life's so much better with awesome socks and underwear

I might also recommend People Socks on Amazon as an alternative. They're consistently $24-26 for a 4-pack and they feel great!

I have a few pairs of people's socks that are really nice and reasonably priced for high quality MiUSA wool socks. They ship w/ amazon prime so that's also cool.

I use merino hiking socks because I wear boots almost exclusively, these are my favorite pair. Comfortable in all normal weather conditions, plain and not athletic looking with invisible branding.

Merino. Effin'. Wool.

People socks, in particular, seem to be the best deal running. I bought a bunch of 'em and they held up really nicely over a three month trip mostly spent in Keens. Wore 'em a couple days in a row, no problem, no stink.

They're absurdly comfortable, warm in the cold and reasonably cool in the heat. I can't say enough about 'em.

Also, put your dirty and clean laundry in separate bags.

My go to are the Darn Tough Men's Solid Basic Crew Light (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0100LOO6O/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1). I wear these with 8 last boots. For 23 Last boots, I can get by with thicker socks which are a little too snug for me in the 8 last. Their hiking line works for those boots but I find they are unbearably warm during warmer weather. Winter socks only: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000XFZY1M/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1, https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000XG1BC2/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

My shoes don't smell! I wear the best merino wool socks on the market.

Gold Toe (100% wool) makes some and Wigwam (34% wool blend), although I can't attest to them since I rarely wear dress socks. Wigwam pretty consistantly get good reviews from what I have seen.

My current favorite budget wool work/hiking socks are People Socks (71% wool and USA made!)... but they might be a tad thick for dress shoes.

First time going snowboarding in denver in a few weeks, will this jacket be fine?

Also do I need ski/snowboarding socks like this
or can these wool socks do the job?

Peoplesocks are the best deal in socks right now.

oh man, wool wigwam socks are the best. i ask for them for christmas every year.

I'm not so much a boot man, but my father is. Every year for Father's Day I order him some pairs of Wigwam socks on Amazon. They're decently pricey, but they're his favorite.

Just got a 4 pack of these. They were just like 17.99 and they're very warm so far.

Costco's Kirklands aren't bad and People's socks from amazon are nice too, this from a Minneapolis native.

Cool

Warm

Goddamn Cozy

Also, yes I do expect them to last a long long time, and if they do wear out, I'll have them replaced.

I got 2 of these
https://www.amazon.com/Darn-Tough-Ultra-Light-Athletic-Charcoal/dp/B008N4G3TC

and 1 of these for colder weather
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0010Y26NY

They all have a good thick heel, so more than enough cushion.

*They do run a little small.

For my department I basically mirror what I wear for the feds.

Brush pants

Brush shirt

Helmet

Gloves


Boots

Socks (Over top of a cheap pair of cotton socks)

Pack (Since I'm guessing you probably don't get far from your engine for any length of time you could probably get away with a simple engine IA pack)

Hydration Kit (6L with converter kit) (camelbak bladder works just as well, or a couple of nalgene water bottles)

We do a lot of wildland fires as a department and often go out of the area for 2 weeks at a time. Well other members do but since I'm working for the feds I don't go unless it's pre or post season.

People Socks are nice.

Sure thing! People Socks Made from Real People

I wear these pretty much exclusively. They might be a little thick, but they don't get too hot.

A lot of people also suggest smartwool or the costco brand wool socks.

Bumming a bunch of suggestions from this dude's blog post, and some other gear-queer items I've seen before:

1. [TAG Combat Sustainment Day Pack] (https://www.tacticalassaultgearstore.com/combat-sustainment-pack.html)
   
2. Source Kangaroo 1LT Hydration Kit. I actually have one of these and its neat but hard to find a good spot to put it on my rig
   
3. Safariland QLS with a compatible holster
   
4. Some kind of headlamp that is MOLLE compatible so you can put it on your body armor and then probably destroy it the moment you take cover
   
5. I've started seeing more of these QB style arm band things being worn although it's usually the legit QB arm bands and not the tacticool version of them
   
6. Can't recommend Darn Tough socks enough; I wore them comfortably in weather ranging from pouring rain and mud to 140 degree heat in the Levant and -15 degree cold in South America
   
7. EDIT: Facebook keeps trying to sell me a Battle Board - not sure if its worth the extravagant cost

Were they [these] (http://www.amazon.com/Wigwam-Unisex-Womens-Merino-Comfort/dp/B000TFHF22) by any chance?

Last year i bought these waterproof socks. 3' to 6' of Michigan snow and only wearing cheap tennis shoes. Some times foot warmers on the shoes, but my feet never became wet. in the long run i can buy any pair of shoes i want and not have to fork out $170 for high end waterproof shoes that might last a season.https://www.amazon.com/RANDY-SUN-Waterproof-Crosspoint-Breathable/dp/B01BZNQEXM/ref=sxin_2_ac_m_pm?ac_md=2-1-QWJvdmUgJDI1-ac_d_pm&keywords=waterproof+socks&pd_rd_i=B01BZNQEXM&pd_rd_r=748d1371-594d-4bae-9dba-2204ec3d905f&pd_rd_w=77qb6&pd_rd_wg=3eHWr&pf_rd_p=808372f4-ce06-4458-88ef-16b605aa053a&pf_rd_r=FFT8K6EX973E1DZ7B8FZ&psc=1&qid=1574678308

Semi-urgent as I'm wearing these to work today (driving though...) and I'm worried I should return them.

Do these look like they fit correctly? One Redditor said they might be too narrow for my feet. They feel a little tight but I am wearing some thick-ish socks.

http://i.imgur.com/lcnCYRa.jpg - sitting

http://imgur.com/sjvUo36 - on my toes

I've been wearing the same four pairs of people socks for a year now.

They definitely increase the size of my foot by almost a half size. I remember trying my vibergs on with no socks for a sec and my feet were swimming around in em

They are also durable as hell, odor resistant and any stretch shrinks back beautifully when you wash em, even a year in.

I just got some Darn Tough socks for myself and I've been digging them.

Trying to decide which color of these santa fe ones I like. Also want to try to get this cool blue and oragne warlocks or some silly dead pool ones.

My lists keep removing the stuff I add, so I'm not sure if they'll show up or not.

Thanks for the contest!

Recently I've been double bagging with these, and having good results. People Socks @ Amazon.

Previous to this experiment, I was using exclusively WigWam wool blend socks and had no problems. I only switched because in the 4x pack, People Socks are significantly cheaper. So far they have been comparable in comfort and durability.

People Socks are less than 1/4 of the price.

https://smile.amazon.com/4pairs-Socks-2pairs-X1pair-Mixed/dp/B009Y9QCCS/

Timberland Earthkeepers with People Socks

+1 for people socks. $26 dollars right now on amazon and I just snagged my second set.

Dis and dis and dese and dose.

I should have clarified, I would also go with DarnTough over SmartWoool.

The cheaper/better options in my opinion are PeopleSocks. I personally found them to be much more comfy, offer more cushion, and same versatility as Darn Tough..

13EE with a high arch/instep and I swear by these.

don't know why I commented in such broken english lol, but there are different people socks. The cheaper ones or these ones.

Which percentage merino wool are yours, 71 or 42?

I have been wearing these, People Socks for awhile now, and I will never go back. I love 'em. It's summer in Oklahoma and my feet are always comfy in them.

They've sold as high as $35 on Amazon, but average price has been around $26.73. This is the lowest they've been ever. http://camelcamelcamel.com/Merino-Socks-4pairs-Charcoal-1xbrown/product/B009Y9QCCS

u/666kate, you don't need sock-garters or whatever the fuck they are called.

Try these

PEOPLE SOCKS 4pairs merino wool mens womens socks CharcoalX 2pairs, Navy X 1pair, Brown X1pair Large https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009Y9QCCS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_PSY0DbMF0YWJ8

I am a frame to finish carpenter in coastal New England. Once it gets cold out, these socks are my go to

People's Socks and they are warm as hell.