For the longest time after a long day of work I would come home, pop off my boots, and out would come an odor only explained by my wife as “horrid”. I would buy new socks time and time again in an effort to reduce this smell and time and time again there would be no difference in the odor. My feet would be wet all day working in the sun for 8-10 hours and I would try to find ways in which I could reduce this. I would try salt baths for my feet at the end of the day and wash them two times just to be able to walk around our house with no smell. This process would take me 15 minutes at the end of a hard day’s work which I did not want to add to my schedule, so eventually I started to research more on socks and the material I put on my feet in order to prevent sweaty feet and the odor. That is when I found out about merino wool.
Best Work Socks for Sweaty Feet
I have tried all types of socks and materials for my work boots. Cheap socks that I could feel okay with throwing out more frequently and replenishing, socks that are high rise and low rise, thin and thick socks, and everything in between. I started to believe that this was just a genetic thing that I would be forever having to deal with. It was not until I read about merino wool that I thought that this could be the material that may just solve my issue.
But once I saw the price of what merino wool socks were, despite researching the benefits, I thought well if I keep doing what I am doing I will eventually find a sock that works for me. Fast forward three years later and I was still in the same loop that I was years before. Finally getting to a point of being sick and tired of my daily routine after work and wanting to change this for good, I ordered myself a pair of merino wool socks from Darn Tough Vermont.
It was the best decision I have made. No more sweaty feet. No more odor after work. My wife has never been happier. I have never been happier.
Merino Wool Socks for Sweaty Feet
So what is merino wool and why is it so beneficial for sweaty feet?
This wool is from merino sheep that were originally breed in Spain and now in Australia and New Zealand that provides a much finer, softer, and more comfortable material than regular wool making it ideal for socks that are form-fitting and constantly in movement. The fine wool makes a soft material that is smooth on the skin and non-itchy. It is naturally breathable and moisture-wicking pulling moisture away from your body allowing it to evaporate and regulate your temperature keeping your feet dry. It can actually absorb up to a third of its weight in moisture without the material feeling wet. It has natural antimicrobial properties resisting buildup of bacteria that cause odor thus making it an odor-resistant material. And because it is temperature regulating, it will keep you warm when it is cold and cool when it is hot.
Not to mention that it is eco-friendly, biodegradable, and sustainable which is why all of these benefits make it more superior than a pair of synthetic blends that a lot of socks are made of and claim to offer the same benefits. Though in my experience those synthetic blends of socks never have worked for me.
Best Merino Wool Socks for Sweaty Feet
I have since tried a few brands of merino wool socks from various manufacturers. I have been pleasantly surprised by this material and will never buy another pair of socks that are not merino wool again. The main hurdle you need to get over initially is the price tag. Merino wool is expensive when comparing it to any other socks. It just is what it is. But once you get over that price tag, you make a purchase, you will find that it was worth it in the long run. For me personally, it cut down my feet washing routine at the end of my work days and made my wife happier at the end of the day which is all I can ask for from a pair of socks.
After trying these socks for months now, I now have brand loyalty to Darn Tough Vermont socks for their durability while also their comfortability throughout my time with them. Not to mention they have an unbeatable warranty.
Darn Tough Socks Review
Darn Tough Vermont makes my favorite pair of merino wool socks. They are based in Vermont where they knit the socks and guarantee them for life. From 2004 they started with a running sock and expanded on that lineup from there making socks for a variety of applications.
They have a lifetime warranty that will replace your socks if, “they are not the most comfortable, durable and best-fitting socks you can buy.” If you wear a hole in them, they will replace them free of charge. If your socks get inadvertently damaged, their warranty will apply as long as they can tell they were a pair of Darn Tough socks. That is a warranty that I am happy to pay as much as I did for these socks.
Most pairs of merino wool socks I purchased performed similarly with moisture-wicking performance leaving my feet dry and odor-free at the end of the day. But I found Darn Tough socks to be the most comfortable of the few that I did purchase and I will be continuing to purchase my merino wool socks from them.
I swear by these socks. They have solved my issues of sweaty feet during an 8-10 hour day in work boots in the hot summer and into the cold of winter working outside. I will never buy another pair of socks.
These are the exact pair of Darn Tough Socks that I purchased:
