Wool. I prefer merino. However, bamboo socks are great in mild weather. The keep your feet dry and are odor resistant. Stay away from cotton, and polyester or other synthetics.
Wool. You don't want cotton as base layer during winter, you will just be walking around with wet clothes.
What about in the summer?
Wool all summer long keeps feet dry
Synthetic or high quality thin merino wool sock, but those can be expensive.
Basically you want to keep you feet dry.
Wet feet in winter = catching a cold
We feet in summer = athlete's foot
Wet socks also make it a lot easier to get blisters. You can also put some baby powder in the socks befor you put them on, this will help with keeping them dry.
Wool
Darn Tough is always the answer when it comes to socks. Lifetime replacement.
I wear darn tuff ankle socks with mine. My name is not Sherlock.
Women's
Anything that goes to my knee.
Wool. The thicker the better until you are used to wearing boots. Hand knit are even better than commercial.
Dickies
Wool wool wool. Always wool. A wool blend CAN be okay, preferably over 70% wool and maybe some nylon with a touch of elastane. Otherwise just straight wool.
Cotton is overrated as hell. Loose billowing cotton can keep you cool in a hot environment maybe, but anywhere cold, the old adage is "cotton kills". Once it gets damp from your body, it traps moisture against your skin.
I do 2 pairs of socks, one thin on the inside and thick woolen with the fluff away from my feet on the outside. Creates an air gap that regulates heat so my feet don't sweat so much and they don't rub. Everytime I wear the fluff facing inward they slink down, facing outward though they cling better to my feet than the boot.
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