I've been buying Smart Wool socks for a long time now. I've bought run socks, hike socks, liner socks, & regular day-to-day socks. I've found that I prefer the fit & height of the hike ankle most of the time. They keep dropping the amount of actual wool in the hike ankle socks. They do still have a decent amount of wool, but somewhere around half, rather than the 80% or something they started with. (It also varies a bit depending on the particular sock. )
They have also decreased the amount of padding in the hike ankle socks that I like. The light cushioned aren't too bad, though they do have less than they used to, but there are some socks with the same name that have light cushion & some that have only partial, & the ones with partial may as well have zero.
Because the names are the same, I bought some thinking I was getting the same socks, only to find that they were pretty awful for what I need. (If you don't want any cushion, then you'd probably like them, though. ) Thankfully, Smart Wool did make good on their guarantee & refunded me for them. And, I was able to find these with the light cushion.
Again, they do not have as much cushion as they used to, & I wish they had a little more, but they are decent. Yes, they do make socks with a significant amount of cushion, but only the really heavy & taller socks. I live in Florida, so I don't want those, except for the rare chilly "winter" we get a few weeks of the year. And, those socks are still good for that. I bought some this past winter & they were still good socks. (They are the hike crew & I'd guess some of the other types with heavier cushion would be similar, as to amount of cushion, warmth, & durability. )
All that said, they are still the best merino-based wool socks I have found, & they are not insanely expensive, like some others, though they certainly are not cheap. And, they do still last quite awhile, especially given that they are literally the only socks I wear. (& I almost always have socks on. )
Also, I used to live in Illinois, & back then I also bought several of the heavier socks & those were very warm, especially if used along with the liner socks, & they lasted a long time. They also had a lot of cushion.
Also, the fit of the hike ankle socks is good. They are comfortable; not scratchy, not too tight & not too lose, & they stay in place. To me, the run socks are too tight, but to others, they may be what you want. The colors are fun, though I do wish they had more neutral socks, to choose from, too. But, I do like the socks I have found. And, they are machine washable, which is great.
And, I also really appreciate their sock recycling program. It's nice to know that they do that, rather than let the material wind up as waste.
So after that rambling review, I will say that overall I am still happy with Smart Wool, & I think that most people should be able to find a sock that they like from their vast variety. I'd still recommend them after many, many years of purchasing them.
Originally posted on Smartwool