Do any of you buy a brand of sock that actually wears for more than about four months? When our two oldest sons were little (this was around 17-20 years ago)their socks lasted and lasted. I have a cousin that is slightly older than my oldest son and I was give his outgrown socks for my oldest and then they were handed down to my son next in line and then some of these were still in good enough shape to be given away. Most of the socks that lasted through three and four "owners" were dress socks that were worn one to three times a week but the everyday wear socks did last through two boys.

None of the socks worn by my husband, two adult sons and younger son,(and myself) last for more than four months. They are different styles (tube and crew) and we have tried several brands. This is very frustrating because it becomes quite an expense at times. The two older sons purchase their own now but we still have my husbands, mine and our youngest to buy.

-- Terry - NW Ohio (aunt_tm@hotmail.com), November 26, 2001

Answers

Terry- I have bought socks that developed holes after ONE washing! At first I fussed at my kids, I thought maybe they were running outside in thier socks or something, but its the socks!

My husband works in an office and his dress socks hold up much better. Also, at home he wears wool socks that last a long time- years in fact, though initially they are pricey. I have been buying socks for my daughter and myself at thrift stores- they actually hold up a little better, it seems to me than brand new socks, and at 10-30 cents a pair, the price is far better. For my ten year old son, I get a kind that have a thick grey sole and white tops-I don't know the name but K-mart carries them-they do pretty well.

-- Kelly in Ky (ksaderholm@yahoo.com), November 26, 2001.

vermont country store

-- Rose (open_rose@hotmail.com), November 26, 2001.

I get my husband's socks at Mark's Work Wearhouse -- I figure black socks are black socks, and no will be looking closely enough at his feet to see that they're heavier than regular dress socks. I also find that the heavier black cotton socks you get at WalMart are better than the white sport socks for lasting.

I knit my socks and the boys socks from reclaimed wool and cotton sweaters from the thrift shop. The quality of yarn in 20 year old knitwear is MUCH better than the quality of the new yarns you buy now. I keep my eye out for a sweater or scarf, etc., with what looks to be good quality yarn. I buy these for usually less than a dollar and get several pairs of socks out of them.

I have bought the boys the white tube socks, but they never last more than a couple of months. I have a BIG problem with throwing money out on stuff that doesn't last!

-- Tracy (trimmer31@hotmail.com), November 26, 2001.

Terry, glad you asked this, I'll show it to my husband, His socks wear out in no time.

-- Cindy (S.E.IN) (atilrthehony@countrylife.net), November 26, 2001.

If you are using white socks and bleaching them, the bleach can weaken the fibers and cause holes to develop sooner. I only buy gray or black socks

-- Melissa (me@home.net), November 26, 2001.

Melissa,

I never bleach our socks. I started to tell you the reason for that but decided it would be best to make a new post for so as not to stray from the question concerning quality socks.

-- Terry - NW Ohio (aunt_tm@hotmail.com), November 26, 2001.

Kelly,

I've never had a hole in a sock after just one washing but have had many an underwear band come lose after the first washing. Isn't that frustrating and also sad that so many things are no longer of good quality?

Tracy, I crochet a little and am planning to learn knitting this winter (found a Coats interactive CD-ROM on clearance). I would really like to learn to knit socks. I may have a few questions for you later this winter if you don't mind.

-- Terry - NW Ohio (aunt_tm@hotmail.com), November 26, 2001.

Hi Rose,

Have you purchased any of the socks from Vermont Country Store? If you have, how long do they last? The only ones in their catalog that come close to being affordable for us would be the Red-Heeled monkey socks. They list them as being over-the-calf length and that is what two of my guys like best. At almost $5.00 a pair though, they would need to last a long time.

-- Terry - NW Ohio (aunt_tm@hotmail.com), November 26, 2001.

All I want is a sock that will stay up past my boot tops when I have to run some. I have plenty of socks with no holes in them, but they will not stay up. I put them on carefully, wash them gently and line dry.

I wear them with other shoes until they develope holes at which point they become dish rags, padding for potholders, etc. But they get to that point much too quickly and I can use only so many old socks.

Where do I find a Vermont catalog?

-- carol (kanogisdi@yahoo.com), November 27, 2001.

Carol,

Try www.vermontcountrystore.com or call 1-802-362-8440.

-- Terry - NW Ohio (aunt_tm@hotmail.com), November 27, 2001.

I like Fruit Of The Loom's work socks (they are white on top and gray at the bottom.) They wear like iron and are relatively inexpensive. The downside is that the top of the gray patch tends to show a bit when you wear low-cut shoes.

-- me (me@foobar.org), October 17, 2002.