Ballston Lightweight 81% Merino Wool Crew Hiking Socks - 4 Pairs for Men and Women

Not a quality sock. They almost appear to be seconds. The stitching shows thru at the seams and fibers on the sole are starting to fray after just one day of wear. I can already see they won’t last thru this winter season.UPDATE- I’ve worn these socks daily since I received them. They are without a doubt the most comfortable socks in my drawer. They stay soft after washing and aren’t wearing thru like I initially thought. Just remember to air dry them and never machine dry or you’ll end up with doll clothes. I’ll be buying more. I review again after the winter season.UPDATE 2 - still the most comfortable Sox in my drawer but not durable. The bottoms near the ball of the foot wear thru in one season. I will still buy more for next winter as I feel $25 for 3 pairs are worth the comfort even if I only get one winter out of them.

I'm grateful these socks come in size small! Small size fits women's shoe size 5 and 5.5 and 6 just fine. The sock can feel a bit rough or scratchy on the bottom, but that's minor. The price is reasonable and well worth it for the quality.I purchased all three types - lightweight, medium weight, and heavy weight - but had to return the medium and heavy weight socks after seeing how incredibly thick they were. They really put my notion of "cold" into perspective. I think the lightweight sock is sufficient for everyday cold weather use and is more similar in thickness to other sock brands like Smartwool or Alaska Knits. Medium and heavy weight would probably be perfect for snowy or freezing temperatures where you'd need to wear thick boots.

I wear 10.5 size shoe. The large size is what I purchased, and they fit correctly. I didn't believe some reviews, but I have learned merino wool when wet does emit a wet dog odor. I wash them separately and let them dry in the garage. I washed them twice so far, and they still appear to be in decent shape. From the reviews I've read, I hope the odor will dissipate over time. Extreme comfort as I had expected, but I will be trying different brand merino wool socks to verify the odor. AZ

There has been a fabric and sizing change from older versions of this sock. The calf length has decreased and the material is a bit less elastic and more dense. These still are good socks but I prefer the older style.Otherwise, these are my go-to socks for year round comfort when working, walking or hiking. I have tried many, many, many brands over the years and Ballston are hands-down the best.

These socks are just what I wanted. I love Merino wool: it is warm, it breathes, and it does not itch. I wear heavy Merino socks in winter, but needed lighter weight socks for temperate weather. These socks are perfect. I hope they wear as well as my other socks; I will update this review if I experience problems, but so far, I am happy with this purchase.

They fit perfectly, look good, feel good, and stay up pretty well also. I wanted lightweight wool socks that would not make all my shoes and boots feel too tight (like my heavyweight wool socks do), and these are just right. I hope to be able to wear them year-round as they do not make my feet feel hot in my shoes like cotton blend socks do.So far there's been no shrinkage. I turn them inside out to wash, and let them air dry overnight. Being wool they actually air dry pretty quickly.I hear Ballston may launch these in ankle length soon, which will be perfect for sneakers this summer. Can't wait!I highly recommend this product and this company. I'll buy from them again.

These socks have all the benefits I expect from wool -- moisture-wicking, anti-microbial, and breathable.The thickness is good for all seasons, including warm weather. I wear them to work and they keep my feet dry and comfortable.The socks do have a strong smell. But unlike other reviewers, I don't think it's a chemical smell. It's a strong wool smell. I don't find the smell unpleasant and it doesn't smell like I have stinky feet. But sometimes standing in them with shoes on, I can smell them so strongly that I wonder if others can as well.

My Boy Scout said they worked well on his summer camp out. It rained most of the week and the socks kept him dry. I did wash them according to the directions before he wore them and let them air dry. There was a strong unpleasant odor coming from them when they were wet. We had to move them to a different room to dry because the smell was so bad. I thought to myself that it was the first wash and they should be all set. I was wrong. When he returned from camp I washed them again and the socks had the same horrible smell and the smell stayed in the other clothes they were washed with.

Never had a problem with quality, any colour washes out to normal.They're wool AND they got the thickness of a normal sock. Dreamland. Daily Driver. Can't say enough good things.