this post was submitted on 06 Mar 2025

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Socks - what's good, what lasts? I need to buy socks. (aussie.zone)

submitted 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) by dumblederp@aussie.zone to c/frugal@aussie.zone

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So after ten to twenty five years of use it seems that most of my pairs of Holeproof Explorers are giving up on me. They're wearing out in such a manner that darning the spots isn't going to cut it anymore. I hear rumours that the company has changed hands and the modern versions just aren't the same quality.

So I'm up for 5-10 pairs of new socks. I hear good things about wool / merino, but buying anything online I'm sceptical of the actual quality once it gets to me. Even temu makes their products look appealing all the way until you open the package.

Given this group is still small and off the marketing radar, anyone got any brand name suggestions, or even stores I should visit, maybe I should be buying wool and a sock knitting machine.

Thanks for your thoughts.

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[–] rcbrk@lemmy.ml 3 points 5 days ago

Australian Knitting Mills, or Australian Woollen Mills.. not really sure what name they go by.

It's run mostly by a bitter old knitting machine technican / wizard with poor social and marketing skills, and his partner.

Last time I knew anything was from ~2021 visiting their factory in Coburg to buy some socks and long underwear, at which point they were already looking at moving/retiring to the east coast.

Bob told me they were the original manufacturer of Explorers, before his business partner wanted to take things in a different direction, whereupon they split the business and we can see Australian Woollen mills kept striving for high quality but didn't evolve with the fashions while Holeproof set fashion trends and sent machines overseas but gradually enshittified.

The pair of "Ultra thick hiking socks" are my most frequently worn socks and are still going strong since 2021: https://www.aust-woollenmills.com/shop/hiking-sock-ultra-thick-100-merino/hiking

No online ordering, just phone and bank transfer. If you're gonna make a massive order I'd call them to confirm when someone will actually be there, at either their Coburg (8 Trade Place) or Collingwood (13 Hood Street) places. There's a few phone numbers scattered around their website.

[–] maniacalmanicmania@aussie.zone 5 points 1 month ago (2 children)

TIL about sock knitting machines. Apparently I live under a rock. So is my partner getting a Nutribullet or a sock knitting machine for their birthday 🤔.

[–] melbaboutown@aussie.zone 4 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

I saw those! There was apparently an old man who made a knitting machine and churned out socks in bulk for the homeless. I think he would have made long tubes and then used the method to insert heels later or just made tube socks.

Edit: Found the video https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=81KcOamobAU

There are affordable knitting machines of different sizes on eBay if either of you are keen.

If you want thick long lasting socks though it pays to use slip stitches which are easier to do by hand. This is what makes the fabric denser and gives little loops you see on the inside of thicker socks like Explorers.

Edit: There’s a special cast-on to make seamless socks if you have sensitive feet.

Also there are special sock yarns that blend nylon with wool or cotton to make it harder wearing. Superwash wool is nice but I find it stretches out weirdly and the socks I used it for slip down off my feet

[–] Ilandar@lemm.ee 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Not sure which NutriBullet you were looking at but my partner had the Portable one and it died not long after the 1 year warranty expired. It seems we are not the only ones who had issues with them, either. Of course, there are theorical consumer protections beyond the warranty in Australia, but that does require chasing up retailers and/or manufacturers which can be time consuming and annoying. NutriBullet doesn't provide a post-purchase repair service either, so if you can't provide proof of purchase you can't even pay them to get it fixed.

[–] maniacalmanicmania@aussie.zone 3 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Yikes.

The ACCC used to have a contact email on their website 20 years ago. I had an issue with a faulty product once and got the run around. Decided to Cc the ACCC address into the email reply and hey presto, my issue was resolved. Or maybe it was fair trading. Anyway, yeah I'll check out alternative blender/juicers.

Thanks 👍

[–] Theoriginalthon@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Ive pretty much replaced all my socks with darn tough socks, not exactly frugal, but when they wear out you can get them replaced for free.

[–] dumblederp@aussie.zone 1 points 1 month ago (3 children)

Maybe for an American, the replacement guarantee won't be worth the postage for people in Australia. I can get locally made merino socks for $20AUD, Darn Tough are ~$50 a pair on Amazon.com.au.

[–] gazter@aussie.zone 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Oooh, I was about to recommend Darn Tough- but what's these local merino ones you mention?

You can sometimes find Darn Tough or Smartwool on sale at outdoor shops, I've always found them both to be quite good.

[–] dumblederp@aussie.zone 1 points 1 month ago

Bruce Goose, they've got a stall at the Queen Vic Markets.

[–] JustJoe@lemm.ee 2 points 1 month ago

Can’t beat locally made, I know it’s not popular now with some of my fellow Americans screwing up as much as they can but Darn Tough are really great socks and are made by a small company in Vermont. I can sympathize with not wanting to spend 50 bucks a pair, 20 bucks is hard to swallow even but I’m wearing a pair right now that are at least 8 years old and am confident they will honor their warranty.

[–] Theoriginalthon@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

Not American, I'm in the UK, the fulfilment on warranty is from the Netherlands I think. They are about the same price as other technical wool socks £20 or so. It's the warranty that did it for me, I started with 2 pairs, then every Xmas/birthday asked for a pair

[–] Nath@aussie.zone 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

The only socks I own with 10+ years' worth of wear in them are Explorer socks. I don't wear them in summer though. My summer socks are either Bonds or Underworks. Neither last 10 years, but keep in mind that I punish my socks - I take around 18,000 steps per day so I probably wear my socks out twice as fast as a normal person.

[–] dumblederp@aussie.zone 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Have you bought any explorers recently?

[–] Nath@aussie.zone 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

No. Because they last 10+ years. 😃

Well, 10+ winters. like I said, I only wear them in the cool months. Now that I'm in Perth, that means about May - September.

[–] dumblederp@aussie.zone 2 points 1 month ago

I'm in a similar boat, but I've heard that the new explorers have gone to shit which I why I'm researching socks before rushing out and buying another pile of explorers to replace the worn out ones.

[–] TheCriticalMember@aussie.zone 3 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

I used to work as a meter reader, so lots of hoofing it. I tried several brands of bamboo socks because they were all the rage but I found they all fell apart really quick. Eventually I found satisfaction with tradies wool blend work socks - https://www.tradie.com/mens/tradie-2pk-wool-blend-work-socks-3941.html

I won't tell you they're the best out there, nor will I promise you that they'll last you 10-25 years, but I found them good enough in terms of comfort and durability. Can get them from big w.

[–] Taleya@aussie.zone 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Bruce goose aren't too bad, you'll get a good decade out of them. Well, hubs does and he tends to wear the same pair over and over. If you rotate you'll get even longer

I used to be a big fan of kmart crew, but last time i bought was 20 years ago, they're probably absolutely shit quality now.

Edit: last bought bruce gooses last Christmas so they're not enshittified yet

[–] dumblederp@aussie.zone 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

It's the enshittification I'm worried about. Australian made is a nice bonus too. Holeproof is Hanes which is USA.

Bruce goose has a shop at QVM, $20 with pickup.

[–] melbaboutown@aussie.zone 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

This was years ago but I used to buy bamboo workboot socks from Aussie Disposals.

Mind though that the quality might not be the same anymore and bamboo/viscose takes longer to dry (and is less wicking) than wool or cotton.

I have made a couple of pairs by hand but it requires you learn a few particular skills

[–] No1@aussie.zone 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

bamboo/viscose takes longer to dry (and is less wicking) than wool or cotton.

Cotton is not good with moisture at all.

"In summary, if you prioritize moisture-wicking and comfort, bamboo and wool (especially Merino wool) are better choices compared to cotton. Bamboo is softer and more hypoallergenic, while wool offers superior moisture-wicking and temperature regulation. Cotton, while comfortable and durable, is not ideal for activities where moisture management is crucial."

[–] melbaboutown@aussie.zone 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Agreed. I just find some of the bamboo items I own seem to absorb moisture and dry more slowly than cotton, so they effectively trap and hold moisture against your skin to a degree I haven't experienced with cotton. It's something that can be clammy and uncomfortable especially with things like socks or underwear.

That said the bamboo socks I have are thicker and more protective against rubbing or blisters from rigid boots than the woollen Explorers.

[–] No1@aussie.zone 2 points 1 month ago

Funny you mention that.

I think thickness and weave definitely plays a role.

I have some thin bamboo socks and they perform well. I have some thicker bamboo socks, and they seem OK on the foot, but when drying on the line they seem to take an awful long time. To be honest, i can't remember where I got them from, and have even been a bit suspect about whether they are really bamboo...