Basics: Underwear and Socks

[holliscx]

The single undergarment I cannot live without are Brooks Brothers full cut boxers. Pounce on these if you ever see them on sale.

Socks I too had a falling out with Smartwool and have yet to find a worthy successor. In Smartwool's defense I emailed them sharing my dissatisfaction, saying that their cycling and hiking socks are superior but the recent pairs of casual, everyday socks I had were a huge disappointment, wearing out in the ball of the foot after light wear. They said mail them back and they would be happy to replace; they want nothing shy of 100% customer satisfaction.

[Eddie]

Socks I too had a falling out with Smartwool and have yet to find a worthy successor.

Please go back and read my post in this thread at #14.

http://www.velocipedesalon.com/forum...tml#post277135

[shirk]

Amazing merino boxers.

I/O Merino they've stopped producing new stuff, so what's left from the last production is on sale. Super soft.

[holliscx]

Please go back and read my post in this thread at #14.

Appreciate that I did skim but didn't pay attention; looking up Darn Tough now

My sentiments exactly re: Smartwool:

To wit: I have Smartwool socks that are probably 8 years old that are still going strong. I also have newer Smartwool socks that are threadbare at the heel and the ball of the foot within a few months of buying them. That's a big drag.

Edit: Just looked up Darn Tough and I'm shocked they don't offer navy in their standard crew socks but overall socks look great thanks again for the tip.

[billrick]

Crap, Labor Day already? Time to start wearing socks again.

[Eddie]

Edit: Just looked up Darn Tough and I'm shocked they don't offer navy in their standard crew socks but overall socks look great thanks again for the tip.

Yes, I too wish they offered a greater variety of colors. They do have a blowout factory-seconds, one-offs, etc. sale once a year (November maybe?) and I've ended up with some colors you don't find on the website. The lack of navy socks was a real pisser back when I wore a suit to work everyday.

[chasea]

Then there's this.

BBC News - Elvis Presley underpants could fetch £10,000 at auction

[Brandon White]

I think this is a new brand. Anyone with any experience? Don't make me buy Rapha underwear - I'm seriously about to.

https://mackweldon.com


How about bamboo underwear - any good brands out there without someone's name or initials on the band?

[EDS]

I like the cut of the vineyard vines boxers.

[holliscx]

I have no affiliation/interest/etc. in Darn Tough other than I really appreciate their stuff.

Just ordered 4 pair of the green crew sock from Steven Alan in the East Hampton store which still has some stock. On sale for $9

STANDARD ISSUE CREW SOCK - Steven Alan

These better be good!

[WadePatton]

after a couple of months of wearing _the new drawers_ i can now assure you that cotton sucks for underpants. I'm partial to the expacifico brief. UA starts out nice, but doesn't wear as well as the XP.

and smartwool ain't shit next to swiftwick, the greatest athletic sock ever. i've worn out enough smartwools to earn the right to say that with authority. (caution or bonus, depending upon your point of view, swiftwick makes plastic socks too. i only wear wool.)

thanks y'all for the HU on high-preformance tighties-not-whities.

[miwuksurfer]

My new favorite sock for cycling and work dress are the DeFeet wooleators. They seem the perfect thickness for me with the nylon and wool in all the right places.

[Matthew J]

For the office Pantherella cashmere or sea island cotton when real hot. Choctaw Ridge skivvies are a recent happy find.

On the bike or hiking in hot weather Patagonia socks and skivvies. Rest of the year alpaca socks from the Rambling Rose Ranch Upper Peninsula Mi. and Pulse Naked merino wool boxers.

All first world made. Comfortable and top quality.

[omnigrid]

the best: Dahlgren® | design. function. technology.

[Matthew J]

the best: Dahlgren® | design. function. technology.

Thanks for the link. Alpaca, Merino MUSA, fair price to boot.

[chasea]

I have no idea how this thread is still going.

I just want to thank you all for not posting pictures.

[billrick]

Thanks, Chasea. I'm so proud of this thread.

[defspace]

For those of you with Schleck-ly calves - any suggestion for socks that don't just end up bunched up around the ankles after 15 minutes? Seriously - the only socks I have that stay up all day are compression socks...

[christian]

The key is OTC socks. I only wear merino wool ones. Land's End and Gold Toe 65-85% wool are the best compromise in terms of cost/performance. I posted ATH about this. Let me see if I can dig up the post.

[christian]

This is what I posted across the hall.

I wear 85%+ merino wool over-the-calf dress socks at least 261 days per year, so this is a topic I consider myself an expert on.

My favorites are Gold Toe, Pantherella, Lands End, Brooks Brothers, and Jos. A Bank in about that order.

Gold Toe:
+ Hardest wearing
+ Cheap
- Ribbing is fairly wide
- Elastic up top is very tight
- Less insulation than Pantherella or Lands End
- Actually not very comfortable

Pantherella:
+ Exceptionally comfortable
+ Fine ribbing
+ Reasonably hard wearing
- $26 per pair (!)

Land's End
+ Comfortable
+ Mid-width ribbing
+ Moderate price
+ Last about 6 months in once per week rotation
- Not as comfortable as Pantherella
- Not as hard wearing as Gold Toe
- Toes wear out first

Brooks Brothers
+ Comfortable
+ Mid-width ribbing
+ Last about 6 months in once per week rotation
- Not as comfortable as Pantherella
- No real advantage against Land's End at higher cost

Jos. A Bank
(note, these are NOT ribbed)
+ Reasonably comfortable
+ Cheap when on sale
- Heels wear out quickly
- Can feel nylon content (~ 20%)

I've tried other brands, but these are the current denizens of my sock drawer. If I had to, I could easily get by with just LE and Gold Toe. But let me be clear - the LE socks are more comfortable. The Gold Toes just wear like iron, and that's critical for me.

The Pantherellas are great, but I wouldn't own the two pair I had if I didn't receive them as a gift. And yes, my friends and family know me well enough that OTC wool dress socks are ALWAYS on the gift list.