I picked these up alongside a few other pairs of "high-end" socks for a backpacking trip through southeast asia. After reading through nearly a hundred different sock reviews (exciting I know), I finally decided on my final 3 pairs:
Darn Tough Vermont Men's Merino Wool No-Show Light Cushion Athletic Socks, White/Gray, Large
Drymax Run Lite-Mesh Mini Crew Socks, Black/Grey, Large
Thorlo Men's Experia CoolMax Micro Mini Crew Sock, White/Black, Large
I was trying to find a supersock that could:
1. Withstand daily use through hot and humid climates
2. Was comfortable enough to do large amounts of walking including mountain trekking, rock climbing, and other active sports
3. Endure long periods of use without smelling
4. Wash and dry fairly quickly/easily
5. Wick away moisture to keep your feet dry and cool
It's now been over 1 year since I purchased these socks and since then they've been used extensively throughout all types of climates throughout the world. Here's how these socks have ranked out over time:
COMFORT:
1st - Thorlo Experia - This sock has padding in all the right places and the form fitting design makes the sock hug right to your foot. Probably the most comfortable sock I've ever worn.
2nd - Darn Tough Wool - These socks are soft, thick, and comfortable. They offer plenty of padding when walking for extended periods of time. They do feel a bit bulkier than the Thorlos though, so they're better suited for cold weather than active use
3rd - Drymax Run - The material in these just doesn't have the same softness or padding as the other socks. The fit isn't quite as form fitting, and the cushioning feel thin when walking for extended periods of time
DURABILITY: This category is a bit tough because all three soc have held up well over time. I still have yet to find a single hole, but I have noticed some thinning in a few areas.
1st - Darn Tough - These socks are darn tough. No kidding. They are very thick and have a durable construction. No doubt these socks can last through long periods of use and abuse.
2nd - Drymax - A bit thinner than the Darn Tough, but still resilient none the less. The elasticity of the sock did seem to wear out a bit over time though, so they felt a bit looser after owning them for a long time
3rd - Thorlo Experia - It's tough to rank this one third, because I still have yet to wear this pair out. The only reason for this ranking is that the material in these socks is thinner than the other two. However, since these socks are padded in the toe and heel, these likely won't be wearing out any faster than the other two.
COOLING ABILITY:
1st - Thorlo Experia - The sock's thin material came through as a major plus in this category. These socks are both incredibly comfortable and incredibly breathable. They do a great job of wicking away moisture and keeping your feet cool.
2nd - Drymax - These socks also do a fair job of keeping your feet cool and dry, but their thicker design means they feel less breathable than the Thorlos - as a result, they just don't offer the same level of comfort and cool
3rd - Darn Tough - I was actually a bit disappointed with this sock. Due to the sock's thick construction, it doesn't feel nearly as breathable doesn't do a very good job of keeping your feet cool.
DRY FACTOR:
1st - Dry Max - Once again the sock manages to live up to its name. These socks were able to dry faster than the other two and were easiest to wash and dry than the competitors.
2nd - Thorlo - These socks also did a very good job of drying. The main body of the sock would actually dry out faster than the DryMax. However, the padded heel and toe would take a bit longer due to their thickness.
3rd - Darn Tough - Very poor performance in this category. When these socks get wet, they stay wet. Whenever I would sink-wash these socks, it would sometimes take almost a full 24 hours before they were completely dry.
SMELL FACTOR:
1st - Thorlo Experia - The socks thin construction plays to their favor again in this category. Because they are thin and breathable, the socks are able to ventilate better than the others, allowing for less build-up of bad odors.
2nd - DryMax - These socks did a decent job at remaining odor-free. Because of their faster drying ability, they were good at preventing the build up of foul odors, and were very easy to wash and dry. The didn't ventilate quite as well as the Thorlos though.
3rd - Darn Tough - Again, poor performance in this category. Unfortunately, moisture wasn't the only thing that they held onto. Due to their thicker construction, they did a much better job of retaining bad odors - even after sink washing them. I eventually had to give up on trying to wash them, and just hid them at the bottom of my bag until I could get them to a proper laundry machine.
CONCLUSION:
1st - Thorlo Experia - This sock gave the best overall performance by far. These ended being my go-to sock both while traveling and when heading to the gym at home. They offer exceptional comfort and cooling ability, and despite the 3rd place durability ranking, they are built to last. I would hands down recommend these over the other two brands for both travel and athletic performance.
2nd - Who cares? - Do you really want to buy the second best sock? Just buy three pairs of Thorlos and save yourself the headache of having to read any more nail-biting reviews about socks.
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