Holes in the heels of black dress socks

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student5
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Holes in the heels of black dress socks

Post by student5 »

Does anyone have experience of black dress socks wearing out very quickly nowadays -holes in the heel area and near the toes?
I've bought Gold Toe, Adidas, Puma, Dockers, Costco premium socks, and they all wear out pretty quickly-2-3 months or sooner. They never used to do that 5 years ago, or is it just me?

Anyone recommend other sock brands? Thanks y'all.
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bengal22
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Re: Holes in the heels of black dress socks

Post by bengal22 »

walk on your toes more.
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lws6772
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Re: Holes in the heels of black dress socks

Post by lws6772 »

It does seem like socks wear out sooner these days, I'm guessing they're not making 'em as good(like a lot of other stuff). I buy mine at Sams. They have a green stripe across the toes and I think they are made by Burlington. I've had good luck with the white ones.
selters
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Re: Holes in the heels of black dress socks

Post by selters »

Mine are ten years old. Still no holes. So I don't know.

I am kidding. But only kind of. Some of my socks are literally ten years old and still have no holes. But they not really black anymore. More like grey. So I cannot use them when there's a chance that people will see me wearing them.
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Re: Holes in the heels of black dress socks

Post by Ron »

A needle, black thread, and a darning egg will fix you right up...

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Gort
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Re: Holes in the heels of black dress socks

Post by Gort »

Go commando?
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Re: Holes in the heels of black dress socks

Post by angelescrest »

Gort wrote:Go commando?
My feet went commando today. Gotta love my Allen Edmond loafers.
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blueblock
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Re: Holes in the heels of black dress socks

Post by blueblock »

student5 wrote:they all wear out pretty quickly-2-3 months or sooner. They never used to do that 5 years ago, or is it just me?
I'm being totally serious when I suggest that, yes, it's just you. I wear socks that are years old, some of them the brands you mention, and there is no wear at all.

I'll add that I have a dresser drawer filled to the brim with a zillion pairs of socks, so no single pair gets used all that much. Maybe you need more socks?
ddoubleu
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Re: Holes in the heels of black dress socks

Post by ddoubleu »

student5 wrote:Does anyone have experience of black dress socks wearing out very quickly nowadays -holes in the heel area and near the toes?
I've bought Gold Toe, Adidas, Puma, Dockers, Costco premium socks, and they all wear out pretty quickly-2-3 months or sooner. They never used to do that 5 years ago, or is it just me?

Anyone recommend other sock brands? Thanks y'all.
Before I read your post, I was just going to recommend buying Gold Toe socks because I never get holes in them. But, seeing that you've tried those, I wonder if either 1) you bought fake Gold Toe socks or 2) your shoes don't fit your feet as well as they should. The latter would undoubtedly cause holes due to the friction from rubbing against the heel of your shoe.
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MN-Investor
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Re: Holes in the heels of black dress socks

Post by MN-Investor »

ddoubleu wrote: Before I read your post, I was just going to recommend buying Gold Toe socks because I never get holes in them. But, seeing that you've tried those, I wonder if either 1) you bought fake Gold Toe socks or 2) your shoes don't fit your feet as well as they should. The latter would undoubtedly cause holes due to the friction from rubbing against the heel of your shoe.
From the reviews at Amazon, the quality of Gold Toe socks has decreased in the past several years.
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The Wizard
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Re: Holes in the heels of black dress socks

Post by The Wizard »

Buy black work socks at Walmart. Five packs. They do it for me....
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Toons
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Re: Holes in the heels of black dress socks

Post by Toons »

Black Nike socks work for me. :happy
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joe8d
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Re: Holes in the heels of black dress socks

Post by joe8d »

Trim your toenails.
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TerryDMillerMBA
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Re: Holes in the heels of black dress socks

Post by TerryDMillerMBA »

joe8d wrote:Trim your toenails.
Holes in his HEELS.

Image
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Re: Holes in the heels of black dress socks

Post by TerryDMillerMBA »

Definitely get more pairs in the rotation to spread the wear out.
campy2010
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Re: Holes in the heels of black dress socks

Post by campy2010 »

Smartwool is the answer.

But everything wears out eventually and needs to be replaced. Clothing is made more cheaply that it was in the past.
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goingup
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Re: Holes in the heels of black dress socks

Post by goingup »

bengal22 wrote:walk on your toes more.
:sharebeer
angelescrest
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Re: Holes in the heels of black dress socks

Post by angelescrest »

TerryDMillerMBA wrote:Definitely get more pairs in the rotation to spread the wear out.
Does this actually save money, or rather how many times you wash your socks?
Gardener246
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Re: Holes in the heels of black dress socks

Post by Gardener246 »

I have to agree with Student5, and most disappointingly about SmartWool socks in particular. Over the last six years or so I've noticed that they last much shorter a time than they used to--- holes in the heels, exactly.

So I went into Utube and learned the art of darning from a Ukranian who lives in a rustic cabin somewhere, and he really know how to darn. It takes a long time but indeed I fixed up a few socks that way. But given the time darning takes up and the high price of SmartWool socks I decided they're just not worth the buying anymore.
sharpjm
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Re: Holes in the heels of black dress socks

Post by sharpjm »

I've started doing bamboo socks recently. My dress socks are too new to really tell. But my bamboo running socks have held up incredibly well. Also, they hold no odor, literally none.
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Christine_NM
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Re: Holes in the heels of black dress socks

Post by Christine_NM »

Give Thorlo dress socks a try. I have a lot of casual Thorlos and they never wear out. Eventually they look a little washed out, but I never got a hole.
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N1CKV
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Re: Holes in the heels of black dress socks

Post by N1CKV »

Christine_NM wrote:Give Thorlo dress socks a try. I have a lot of casual Thorlos and they never wear out. Eventually they look a little washed out, but I never got a hole.
I tried a pair of Thorlo black "hiking" socks on a promotion. The socks fell apart after the first wash. They didn't think that through well if they wanted me to actually pay for a pair, especially for the price.

I use Hanes from walmart, athletic style. I also have had Gold Toe with good success. I do not get the thin "hosiery" style.
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Re: Holes in the heels of black dress socks

Post by itstoomuch »

I no longer care if the my socks match in color.
If teenagers can wear different color socks, so can I. :oops:
Trying to downsize without having to buy replacements.
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Re: Holes in the heels of black dress socks

Post by Christine_NM »

N1CKV wrote:
Christine_NM wrote:Give Thorlo dress socks a try. I have a lot of casual Thorlos and they never wear out. Eventually they look a little washed out, but I never got a hole.
I tried a pair of Thorlo black "hiking" socks on a promotion. The socks fell apart after the first wash. They didn't think that through well if they wanted me to actually pay for a pair, especially for the price.

I use Hanes from walmart, athletic style. I also have had Gold Toe with good success. I do not get the thin "hosiery" style.
Interesting. I've been buying online from thorlo.com for 10 years at their semiannual sales and never had a lemon yet.
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gnujoe2001
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Re: Holes in the heels of black dress socks

Post by gnujoe2001 »

Yes! Glad to know its not just me. I normally get the value-pak from Walmart, either Hanes or Starter (I don't recall exactly). They used to wear about after 1-2 years, but I've just had to get a replacement pack about 6 months in from the last replacement. My guess is the material blend is more polyester and less cotton.
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Re: Holes in the heels of black dress socks

Post by abuss368 »

student5 wrote:Does anyone have experience of black dress socks wearing out very quickly nowadays -holes in the heel area and near the toes?
I've bought Gold Toe, Adidas, Puma, Dockers, Costco premium socks, and they all wear out pretty quickly-2-3 months or sooner. They never used to do that 5 years ago, or is it just me?

Anyone recommend other sock brands? Thanks y'all.
Hi student5,

I smiled when I came across this thread. I was just having this conversation at home recently. I have been buying plain black socks from Mens Warehouse for many years and really had no problems. Recently over the past couple of years, I began to notice that the socks feel lighter or thinner and are getting holes in the toes much easier. They are not cheap either!

I may try Jos A. Banks. The socks are a little more expensive and even though it is of the same parent company as Mens Warehouse, perhaps the quality is better.

Best.
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Watty
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Re: Holes in the heels of black dress socks

Post by Watty »

The price of cotton really spiked in 2011 and a lot of companies switched to other less expensive blends, not just with socks, and they have been slow to switch back.

http://www.indexmundi.com/commodities/? ... months=120

That is one of the reasons that the general quality of clothing has declined in the last few years.
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Re: Holes in the heels of black dress socks

Post by batpot »

Humboldt965 wrote:I have to agree with Student5, and most disappointingly about SmartWool socks in particular. Over the last six years or so I've noticed that they last much shorter a time than they used to--- holes in the heels, exactly.
I've experienced the same, and it is indeed quite sad.

I can't stand polyester socks, and while cotton is OK, it fades way too quickly.

The best socks I've bought in the last 5 or so years is wigwam.
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Re: Holes in the heels of black dress socks

Post by Rodc »

I
may try Jos A. Banks. The socks are a little more expensive and even though it is of the same parent company as Mens Warehouse, perhaps the quality is better.
I have some Jos A Banks "Cushion Pima Cotton" dress sock that I really like. Dress socks but heavier than the hosiery type socks, stretchy which works especially well with skinny feet and very comfy. Seem to wear fine as I have some a few years old. Just bought some more.
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Re: Holes in the heels of black dress socks

Post by an_asker »

student5 wrote:Does anyone have experience of black dress socks wearing out very quickly nowadays -holes in the heel area and near the toes?
I've bought Gold Toe, Adidas, Puma, Dockers, Costco premium socks, and they all wear out pretty quickly-2-3 months or sooner. They never used to do that 5 years ago, or is it just me?

Anyone recommend other sock brands? Thanks y'all.
I have been having this happen lately as well. So much so that I started wondering if there is some bug that eats into socks - maybe roaches, maybe spiders, maybe silverfish. But maybe it is just shoddy socks! :oops:
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Re: Holes in the heels of black dress socks

Post by abuss368 »

Rodc wrote:I
may try Jos A. Banks. The socks are a little more expensive and even though it is of the same parent company as Mens Warehouse, perhaps the quality is better.
I have some Jos A Banks "Cushion Pima Cotton" dress sock that I really like. Dress socks but heavier than the hosiery type socks, stretchy which works especially well with skinny feet and very comfy. Seem to wear fine as I have some a few years old. Just bought some more.
Thanks!
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