the complexities of sock selection

i don't know if anyone else has this problem or not, but man i sure do. especially in the winter.

my mom tries out a lot of socks to find the right thing to wear too. so now she has found these thin ones which feel great. but i like to use them as a liner under another sock. so, i've been doing that for hiking, snowshoeing and snowboarding and have been really happy with how they feel and wick away moisture.

but for work, i just like to throw on a boot sock or cotton crew sock since i wear leather boots every day. this morning i didn't really have any cotton ones laying there, but i found a wool pair that mom had given me to try out.

i know wool is supposed to be the best fabric for wicking and keeping warm even when wet, and it's lightweight and natural and all that. but the stuff just doesn't work with my skin. i don't know if i would say i'm allergic too it, but i don't know what else i would call it. anywhere (especially my feet) that is touching wool gets really itchy and eventually cold and clammy.

so, i was sitting here with these wool socks inside my dr. martin's just feeling miserable. my feet were all sweaty and cold. they just never warmed up. i even went and had a cup of tea. everything else got warm, but not my feet. so i had to go into my emergency stash of socks. i always carry a pair in my work bag in case i step in a pile of slush or get rained on while biking or something. i think having wet socks inside your shoes for a whole day is really miserable.

anyway, my feet are now feeling a bit better. and i have to remember to replace my socks in my bag tonight. don't want to get caught without some time when i really need them. my sister got my a pair of columbia socks for christmas. they fit perfectly and have the right cushion inside boots and keep my feet warm and stuff. maybe i should just find out where she got them and the kind and order about 2 dozen pairs. that would be really nice.