GOOD black socks

cosmnw1

Hello everybody

I don't like having to pair socks, so I try to buy them all the same.

I buy them in Primark, the cheapest bunch there is, but they are awful and they break too easily. I know there are better options because I remember a batch a few years ago that lasted AGES. I think it was in H&M.

These are my requirements in order of preference:
1 - Black.
2 - Long.
3 - Must last forever (90 years will do)
4 - 100% cotton - but see 3 above, I'm open to some type of mix if it helps durability

I'm not too fussed about other characteristics e.g. thickness.

What's the best value for money? What does the collective wisdom recommend? I would like to buy 50 pairs and be done with this problem in my life for the next few years. :T

I welcome suggestions. Thanks in advance.
C

Sui_Generis

I've been doing this for years and my recommendation is M&S. They stymied this to some extent a while back when I needed some and they only had stock of the coloured toe and heel but as that doesn't get seen I don't feel the need to pair. A pity it polluted the sock drawer but I valiantly battled to get over it.

parmavioletuk

I second M&S. I'm the same as you in that I prefer black cotton socks that last. I always get them from M&S and they last many years. Having said that I have tiny feet so I tend to buy boys socks. Apparently girls only wear lacy white or pink socks according to M&S...

torbrex

HJ Hall socks are the ones that I have been wearing for about 35 years and I have never found better, they used to be called 'indestructible' and pretty much lived up to the name as far as I'm concerned.
They do make other designs but they are only guaranteed 6 months

HJ Socks

I will sing the praises of these sock as long as I live :T :T

eta
I should add that I bought 24 pairs 3 years ago and I'm still working on the first 12 pairs, the rest are still in the packaging

cosmnw1

parmavioletuk wrote: »

I second M&S. I'm the same as you in that I prefer black cotton socks that last. I always get them from M&S and they last many years. Having said that I have tiny feet so I tend to buy boys socks. Apparently girls only wear lacy white or pink socks according to M&S...

Sui_Generis wrote: »

I've been doing this for years and my recommendation is M&S. They stymied this to some extent a while back when I needed some and they only had stock of the coloured toe and heel but as that doesn't get seen I don't feel the need to pair. A pity it polluted the sock drawer but I valiantly battled to get over it.

Thank you both for the suggestion. May I ask you if you go for a particular model / blend of fabrics?

C

cosmnw1

torbrex wrote: »

HJ Hall socks are the ones that I have been wearing for about 35 years and I have never found better, they used to be called 'indestructible' and pretty much lived up to the name as far as I'm concerned.
They do make other designs but they are only guaranteed 6 months

HJ Socks

I will sing the praises of these sock as long as I live :T :T

eta
I should add that I bought 24 pairs 3 years ago and I'm still working on the first 12 pairs, the rest are still in the packaging

Thanks for the review. The indestructible don't come in black colour apparently <https://goo.gl/lPKDkr&gt; . Also they look a bit on the too long side, and it doesn't look like I would be able to mix them with any other type, they are not "plain" in terms of the fabric. I take your point that I could just invest a bit of money and "standardised" on these. But the lack of a black version really is the showstopper.

These are plan <- https://goo.gl/VgvR1p>, and would do, but do you vouch for other models in the same way you vouch for the indestructible? I guess I could test drive a pair. For the moment my number (8.5) is out of stock though.:(

But many thanks for the suggestion, this looks like a fine shop. I might get a different model for the "special" occasions anyway.

C

ceredigion

I am very fussy !, will only wear M&S merino wool. £7 a pair though.

torbrex

cosmnw1 wrote: »

Thanks for the review. The indestructible don't come in black colour apparently <https://goo.gl/lPKDkr&gt; . Also they look a bit on the too long side, and it doesn't look like I would be able to mix them with any other type, they are not "plain" in terms of the fabric. I take your point that I could just invest a bit of money and "standardised" on these. But the lack of a black version really is the showstopper.

These are plan <- https://goo.gl/VgvR1p>, and would do, but do you vouch for other models in the same way you vouch for the indestructible? I guess I could test drive a pair. For the moment my number (8.5) is out of stock though.:(

But many thanks for the suggestion, this looks like a fine shop. I might get a different model for the "special" occasions anyway.

C

I have not tried any of their other socks bar the indestructible styles and due to the nature of my feet, I HAVE to get them only otherwise I would be as well getting the 3 pairs for a pound from the high street shops.
A friend also shopped there for socks and he got all different styles and I never heard him say a word against them.

You could do what I have done and buy multiple pairs of the same style and that way there is no pairing up to do but as you say, you are looking for plain black.

shopbot

I'm going to go against the consensus and say that I don't think much of the quality of the M & S socks. I used to buy the 100% cotton Fresh Feet packs and was disappointed how quickly they had holes in them. Even fresh out of the packet you could see where the holes appear.

I can't offer an amazing alternative though. I am trying Next socks at the moment.

DCFC79

I buy socks from Next, they are 81% Cotton and do last but cant say how long as I don't replace them with a new pack. I used to buy them from M&S but the last pack I bought they had changed the size and were too big, I came across the ones in Next and they were the same size as the socks I used to get form M&S

Kernow666

I only wear pringle socks can usually get them at a good price in Matalan or TK Maxx
as I wear them everyday for work sometimes upto 12hrs at a time I find them really comfortable and they don't cut into you