REVIEW: Minus33 Merino Wool Argyle Socks

I love socks. I enjoy shopping for them, and even more, I enjoy wearing them. About twice/year, I fill online shopping carts with high performance socks for my various needs – hiking, long distance power walking, skiing, everyday workouts, socks for work, and socks to wear around the house on cold days. Socks need to perform in order to earn real estate in my dresser. If they can look fun on top of the critical performance factor, they become a favorite.

When socks perform well, you don’t think about them. That, to me, is a sign of excellence. Really, think about the last time you actively thought about socks – it’s probably because they trapped in sweat, caused blisters, contributed to bad odor, or caused such discomfort that you may have even blamed the shoes.

Whenever I wear these merino wool argyle socks, I don’t think about them. They don’t rub, odor is never an issue, and I never feel at risk of blisters. I never stop to think about how I can’t wait to get my shoes off and air my puppies out. They wick moisture quickly, the bottoms are nicely cushioned which make for comfortable long distance trekking, and even better – they’re a fun pattern that are versatile enough to wear to work or on the trail.

I began by wearing these to work, which is roughly 11 hours without seeing the light of day and approximately six miles of walking. Usually, when I get home, I put on a fresh pair of socks. With these, I sometimes discovered them – to my surprise – on my feet hours after getting home and realized I was so comfortable, dry, and cushioned, that I didn’t feel the usual need to change them.

I continued to wear these to work and on weekends every time they were clean.  I tried out some local hiking and continued to be pleased with their comfort and with how dry they continued to keep my feet, even in strenuous conditions.

As a final test, I wanted some serious cold weather action.  Sure, I’d worn them on my cold hardwood floors at home and stayed cozy, but that was not the same thing as the freezing temperatures of Patagonia, complete with gale force winds that require you to lean in so hard that you would fall to the ground if they suddenly stopped.  I’m happy to say, these socks kept my toes warm through these unrelenting, fierce winds during a trek over rocks and loose scree.  They felt equally good for simply wandering around town in the blustery, bone-chilling air.  That said, plan on these being fall or winter socks; they do such a good job at keeping you warm, that you’ll likely sweat in temperatures over 70 degrees.  While they will wick your moisture quickly, they are significantly more comfortable when you require warmth.

During my 35 hours of travel back home, as my feet were freezing on a 10.5 hour flight, I found myself wishing Minus33’s Merino Wool Argyle Socks were clean and on my feet.  Next time…

Temperature considerations aside, the only struggle I had is with the elastic at the top.  After 11+ hours on my feet, the elastic ring leaves a mark on my calves, though not uncomfortably so.  On the up side, you’ll never have to worry about these socks sliding down.  Besides, it’s a small price to pay for cushioned, dry comfort and warmth.

Summary:

✅ Fast wicking
✅ Delightful cushion
✅ High comfort
✅ Nice warmth
✖ Tight elastic around calves

Disclaimer: Minus33 provided us with this item to test for this review.  All testing is unbiased.  Our policy is – if we love the product, we’ll rave about it.  If we don’t, well, we’ll be honest about it.