Online: www.REI.com
URL for this product:

From the U.S. and Canada — Call 1-800-426-4840
Mon. through Sun., 4 a.m. through 11 p.m. PT.
International — Call 1-253-891-2500
Mon. through Sun., 4 a.m. through 11 p.m. PT. English language only.

WALNUT

REI Merino Wool Expedition Socks

$10.09
$14.50^*

REDUCED PRICE You Save 30%

(43)

Item # 664970

100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
Gear and Advice You Can Trust

Orders of $50 or more ship for free.
Learn more

To view videos or use the zoom feature on REI's websites, please download the latest version of Adobe Flash Player.

NOW PLAYING

These heavyweight, cushioned REI Merino Wool expedition socks are a perfect fit for cold-weather hiking and backpacking.

Stretch nylon reinforces heel and toe area for long-wearing durability and comfort; arch band offers additional support
Made from merino lambswool blended with nylon and a bit of Lycra® spandex for durability and dependable fit
*Discount will be applied when you check out. Offer not valid for sale-price items ending in $._3 or $._9

Made in USA.

Item 664970

Save 10% when you buy any 3 pairs of full-price socks!*

View all REI products

REI Membership

REI Membership $20.00

REI Merino Wool Expedition Socks Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews

REI Merino Wool Expedition Socks

4.3

(based on 43 reviews)

86%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

Durable (32)
Regulates temperature well (29)
Comfortable (25)
Good design (24)
Cushy (21)

Cons

Heavy / bulky (8)
Bunches up (3)
Uncomfortable (3)

Best Uses

Backpacking (27)
Hiking (27)
Daily use (23)
Mountaineering (12)
Travel (11)

- Fit:
- Feels too small
  
  Feels true to size
  
  88%
  (35 reviews)
  Feels too big

- Reviewer Profile:
- Casual/ recreational (20), Avid adventurer (15)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (23)

Reviewed by 43 customers

Sort by

Displaying reviews 1-10

Previous | Next »

May

2013

4.0

So far they are very good

By nmunn

from Eastvale, CA

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Cushy
Durable
Good Design
Regulates Temperature Well
Stylish
Warm
Wicks Away Moisture

Cons

Run large

Best Uses

Backpacking
Hiking
Mountaineering

Comments about REI Merino Wool Expedition Socks:

I think these are great socks. I have used them a few times and so far no blisters and no discomfort. I have used them with and without polypropylene liners and I prefer them with. I was concerned that they would be too warm but I was comfortable on a 90*F day hike last week. When these were recommended to me I was told get one size smaller and I did. I would say the same to anyone. They are thick and it is better to have them fit snug than to bunch up. I wear a 12.5 shoe and a 13.5 boot and I bought these in a Large.

Comment on this review

Apr

2013

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Not quite the same sock as before

By Canyon Dweller

from Auburn, CA

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Warm

Cons

Causes Blisters

Best Uses

Backpacking

Comments about REI Merino Wool Expedition Socks:

The trouble with reviews dating back several years is that the product often changes. These socks, for example, used to be easy to pull on and off. Now, they appear to have more elastic woven in, so they are tighter and harder to get on and off. The sock also feels harder on my skin than prior year models. I used to think this was the best sock in the world. It is still a good sock at a good price, and will last you a long while, but it is not as comfortable or easy to use as before. I mostly use it for hiking and backpacking. You may need a Smartwool liner sock inside if you want to cut down on the blisters. This sock is really thick, so it will only work if your shoe or boot has plenty of room in it.

Comment on this review

Dec

2012

(1 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Best winter sock ever made

By Up before the Sun

from Broomfield, CO

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Cushy
Durable
Good Design
Regulates Temperature Well
Seriously Comfortable
Seriously Warm
Stylish
Warm
Wicks Away Moisture

Cons

Bulky

Best Uses

Anything In Cold Weather
Backpacking
Hiking
Snow Shoe

Comments about REI Merino Wool Expedition Socks:

I had to review these because the overall score deserves to be higher. :-) The headline says it all. My feet get cold ridiculously easy. My cold feet limit my winter hiking, snow shoeing, etc - anything in temps below freezing. Not anymore...
I buy no other sock for winter sports.

I listed "bulky" as a con if only to highlight they will not fit in a pair of boots that are close fitting with a thin sock. These socks have some thickness to them (They have to to be so warm).

The quality of these socks also deserves mentioning. They are really well made. I wear a pair of these daily in the winter for at least a few hours while outside. One pair is over two years old. There are no signs of wear on any of them.

Comment on this review

Dec

2012

(5 of 6 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Best Socks in the World

By Kansan

from Bagram, Afghanistan

About Me Military/Law Enforcement

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Cushy
Durable
Regulates Temperature Well
Wicks Away Moisture

Cons

Best Uses

Backpacking
Daily Use
Hiking
Ruck Marching

Comments about REI Merino Wool Expedition Socks:

As an Army officer, I have worn combat boots nearly every day of my life for the past 16 years. In addition to everyday use, I've also worn boots for countless training and field exercises and have been deployed 5 times (Iraq, Afghanistan, and Africa). During this time, I've come to regard socks as the most important piece of gear I wear and I have embarked on a quest for the perfect sock.

I have tested, worn, and owned every hiking sock variant of REI, Thorlo, Smartwool, Wigwam, Fox River and generic Army-issue socks available. Everyone is different, obviously, but for me, the REI Merino Wool Expedition Socks are the best socks I have found. I have worn them in 125 degree temperatures in Kuwait and the Sahara Desert as well as below 0 degree temperatures in the mountains of Afghanistan. I'm now up to about 5 or 6 pairs of REI Expedition socks and I wear them almost exlusively (except when I find another new type of sock to try out...)

The reasons I like these socks so much are:

1. They do not shrink or deform in washers, dryers, or unknown-variants of 3rd world country laundry procedures. The Fox River and Smartwool socks seem to shrink and lose "loft" when subjected to some laundry techniques. Generic Army-issue socks are, of course, worthless after several months even with careful laundering.

2. They wick moisture very well in the heat and keep my feet warm in the cold. Even in very hot temperatures, my feet feel comfortable with these socks. When I air them out at the end of the day, or sometimes in the middle of the day, they dry out in what seems like a very short amount of time. I regularly wear a pair for 3 or 4 days in a row & they remain cushy and odor free. Wigwam socks, for example, seem to retain moisture to a greater extent.

3. Since they are so thick and well made, they seem to be more durable than other comparable pairs of socks. The Thorlo Trekking socks, for example, become loose and lose their stretchy-ness over time. Anything less than a "Expedition" or "Trekking" style sock starts developing thinned out wear-points after several months of hard use (even the REI midweight wool hiking socks). But these seem to last long past the point when others wear out.

4. They are just comfortable. They fit my feet well (I have 11.5 size shoes and weart the Large socks), they provide cushion, they regulate temperature, and are the right amount of soft. Furthermore, they retain these characteristics for a very long time.

One side note, though, is that these are very thick socks, so you will want to wear boots that have some wiggle room in them. I buy boots based off of how they fit around my REI Expedition Socks. As you may be able to tell, I take socks very seriously, and I highly recommend this pair. In my opinion, it is the best pair on the market.

Comment on this review

Nov

2012

1.0

You get what you pay for.

By Brent - AT Hiker

from Atlanta, Ga

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Cushy

Cons

Bulky
Bunches Up
Loses Form After One Wear
Wears Out Quickly

Best Uses

Comments about REI Merino Wool Expedition Socks:

I bought these socks for the price and the "eyeball test" and after reading reviews - i thought i'd give them a try.
I won't blame the blisters on them (i'll leave that for my boots) - but after one wear/one wash they lost all form. The socks heel was up behind my calf and the top of the sock was almost to my knee. I always had good luck with synthetic, i suppose i'll go back to those. It's a shame - i like REI and their products, but this one just didn't work for me.

Comment on this review

Nov

2012

5.0

Super-warm socks

By shoyustuff

from New Jersey

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Cushy
Durable
Good Design
Regulates Temperature Well
Warm

Cons

Best Uses

Daily Use
Hiking
Travel

Comments about REI Merino Wool Expedition Socks:

I wear these in my Oboz Yellowstone II Hiking Boots. They keep my feet warm in 30-degree weather. Wool liners under cotton socks or polyester blend socks do not do the trick.

Service and delivery comments:

These arrived via UPS in two days.

Comment on this review

Aug

2012

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Love these socks

By mkmg365

from Marin County CA

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Cushy
Warm

Cons

Best Uses

Cold feet
Daily Use

Comments about REI Merino Wool Expedition Socks:

I got several pair a couple of years ago. Over time they have shrunk from being in the washer although I let them hang dry. What I PARTICULARLY like about these socks is lining them with a silk liner and my feet stay warm. Being a diabetic I get COLD TOES a lot in winter. Thank you REI for helping me find really good socks to keep my toes warm!

Comment on this review

Jun

2012

(0 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

1.0

Wore only twice and began to unravel

By bob kambic

from Baltimore, Maryland

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Cushy

Cons

Wears Out Quickly
Wore only 2x - unravelled

Best Uses

Comments about REI Merino Wool Expedition Socks:

Have [@] wool socks that have lasted centuries. Sorry to say these REI heavy duty socks began to unravel after wearing only two times. I am going back to the all wool. I think the combination yarn is a problem at wear points. Sorry I cannot recommed these.

Comment on this review

May

2012

5.0

Cheaper and better than Smartwool !!!

By birderbill

from Central Illinois

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Cushy
Durable
Good Design

Cons

Best Uses

Comments about REI Merino Wool Expedition Socks:

Loved Smartwool hiking/expedition socks when they first came out. Then SW got some trail cred and figured they could make the sale just off of their name. Their socks seemed to get thinner and less durable every year. Tried out the REI version, they are cheaper AND better, and much longer lasting than the SWs.

Only con is they don't have more colors.

Comment on this review

Apr

2012

5.0

Excellent Socks

By Raimius

from USA

About Me Military/Law Enforcement

See all my reviews

Pros

Cushy
Regulates Temperature Well

Cons

Best Uses

Hiking
Mountaineering

Comments about REI Merino Wool Expedition Socks:

I used these socks while hiking in the mountains during the spring. The socks were wet almost all day, but I never had any blisters or hot spots. They remained comfortable and regulated temperature well, even when wet. I use Thorlo boot socks quite frequently, but these were even better at preventing blisters and performed better while wet.