I have been a smartwool guy for years. In fact, they are the only hiking, running, skiing and mountaineering socks that I own or have ever owned. Unfortunately, my new mountaineering boots fit my foot great, but are a touch too small for their mountaineering socks (which I love for my plastic Koflachs). Their hiking socks fit fine (plenty of wiggle room), but i would like something a bit warmer than that. I am wondering what other cold weather socks people have had luck with for mountaineering boots, that are a bit smaller than the smartwools. I did a forum search but did not really see anything relevant, though I seem to remember a thread about this several years ago. By the way, I prefer wool over synthetics.

Edit: I also hate wearing liner socks.

Dahlgren Expeditions are really nice and a bit thinner.

Bridgedale Trekkers are good midweight socks. They are a combination wool/synthetic sock that works well without a liner. I like a liner sock + smartwool mountaineering sock for my plastics and heavy leather boots, but the Bridgedales are great for hiking. I've worn them on 20+ mile hikes (e.g., Whitney as a dayhike) and in nasty wet conditions (e.g., hiking in the Twelve Bens National Park in Ireland in the rainy season) and they have been warm, comfortable and blister free.

Wigwam has a 2 in obe sock that includes a built in liner ... Not as warm as the sm mountaineering but better than trekking weight socks

Teko Heavyweight Merino socks are all I have used for ice climbing and any cold weather days since I found them. They are a little thinner than than the Smartwool mountaineering socks, but plenty warm.

I usually use Smartwool but the other one I like is Bridgedale, seems more "fitted". Kind of depends which particular pair of boots I'm using.

I'd almost agree with 1000pks. on this one, though I'm not the one fitting my feet into your boots.
If you can't get a heavyweight Smartwool sock in there, you probably won't have much luck fitting other brands heavyweight socks in there either. Tricky with mountaineering boots. I guess it might come down to what I hear on the subject: get a pair of boots a half to a full size bigger to accomadate such a sock, possible swelling of feet, and plenty of wiggle room, etc. esp. for the descents. Good luck.

Brian C wrote:Dahlgren Expeditions are really nice and a bit thinner.

Second the Dahlgren option.

I have a whole box of smartwool and bridgedale socks, but I always end up wearing the Dahlgrens. My feet stay warmer, dryer, and more comfortable with them compared with any other socks I've worn.

talusfinder wrote:I have been a smartwool guy for years. In fact, they are the only hiking, running, skiing and mountaineering socks that I own or have ever owned. Unfortunately, my new mountaineering boots fit my foot great, but are a touch too small for their mountaineering socks (which I love for my plastic Koflachs). Their hiking socks fit fine (plenty of wiggle room), but i would like something a bit warmer than that. I am wondering what other cold weather socks people have had luck with for mountaineering boots, that are a bit smaller than the smartwools. I did a forum search but did not really see anything relevant, though I seem to remember a thread about this several years ago. By the way, I prefer wool over synthetics.

Edit: I also hate wearing liner socks.

The Smartwool socks in between 'hiking' and 'mountaineering' are called 'trekking' -

http://www.rei.com/product/604590

I have multiple pairs of all of the above but only wear the hiking and trekking socks, depending on which boots. These days the mountaineering socks just get used for drying out my ice climbing boots overnight in the motel

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll be hitting up Bentgate/Neptunes/REI next week to find the perfect pair. Well, maybe I'll avoid REI given the Christmas rush...

@lopgok:

Do your feet get all pruned up inside the vapor barrier socks? Seems like I would like my footwear to be breathable, but I've never tried them, so I could very well be wrong.

@1000pks:

To clarify, these boots fit my foot incredibly well. Probably the best fit i've ever gotten in a pair right out of the box. I've already sized up 1/2 size to provide room for swelling and toe-pounding on the descents/frontpointing. No heel lift/slip, good wiggle room. Smartwool mountaineering socks are just big and bulky, and I don't like they way they end up getting stuffed in there. I am just looking for thinner/less bulky socks that are comparably as warm. Think of it as an improved warmth:volume ratio over the smartwools, if you will. If you need 2-3 pairs of socks, perhaps you are sizing your boots too large? Obviously, personal preference plays a big role here, and I prefer a more streamlined approach to footwear, particularly for smaller, lighter single boots for alpine and water ice. Similarly, some people swear by liners, and I personally despise them. I think that for me, 2-3 pairs of socks would be cumbersome, restrictive, uncomfortable, and not necessarily any warmer, but to each his/her own. If it works for you, stick with it.

Thanks again to all for the suggestions, they are appreciated.

Wait! My suggestion is to put a sock over it !!!