A thin cashmere sock will keep you warmer than a thick cotton one. That surprises people, and it is the whole point of this guide.
Cotton, merino and cashmere each do one thing better than the others. Cotton stays cool and crisp. Merino manages moisture and holds up to hard wear. Cashmere traps the most heat for the least weight. Pick the fibre for the day you are having, and the sock does the rest.
At Escuyer we knit two of the three: cotton socks from Italian threads for most of the year, and a cashmere and virgin wool blend for the cold months. Both are designed in Brussels and handmade in Portugal. Here is when to reach for which.
Cotton socks: spring, summer, and most of the days in between
Cotton is the sock you wear without thinking about it. It breathes, it feels clean against the skin, and it takes dye beautifully, which is why our widest range of colours lives here.
Wear cotton when:
- The forecast is above 12°C and you will be indoors most of the day
- You are wearing loafers, trainers or anything with an open silhouette
- You want colour: stripes, colour blocks and melanges all read sharpest in cotton
- You are travelling light and need socks that wash and dry quickly
Cotton's limit is cold. Once it absorbs moisture it holds it, and damp cotton pulls heat away from the foot. On a wet November morning that is the wrong sock, however good it looks.
Our cotton socks are knitted from long-staple Italian cotton threads for softness and a crisp hand, with a touch of elastane so they stay up. Designed in Brussels, handmade in Portugal, from 22 €. If you only try one pair, make it the 5 Stripes, our most-worn sock, in men's and women's sizes.
Merino wool socks: the working fibre
Merino is wool from a particular sheep, and its fibres are far finer than those of ordinary wool. Fine enough that most people who find wool itchy find merino perfectly comfortable.
Its real talent is moisture. Merino can absorb a good deal of water vapour before it feels wet, and it keeps insulating as it does so. That is why it is the fibre of choice for hiking, cycling and long days on your feet. It also resists odour, so a merino sock can be worn more than once between washes.
Wear merino when:
- You will be outdoors and active in cold or changeable weather
- Your feet run warm and damp, even in winter
- You need one pair to cover several days of travel
The trade-off is feel. Merino is comfortable rather than luxurious. It is a sock you respect more than one you look forward to putting on.
At Escuyer, merino goes into our beanies, where its resilience matters most. The ribbed merino beanie above is the one we reach for first. For socks, we chose to pair virgin wool with cashmere instead. The next section explains why.
Cashmere socks: the warmest for the least weight
Cashmere is the undercoat of a goat that lives through Himalayan winters. The fibre is finer than merino, hollow at its core, and traps still air better than any other natural fibre you can knit into a sock. That is why a cashmere sock feels warm the moment it goes on, and why it never feels bulky.
Wear cashmere when:
- The temperature drops below 10°C and you want to feel it less
- You are sitting still: at a desk, on a flight, at a long dinner
- You are wearing boots, brogues or anything with a closed toe in winter
- You want the sock you look forward to in the morning
Pure cashmere makes a wonderful sock and a short-lived one. The fibre is soft because it is fine, and fine fibres wear through at the heel. Every serious cashmere sock is a blend, and the honest question is what it is blended with.
Ours are 10% cashmere and 38% virgin wool for warmth, with viscose for drape, recycled polyamide for durability at the heel and toe, and a little elastane. The blend is Global Recycled Standard certified. Designed in Brussels, handmade in Portugal, in a crew cut for men and women, 35 € a pair. The ecru above is the quiet favourite; there are striped versions too.
Cashmere socks vs merino: the honest comparison
Cashmere wins on warmth and feel. Merino wins on moisture and endurance. Neither is wrong, they are built for different days.
| Cashmere blend | Merino | Cotton | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warmth | Highest for its weight | High | Low |
| Softness | Exceptional | Good | Good |
| Moisture handling | Moderate | Excellent | Poor when cold |
| Durability | Good in a blend, poor pure | Excellent | Excellent |
| Odour resistance | Good | Excellent | Low |
| Best for | Cold, calm days; evenings; gifts | Cold, active days; travel | Mild weather; colour; everyday |
| Washing | Cool, flat dry | Cool, flat dry | Machine, any cycle |
If you spend winter walking, choose merino. If you spend it at a desk, in restaurants and on trains, choose cashmere. Most of us spend it doing the second.
The warmest socks for winter, in one sentence
For everyday winter wear, a cashmere and wool blend crew sock is the warmest sock you can buy without going up a shoe size.
Thickness is a poor guide to warmth. A heavy cotton boot sock is mostly air and cotton, and cotton stops insulating the moment your foot perspires. A cashmere blend of half the thickness holds more warm air and keeps holding it. It also fits inside the shoes you already own, which a thermal sock rarely does.
If your winters are wet and spent outdoors, that sentence changes: merino first, cashmere for the evening.
A year in socks
| Months | Reach for | Why |
|---|---|---|
| December to February | Cashmere blend | Cold, mostly indoors, closed shoes |
| March to April | Cotton, cashmere in the drawer for cold snaps | Changeable; colour starts to matter again |
| May to September | Cotton | Warm, open shoes, quick washing |
| October to November | Cotton by day, cashmere by evening | The first cold mornings; the first cashmere days |
A simple rule for the shoulder months: if you would wear a coat, wear cashmere.
Care
Cotton asks for nothing. Machine wash at 30°C or 40°C, tumble dry on low if you must, and the colours hold.
Cashmere and wool ask for ten minutes. Wash inside out at 30°C on a wool or delicate cycle, or by hand in cool water with a wool detergent. Press the water out rather than wringing, and dry flat away from a radiator. Never tumble dry: heat and agitation are what felt wool. Treated this way, a cashmere blend sock will see you through several winters, and the heel will be the last thing to go.
Questions we are asked
Are cashmere socks warmer than merino?
Yes, weight for weight. Cashmere fibres are finer and hollow at the core, so they trap more still air. Merino handles moisture better, which is why it stays warmer on active days when your feet get damp.
What are the warmest socks for winter?
For everyday winter wear, a cashmere and wool blend crew sock is the warmest you can buy without going up a shoe size. If your winter is spent walking outdoors in the wet, choose merino first and keep cashmere for the evening.
Can I wear cotton socks in winter?
Indoors, yes. Outdoors in the cold, cotton is the wrong choice: once it absorbs moisture it holds it, and damp cotton pulls heat away from the foot. From October on, switch to a wool or cashmere blend whenever you would wear a coat.
Why are cashmere socks blended with wool?
Because pure cashmere wears through quickly at the heel. The fibre is soft precisely because it is fine, and fine fibres do not take friction well. Blending it with wool for warmth and polyamide for strength gives the sock a lifespan to match its price.
What are Escuyer cashmere socks made of?
10% cashmere and 38% virgin wool for warmth, 28% viscose for drape, 22% recycled polyamide for durability at the heel and toe, and 2% elastane. The blend is Global Recycled Standard certified, and the socks are designed in Brussels and knitted in Portugal, at €35 a pair.
Escuyer. Considered design, made to last.
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