I wanted some new socks for hiking for this upcoming fall and winter season. I live in the mountains where we get lots of rain and quite a bit of snow as well. Merino wool for me has been the best material to use for any type of base layer like socks, undershirts, underwear and hats.The price on these socks is very budget friendly, but that is because they are a wool blend merino wool sock that has 31 percent merino wool. One of the bigger brands of merino wool socks use one hundred percent wool, but they also cost as much for one pair as these do for three so it is a trade off. The high wool percentage socks makes them more breathable when the weather warms up.