I love merino wool for its feel on the skin and its ability to wick moisture and dry quickly when wet. When blended with other synthetic fibres, it can be quite durable while retaining many of its natural characteristics: i.e. dry quickly, remain substantially odor free, and moisture wicking.These socks are of a dense but smooth weave and neither overly thin nor thick. The cushion in the sole is sufficient to provide a comfortable feel for hiking. I like the feel of them on my skin and the color is an attractive dark grey. I expect the merino/acrylic/nylon/polyester blend will make them more durable than socks of primarily merino fibre.I really like these socks!