[cdjk]

The all matching socks strategy breaks down over time. Eventually you need to buy more socks, and the new ones aren't as worn as the old ones, so you end up having to match them anyway. My solution to this is to buy a large batch of identical socks. Then when you need new ones, buy another large batch that are slightly different - e.g. grey hiking socks instead of black, or wool hiking socks that have a slightly different pattern but are still the same style. This reduces the matching problem from matching all pairs to matching into a couple different sets, which is much easier.

I've thought too much about this.

[theshrike79]

Step 1) Buy 10-12 pairs of identical socks.

Step 2) Wear socks, when any of them wear out, throw them away. Even a single sock, no need to throw away in pairs

Step 3) When you're low in socks (my limit is 3 full pairs), throw them all away and GOTO 1

I do have a few specialised socks for hiking and winter, but they're the unicorns in the bunch, I just need 1-2 pairs of them.

[sjs382]

Same. My wife thinks its a weird quirk but always laughs when I jokingly celebrate "Sock Bankruptcy!!!"

[yurishimo]

Yepp, this is my method as well. A couple pairs of "dress" socks and some waterproof ones for hiking/outdoors a few days a year.

[ilyt]

I just buy bulk, discard ones that get holes, and when I'm too low throw them away all at once, if I can't buy the same

[sowbug]

I assume sock manufacturers are doing well post-pandemic. I still wore socks during lockdown, but not shoes. Most of my socks are ready to be retired.

[fknorangesite]

> you end up having to match them anyway

You are clearly pickier about this than I am, hah.

[basch]

On the topic of luxury splurges that change lives. And this doesn't work in all situations. But, Aloe Socks. https://www.earththerapeutics.com/products/aloe-socks-single...

They have lotion in the fabric. You probably want to wear them more than once, if possible, maybe stretch them to a couple days if you didnt make them gross right away. Once you wash them they turn into regular fuzzy socks.

But on those days that they are fresh, there is nothing like them. I have a stash tucked away for special days, and once they are done, they get added to the normal fuzzy sock rotation. Turns out you can wear black fuzzy socks pretty often.

[marcrosoft]

Socks are so cheap I just throw them all out and get a new pack or two. It is like $6.99 once a year.

[rrrrrrrrrrrryan]

Relevant xkcd: https://m.xkcd.com/1982/

[cdjk]

haha. I had not seen that. Thank you.