Socks

The sock is the layer between your foot and a boot you'll be standing in for ten hours, and it decides more about your comfort than most people expect. Overlook Boots stocks work socks from Wigwam, Darn Tough, Danner, Georgia, Carolina, KEEN Utility, and Ariat, in crew, boot, and over-the-calf heights.

Merino Wool vs. Cotton

Merino wool is the default for work socks because it pulls moisture off the skin and keeps insulating even when it is damp. It also holds off odor over long wear, which matters if you are in the same boots six days a week. Cotton does the opposite: it absorbs sweat and holds it against your foot, and that is where blisters and cold toes come from. Cotton socks like Carolina's two-pair packs are inexpensive and fine for short shifts or dry indoor work, but for a full day in a work boot, merino or a merino blend is the better buy.

Sock Height

Match the sock to the boot. Crew height clears a 6-inch boot and is the most common work sock. Boot-height and midcalf socks suit 8-inch boots, where the shaft would otherwise rub bare skin. Over-the-calf socks go with rubber boots, pull-ons, and tall hunting boots, anywhere the shaft reaches high enough that a shorter sock leaves a gap.

Steel Toe and Rubber Boot Socks

Wigwam's At Work Steel Toe socks add reinforcement across the toe, where the safety cap creates a hard edge that wears socks through faster than anywhere else. Rubber boot socks, including the Wigwam Ultimate Rubber Boot over-the-calf and the Outlast Rubber Boot models, run thicker and taller. Rubber boots do not breathe, and the extra bulk also takes up the volume that otherwise lets your heel slip.

Weight

Lightweight socks leave more room in the boot and shed heat faster, which suits summer and any boot that already fits snug. Midweight socks add cushion underfoot and take up volume, useful in winter, in insulated boots, and for anyone standing on concrete all day. Sock weight is one way to fine-tune a fit, but size the boot to the sock you will actually wear rather than the other way around.

Made in the USA

Georgia's merino wool crew sock and the Wigwam-built Muck socks are made in the United States. Country of origin varies by model across the rest of the range, so check the individual product page if domestic manufacturing is a requirement.