I have worn RoadRunner sports athletic socks for as long as I can remember, but the last couple of batches I’ve purchased haven’t lasted like they used to. I wear Darn Tough for hiking, but I’m looking for a new brand to try for playing pickleball and walking.
I actually have different thicknesses of socks for the activities at this point, and I’m not interested in a really thick sock.
Suggestions?
Feetures, balega. I also like my bombas
smart wool for winter activities
lol I’m laughing that this is in the subcategory “FOOD” 
I also wear Balega almost exclusively (I actually like my athletic socks thin but well fit) and occasionally Feetures.
I have no clue how it winded up as “food” - lol
Swiftwick, Balega. I also have some from Tracksmith that I really like.
Drymax. Fleet Feet turned me on to them years ago when I was a runner. They were thin. Now they have different levels. I like the more cushiony.
Two years ago they were three for $33 on line. Looks like $10 more now.
When I was really running I wore Balega. Now it’s walking and some running and a few other things at the Y & it’s pretty much all Bombas.
I like Feetures
I love Smartwool.
Another related question -
Do you have many pairs of the same socks, or a bunch of different brands, colors, etc?
ALL of the “normal” exercise socks I wear are the same brand, but I do have 2 thicknesses, and some are white and some are black. My husband has ALL of the same, and they are all white.
All DryMax
For just walking around I have some pumas from Costco. Those r the kind 6 for $8 etc
But I rarely wear them.
Mostly DryMax if with sneakers. Both black and white.
I used to have another brand - I had $15 free at Fleet Feet so I bought a pair. Never wear them. Just too different. For me, consistency is key. Others, of course, may be different.
I have a lot of socks. Lots of colors, brands and thicknesses. I have grippy socks for Pilates. I have socks with motivational phrases printed on them. My favorites are the Balega and the Tracksmith, which are merino wool.
I have lots of socks, and lots of cute patterned socks, but always seem to default to black socks. H has all white socks, mostly one kind. But I hate when he buys news ones and doesn’t throw all of the old away. It makes folding them a pain.
As far as exercise socks, I’m no help. I always buy cheap from Walmart, and they tend to last me 5-8 years of almost daily running/working out.
I buy the same thickness and style in different colors. I sometimes forget which model I like and buy the wrong ones. I don’t like them with a lot of cushion. I am particular about how they fit in the toe box. I’ve been known to ask my kids for a new pair for birthday or Hanukkah as they are expensive.
My husband wears white socks from Costco. We did buy him some wool socks when we went to Europe. They dry much faster than cotton.
I have lots of exercise socks. Mostly I buy Bomba ankle socks in gray, black, of white. I also found grippy socks that I really like at my Pilates studio . I don’t know what they’re called but they go fast so I have several pairs that aren’t colors I’d normally choose (pink and orange).
I like bombas for walking and working out. For pickleball I just use my tennis socks and shoes - my favorite socks are the slightly cushioned adidas ankle (low cut) socks. For hiking merino is always a win, fan of darn tough.
OP here - I think I’ll go pick up some Balega’s at Roadrunner while I still get a discount on them. I may try some others also, but these are a start.
You could use my method. Just throw them all in his sock drawer, let him sort each day for the socks he wants. If he balks, tell him you consider it as volunteering to take over the laundry chore.
This is what I do. He doesn’t complain, because he knows what the solution would be.
To stay on topic, I like Bombas socks for sports/working out and try to get them on Black Friday sales.
I also tried these recently and really like them. A bit thicker than most Bombas.
I like to have a bit of extra cushioning sometimes for running or pickleball or hiking. Having said that, I have a variety of different socks. I seem to lean toward a nice pair of Feetures and some nice ‘pickeball’ socks (which really could be used for any exercising) that my daughter gave me.