I’m glad that works for you, but it doesn’t for me. The one ‘life hack’ that’s ever worked for me is to own a single type of sock (white, cotton, Nike). The entire batch of 30 pairs was bought at the same time so they wear evenly, meaning all socks match with all other socks. When I get down to a few functioning pairs, into the bin they go and a new batch is ordered.

My family knows not to buy me socks…

Sounds horribly wasteful to throw it into the bin. There are a myriad of uses for old socks, even if they are no longer wearable.

Like what?

I can think of a few but they all boil down to "use them as rags".

Puppets

Exactly. Maybe I'm somewhat color blind, but many times people have told me I'm wearing one dark blue and one black sock. So I've solved that by buying all identical socks. Then there's no issue.

You can regift them. I will take them, genuinely. Or someone like me. There are never enough socks.

Yeah I did that a few years back and life has become so much simpler. I can't believe I did not do it sooner.I still keep a few fancy pairs for fancy occasions but otherwise I have black socks, all the same; and white socks, all the same. Life is too short to match socks!

I'm baffled that someone would settle on 'white, cotton, Nike' as the most appropriate one sock model to own.

I buy them in bulk from a factory outlet nearby, so the price is reasonable given my income. Furthermore I find they can withstand the hilly and muddy half marathons that I run, while keeping my feet in good condition. I like to run after work, so by wearing these socks to work I can give myself one less thing to pack/change into. (I dislike the aesthetics of dark socks with shorts)

As I must wear smart clothes to work, and white socks with a suit is a fashion faux pas, this means I must wear smart boots to work. But this works for me as then I choose zip-up boots to save time doing laces.

I acknowledge this 'life hack' is a minor time and convenience saving with some drawbacks, and clearly won't work for everyone. But as a working father with two young children, this gives me a little more time to spend on myself, and a little more time with them.

I get what you're saying but this is totally impracticable for some people. I mean, just thinking about myself, I work in a smart/casual environment and I wear a few different outfits over the week, I cannot allow myself the tenacity to not match my socks with the tone of my shirt.

THIS!!!

I do the exact same thing because when i do my laundry i don't want to spend my time trying to find socks that match, and have the same wear level.

I don't like socks as a gift for a secondary reason. I have tiny feet for a man and I have been gifted socks (twice??). Both times they were size 10 and what should have been the ankle was half way up my calf? What am i to do with them?

Socks are great because they’re like a grocery item and yet aren’t.

I love groceries for my birthday and Christmas. Things I wouldn’t normally get like fancy sauces or beef jerky or special sodas. Because every long-term item I already have, don’t want, or you aren’t likely to get the correct one.

Because socks are short lived, they’re kind of like that without someone feeling bad about the gift. Nobody but my wife feels comfortable getting me groceries.

I'm too cheap to buy myself nice wool socks, but they're a great thing to ask for as a gift: the giver gets to feel like they've spent enough to make it a Real Gift, it's a small package, won't get broken if they mail it to me, etc.

Especially if they are good socks. I've stopped wearing the cheapie white cotton ones. I love the "Darned Tough" ones -- which I originally bought for hiking boots.

Everything is better in merino wool, but I wouldn’t say they make great gifts as they’ll often be above budget.

Even the synthetic Darned Tough socks are pretty good. I actually don't own the merino ones.

Agree. I love socks. They are also something I always need since they wear out (like you said), but I also lose them.

Agree if it's good quality socks. I have a ton of socks. Wouldn't mind getting more. But has to be good quality, shitty ones would go directly to the donations bin.

Agree, socks are awesome and actually get used.

As long as they come with big adhesive googley eyes.

This must be regional/cultural because for my family and friends socks is the kiss-off gift of a person who doesn't give a damn about you but needs to buy you a gift.

Your company isn't family and friends though and they can't give you a personalised gift that your closest people can do.

It's strange to expect the same treatment here.

I also wouldn't expect them to give a gift that has derogatory meaning in the area.

Definitely regional/cultural because in my region, socks would be something given within family or close friends. I've never seen an acquaintance or a company give socks here. (Not that I would mind to receive some, good socks are a great gift, it's just that it's not done here).

Yeah. I would be weirded out if my company gave me socks. Cups and coats are more the norm. Well, cash has been the go to recently. Cash doesn't offend anyone.

all socks suck, except Darn Tough.

Call me overly sensitive but I absolutely hate about 50% of the socks when I touch them. I can't really put it down on material or texture, but they just feel wrong. In my hand or on my feet.