Are HoC Glenmore socks not meant for the full-time wearer?

[OC Richard]

I have a pair of Cheviot hose that are my "go-to" socks, worn once a week on average for a couple years now, and they still look pretty much like new, no holes, no, what do you call it? when you get the little balls of wool appear on the socks around the ankles?

My champion kilt hose are the Lochcarron ones I got back in the 1980s and they're still fine, though true they haven't been worn all that regularly.

The shortest-lived hose were the "piper's socks" that our pipe band issued us on the Saturday morning of a two-day Games. By the end of the day Saturday there were holes in both ankles! On Sunday I wore the 35-year-old Lochcarron hose. Somebody gave me another pair of those "piper's socks" and they wore through the ankles and toes after a couple dozen wearings. (These "piper's socks" are sold by a major Scottish firm that shall remain nameless, and I suspect that they are made in Pakistan. I've seen suspicious sporrans and jackets by the same firm.)

[sydnie7]

The little balls of wool that appear at friction points are (is) called "pilling," as in pills.

Both too tight and too loose socks will wear rapidly. If you keep an eye out for thin spots, they can be reinforced before an actual hole develops. Google "duplicate stitch" for working new yarn over a thin spot, Google "darning" for the more extensive work required once there's a hole.

Obviously Richard's socks that wore out in a day are not good candidates for this advice!

[Thekiltedmohawk]

I have a pair of Cheviot hose that are my "go-to" socks, worn once a week on average for a couple years now, and they still look pretty much like new, no holes, no, what do you call it? when you get the little balls of wool appear on the socks around the ankles?

May I ask what kind of Cheviot hose is it? Is it Rannoch? Lewis? Harris? Glenmore? Others?

[Thekiltedmohawk]

The little balls of wool that appear at friction points are (is) called "pilling," as in pills.

Both too tight and too loose socks will wear rapidly. If you keep an eye out for thin spots, they can be reinforced before an actual hole develops. Google "duplicate stitch" for working new yarn over a thin spot, Google "darning" for the more extensive work required once there's a hole.

Obviously Richard's socks that wore out in a day are not good candidates for this advice!

In my case there were no thin spots on the brick red socks. It's like out of the blue it have holes suddenly. I looked at the other colored Glenmore socks. There's no early warning sign of the thin spot so far. They all look good. I'm puzzled about it now.

[Mikilt]

In my case there were no thin spots on the brick red socks. It's like out of the blue it have holes suddenly. I looked at the other colored Glenmore socks. There's no early warning sign of the thin holes so far. They all look good. I'm puzzled about it now.

If there are no thin spots and just sudden holes, is it possible you have moth damage?

[Thekiltedmohawk]

No moth exists in the house. I'm suspecting it's my washing machine that's the culprit.

[OC Richard]

I know what you mean about the hole suddenly appearing! That's what seems to happen.

I don't know what the various Cheviot hose are called, but here's the clearest photo of them



(I bought the ghillies and the bonnet back in the 1980s and they're still going fine.)

[Jock Scot]

I wear Cheviot hose nearly every day during the shooting season, where they get hammered and perhaps outside the season two or three times in the week when I wear the kilt. I find that providing that the hose are worn once and then washed, I might get a years wear out of them. The most hardy hose that I have come across are from the "almostunwearoutable sock company"----- and they are! Expensive though and again, wear once and wash helps them last.

[Thekiltedmohawk]

I know what you mean about the hole suddenly appearing! That's what seems to happen.

I don't know what the various Cheviot hose are called, but here's the clearest photo of them



(I bought the ghillies and the bonnet back in the 1980s and they're still going fine.)

Looks like Lewis, or Harris if you ordered for your large calves.

[Thekiltedmohawk]

I took a plunge, and ordered a pair of HoC's Lewis socks to see how much difference is it from the Glenmores. I learned my lesson, and will not use my washing machine again ever for my kilt socks.