Alpaca socks are not all the same, and the price range in Australia will tell you that much. Here is what actually separates a good pair from an ordinary one.
Look at the micron, if they will tell you
Fibre diameter is what you feel against your skin. Anything over about 30 microns starts to feel prickly, regardless of what animal it came from. Good alpaca sits well under that. If a seller will not tell you the micron, that is worth noticing.
Look at the blend
A sock made entirely of alpaca will not hold its shape. Nylon gives it structure and durability, and a small amount of elastane keeps the cuff up. Somewhere around 50 to 70 percent alpaca with nylon and a little elastane is a sensible working sock. More alpaca is not automatically better.
Look at the knit and the cushioning
A thick cushioned sole is wonderful in a boot in July and miserable in a shoe in January. A thinner knit dries faster and works across more of the year. Match the sock to what you actually do.
Understand how it handles moisture
Alpaca holds less water than sheep's wool, roughly 8 percent moisture regain against 16 percent. It takes up less before it feels damp, and it dries faster afterwards. That is the practical reason people reach for it when they are on their feet all day.
Think about where it was made
Some of the socks we sell are made in Peru, which is where alpaca craftsmanship comes from and where the best of it is still done. Our Humphrey Law socks are made in Australia and carry the certification to prove it. Both are good. They are just different things, and you deserve to know which one you are buying.
A note on what we will not claim
We will not tell you these are the warmest socks you will ever wear, because we cannot prove it. We will tell you they are fine, they hold less moisture than wool, they dry quickly and they last. That is enough.
Shop the socks
- Every day — Alpaca Health Sock, 60% alpaca, made in Australia, no tight cuff. $33.
- Walking and hiking — Premium Alpaca Outdoor Hiker Socks, 58% alpaca, reinforced where boots wear a sock out. $44.
- Work boots and cold ground — Ultimate Boot Socks, the heaviest and warmest we sell. $49.50.
- Trainers and warmer weather — No Show Sock, 86% baby alpaca, the highest fibre content in the range. $49.95.
- All three weights at once — The Sock Drawer Reset, $119, which is $15 less than buying them separately.
See the full sock range · Compare every sock we sell, with real fibre percentages
Questions about sizing or fibre content? Email us — we answer every one ourselves.