I'm in the process of converting all my socks to this company/these socks. I convinced my husband who is part Scotch and, therefore, 'thrifty' that these socks are worth the extra cost. Honestly, I had to convince myself as well. I had been looking for major warmth in socks for a long time and kept seeing these come up when I searched. I took the plunge and have not regretted it once since then. My only regret is that I can't convince everyone to buy them. They are so worth it. I'm shocked that at my advanced age, I never realized that wool socks can be worn in the summer. I assumed cotton was the best way to go. Cotton has its uses, of course, but these are far superior without the accompanying bagging. The best part, besides being comfortable no matter what time of year, is the thickness being....not too thick. These are not thin socks. But, they are not heavy, thick socks either. I don't have any problem wearing them with regular shoes which I do all the time. But, they can also work with my hikers as well. It makes more sense when you get them home and try them! Now, my only problem is transitioning out my other socks. I decided to do this slowly and buy a pair every quarter, so 4 pair a year. This should work for a variety of reasons including cost and wear and tear. However, I have a feeling these will just not 'wear and tear' like other socks, they are just that good. Lastly, although I think you can put them in the dryer, I choose not to due to a broken ankle that is a little bit thicker than it used to be.