Well-made, but plastic on skin.
↳ Not recommended for socks — synthetic on skin, all day, all night.
Why this material grade?
This product scored 72/100 on the 7-axis material rubric, based on its composition of 49% Merino Wool, 47% Nylon, 4% Elastane. Blended from 49% Merino Wool, 47% Nylon, 4% Spandex — the score is a weighted average based on each material's proportion.
B (70-84): Good material composition — above average across most axes.
Good quality
Well-balanced fabric that should serve you well. The natural-synthetic blend offers durability with comfort. Follow the care guide to maximize lifespan.
Breakdown
Composition
49% Merino Wool, 47% Nylon, 4% Elastane
Mostly natural with stretch
Synthetic fabrics can contain BPA, which mimics estrogen. Studies have found BPA transferring to skin through sweat contact.
This fabric will take 200+ years to decompose. That means a shirt you buy today will still exist in the year 2226.
Dryer heat destroys spandex/elastane over time. Your leggings and stretchy clothes will last 2x longer if you skip the dryer.
Network
Cost per wear
rough estimateStrong cost-per-wear
How we got there
Base for Socks: 50 expected wears.
× 1.30 for Merino Wool (high-durability fiber, durability 80).
= 65 expected wears. $31 ÷ 65 ≈ 48¢/wear.
Missing GSM — this is a category-level estimate, not garment-specific. Expect ±30% variance.
Real life is messier than a formula: how often you wash, how you wash, whether you wear it inside-out, dry on low — all of it shifts the number. This is the ceiling under reasonable care.
Care Guide
Decode symbols →Wash
cold (30°C)
Bleach
Do not bleach
Dry
flat dry
Iron
low
Dry Clean
recommended
Best For
Excellent durability (80) and comfort (69) for office wear
Good warmth (62) for cold weather
Good comfort (69) and care ease (67) for casual wear
Good moisture wicking (69) and durability (80) for weather protection
Good durability (80) and breathability (59) for outdoor activities
Better Alternatives
Higher-rated socks products — each card shows how much better this alt scores vs your current product.
Icebreaker
Men's Merino Lifestyle Light Crew Socks
60% Merino Wool, 38% Nylon, 2% Elastane
Icebreaker
Men's Merino Hike+ Medium Crew Socks
60% Merino Wool, 38% Nylon, 2% Elastane
Icebreaker
Men's Merino Hike+ Light Crew Socks
60% Merino Wool, 38% Nylon, 2% Elastane
KUIU
Ultralight Merino Crew Sock | Gunmetal
7% Elastane, 48% Merino Wool, 45% Nylon, 7% Elastane
Tradeoffs
Health Impact
Microplastic shedding · skin-contact synthetic load · likely chemical treatments
High health impact — significant synthetic content or likely chemical treatments. For frequent skin-contact wear, consider a natural-fiber alternative.
500,000 fibers/wash
51% synthetic
No flags
Biodegradability
Not BiodegradableMaterials will persist in the environment for decades.
Health & environmental impact →What this score doesn't measure
- ×Fiber grade. Staple length, micronaire, strength. "100% cotton" could be short-staple upland or long-staple Pima — same label, very different fabric.
- ×Yarn processing. Singles count, ply (single vs two-ply), spinning method (open-end vs ring-spun vs compact), mercerization. Invisible from any label.
- ×Knit / weave structure. Single jersey vs interlock, knit tightness. A loose knit pills; a tight knit lasts.
- ×Fabric weight (GSM). One construction signal among several — and high GSM can come from loose cheap yarn just as easily as from fine tight yarn. We have it for blank manufacturers, rarely for retail.
- ×Pre-shrink processing. Sanforized cotton shrinks ~1%; non-sanforized can shrink up to 10%. Not visible from the composition tag.
- ×Construction quality. Stitch density (SPI), seam types, collar geometry, manufacturing tolerances (AQL). These often matter more than the fiber itself.
- ×Specific chemical loads. Health Impact flags "likely PFAS / possible formaldehyde" from composition × category — we don't lab-test individual SKUs.
We rate the fabric, not the garment. Composition is the floor of what you're guaranteed to be getting — most shoppers don't have that.
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