Home and Auto A Question About Socks - Page 3

**Rain Man** · 05-25-2015, 03:31 PM

How many times do you think you can wear a pair of socks before they wear out?

I was putting my laundry away today, and I realized that I have a lot of sock. I'm not sure how many, but maybe 50 or 60 pairs, maybe even more. They've accumulated over the years since you don't really outgrow socks.

So for discussion purposes, let's assume that I own 52 pairs of socks and wear them equally. That means that each pair of socks is worn 7 times per year.

Given my age, I can probably expect to live another 33 years or so. If I never buy another pair of socks, that would mean that I'm going to wear each pair of socks 231 times.

Ignoring their current wear and tear, is 231 times feasible for a pair of socks? How long do they last? I honestly have no idea. Is it 50? 100? 200? 500?

Honestly, 231 seems like a lot since socks get wear and tear, and of course my socks aren't all brand new. I suspect that my sock buying days are not over, but I don't know what's reasonable in terms of sock life spans. What do you think?

**Rain Man** · 05-25-2015, 04:10 PM

Well, I'm a little bit embarrassed. I just went upstairs and counted.

182 pairs of socks and two half-pairs still trying to find their mates.

Now, granted, they have different purposes.

22 are purely running socks, and they get used heavily. I'll have to replace them in the foreseeable future.
30 are purely dress socks for use with suits, and I never wear suits any more. I dip into this drawer perhaps 4 or 5 times a year.
130 are everyday socks ranging from casual to "wearing somewhat dressy pants".

I may never need to buy a pair of socks again other than running socks.

eDave · 05-25-2015, 04:10 PM

If this thread doesn't pull Simply Red back in, I don't know what will.

**LoneWolf** · 05-25-2015, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Well, I'm a little bit embarrassed. I just went upstairs and counted.

182 pairs of socks and two half-pairs still trying to find their mates.

Now, granted, they have different purposes.

22 are purely running socks, and they get used heavily. I'll have to replace them in the foreseeable future.
30 are purely dress socks for use with suits, and I never wear suits any more. I dip into this drawer perhaps 4 or 5 times a year.
130 are everyday socks ranging from casual to "wearing somewhat dressy pants".

I may never need to buy a pair of socks again other than running socks.

Holy shit.

Sweet Daddy Hate · 05-25-2015, 04:13 PM

6 black

12 white

My method is as follows:

When folding socks out of the dryer, I observe the toe and heel area for wear. If I see wear in said areas, the offending sock is discarded. Eventually, you end up with less pairs, and it is time to go purchase another pack.

**Fire Me Boy!** · 05-25-2015, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweet Daddy Williams

6 black

12 white

My method is as follows:

When folding socks out of the dryer, I observe the toe and heel area for wear. If I see wear in said areas, the offending sock is discarded. Eventually, you end up with less pairs, and it is time to go purchase another pack.

You have the exact opposite configuration as me. Weird.

**Fire Me Boy!** · 05-25-2015, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Well, I'm a little bit embarrassed. I just went upstairs and counted.

182 pairs of socks and two half-pairs still trying to find their mates.

Now, granted, they have different purposes.

22 are purely running socks, and they get used heavily. I'll have to replace them in the foreseeable future.
30 are purely dress socks for use with suits, and I never wear suits any more. I dip into this drawer perhaps 4 or 5 times a year.
130 are everyday socks ranging from casual to "wearing somewhat dressy pants".

I may never need to buy a pair of socks again other than running socks.

That's a problem. You need to seek a 12-step group, 'Man.

**Rain Man** · 05-25-2015, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweet Daddy Williams

6 black

12 white

My method is as follows:

When folding socks out of the dryer, I observe the toe and heel area for wear. If I see wear in said areas, the offending sock is discarded. Eventually, you end up with less pairs, and it is time to go purchase another pack.

I think my problem is not so much acquiring socks, but divesting them. I hate throwing away socks. I'll only divest dress socks if they have a worn spot that can be seen above the shoe, and I'll only divest casual socks if there's an actual hole.

Sweet Daddy Hate · 05-25-2015, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fire Me Boy!

You have the exact opposite configuration as me. Weird.

I'm a project manager and wearing boots most of the time.

Ergo, more whites.

**Bwana** · 05-25-2015, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buehler445

Depends on the type of socks. I have some that lasted 10 years plus at 45-50 uses per year.

I've had others that are junk before I pull them out of the package. I don't do cheap socks (anymore).

Exactly! I still have some Champions that are 20 years old that are still going strong. On the other hand most of the garbage that is made today only lasts a fraction of that time.

Kman34 · 05-25-2015, 04:18 PM

One of the greatest simple pleasures is putting a new pair of socks on your feet. I would wear a new pair every day if I was a rich man......

Sweet Daddy Hate · 05-25-2015, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I think my problem is not so much acquiring socks, but divesting them. I hate throwing away socks. I'll only divest dress socks if they have a worn spot that can be seen above the show, and I'll only divest casual socks if there's an actual hole.

You're short-changing yourself, friend.

I'm here to tell you that one of the greatest small pleasures in life is putting on a fresh pair of socks. Your feet say "I love you" all day long.

Also, with your surplus, the local homeless shelter could use such a stash.

**Rain Man** · 05-25-2015, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fire Me Boy!

That's a problem. You need to seek a 12-step group, 'Man.

But let me propose this. The lifetime cost is the same whether you have many pairs of socks or a few pairs of socks. We all wear them once per day, so over the course of our lives we'll spend the same amount on socks (assuming that we don't leave a bunch behind when we die). With my method, I wear my socks very infrequently and have a lot of wardrobe variety. Therefore, I derive a fashion advantage at no extra cost.

Sweet Daddy Hate · 05-25-2015, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kman34

One of the greatest simple pleasures is putting a new pair of socks on your feet. I would wear a new pair every day if I was a rich man......

RIGHT?!?!?!?

**Fire Me Boy!** · 05-25-2015, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Well, I'm a little bit embarrassed. I just went upstairs and counted.

182 pairs of socks and two half-pairs still trying to find their mates.

Now, granted, they have different purposes.

22 are purely running socks, and they get used heavily. I'll have to replace them in the foreseeable future.
30 are purely dress socks for use with suits, and I never wear suits any more. I dip into this drawer perhaps 4 or 5 times a year.
130 are everyday socks ranging from casual to "wearing somewhat dressy pants".

I may never need to buy a pair of socks again other than running socks.

You should update the OP with accurate numbers and math.

eDave · 05-25-2015, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweet Daddy Williams

I'm a project manager and wearing boots most of the time.

Ergo, more whites.

Hey! I'm a PM too. No boots though, unless you count ankle tops.

View Poll Results: How many wearings will a typical pair of socks last?
1 to 50 - We're bipedal, and that's hard on socks.	4	10.53%
51 to 100 - China makes most of them, so not long.	8	21.05%
101 to 150 - When I was a kid, they lasted a lot longer. Because we were poor.	2	5.26%
151 to 200 - This assumes a reasonable level of foot odor.	3	7.89%
201 to 250 - This assumes that you're not wearing them with sandals, which increases wear.	1	2.63%
250 to 300 - This assumes that no bikini model rips them off of me.	6	15.79%
301 to 500 - It might be longer if you're careful to keep them out of puddles.	3	7.89%
501 to 750 - As long as you're only using them for feet, they should last a while.	0	0%
751 to 1,000 - All that space technology makes socks durable.	1	2.63%
More than 1,000 - We live in the greatest sock era in the history of mankind.	5	13.16%
Socks are just The Man's way of keeping us down.	2	5.26%
I don't know, but I just found my dissertation topic.	3	7.89%
Voters: 38. You may not vote on this poll

05-25-2015, 03:31 PM
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $3408491 VARSITY	A Question About Socks How many times do you think you can wear a pair of socks before they wear out? I was putting my laundry away today, and I realized that I have a lot of sock. I'm not sure how many, but maybe 50 or 60 pairs, maybe even more. They've accumulated over the years since you don't really outgrow socks. So for discussion purposes, let's assume that I own 52 pairs of socks and wear them equally. That means that each pair of socks is worn 7 times per year. Given my age, I can probably expect to live another 33 years or so. If I never buy another pair of socks, that would mean that I'm going to wear each pair of socks 231 times. Ignoring their current wear and tear, is 231 times feasible for a pair of socks? How long do they last? I honestly have no idea. Is it 50? 100? 200? 500? Honestly, 231 seems like a lot since socks get wear and tear, and of course my socks aren't all brand new. I suspect that my sock buying days are not over, but I don't know what's reasonable in terms of sock life spans. What do you think?
Posts: 141,213

05-25-2015, 04:10 PM	#31
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $3408491 VARSITY	Well, I'm a little bit embarrassed. I just went upstairs and counted. 182 pairs of socks and two half-pairs still trying to find their mates. Now, granted, they have different purposes. 22 are purely running socks, and they get used heavily. I'll have to replace them in the foreseeable future. 30 are purely dress socks for use with suits, and I never wear suits any more. I dip into this drawer perhaps 4 or 5 times a year. 130 are everyday socks ranging from casual to "wearing somewhat dressy pants". I may never need to buy a pair of socks again other than running socks. __________________ I'm putting random letters here as a celebration of free speech: xigrakgrah misorojeq rkemeseit.
Posts: 141,213

05-25-2015, 04:10 PM	#32
eDave Banned Join Date: Jan 2013 Casino cash: $9998560	If this thread doesn't pull Simply Red back in, I don't know what will.
Posts: 53,803

05-25-2015, 04:13 PM	#34
Sweet Daddy Hate Unsparing Join Date: Aug 2008 Casino cash: $10004900	6 black 12 white My method is as follows: When folding socks out of the dryer, I observe the toe and heel area for wear. If I see wear in said areas, the offending sock is discarded. Eventually, you end up with less pairs, and it is time to go purchase another pack. __________________ 1. Merciless, severe. 2. Given freely and generously. 100% refusal to overrate 20 year Head Coaches with ZERO **ing rings as a Head Coach. CP's Official Professor of 'Dem Blues for 2019/2020!**
Posts: 77,135

05-25-2015, 04:18 PM	#40
Kman34 My Mamma Says Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Glass Cage Of Emotion Casino cash: $2061786 VARSITY	One of the greatest simple pleasures is putting a new pair of socks on your feet. I would wear a new pair every day if I was a rich man......
Posts: 13,853