Customer Reviews Smartwool Classic Mountaineer Maximum Cushion Crew

I bought these for winter hiking and I'm disappointed that they gave me blisters on my big toes because they're too big. I tried washing them in hot water and heat drying them to try and shrink them but no luck. I guess that's a good thing if you buy the right size. I've purchased Mediums before with no problem, as your sizing chart suggests for my size 7 foot. If there is a next time I will buy size small I guess. You need to get your sizing and/or your quality control right. Just saying.

MOUNTAINEER CLASSIC EDITION MAXIMUM CUSHION CREW SOCKS Size: L is a different real size than the HIKE CLASSIC EDITION EXTRA CUSHION CREW SOCKS Size: L - Even though they should be the same size, as both are size L, the MOUNTAINEER CLASSIC EDITION MAXIMUM CUSHION CREW SOCKS Size: are so much longer in the foot, that there is a big wad of material in front of my toes...... The HIKE CLASSIC EDITION EXTRA CUSHION CREW SOCKS Size: L fits just right...

I ordered these because they're advertised as the warmest socks Smartwool makes. I can believe it. Trouble is they're so thick I'd have to get new boots. I returned them, and am looking forward to getting Smartwool's Nordic socks. I'm told it often takes 4 weeks for Smartwool to process returns. Not good, that amazes me. It's unusually slow, in my experience.

They are warm and comfortable. My only complaint is the elastic at the top, it is super tight.

Warm, comfortable, and thick. They started showing signs of wear after an hour long winter bike ride. The elastic in the foot and calf area is stretched out very quickly and doesn't keep the sock in place.

They are thick, cushioned, and warm. The elastic in the calf and foot area stretches out quickly. They are showing signs of wear after the first use winter cycling. I'd give them a go for the price if you are looking.

My husband like his, but we will be return one of the two pairs we purchased.

They seem to run a little large, compared to no show/ low show socks.

As a lifetime Smartwool user, I'm a bit disappointed with this latest release. They do not feel as thick as previous extra thick expedition socks. Also, the elastic collar around the calf is signficantly thinner and does not hold on as well. Still a great sock, but a step down from what Smartwool used to offer. I wouldn't buy them again.

Not sure how you can name these classic when you've reduced the wool content down to 56%, far less than they used to have.

Perfect for the first winter in New York for a California girl away at college.

Bring Back the Original Materials: these socks are not the same quality as the originals I purchased a few years ago. Seems like there is a different composition between wool/nylon/elastic or whatever materials are used and the result is they don't stay up as well and are less comfortable than the originals.

I have usually purchased 6-7 pairs of the old Trekking style socks every year to train for and participate in a 72 mile veterans fundraiser hike in the Laurel Highlands. Recently, they were no longer available at stores. When I inquired about a replacement type, I was informed that therre wasn't a replacement. Now 6 months later, I find the Hike Extra Cushion 'Classic' version in stores which is purported to be the same as the old Trekking. They are not the same. First, the Trekking ones were thicker and lost their padding after a long period of time. These new ones are less padded and lose their padding quicker. Second, the Trekking ones stayed put where these new Hike ones are more slippery and allow the foot to slide around in the boot and bunch up. Third, the Trekking were always a consistent wool content. The new Hike version is not, at least from what is advertised or listed on the tags. The latest pair of Hike I bought lists 71% wool and 28% nylon(virgin and recycled combined). The Smartwool website lists them as having 56% wool and a whopping 42% nylon combined. There seems to be inconsistent changes being made in the production of this replacement. Finally, the website lists the Hike version as having the knitted in arch support I am accustomed to in the old Trekking version. Yet the latest pair of Hike I bought does not have this arch support. Again, this is inconsistency. I will now need to slowly evaluate other brands such as Darn Tough. I believe these decisions are being made (use of nylon and recycled nylon) for perception reasons and not for the ongoing quality of the product. Product quality should not suffer due to the inclusion of recycled content or else the carbon footprint is incresed, not decreased.

These are just downright annoying. They bunch up around the balls of my feet, and I am constantly pulling them up to straighten them out. Other than that, they are fine the usual ample amount of cushion that I've grown to expect from Smartwool. I've been buying Smartwool socks for 9 years, and this is the first time that I've been disappointed.

Disappointed. They came with pulls in them

I bought these as a gift for a women that bikes a lot in CO. They are sooo thick I'm afraid she may not like them. You would have to be sure there is enough room in your hiking boots for these.

The "Extra" cushion has two large rectangular thin long areas on the top of the foot where there is NO cushion. Further the cushion on top isn't uniform to the cushion on bottom, like 50%, so there's a constant feeling of unevenness. Does no one make a universally totally cushion without gaps in protection quality hiking sock any more?

I have LITERALLY lived in SmartWool Mountaineering socks since 1997. I buy 3 pr ever single year, and my wife EVERY YEAR without fail since 2000 had bought me 5 pr every Christmas. YES; over $160.00 a year every year on SmartWool Mountaineering crew socks. These socks have been reworked/engineered and are NOT the classic. THEY ARE NOT THE SAME. The knit is looser, they arent as thick on the sole, they removed the woven in size on the side of the foot, they are NOT as dense or heavy. They are not as warm. They took a product Ive loved and lived in for DECADES and made it worse. Its a sad sad sad day in my mountaineering sock world. (and yes I even wear them all summer, either in my ATAC boots, Vasques or with my TEVAs) These 'new' socks called "Mountaineer Classic" IS NOT THE CLASSIC!!!

I would not buy this product again !!! Socks do not keep my feet warm !!! With 73% Wool, I thought they wouldNot !!!

I use these socks for ice climbing, mountaineering, and extra cold days splitboarding. While the newer version is definitely softer and more comfortable, they lack in durability. After 1 day of climbing and skinning they are already falling apart. Definitely do not recommend for serious outdoor activities.

I wish they had not added so much nylon to the mountaineer socks. They slip more inside my shoes, sometimes causing the dreaded bunching between the ball of the foot and the beginning of the toes.

These were clearly over the calf, not crew cut.

As you can see from the comparison pictures below between SmartWool and a competing brand, SmatWool makes cheaper quality socks than it used to. You can see internally all the loose threads and externally all the mismatched, frayed sewing. Also, SmartWool's sock is only about 75% merino wool, whereas competitors make the other one pictured out of 80% merino wool for the same price.

Used them for ice climbing in -10 C weather and my feet were freezing both while doing physical activity and while I was belaying. I typically run cold but this was ridiculous. I didn't realize they had a low wool percentage. Will use them around the house.

Across the board they have reduced the amount of. These used to be 79% wool and now only 56%. A known fact that anything under 80% become much less effective.