Hiking / Boot Socks

Knitted hosiery generally falls under HS 6115, with subheadings splitting by fiber content (cotton, synthetic, wool) and by whether the item is graduated compression hosiery. Confirm the specific subheading per fiber blend, since duty rates vary by material.

A standard cotton crew sock (China, 500-unit run per size/colorway) lands around $1.50–3; merino wool runs $4–7 per pair driven by fiber cost; cashmere-blend lounge socks run $6–10, driven by the cashmere content percentage.

Cotton is the cheapest and most breathable but holds moisture and can feel damp on long wears; merino wool costs more but wicks moisture and resists odor even after repeated wear, making it the standard for hiking and ski socks; cashmere is the softest but least durable, so it's almost always blended with nylon rather than used alone.

Typically 300–500 pairs per size and colorway combination, since circular knitting machines need a changeover for each pattern and yarn color, and that changeover cost is what the minimum is covering, not the yarn itself.

They start as a standard knit sock, then go through a separate finishing step where silicone is screen-printed onto the sole in a dot or strip pattern and cured. This adds a production step and cost over a plain sock, so confirm grip placement and density (how much silicone coverage) in the spec.

It's an extra layer of yarn double-knitted into just the heel and toe during production, adding modest cost in exchange for meaningfully longer wear life in those high-friction zones. Worth specifying for athletic or hiking socks; less necessary for dress or lounge socks with lighter use.

Medical-grade graduated compression (used for circulation conditions) requires clinical-grade manufacturing and sometimes regulatory classification depending on the market; athletic "compression" socks sold for recreational use don't require certification but should avoid medical claims unless the compression level has been independently tested.