I only purchase Gold Toe products, usually from Penney's. I like thick socks with a cushioned sole, but these are not that variety. These are comparatively thin, but still a decent product for the money. There are some things you just need to touch and feel before you buy them and I have to put socks into that category in the future. These socks do shrink.  The elastic band is rather tight in my opinion. Back when I was young, the elastic in socks always stretched and fell down.  Now the elastic is too strong and too small. That is the only reason I wear these cut off socks.  Regular socks dig into my skin and leave an imprint and then irritate my skin. Who is designing socks these days anyway?  This one size fits all Chinese people doesn't work in America.