I purchased these socks not to wear with shoes but to keep my feet warm at night during the winter.  First off, they are very thick and comfortable. The second thing I like about them is that they fit well. I'm 6' tall and weigh 200 lbs but have larger than normal calves and they pull up with no trouble and stay up. I've worn them a few times on cold nights and they have kept my feet warm. If you're looking for a pair of socks just to keep your feet warm at night or a pair of heavy duty socks to wear with your shoes, you can't go wrong with these.