I found some thick knee high, gray and black marl looking socks at Walmart today. They are about the same as the solid gray socks with the red stripe at the top that I found at JC Penny. They aught to do as well as the others. Before too long, it will be sandal weather out here.

As far as the watering hose goes. A while back I tried one of those roll out, flat hoses that are covered with a woven canvis-like cover... the sun ate it up right away, so thumbs down on those. The best so far have been the heavy deuty, rubber crimpless hoses, and by far.