I'm coming late to this thread, but I would like to add my 1.46 cents worth. I always wear hose with my kilts when I go out.

I just counted my hose. I have thirty + (I don't know how many are in the wash.) My wife has been strictly schooled. She knows not to put any of my hose in the dryer. She (and I on occassion) only washes them in cold water and then hangs to dry.

The hose are pretty much devided in the following: 1/3 pure wool, 1/3 rugby sox of unknown blend, 1/3 light synthetic and light wool.

I wear the heavy wools in the winter, the light wools and synthetics in the summer and the rugby sox year-round.

There are a lot of good quality rugby sox available and a lot of junk. Given proper care good wool sox, can last a long time. The same is true for good quality rugby sox. Some of my sox are 7 years old, and still very servicable.