FAQs

We recommend hand washing our Alpaca and Cashmere socks in cool water to keep them looking their best. Our Mohair and Merino socks are machine washable on a wool or delicate cycle at 30°C. For all styles, please avoid fabric conditioner, bleach and tumble drying — always dry flat. Each product page gives the care instructions for that sock.

Not if you wash them cool and dry them flat. Like all natural fibres, they can felt and shrink on a hot wash or in a tumble dryer.

PA stands for polyamide, which we blend with our natural fibres to add elasticity and durability. Some styles also include a touch of elastane. The exact blend is listed on every product page.

Natural fibres like alpaca, mohair and merino are breathable and wick moisture away from your skin, which makes it harder for odour-causing bacteria to build up — so your feet stay fresher for longer than in synthetic socks.

Most styles are sized by UK shoe size: Small fits UK 4–7, Medium fits UK 8–10, and Large fits UK 11–13. Some Cashmere and Merino styles use different size bands, so please check the sizes shown on each product page. For full details, see our size guide.

You can order directly from our website, or get in touch by emailing cambsocks@gmail.com or calling us on 01763 848 059 and we’ll be happy to help.

UK delivery is free on orders over £60. Otherwise it’s £4.50 via Royal Mail Tracked 48, or £5.80 for Royal Mail Tracked 24. We aim to dispatch all orders within 2 working days. Ordering from outside the UK? Please email us for international delivery rates.

Yes. You can cancel any order, including sale items, within 14 days of receiving it — just email us, then send the socks back unworn within 14 days. We’ll refund the price paid plus standard delivery. Return postage is your cost unless the item is faulty. See our Delivery & Returns Policy for full details.

There’s no single “best” fibre — each has its own strengths. Alpaca is exceptionally soft, warm for its weight, and naturally free from lanolin, making it our top pick for sensitive skin. Merino is stretchier and offers great everyday value, while Mohair has a natural lustre and outstanding durability. Choose Alpaca for maximum softness with minimal itch, Merino for stretch and everyday value, or Mohair for shine and long-term durability.

Most people find it isn’t. Alpaca fibre contains little to no lanolin — the waxy oil in sheep’s wool that some people react to — and its scales lie flatter against the fibre, so there’s less friction against your skin. That makes Alpaca a comfortable choice even if you find ordinary wool prickly.

Yes. Wash on a wool or delicate cycle at 30°C, turned inside out, with a mild non-bio detergent and no fabric softener. Never tumble dry — reshape and dry flat to protect the fibres and keep their lustre.

They can if washed too hot or put through a tumble dryer, as heat and agitation cause natural fibres to felt and tighten. Hand wash (or machine wash on a cool wool cycle) and dry flat, and your Alpaca socks will keep their size and shape wash after wash.

Alpaca fibre is naturally strong and holds its shape well, so with proper care a well-made pair of Alpaca socks should last for years, comfortably outlasting cotton socks worn the same amount.

Yes. Both fibres are naturally breathable and moisture-wicking, drawing sweat away from your skin and helping regulate temperature — keeping feet drier and fresher for longer.

Not when they’re made from fine natural fibres like Alpaca, Merino, Mohair or Cashmere. These fibres regulate temperature rather than simply trapping heat — they keep feet warm in the cold but also breathe and wick away moisture, so feet don’t overheat. A lighter, everyday-weight style gives you comfortable warmth without the sweatiness synthetic socks can cause.

Very much so. Alpaca’s hollow fibre core gives excellent insulation without bulk, while its natural moisture-wicking keeps feet dry over long distances. It’s also hard-wearing and naturally odour-resistant, so it holds up well across multi-day walks and hikes — see our Boot and Crew styles for the trail.

For warming up after a cold dip, thick natural-fibre socks are ideal — Alpaca and Merino are popular with wild swimmers because they insulate even when damp, wick moisture away quickly and dry faster than cotton. For swimming in the water itself, a dedicated neoprene swim sock is best; our socks are designed to warm you up once you’re back on dry land.

Yes — both are breathable, temperature-regulating and comfortable enough to wear every day. Merino offers stretch and softness at an accessible price point, while Mohair adds durability and a subtle sheen, so either makes a reliable everyday choice depending on the feel you prefer.

Our core Cambridge range is knitted in traditional British mills. Our fibres come from specialist sources: alpaca from Peru, mohair from Angora goats in the UK, and merino and cashmere from trusted farms that prioritise animal welfare. Alpacas are gentle grazers with soft, padded feet, and alpaca fibre contains no lanolin, so it needs less processing to clean. It’s also hard-wearing, so your socks last longer and need replacing less often.

Our socks are built around a natural fibre — Alpaca, Merino, Mohair or Cashmere — blended with polyamide (labelled “PA”) for elasticity and durability, so they keep their shape and stretch comfortably around your leg. Some styles include a touch of elastane for extra stretch and fit. The blend varies by style and is listed on every product page.