Inexpensive yet fundamental, the humble sock is an important purchase. Lara Dunn and Peter Macfarlane consider the matter carefully

6 of the best

More stuff to spend your hard-earned cash on

Stay warm and dry with a sub-£1500 laminate Gore-Tex jacket and trousers combo. But which is worth your time and money?

Give yourself the edge

Thongs or big pants? High waist or whale tail? Commando or ‘double panting’? Laura Craik takes a peek in the nation’s underwear drawer