Just a note to second what you wrote about Smartwool.

One misconception about wool is that it is scratchy. That is true in some cases, but not always. Not all wool is created equal.

Different breeds of sheep produce wool fibers that are different lengths and diameters. The price of raw wool is based to a large degree on fiber diameter. Small fiber diameter is best for high quality, soft materials. Course (cheap) fleeces go to applications like carpet and rugs.

The Merino breed produces a fine diameter fiber. Smartwool is Merino wool.

I once had a wool army overcoat that would sand paper my neck every time I wore it. Rag wool sweaters are course and scratchy. The wool US army blanket is made of courser wool. Some cheaper XYZ-Mart undergarments use cheap wool. Cheap wool socks can also give wool a bad rap.

But, good quality wool undergarments ($$) can be very soft if they are made with the right kind of wool. I just spent the weekend camping. My Smartwool hiking socks were a pure pleasure.