Just wondering what are some good qualities/brands I should be looking for. I've been wearing explorer but found that their new socks are too synthetic and makes my feet sweat too much; my foot seems to sweat a little more than the average persons
The most basic thing you need to know is that merino wool is probably the greatest sock material ever. There's an article on REI about it's specific properties:
A few highlights would be:
Temperature management (warm when it's cold outside, cool when its warm outside)
Moisture Management
Durable
Retains shape
I just got done with a canoe trip in northern Minnesota, weather got up into the high 80's and I was wearing waterproof hiking boots and wool socks and my feet never got uncomfortably warm. A few times I took my feet out to give them a breather and wool is so good at managing moisture that they were usually dry in a few minutes, though my feet might not sweat as much as yours.
The downside to wool socks is that they are expensive (usually $10-20 per pair), and you have to be careful to follow their care instructions when washing them or you'll ruin them, though they are machine washable and easy to care for if you do.
That's a search on REI for wool socks with them sorted by customer rating. Throlo, Teko and Smartwool are all good brands. REI house brand is decent as well. They come in different thicknesses of padding, so be careful to get ones that fit in the shoes/boots you already have, usually the light hikers are thick enough to provide comfort, but can still fit in shoes you normally wear. Try a pair out, see if you like them, then watch for them to be on sale to pick up some extra pairs.