Yep, I've gone through the gammit -- young, just my old cotton tube socks -- a little older and a little more income, big thick poly socks everyone said you "had to have." --- A little older, thick merino socks ----- Then, it was a thin sock liner and thick merino ------
Now, very light merino socks --- If it is 40/high 30's or above, one pair is fine -- getting closer to freezing, I put one thin pair over another thin pair --- These are the same type socks I use in dress socks for church, I threw out all my "Gold Toe" socks to use these. If it is going to be wind blowing and 20's and low 30's, I'll put in a pair of boot style hand warmers for a complete foot. A tree stand and wind blowing is not always fun in cold weather for this "beach bum."
I don't use insulated boots, either.