Leather sock

I was asked a question which I couldn’t answer, pertaining to the Leather socks (khoof). What I would like to know is there conditions to a person wearing the socks. Eg travelling, coldness or can a person wear it at anytime and if a person wears it at anytime would it be more virtuous to rather make proper wudhu as in wash the feet or make masah, when a person can do that. I understand fully that both is Sunnah but this question of wearing it at anytime caught me especially if there is exceptions to when a person should or can wear it.