MINUS33 MOUNTAIN HERITAGE MICRO WEIGHT FULL CUSHION FULL LENGTH SOCKS TEST SERIES BY BRIAN HARTMAN November 9, 2020 CLICK HERE TO SKIP TO THE LONG-TERM REPORT TESTER INFORMATION NAME: | Brian Hartman | EMAIL: | bhart1426ATyahooDOT com | AGE: | 52 | LOCATION: | Central Indiana | GENDER: | M | HEIGHT: | 5' 9" (1.75 m) | WEIGHT: | 155 lb (70.30 kg) |
I
have been backpacking for over 20 years throughout Indiana, Ohio,
Kentucky and most recently in Western USA. In addition to backpacking I
enjoy family camping with my wife and kids and being outdoors in
general. I would describe myself as a mid weight backpacker. I use
fairly light weight equipment and gear but still like to bring more
than the bare essentials with me while on the trail.
INITIAL REPORT
PRODUCT INFORMATION & SPECIFICATIONS Manufacturer: Minus33
Year of Manufacture: 2020 Manufacturer's Website: http://www.minus33.com/ MSRP: US $20.99 per pair Listed Weight: 2.7 oz (76 g) per pair Measured Weight: 2.7 oz (76 g) per pair Size Tested: Large
Available Sizes: Small, Medium, Large, X-Large Available Colors: Black, Patriot, Olive Drab, Oatmeal, Coffee
Fiber Content: 61% Merino Wool, 22% Nylon, 16% Stretch Nylon, 1% Spandex Wool Source: Australia Made in New Hampshire, USA Features: Full Length Micro Weight Full Cushion Vented Zones Heel / Toe Plating 90/10 Yarn HISTORY AND INITIAL IMPRESSIONS The
Mountain Heritage micro weight full cushion full length socks
(hereafter called Minus33 or Mountain Heritage socks) are Merino
wool/nylon socks, made by Minus33 in New Hampshire USA. They are
Minus33's lightest weight socks but are full length and have full
cushioning to provide warmth on the coldest days of winter.
Before
talking about the socks, I want to mention the history behind
this company because it's fascinating. It dates all the way back
to 1916 when their parent company L. W. Packard started in the textile
manufacturing business. The company survived the Great
Depression, became a mainstay in the woolen industry, and created one
of the most modern textile manufacturing facilities in the world in
Ashland, New Hampshire. It was there they made cashmere
garments for high end retailers until the early 2000's when textile
manufacturing moved to Asia. Adapting to the times
they reinvented themselves as a Merino wool clothing company under
the name Minus33, with the guidance of a fourth generation Packard
family member who still runs the business today. Last year they
brought manufacturing back to Ashland, New Hampshire with the
introduction of their Mountain Heritage sock line. In addition to
socks the company sells a wide variety of other Merino wool-based
clothing including men's and women's base layers, mid layers, beanies,
gloves, headbands, scarfs, and blankets. The company, and
people working there, have a remarkable story and a dedication to
succeed and so it was exciting to read about them. The
Mountain Heritage socks are available in four weights, based on the
amount and type of terrying that goes into manufacturing them, the type
of yarns used in the socks, and the thickness of the yarns. The
four sock weights are micro, lightweight, midweight, and expedition.
I'm testing the micro weight socks which have no insulation.
The lightweight socks have terry insulation throughout the socks.
The midweight socks are made with thicker yarns and have thicker
terry insulation throughout the sock. The expedition socks use
the thickest yarns and have the densest cushioning throughout.
Socks are also available in six different heights, from full
length, which is what I'm testing, all the way down to 'no show', which
goes below the ankles (see picture below from manufacturer's website). Finally, the micro
weight socks are available as liners, with minimal cushioning only at
the toes, light cushioning which includes modest cushioning at the
heals and toes, and full cushioning across the entire foot bed.
The
socks I'm testing are comprised of 61% Merino wool, and 38% nylon for
durability. They're incredibly soft, they don't itch at all, and
they appear to be very well made. The entire bottom of the socks
as well as the heel and toe areas are cushioned, and they feel like
they'll be very comfortable to wear and do a great job of wicking
moisture. In addition, Merino wool is known to have antimicrobial
properties to reduce odor. With so many great features I'm
excited to put them to the test.
READING THE INSTRUCTIONS Minus33
recommends doing the following to care for these socks: first off,
always turn them inside out before washing to prevent pilling due to
abrasion against other clothing as well as the washing machine.
Machine wash them sparingly in cold water using a gentle or
wool-specific detergent. Tumble dry on a low setting or even
better lay them out flat to air dry. Don't use bleach or fabric
softeners. Don't iron. And for long-term storage put them
in airtight plastic bags or containers.
TRYING THEM ON The
socks were easy to slip on and incredibly comfortable to wear.
They were soft with no itchiness whatsoever, and they had
considerable stretch, so I don't think I'll have any problems with them
staying up. They're well-constructed and have no loose threads or frayed ends. They've
got lots of cushion but they're not bulky at all so I should be able to
wear them with most of my hiking shoes and boots. I
ordered size 'Large' socks based on
the sizing chart on the manufacturer's website and they fit perfectly
so the sizing chart seems to be spot on. My initial intent was to
try them on for a few minutes and then take them back off, but I
ended up wearing them for several hours. They felt great while
walking around the house and while sitting down, so much so that I
didn't want to take them off. I would have worn them outside on a
walk, but it was 76 F (24.4 C) and I was wearing shorts.
SUMMARY The
Mountain Heritage socks are well designed and have top quality
construction and detailed workmanship throughout the product.
I really like
their micro weight design and the fact that they have full cushioning
and are full length. During the next few months, I will
evaluate their comfort and durability and see how well they perform in
the field.
This concludes
my Initial Report for the Mountain Heritage socks.
LONG-TERM
REPORT
LONG-TERM TEST LOCATIONS AND
CONDITIONS
During Long Term Testing I wore
the Mountain Heritage socks for 62 days and approximately 176 mi (283 km).
This included two backpacking trips and fifty-six day hikes in a
variety of weather conditions. Temperatures during testing ranged from 6 to 37 F (-14 to 3 C).
My
first trip was to one of my favorite places in Indiana (IN), the
Charles Deam Wilderness, where I camped for three days. The area
includes 20 mi2 (52 km2) within the Hoosier National Forest that
was designated as wilderness by Congress in 1982. It's densely forested
with hardwood trees and has over 36 mi (58 km) of hiking trails. Skies
were mostly cloudy during my stay with occasional light snow
showers overnight. Daytime highs were in the upper 30s F (3 C)
and overnight temperatures dropped to near 30 F (-1 C). I covered approximately 9.5 mi (15 km) on this
trip while backpacking both on and off trail.
Location: Charles Deam
Wilderness Type of Trip: Backpacking, both on and off trail Distance: 9.5 mi (15 km) Length
of Trip: Three days Backpack Weight: 33 lb (15 kg) Weather Conditions:
Most cloudy Precipitation: 0.5 in (1.27 cm) Temperature Range: 30 to 37 F
(-1 to 3 C)
My
second trip was to Franklin County in Southeastern IN where I hiked
approximately 5 mi (8 km) during the course of three days. Skies were
clear and sunny most of the time and temperatures were cold. I
camped in a valley at the edge of a large forest to stay out of the
wind as much as possible.
Location: Franklin County, IN Type of Trip:
Off-trail hiking Distance: 5 mi (8 km) Length of Trip: Three
days Backpack Weight: 35 lb (16 kg) Weather Conditions: Clear and breezy Precipitation: 0.0 in (0 cm) Temperature Range: 22 to 28 F (-6 to
-2 C)
In
addition to overnight backpacking I did a lot of day hiking during the
past few months, mostly at local parks and on walking trails.
Temperatures ranged from the mid-30s to 6 F (1 to -14 C).
PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD
The Minus 33 Mountain
Heritage socks performed beyond my expectations during Long Term
Testing. They were simply outstanding in the four categories I
reviewed: fit, comfort, durability, warmth, and breathability.
I
ordered these socks in size 'Large' since I wear size 10 to 10.5
shoes, and they fit perfectly. I had no problem wearing them in
even snug fitting shoes since the fabric wasn't bulky. They were
also easy to put on and take off and there was no excess material to
bunch up in the toe or heal areas. Even though the fabric was
thin, or micro weight as the manufacturer described it, the socks were
plenty comfortable. They had full cushion along the entire bottom
of the socks, including the heel and toe areas, so my feet never felt
tired or sore after a long day on the trail. In addition, the
wool/nylon yarn was soft and smooth, never itchy. Elastic, sewn
into strategic spots on the socks, made sure they stayed in place and
didn't twist in my shoes or slip down my calves. Even after 176 mi (283 km), they haven't loosened up, a testament to their durability. Comparing
the socks I tested to a brand-new pair of Mountain Heritage socks
(photo below left), the worn socks on the left look really good,
even after four months of abuse and several cycles through the laundry.
Looking at the photo bottom right, it's obvious the fabric on the heals
is stretched and compacted from wear, but the socks still look
remarkably good and function as if they were a month old. They
have no holes, no thin spots, no noticeable color fading, and no major
pilling, which again is tribute to their durability.
Regarding
care, I washed them a handful of times and air dried them, even
though they can go through the dryer. When not in use, they hung
out in my sock drawer. These are the tallest socks I own, and prior to
testing them, I wasn't sure how I'd feel about them being full length.
I was concerned they might be too warm and feel sweaty, and I thought
they might slide down my calves and bunch up at my ankles as has
happened with previous socks. Fast forward four months, and
neither of those things has happened. And the additional warmth
was nice when cold air came up my pant legs.
I
wore the Mountain Heritage socks in temperatures down to 6 F (-14
C) and they always kept me warm. Even when hiking in wet and
slushy snow, with the socks noticeably damp, they kept my
feet and ankles warm. Once home, the socks dried out in a matter
of a few hours. And the socks never smelled, except on my second
backpacking trip, when I wore them for three straight days.
Now, normally I change my socks every night, but I did this to
see how far I could push them, and even then, the socks weren't too
bad, smelling better than polyester socks do after one day on the trail. Finally,
I found the socks to be quite breathable. Even when hiking
aggressively, they did a good job of absorbing moisture from my feet
and releasing it, so my skin didn't get wet. My feet never
felt clammy and I never got any blisters or warm spots, which happens
when wearing wet socks. All in all, the Mountain Heritage socks
performed very well which is testament to their design and top quality.
SUMMARY
The Mountain Heritage
socks were a joy to wear during testing and I look forward to using
them for the next several months until temperatures warm up. These are
great socks for winter backpacking or any winter activities.
This concludes this test series. My thanks to
BackpackGearTest and Minus33 for the opportunity to test these socks.
Read more reviews of Minus 33 gear
Read more gear reviews by Brian Hartman
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