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Reviews > Clothing > Socks > Point6 Hiking Tech Heavy Crew Socks > Test Report by joe schafferPoint6 Trekking Tech Heavy Crew Socks
Test series
October 28, 2015TESTER INFORMATION: NAME: Joe Schaffer EMAIL: never2muchstuff(AT)yahoo(DOT)com AGE: 67 GENDER: Male HEIGHT: 5'9" (1.75 m) WEIGHT: 170 lb (79.4 kg) HOME: Bay Area, California USA I started backpacking in 1959. I enjoy California's central Sierras, camping every month with a goal to match my age in nights out each year; about 30 solo. For comfort I lug tent, mattress, chair, etc. This year's summer trips have been 5-8 days; 40 lb (18 kg), about half food and water related; about 5 miles (8 km) per hiking day. I winter camp most often at 6,000 to 7,000 ft (1,800 to 2,000 m); 2 to 3 nights; 50 lb (23 kg); 1 to 4 miles (1.6 to 6.4 km) on snowshoes. THE PRODUCT: Manufacturer: point6  Web site: www.point6.com Product: Men's Medium Trekking Tech heavy cushion socks Color: Gray Received: 10/27/2015 MSRP: $21.95 US MY MEASURES: weight: (pair) 3 3/8 oz (96 g) length: (toe to heel) 9 in ( 22.9 cm) height: (heel to top) 7 1/2 in (19 cm) circumference at top: 7 in (17.9 cm) circumference at mid-foot: 6 1/2 in (16.5 cm) MY DESCRIPTION: This USA-made sock has a complex construction of 9 different panels and 3 weaves, comprised of 80% merino wool, 18% nylon and 2% spandex. Seams are remarkably smooth and nearly invisible. The outside fabric is smooth-woven up to the ankle, where the vertical part of the sock is then ribbed. The inside is terry-texture. A cross-wise panel 2 x 3/8 in (5 x 1 cm) about 2 in (5 cm) back of the toe top is thinner; matched by a similar panel 2 1/4 x 3/8 in (5.7 x 1 cm) at the front of the ankle bend. The toe cup about 1 1/2 in (3.8 cm) and heel cup diamond about 4 1/2 x 2 3/4 in (11.4 x 7 cm) are same weave and dark gray color. The bottom part of the metatarsal area has a lighter-gray panel about 1 3/4 x 3 3/4 in (4.5 x 9.5 cm), matched by panels above and below the heel cup of about 4 1/2 x 1 1/2 in (11.4 x 3.8 cm) and 4 1/2 x 1 3/4 in (11.4 x 4.5 cm) respectively. Six straight gray ribs run between the toe and heel on the bottom of the sock; with a 6 in (15.2 cm) zig-zag rib on each side below 3 shorter ribs at center side of 2 1/4 to 1 1/8 in (5.7 to 2.9 cm). The sock has a 3/4" (1.9 cm) cuff with a purple ink stamp inside noting the sock model. The sock above the ankle has 8 "venting" ribs in the front and 8 in the back, from 1/4 to 5/8 in (0.6 to 1.6 cm) length. The company logo about 5/8 in (1.6 cm) is woven into the sock on each side about 1 1/2 in (3.8 cm) from the top. The company name appears on one side of the sock between the heel and toe occupying about 3/4 x 1 3/4 in (1.9 x 4.5 cm). The model comes in black, taupe and gray; mine being gray. CONTEXT: I carry wool undies, wool shirt, wool hat, wool sleeping hat, wool sleeping socks and wool hiking socks. I always wear a liner sock, most often synthetic. I like to rinse the liners every day; and outers whenever they're likely to dry in time. I always wear gaiters. Feet are my most valued asset and they require the best attention technology will provide. Seems the wool I crave most is merino, which feels absolutely delicious on the skin, though it has a tendency to molest the wallet.  IMPRESSIONS:fit: As a size-9er my foot seems to fall at the break of sock sizes--medium too tight, large too long. I provided a bit of input to the vendor who kindly suggested medium, which proves to be perfect. The sock fits with no wrinkles anywhere. I wouldn't mind if it were a bit looser above the ankle, but even there it is not uncomfortably tight. I wouldn't want to sleep in them; I tote sloppy-loose for that. comfort: I've worn the socks right out of the package for about 6 hours each of two days. No itchies. No pinchies. Wonderfully warm socks, they breathe great and feel as cushy as bunny slippers. durability: That will have to come later. style: If I ever have to be rescued, I'd feel very comfortable being dragged out in these socks. They look quietly engineered to meet the requirements of a rugged hiker. I may not be one, but I don't mind my socks giving off the impression. cat box quotient: The website claims less stinky feet in these socks, which if so will be an improvement over other premium socks I've used. blisters: The website claims blister-free bounding. I rarely walk so far that these nasties appear, and I'll be expecting them not to. March 14, 2016
FIELD
CONDITIONS:
BACKPACKING 47 mi (76 km) inc. 14 mi (23 km) snowshoeing Oct 29/30: Castle Rock State Park, CA. 2,960-2,440 ft (900-745 m) 3 mi (5 k) 1 hour hike each way. Temps 60's F (18 C) day, 40's F (4 C) evening. Nov 26/27: Castle Rock State Park, CA. 2,960-2,440 ft (900-745 m) 3 mi (5 k) 1 hour hike each way. Temps 60's F (18 C) day, 50's F (10 C) evening. Dec 30/Jan 1: Gooseberry Ck, Eldorado National Forest, CA. 6,560-7,100 ft (2,000-2,165 m) 1 1/2 mi (2 k) car-to-camp sled pull; 5 mi (8 km) total. Temps 40's F (4 C) day, mid-teens F (-9 C) evening. Jan 22/25: Loon Lake, 6,400 ft (1,950 m) Eldorado NF, CA. 1 mi (2 k) flat sled pull car-to-camp; 6 mi (10 k) total shoeing. Temps 40's F (4 C) day, 30's F (2 C) evening. Feb 24/26: Pt. Reyes National Seashore, CA. 0-1,000 ft (0- 305 m) 20 mi (32 k) backpacking. Temps 60's F (18 C) day, 40's F (4 C) evening. Liner socks 2 days 14 mi (23 km)  STREET WALKING 91 mi (147 km) in 25 sorties, all dry and warm DIRT WALKING 31 mi (50 km) in 10 hikes, all dry and warm TOTAL TEST MILES: 169 (272 km); 155 mi (250 km) no liner; 14 mi (23 km) backpacking with liners; all in the same model of mid-weight, low cut trekking shoe. IMPRESSIONS: I stick to wool and I'm used to the feel of premium wool socks. The manufacturer claims superior merino in this product and I do find the socks supremely comfortable. In concert with grand footwear I've had no hot feet; and perhaps most appealing to me my feet have stayed warm even snowshoeing and camping. I blistered on the 20-miler (32 km) trip and used liners on the latter 2/3 of it, otherwise all mileage in just the Point6 socks. I've gone several hikes at a time without washing the socks and they do seem to have a lower cat box quotient, though I'm also wearing them in new shoes. I have machine-washed them 7 times and hand-washed 2 times and so far they've lost no weight. I overheated them in the dryer and they did appear to shrink a bit, but once on the feet they restored themselves to a perfect fit. So far the socks show no sign of wear. I've had occasion to keep the socks on for as long as 60 hours without discomfort. I probably could have kept them on longer, but I'd snowshoed enough to dampen them slightly and I wanted to go to sleep with completely dry socks. I was quite surprised that my persnickety skin allowed me to sleep in these snug-fitting socks at all as I usually develop irritation above the ankle, especially at the cuff. I can be willing to foot the bill on top-of-category prices for top-of-category performance. So far my performance impression of these socks puts them at the top echelon of any I'm used to. A durability finding will have to follow, but I suspect their 'cost-per-mile' will compete with just about any sock out there, including cheap. If that proves out, then the premium benefit of these socks comes at no marginal cost. Quick shot impressions: a) comfortable b) well made c) suitably engineered d) competitive price Thank you Point6 and BackpackGearTest.org for the opportunity to test this product. This concludes my report. Read more reviews of Point6 gear Read more gear reviews by joe schaffer Reviews > Clothing > Socks > Point6 Hiking Tech Heavy Crew Socks > Test Report by joe schaffer | ||||