SWIFTWICK PURSUIT HIKE MEDIUM SOCKS
|
Tester
Information
|
|
| Name:
|
David
Wilkes |
|
E-Mail:
|
amatbrewer@yahoo.com
|
|
Age:
|
50 |
|
Location:
|
Yakima
Washington USA |
|
Gender:
|
M |
|
Height:
|
5'11"
(1.80 m) |
|
Weight:
|
200 lb (90.7 kg) |
|
Biography:
I started
backpacking
in 1995 when I moved to Washington State. Since then, I have
backpacked in all seasons and conditions the Northwest has to
offer. I prefer trips on
rugged trails with plenty of elevation gain. While I continuously
strive to lighten my load, comfort and safety are most important to me.
I have finally managed to get my basic cold weather pack weight, not
including consumables, to under 30 lb (14 kg).
|
|
Product
Information
|
|
Manufacturer:
|
Swiftwick - PO Box 2363, Brentwood, TN 37024 |
|
Year
of Manufacture:
|
2016 |
|
Manufacturer’s
Website:
|
www.swiftwick.com
|
|
MSRP:
|
23.99 US$
|
Measured weight:
|
3 oz (84 g) pair size L
|
|
|
Product
Description:These
are socks...er...um...more? Ok. These are wool socks, more specifically
moisture wicking compression socks made from a blend of Merino wool
and Olefin. They are available in multiple cushion weights and are
advertised as being “the driest performance hiking sock in its class”.
|
|
Initial
Report
|
|
Dec 1 2016
|
Sock
and Shoe size reference
|
|
Size
|
S
|
M
|
L
|
XL
|
|
Men
|
3-5.5
|
6-9.5
|
10-12
|
12-15
|
|
Women
|
5-7.5
|
8-10
|
10.5-12.5
|
12.5-15
|
|
Euro
|
35-37
|
39-42
|
43-45
|
46-48
|
The socks look to have 3 different versions; Light
and Medium Cushion Outdoor Compression Socks and a light cushion
Cycling Compression sock (despite being called PURSUIT HIKE and are
available in various colors. Oddly as far as I have been able to find
they all are listed with the same weight 22g and foot-bed thickness
“10”. I received 3 pair, two of the medium cushion (one Coal/White the
other Heather/Red) and 1 pair of light cushion (Brown/Red). Per our
normal procedure I will be primarily wearing one pair, use a second as
a ‘backup’ (e.g. primary pair too wet to wear). The third pair
will be used to compare to the others to evaluate wear at the end of
the Long Term report.
I had never heard of Olefin so I did a bit
of online research. After digging around I discovered Olefin seems to
be another name for Polypropylene and/or Polyethylene). Olefin fiber is
touted with a number of features that are relevant to socks including
abrasion resistant, quick drying, resistant to deterioration from
mildew, perspiration, rot, and weather, and as having the “lowest
specific gravity of all fibers” (fibersource.com, Wikipedia, and other
sources). In my research I have read conflicting descriptions of it not
regaining its shape after being stretched/crushed, and bounding back
well after stretching/crushing. I presume this is due to the various
forms this fiber can take and the various treatments it can receive. My
reading suggests that Olefin can be “modified in a wide range with
additives” including antibacterial. According to the manufacturers web
site they use “Swiftwick's signature Olefin fiber” but does not provide
any specifics. The Swiftwick PURSUIT HIKE uses Merino wool (I love
Merino wool).
Before opening the packages I placed the 3 pairs
side by side and compared the thickness to see if I could tell the
light cushion pair from the other two and found them to be noticeably
thinner (about 1/3). The packaging includes some boastful text
including “the BEST SOCKS you will EVER wear GUARANTEED” as well as some
more informative information such as having a contoured compression fit
so they fit well and move with the wearer, and a description as to the
socks moisture wicking abilities. The labeling indicates the medium
socks are composed of 69% Merino, 15% Nylon, and 13% Olefin, while the
light uses 63%/18%/15% respectfully.
I would note that I
have discovered one of the most important factors in keeping my feet
comfortable is how effective my socks are at moisture management. I
have found that the better a sock is at keeping my feet dry, the less
thickness (insulation) I need. This is most apparent for cross country
skiing since I use tight fitting boots that do not breathe well, and
experience periods of high activity intermixed with periods of low to
no activity. So I am very interested in if these stand up to their
claims about wicking.
|
Long
Term Report |
| Apr 11 2017 |  Usage:
- Nordic Skiing/Snowshoeing, White Pass Ski Area, 12 days
- Snowshoeing,
day trip, North Fork of the Tieton, Eastern Cascades Washington [18km
(11 m) of groomed track. A patrol day = at least 4hrs of
skiing/snowshoeing.]
- Snowshoeing, 2 days/1 night, Pacific Crest Trail Central Washington 5 miles (8 km)
- Daily wear
These
socks are warm. We experienced some very cold days this winter, one
particularly memorable day the high temperature was 14 F (-10 C) and
having not looked at a weather report I was a bit under dressed. As a
result I had a difficult time staying warm throughout the day. I spent
the morning snowshoeing and the afternoon Nordic skiing. As there was
only one other patroler with me that day, for sweep at the end of the
day I had to do half of our 18k (11 mi). Soon after starting I could
already not feel my fingers. I was hesitant to stop during sweep for
fear of just how cold I would get. Throughout this, to my surprise my
feet stayed warm. Note that historically my fingers AND feet tend to
get cold quite easily. Having my feet stay warm under these conditions
was significant.
 Other
days were at or above freezing. During these days the challenge for
Nordic patrollers is moisture management. We work up some heat and
sweat, and so wear a minimum of insulation to avoid overheating. The
down side is if I let my base layer get too wet, I can get really cold
during stops, which are sometimes unavoidable, and can be prolonged.
These socks did an excellent job of wicking moisture and thereby kept
my feet dry.
Overall the fit and feel of these socks is fine.
They feel good, are snug but not tight, and they tend to stay in place
regardless of the activity I am pursuing. However I would note that
during this test I have had 3 blisters on the heel of my right foot all
occurring while snowshoeing with these socks and the same pair of
boots. This is significant since I normally average about 1 blister
every 2-3 years. I put the primary cause of the blisters on the boots,
but since I have used those boots with other socks and not gotten
blisters I would put at least a small amount of blame on the socks for
not helping to prevent it. By the end of the testing I started taping
that heel prophylactically in order to prevent a recurrence.
I
compared the pair I have been wearing to the pair set aside and unused.
While the used sock is still in good condition it is showing noticeable
indications of wear. They have more of a “fuzzy” look and show some
pilling especially around the heel. I can see no indications of
thinning
and the elastic of the leg seems to be holding up quite well, they do
not sag during use. Throughout the test with only 1 or 2 exceptions
where I put them in a clothes washer, the socks have been hand washed,
and hung to dry.
In summary I find these socks to fit well, to
be very warm, and to wick moisture well. They seem to be showing more
wear then I would expect after this amount of use. And I am concerned
about how much they contributed to the blisters I experienced. I plan
to continue to use these for cold weather use but probably not for
hiking and/or snowshoeing due to the blisters I experienced. And doubt
I will use them much in the warmer weather.
|
This
concludes
my Report. I would like to thank the folks at Swiftwick and BackpackGearTest.org
for the opportunity to test this product.
|
|
