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Reviews > Clothing > Socks > Wigwam Portland Pro Socks > Test Report by Theresa Lawrence

WIGWAM PORTLAND PRO SOCKS

Test Series by Theresa Lawrence

Initial Report - August 25, 2016
Long Term Report - January 24, 2017

TESTER INFORMATION

Name: Theresa Lawrence
Email: theresa_newell AT yahoo DOT com
Age: 39
Location: Sparwood, British Columbia, Canada
Gender: Female
Height: 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Weight: 130 lb (59 kg)
Shoe Size: 9US

I have more than 15 years of backpacking experience. Day hikes and 2-3 day backpacking trips take place on most weekends throughout the year while longer trips are only occasional. I backpack predominantly in mountain terrain (Coast Range, Cascades and Canadian Rockies) with the goal of summiting peaks. Activities I use my gear with include mountaineering, ski touring, rock climbing, kayaking, biking, trail running, Search and Rescue and overseas travel. I like my gear to be reasonably light, convenient and simple to use though I would not claim to be a lightweight hiker.

Initial Report - August 25, 2016
PRODUCT INFORMATION

Manufacturer:
Wigwam Mills, Inc.
Image from manufacturer website
Manufacturer's URL:  www.wigwam.com
Year of Manufacture: 2016
Made in:
USA
MSRP: $16 USD
Measured Weight: 2.1 oz (59 g) 
Warranty: 2 year performance guarantee
Materials:

42% drirelease Tencel (88% Polyester, 12% Tencel), 38% Stretch Nylon, 17% Merino Wool, 3% Spandex
Sizes Available:
Unisex MD (women's 6-10 Tested), LG, XL
Colors Available: Black (tested), Navy (tested), Purple Velvet (tested), Turtle Green, Chili Pepper

DESCRIPTION & FIRST IMPRESSIONS                                                                      

Wigwam's Portland Pro socks are part of their 'Peak to Pub' collection and are categorized as lightweight hiking socks. They are mid-calf in length and sport a pleasing three-tone color scheme. I received the 'Purple Velvet' as shown in the photo above and 'Navy', which has a combination of navy, gray and turquoise in the same fashion. The sock is mostly lightweight fabric except for the sole, which is cushioned for added comfort. Although the toe of the sock is seamless, along the length of the socks where the two colors meet is not. These seams are soft and flat and don't appear to be abrasive. These socks use a patented moisture control system called 'Ultimax' along with 'drirelease TENCEL' and Merino Wool to make it a performance sock. The packaging also informs me that the front shin has breathable mesh panels and I agree that the fabric here does feel lighter. Another feature of this sock includes Fresh Guard, which is important because its job is to prevent odor. These socks can be machine washed and dried, but it is recommended to turn them inside out 'for best results'. I think it is also important to note that Wigwam has a 2 year performance guarantee that says they will replace these socks if I am not be completely satisfied with them.

TRYING THEM ON

I must admit I was surprised that these socks were unisex. In fact, they are my first pair of unisex socks. For some reason I always thoughts socks had to be gender specific. The socks I received are 'Adult MD', which fit a shoe size of 5-9.5 men and 6-10 women. My feet are thin, long and narrow and I wear a size 8.5-9 women's shoe. When I put these socks on they fit like a glove and felt like a sock should feel. This was a great surprise as I was expecting them to be a bit wide or floppy and they were not. They are very soft, have a nice weight to them, no abrasive seams or extra fabric anywhere. Overall a great fit and I look forward to hiking in them.

SUMMARY


So far my impression of these socks is that they are well made, well thought out and definitely performance engineered. They have a great look, a great feel and a promising prospective. I look forward to testing out the key features on some upcoming treks in the mountains. Check out my website again in roughly four months for tales on how they performed on the many adventures they will have endured.


Long Term Report - January 24, 2017



FIELD CONDITIONS

These socks have seen all four seasons in the Rocky Mountains. I started out at the end of August in summer weather, 28 C (82 F), with a lengthy scramble up Mt. Tecumseh in the Crowsnest Pass, Alberta, Canada with an elevation gain of 1175 m (3855 ft). The weather soon became fall with a 3-day trip to Glacier National Park, Montana, USA where we saw rain, mist, cloud and sun. Temperatures ranged between 5 and 14 C (41 and 57 F). An overnight trip to Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta, Canada allowed us to hang on to the last of the plus temperatures ranging between 4 and 10 C (39 and 50 F). An overnight trip to Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, Alberta, Canada landed us in the start of winter and below freezing temperatures with a low of -2 C (28 F).  After this trip the snow came and unfortunately, the extreme cold, which has stayed ever since, averaging - 20 C (-4 F). At this point the hiking boots and socks came off and touring skis and long ski socks went on. These socks however, continued to be used in double with heavy winter boots for bearing the cold during search and rescue practices.



COMFORT AND FIT

I'm pleased with the fit and feel of the Wigwam Portland Pro socks. I found them to be soft and non-abrasive and I just really liked wearing them for their comfort. They fit perfectly to my feet, with no extra bumps or excess material. They do not feel tight or constricting in any way. I would change nothing about how they fit my long, narrow feet.

PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD

I am very pleased with the performance of these socks. Although the material feels quite thin and light, they were exceedingly warm especially in summer temperatures, yet they held their own as temperatures plummeted. In the extreme cold, well below freezing, I wore two pairs and my feet were nice and toasty. Because these socks are not bulky, two pairs did not feel at all awkward. I found they wicked sweat well when temperatures were high. I had no issues with blisters for the duration of the test period. I felt no abrasion along any of the seams that I might have been previously worried about. I would conclude that the Fresh Guard works as I did not observe any unpleasant odors on any of my trips.



DURABILITY

The thin material has stretched a bit, which I can see when I compare it to a new one. I haven't noticed any functional issue at this time. There is quite a bit of wearing at the top of the heel with some evident pilling and thinning of the material. This is also observed on top of toe box. The wear appears to be consistent where there may have been excessive rubbing inside my boots. There was also some pilling and pulled threads at random spots. Nothing noted above has compromised the sock as of yet and I would say they are quite well used. The socks were washed multiple times throughout the test period in a machine washer in warm water and were also machine dried.

SUMMARY

I have enjoyed wearing the Wigwam Portland Pro socks. They are lightweight, but offer a lot of warmth. In my experience they were top performers for wicking, odor control, fit and comfort. They did show wear over the test period with some thinning areas and pilling, though nothing that has taken away from performance or comfort.

Likes
- Soft and lightweight
- Ability to wick
- Odor control
- Comfort and fit
- Colors and look
- Warm despite being light
- Quick to dry in the field
- Ease of washing and drying by machine at home

Dislikes
- Thinning and pilling at spots that rub inside the boot
- A bit stretched compared to new

I'd like to thank Wigwam Mills, Inc. and BackpackGearTest.org for allowing me to take part in this test series. 




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Reviews > Clothing > Socks > Wigwam Portland Pro Socks > Test Report by Theresa Lawrence



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