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Reviews > Clothing > Socks > WrightSock Double-Layer Coolmesh Crew > Owner Review by Kara Stanley
WRIGHTSOCK DOUBLE-LAYER COOLMESH CREW
TESTER INFORMATION
I backpacked for the first time in 2006 and am now hooked on it. I have hiked most of my life, though growing up the in South most of my hikes were on flat land or small hills. Since moving to the DC area I have really gotten into hiking, doing both day hikes and multi-day backpacking trips, but warm weather hikes only! Since I am on a tight budget I tend to have heavier gear, but am hoping to covert to a lighter hiking style as money permits. My base pack weight is around 25 lb (11 kg) since I am currently carrying a 2-man tent on all my trips. PRODUCT INFORMATION
Manufacturer: WrightSock Product Description
I purchased the WrightSocks in size L and found that they fit well. The socks also have color coded seams across the toes, which I did not notice until reading another review. This would be helpful in a household with more then once size of WrightSock. Please see the sizing chart below: Dual layer crew socks made to reduce/eliminate blisters and hotspots. They are made from a mix of Dri-WRIGHT™ polyester and nylon with a touch of Lycra® in the outer layer to keep them in place. The outer layer is grey with darker toes and heals. The front panel is a fine checkered pattern of dark and light grey and 'allows for maximum “wicking” action away from the foot, keeping you drier and cooler than other socks' according to the website. There is no elastic in the cuff but the Lycra keeps them up just fine. The inner layer is white which I think was done to keep potentially irritating dyes away from sensitive feet. Also the white layer shows whether or not all the dirt has been washed out of the socks. The double layer system was designed to allow each layer to move freely to reduce friction and help prevent blisters and hotspots.
FIELD USE
I bought these socks for use during the One Day Hike (ODH), which is a 100 km (62.1 mi) hike along the C & O Canal from Washington, DC to Harper's Ferry, West Virginia with an elevation gain of about 350' (107 m). I first heard about WrightSocks from a backpacker in Montana who suggested them for my hiking partner who was having blister troubles. They were again recommended to me by a fellow hiker in my ODH training group. I purchased a pair to test out on a 35 mi (40.25 km) training hike with plans to get a second pair if I like them enough to use for the ODH. It did take me a bit to get use to wearing the WrightSocks due to the slipping between the layers. As the hike progressed I no longer noticed the slipping and was pleased that I did not develop any blisters or hotspots except between my toes, which the socks could not have prevented. I didn't wash the socks before wearing them the first time and was pleased that they did not shrink noticable after machine-washing and drying them. SUMMARY Overall they deliver as promised, I did not develop any blisters that the socks could have prevented. They do not provide any additional cushioning so I would consider using them with a padded hiking sock when wearing lightly padded footwear. This is a sock that I would suggest to my friends if they were prone to blisters and needed something for an endurance event such as the ODH or a marathon. I would not recommend this pair for long distance hikes since one pair is already wore out after only 70 miles and worn out socks are useless in the backcountry. I would be willing to try a pair made out of a different type of material, such as merino wool, but I haven't been able to find a pair in crew cut since I wear mid height hiking books. The bottom line is they prevent blisters but wear out fast. THINGS I LIKE
Reduce blisters and hotspots THINGS I DON'T LIKE
Pilling on the ball of the foot is annoying and takes time to remove Read more reviews of WrightSock gear Read more gear reviews by Kara Stanley Reviews > Clothing > Socks > WrightSock Double-Layer Coolmesh Crew > Owner Review by Kara Stanley |