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Reviews > Clothing > Socks > Darn Tough Vermont Hike-Trek Poppy Gall > Test Report by Chari DaignaultDARN TOUGH VERMONT POPPY GALL SOCK
INITIAL REPORT - September 30, 2010 TESTER INFORMATION
I've been a light hiker for 36 years. I take the minimum I can with me and prefer a pack close to 15 pounds [6.80 kg]. I've hiked all the Florida State Forest trails in Central Florida, backpacked the Na Pali coast on the island of Kauai and climbed Mt. Fuji in Japan. I have hiked dry & sandy, rough & rocky and wet & boggy trails and as a result, have found what does and doesn't work for me in terms of equipment and clothing. PRODUCT INFORMATION & SPECIFICATIONS Manufacturer: Darn Tough Vermont INITIAL IMPRESSIONS The Darn Tough Vermont (DTV) Poppy Gall socks
are made of Merino wool, feel very soft, are a bit thicker than socks I normally
wear and are highly cushioned. The extra cushioning runs along the entire bottom
of the foot, to include the toes and the heel. Did I mention they are
soft? TRYING IT OUT The socks fit nicely, very comfy. These are definitely socks I'd wear with my jammies in front of the TV late at night! So far, they feel comfortable in my work shoes, my hiking shoes and my trail running shoes (yay!). I can feel the arch support; since have high arches and don't require arch support, anything that has arch support is keenly noticed on my foot. However, it's not uncomfortable; just noticeable. The seam across the top of my toes does not bother me so far. There are also thicker points sticking out on either side of this seam that could pose a problem during longer hikes or trail runs if they start to rub on either side of my outside toes. SUMMARY Pros: FIELD LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS During the Field Testing period, the socks
have been worn in the Central Florida area, mainly southeast of Orlando. The
terrain covered has been sidewalks, asphalt, high grass, brush, gravel, sand and
hard-packed sand/dirt. Temperatures during the testing period in this area have
ranged from highs around 81F [27C] and lows around 70F [21C] to highs around 42F
[5.5C] with lows near 25F [-3.8C]. The Orlando area just finished having the
coldest December on record. PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD The DTV Poppy Gall socks were worn during
approximately twenty-eight 3 to 4 mi [4.8 km - 6.4 k] runs on both asphalt and
trail. My road shoes are the Adidas Supernova Glide 2. Even with the added
cushioning from the Poppy Gall socks, it was still comfortable and my feet
didn't feel as though they were being smothered. My trail running shoes are the
Adidas AdiZero XT 2 trail running shoes. These trail shoes are very light and
could do with a bit more cushioning, so the Poppy Gall socks were a welcome
addition to my gear. The AdiZero XTs also have a mesh top, which ends up letting
in a lot of fine debris and loose sand, but the Poppy Gall socks managed to keep
it all away from my skin. SUMMARY The DTV Hike/Trek 1/4 Cushion Poppy Gall socks
have been excellent cushioned running and hiking socks for me. They've performed
well as a camp sock (closest thing to a Snuggie!), and have held up well to
repeated washings and the heat of drying. They hold no odor and help to keep my
shoes from stinking as well. I really love these socks -- they really are
soft. LONG-TERM TEST LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS Locations, conditions and weather during the
Long Term testing period were similar to the Field Report. However, we had
little to no rain, as this is our dry season in Central Florida. My first pair
of socks were worn just over 70 miles (113 km) during this time on approximately
21 separate day hikes of 3 to 4 miles (4.8 km - 6.4 km) each, and one 4 mile
(6.4 km) trail run in 76 F (24 C) weather. They were also worn to the office
several times and on walks with the dogs through our community. PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD These socks are very durable! During the
testing period, they've shown no more wear or tear than they did during the
Field Testing phase. I tried to wash them more often this time, wearing them no
more than twice between washings. I threw them in the drier after each washing
and they always came out soft and did not shrink. They are so comfortable when
on; they have excellent cushioning and they seem to hug my feet. SUMMARY Basically, I love these socks. I'd love to
have several pair; maybe in a more "quiet" style -- less design, with a softer
color palette so I could wear them with a wider variety of
clothing. Read more reviews of Darn Tough Vermont gear Read more gear reviews by Chari Daignault Reviews > Clothing > Socks > Darn Tough Vermont Hike-Trek Poppy Gall > Test Report by Chari Daignault |