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Reviews > Clothing > Socks > Incrediwear Hiking Socks with CBT > Test Report by Cheryl McMurrayINCREDISOCKS
TEST SERIES BY CHERYL MCMURRAY INITIAL REPORT September 3, 2011 FIELD TEST REPORT November 22, 2011 LONG TERM REPORT January 24, 2011 TESTER INFORMATION
Name: Cheryl McMurray Age: 52 Gender: Female Height: 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) Weight: 145 lb (66.6 kg) Email Address: cherylmcmurray2ATgmailDOTcom City, State, Country: Garden Grove, California, U.S. BACKPACKING BACKGROUND I've been backpacking and hiking for four years, mostly on weekends year around. Overnight trips are usually long weekend trips in the Eastern Sierras with 32 lb to 40 lb (15 kg to 18 kg) loads depending on the season. One class two rock climb with a day pack is common. Day hikes are 10-15 mi (16 km to 24 km) in the San Gabriel Mountains with loads of 15 lb to 20 lb (7 kg to 9 kg). I'm a tent style camper and have experienced snow, sub-freezing temperatures, winds (once was gale force), light rain, but mostly fair weather. PRODUCT INFORMATION Manufacturer: Incrediwear Manufacturer's website: www.incrediwear.com Year of Manufacture: 2011 Material: 100% organic bamboo charcoal and natural fibers (22% fiber, 48% cotton, 30% flexible fiber) Sizes available: S/M men's 7-9.5, women's 8-10; M/L men's 9.5-12.5, women's 10-13 Weight: 3.3 oz (94 g) Size tested: M/L Men's 9.5-13 (41-46 EU) Color: Green MSRP: $18.90 US
INITIAL REPORT
September 3, 2011 PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Incredisocks are a mid-calf bamboo charcoal sock made by Incrediwear. They are made from 100% organic bamboo charcoal and natural fibers from 5 year old mature Moso Bamboo found in the high mountains of Taiwan. The resulting claim of bamboo charcoal is increased blood flow by releasing good infrared anions (negatively charged particles) producing infrared heat stimulating blood flow to joints and muscles. Incredisocks have a 200 thread count and an advanced weaving technology that creates a unique 3-D weave providing incredible cushion while wicking away moisture and keeping feet dry. Bamboo charcoal also claims to have an antimicrobial quality that resists odor and the manufacturer says that the socks will become softer and thicker after each wash. The composition of the sock makes it thermo-regulating and is supposed to keep my cold feet warm and my warm feet cool.
INITIAL IMPRESSIONS I received 2 pairs of green/charcoal color Incredisocks size M/L men's along with a fact/testimonial sheet and a 2 page paper on the science behind Incrediwear and Anions. I immediately noticed how substantial these socks felt as they have a compression quality to the feel. There is a more solid weave pattern at the heel and ball of the foot, a ribbed weave pattern to the calf area and a checkered-like weave pattern to the foot top and arch area. I like the color of the sock and look of the logo at the toe area, although the only one who will see that will be me. I'm really looking forward to testing the claims of these socks to see if my feet and calf's will indeed feel less tired and more energized, not to mention the temperature regulating. I usually wear sock liners under my socks to prevent blisters but will try these socks without the liners in order to keep the bamboo material next to my skin.
TRYING THEM OUT The suggestion from the manufacturer is to spend 1 hour with an Incredisock on one foot and my usual hiking sock on the other and then wear both socks after that. I'm also supposed to feel a temperature increase to my joint (ankle joint, I'm assuming) within 5 minutes. I took a 6 mi (10 km) hike at Peter's Canyon that has rolling terrain. There are some steep ups and downs along with flatter terrain. The temperature ranged from 70 F (21 C) to 78 F (26 C). I put the Incredisock on my left foot and put one of my synthetic socks with a polypro sock liner on my right foot (my usual combination). The difference was felt immediately. The foot with the Incredisock did feel cooler from the start and the sock had a soothing soft feel to it next to my skin. My right foot, although comfortable did not feel those qualities. I wore my light trail shoes that had some mesh venting to them. Although neither foot was tired at the end of the hike, the foot with the Incredisock maintained its cool, soft feel. I had no chafing or blisters from wearing the Incredisock alone without a sock liner and suspect that I may not have to wear liners at all with these socks. I like that. The bottom of my foot was completely dry and the top of the foot had minimal moisture. The foot without the Incredisock had the same results. There was no odor to either sock at the end of the hike but I'm not sure that I would say that I felt a temperature increase to my left ankle joint within 5 minutes. Still in all, I'm very impressed with the feel of the Incredisock after the hike.
SUMMARY So far, I'm impressed with the performance of the Incredisock verses my synthetic sock/sock liner combination. It did indeed kept my foot cool and although I could not exactly gauge the claim of stimulating blood flow to my foot, as the hike was not long enough to get my foot very tired, it did stay very comfortable. It wicked moisture completely away on the bottom of my foot and kept the top of my foot fairly dry. The sock had no odor after the hike. I do wear leather boots backpacking and leather/mesh Gore-Tex boots on serious day hikes so I will be interested to see how these socks perform under heavier use with different types of boots that might not breathe as well. FIELD TEST REPORT
November 22, 2011 TESTING CONDITIONS AND LOCATIONS
Location: Hungry Pack Lake/Wallace Pk, Eastern Sierras near Bishop, California Duration: 4 day, 3 night backpack Distance: 14 mi (23 km) backpack, 7.5 mi (12 km) day hike (all cross country) Terrain: trail, rock slabs, consolidated snow, rock scrambling. Moderate to steep Elevation gain/loss: Backpack: 2,700 ft (825 m) gain/loss Wallace Pk: 2,000 ft (600 m)gain/loss Day hike: +1,100 ft (335 m), - 600 ft (180 m) Conditions: Sunny, partly cloudy Temperature: 39 F (4 C) to 75 F (24 C) Boots used: Solid Leather, Gore-Tex Liner Location: Icehouse Saddle, San Gabriel Mts, Southern California Duration: Day hike Distance: 7 mi (11 km) Terrain: dirt and rocky trail Elevation gain/loss: 2,500 ft (760 m) Conditions: Cloudy, thunder, partial sun Temperature: 65 F (18 C) to 75 F (24 C) Boots used: Leather/mesh, Gore-Tex liner Location: Dry Lake/San Gorgonio Peak, San Bernardino Mts, Southern California Duration: 3 day, 2 night backpack/day hike Distance: 12 mi (19 km) backpack, 10 mi (16 km) day hike Terrain: all trail Elevation gain/loss Backpack: 3,100 ft (950 m) Day hike: 2,400 ft (730 m) Conditions: Sunny Temperature: 28 F to 60 F Boots used: Leather/mesh, Gore-Tex liner Location: Mt. Baldy, San Gabriel Mts, Southern California Duration: Day hike Distance: 8 mi (13 km) Terrain: Steep trail Elevation: 4,000 ft (1,200 m) Temperature: 50 F (10 C) to 75 F (24 C) Boots used: Leather/mesh, Gore-Tex liner Location: Kofa Wilderness, Western Arizona Duration: Day hikes (2) Distance: 6 mi (10 km), 5 mi (8 km) Terrain: Desert cross country along with steep/loose terrain Temperature: 55 F (13 C) to 85 F (29 C) Boots used: Solid leather, Gore-Tex liner I've worn the Incredisocks a total of 17 days in temperatures ranging from 28 F (-2 C) to 85 F (29 C) and all types of terrain. The three different types of footwear that I used were light mesh trail shoes (during Initial Report), Gore-Tex lined mesh/leather hiking boots and all leather waterproof backpacking boots, also Gore-Tex lined.
FIT AND FEEL I wear a women's US size 10-10.5 (42 EU) and the men's M/L fit me perfectly with no bunching and no tightness in the toe box. The fit remained the same after washing as well. I liked the feel of the socks against my foot which was soft, even during long days. I always wore sock liners underneath my hiking socks for blister control in the past and I have not had to do that with these socks as they have never chaffed or blistered my feet at any time. With my old sock combination of light hiking sock/sock liner, I always felt, at the later part of my hikes, that the socks were becoming tight around my toes but that has never happened with the Incredisocks. I have found these socks to have a great fit and feel on my feet all day. The manufacturer claims that the more the Incredisocks are washed, the softer and thicker they become. After about 10 washes, I have not found that to be the case. THERAPEUTIC AND THERMO REGULATING QUALITIES My two foot injuries include a left sprained ankle 1 year ago and a middle broken toe on my right foot 2 1/2 years ago. I occasionally have some sensitivity from both injuries. Although the sensitivities of the injuries are not frequent, I have experienced both while using the Incredisocks. The tendon on my ankle did on one occasion become very sore during a hike and the toe on my right foot has experienced its share of tingling. With the injuries that I've had in the past, the Incredisocks did not work for me in a therapeutic way. I used these socks one day during one of my bike rides of 38 mi (61 km). After about an hour of riding the ball area of my foot tends to feel a little numb from pressure (I use clipless pedals) and I thought that the Incredisocks would help this. Unfortunately, the issue appeared and the socks did not seem to stimulate blood circulation to prevent the numb feet. I also did not feel that the Incredisocks helped with thermo regulating my feet. During the colder temperatures, my feet were cold wearing the Incredisocks, even in the solid leather boots. During the warmer temperatures, my feet were warm but not hot. The only exception was the hike that I took with the trail shoes during the IR wearing the Incredisock on one foot and my usual sock/liner on the other foot (refer to "trying them out" in the IR). While sleeping in a 15 F (-9 C) sleeping bag with a fresh pair of Incredisocks on, my feet reacted the same as if I was wearing my usual hiking socks so I would not say that they kept my feet warmer while sleeping. MOISTURE AND ODOR CONTROL The socks stayed fairly dry after the 2 hr hike (during the IR) in my trail shoes (photo in IR) with minimal moisture on the sole but were very damp after a full day of hiking with the boots I used during the field report. The two types of boots that I wore were both waterproof which does not help with moisture escaping. After a full day of hiking in either boot, the Incredisocks were actually more damp than my usual sock/liner combination and my feet were damp as well. That being said, I still had no issues with chafing or blistering and in my opinion, that is more important than a dry sock. At no time did the damp socks make my feet colder so although I don't give the socks a high mark in moisture control, the moisture they retained did not hinder the performance of these socks. Another thing that I noticed was after washing the socks and putting them in the dryer (on the delicate cycle) with my usual load of performance clothing, the socks were still a little damp, although everything else was dry. The longest that I went wearing one pair of socks without washing them was 3 days. Although they did not smell the same as they did after a clean wash, the odor was barely detectable. They also performed as well during the third day of use as they did on the first day. DURABILITY Since both pairs of socks look the same, I cannot say which sock had the most use, however one pair of socks shows definite wear at both heels. Neither sock heel is worn all the way through but that area is definitely thinner. The ball areas of all four socks shows no wear and the toe areas show slight wear. WHAT I LIKE Soft, comfortable feel throughout a full day of hiking Fit my feet well and stays that way during entire hike No chafing or blisters Can wear them comfortably without sock liners WHAT I DISLIKE I did not experience thermo regulation while wearing the socks Retained moisture and did not keep my feet dry Did not feel evidence of the therapeutic claim SUMMARY Overall, the Incredisock have become my favorite hiking socks due to the fit and feel of the sock during a full day of hiking. Although the socks did not demonstrate moisture control, thermo regulation or any therapeutic qualities for me, these are the first hiking socks that I have worn that I have not had to wear a liner under and have not chafed or blistered my feet at any time. LONG TERM REPORT
JANUARY 24, 2012 I have used the Incredisocks on 8 hikes
in the local Southern California mountains with distances of 7 mi (11 km) to 10
mi (16 km). The temperatures have ranged from a low of 45 F (7 C) in the
morning to 75 F (24 F) during the day with sunny conditions. The socks
were used a total of 26 days during this test series.
LONG TERM PERFORMANCE The Incredisocks have continued to feel really good on my feet overall and I have never developed any blisters during the duration of the test series. I still continued to have some hot spots later in my hikes but I think these are due to some thicker calluses that I've developed over the years. I have not seen the "thicker after each wash" claim along with any therapeutic or temperature regulating quality to the socks. One thing that I did like about the socks was the perfect fit on my feet, even after each washing. The socks always stayed comfortable around my toes, never restricting them in any way, even after long distances of down hill hiking. DURABILITY The heel area in the pair of socks that began to show wear during the Field Report continued to get a little thinner but has never worn all the way through and both socks still remain very functional. I did develop a small hole in the toe area in one of the socks from the other pair. It was easily mended and continued to perform very well after that. The color and fit of the socks have remained the same as the first day of use. CONCLUSION The Incredisocks did not wick moisture, thermo-regulate my feet or act as a therapeutic sock for me. That being said, as a hiking sock, these are the best I have ever worn due to the fit and feel of the socks on my feet along with the fact that no sock liners were needed for blister control. Those qualities will make these socks my first choice on any hike or backpacking trip that I do in the future. This concludes my test series of the Incredisocks. I want to thank Incrediwear and BackpackGearTest for the opportunity to test the most comfortable hiking sock I have worn to date. Read more reviews of Incrediwear gear Read more gear reviews by Cheryl McMurray Reviews > Clothing > Socks > Incrediwear Hiking Socks with CBT > Test Report by Cheryl McMurray | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
