Field Report

Field Report

Bridgedale XHale Socks

by Lynne Durham
June 1, 2006

REVIEWER BIO

Name	Lynne Durham
Gender	Female
Height	5' 10" (1.78 m)
Weight	157 lb (69 kg)
Age	44
Email	lynnedurham AT yahoo DOT com
Location	Benton Harbor, Michigan USA

BACKPACKING EXPERIENCE

I have hiked and car camped all of my life, mostly in the relative flatlands of the lower and upper peninsulas of Michigan, but also in areas east of the Continental Divide, such as South Dakota, New England, Kentucky, Florida, Ohio, Indiana, and more. I have been backpacking since 2002. I keep my pack weight to 25% of bodyweight. However, I am always trying to lighten my load further to enhance my comfort and enjoyment as I like to hike big mileage.

In addition to backpacking, I also participate in trail running, adventure racing, mountain biking and more.

NAVIGATE THIS REPORT

Reviewer Bio	For Further Testing
Product Information	This is Cool
Field Conditions	This Could Be Improved
Impressions

PRODUCT INFORMATION

MANUFACTURER	Bridgedale Outdoor Limited NOTE: Bridgedale is distributed by different companies in different countries. In the United States, Garmont is the distributor. Clicking on the U.S. link on the Bridgedale site will take you to a Garmont site.
WEB SITE	http://www.bridgedale.com/
MSRP	USD14.95
FIBER CONTENT	42% Nylon, 28% Merino wool, 28% Isofil®, 2% Lycra®
ACTUAL WEIGHT	Each pair weighs 2 oz (57 g)
WASHING INSTRUCTIONS	PLEASE NOTE: The following instructions are written exactly as on the package. They do not specify Celsius or Fahrenheit for the temperature given. My first thought was that it must be Fahrenheit, because I usually wash wool in cold water. However, the text is not written in American English, so one may assume that the temperature is given in Celsius, in which case it would be approximately 104º F. My washer use-and-care guide calls that temperature "warm." "For best results, wash inside out. Wash dark colours separately. Do not use fabric softener. 40º wool cycle. Do not bleach. Do not iron. Do not dry clean."
SIZES
As tested	Women's L (fits US Women's shoe sizes 8.5-10) Men's M (fits US Men's 7-9.5 or US Women's 8-10.5)
Also available	Women's S (fits US Women's shoe sizes 4.5-6); Women's M (fits US Women's shoe sizes 6.5-8); Men's S (fits US Men's shoe sizes 4-6.5 or US Women's shoe sizes 5-7.5); Men's L (fits US Men's shoe sizes 10-12.5 or US Women's shoe sizes 10.5-13); Men's XL (fits US Men's shoes sizes 13-15)
COLORS
As tested	Women's Mist Grey/Raspberry; Men's Silver/Sapphire
Available	Women's Sugar White/Grey and Natural/Blueberry; Men's Onyx/Ruby and Cool White/Black

More product information can be found in my initial report.
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FIELD CONDITIONS

During the field testing period, the XHale has been tested during a range of activities. These include the following:

Trail running at my local nature preserve, including through some wet areas
One 4-day, 3-night backpacking trip on the North Country Trail in northern lower Michigan
Indoor treadmill runs
Short, neighborhood road runs and dog walks
Dayhiking on the North Country Trail in southern lower Michigan
Mountain biking at a state park and at a county park

During these outings, the socks have been exposed to a wide range of weather conditions.

Cold, dry weather with temps hovering around 30 F (-1 C)
Hot, humid days, with temps already nearing 90 F (32 C)
Persistent rain

Trail conditions have ranged from loose and sandy, to muddy and mucky, to well-maintained forest trails. In all cases, the XHale socks have been worn with shoes or sandals.
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IMPRESSIONS

In all conditions, the XHale has performed admirably. In highly aerobic activities, the XHale kept my feet dried as they wicked perspiration away from my feet. In persistent rain, the socks got wet relatively quickly (as expected), but retained warmth and comfort. Additionally, once I was out of the rain, they dried quickly from my body heat alone.

In sandy conditions, sand quickly gets into the socks -- a situation I've found to be normal with every brand of socks I've worn. However, unlike some wool socks, the XHale didn't hang on to the sand tenaciously. I'm not sure if it's because of the mesh part of the construction, but when the socks got sandy, they shook out easily -- a great benefit to someone who lives in a sandy part of the country. Some other socks I've used have held on to sand...and even retain some in the fibers of the sock after machine washing.

During this testing period, both pairs of socks have been machine washed and dried repeatedly. Despite approximately 50 miles on foot of usage for each pair (plus many miles of biking usage), the socks show no overt signs of wear. There are not yet any fraying or thinning areas and both pairs of socks retain the stretch, softness and cushion.

In both cases, the socks showed some very minor shrinkage. This did not affect my comfort when wearing the men's socks. However, it made the women's socks just a bit too tight for my tastes: not as much wiggle room for my toes, creating a slightly constricted feeling. I think that is to be expected. As I mentioned in my initial report, my shoe size is pushing the upper limit of the women's socks' range. My shoe size runs from a US women's 10-11, depending on brand. These socks were rated up to US women's size 10.

The socks do not hang on to odors. During the four-day backpack, the socks were worn every day and allowed to dry out at night. Unlike some synthetic socks I own, the socks were not disgustingly smelly -- relatively speaking.

FOR FURTHER TESTING

As the test continues, I will be interested to see how well the XHale holds up to additional trail miles. Do they develop any worn areas? Do they maintain their shape and stretchiness?

THIS IS COOL

The socks are attractive and comfortable
They do not hold onto sand
These babies dry quickly

THIS COULD BE IMPROVED

After washing, the women's are a bit too tight for my US women's size 10-11 foot. Perhaps a women's large with a larger range is needed?

Thank you to Bridgedale and BackpackGearTest.org for allowing me to test the XHale.
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Read more reviews of Bridgedale gear
Read more gear reviews by Lynne Durham

Reviews > Clothing > Socks > Bridgedale X-Hale > Lynne Durham > Field Report

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