Reviews > Clothing > Socks > Dahlgren Light Hikers > Laurie Corbin > Field Report

     Field Report–Dahlgren Dristride Alpaca Light Hiking Socks

Personal Information:

Name: Laurie Corbin
Age: 40
Gender: Female
Height: 5' 6" (1.69 m)
Weight: 135 lbs (61 kg)
Email: mslimpsalot@yahoo.com
City, State, Country: Cumming, GA USA
Date:  January 12, 2005

Backpacking Background:

In the last four years, I have returned to backpacking and hiking.  Although I took 18 years off, the woods kept calling.  I have been a three-season backpacker but recently ventured into winter backpacking and truly enjoyed it.  My three-season pack weight is about 25 pounds total (11.34 kg) but I am really trying to lighten up.

Product Information:

Manufacturer: Dahlgren Footwear, Inc.
Manufacturer’s Website: http://www.dahlgrenfootwear.com
Listed Weight: 2.9 oz (82 g)
Actual Weight: 2.8 oz (79 g)
Color: Sage
Style: Crew
Size: Medium
MSRP: $15.50 USD per website

Per packaging:

Toe/Heel Content: 63% Merino Wool, 27% Alpaca, 10% Nylon
Arch/Instep Content: 75% Wickspun Acrylic, 25% Nylon
Leg Content: 90% Wickspun Acrylic, 10% Nylon

Field Testing:

The first use of the socks was on a backpacking trip in Tennessee.  The temperatures ranged from 60 degrees F (15.5 C) during the days to 32 degrees F (0 C) at night.  The socks were worn on both days of the trip with a separate pair of sleep socks.  The socks fit well and did not bunch under my boots.  The terrain was rocky and tricky with a lot of dead leaves (some wet) covering the trail.  My feet were always twisting and adjusting to the unseen obstacles under the leaves but the socks didn’t bunch or slip down and no blisters formed.  (I don’t have trouble with blisters on a normal trip so I would have attributed blisters to the socks if they had formed.)  I wore shorts so the socks were pulled and snagged by undergrowth but still looked fine by the end of the trip.  I really liked the soft feel of the socks and they seemed to breathe well.  I had no trouble with the dreaded heat rash.  The socks were washed and dried according to the manufacturers directions.  The manufacturer claims that the socks will get “fuzzy” after wear but will return to normal after washing.  My socks were still fuzzy on the toe and heel area where the merino wool and alpaca is located.

The second backpacking use of the socks came in late December on the Appalachian Trail in Georgia.  The temperatures were in the 40’s F (4 C) during the day and in the 20’s F (-6 C) at night.  The socks continued to perform well during this hike.  They cushioned well, didn’t sag and kept my feet quite warm even in lightweight boots.  

I usually walk about 5-6 miles three times per week at a local park with temperatures from 25 to 60 degrees F (-3.8 C to 15.5 C).  I’ve been using the socks exclusively for these walks and have noticed that they are starting to slip down a little and sag at the ankles.  The elastic is not really loose but the soft material just doesn’t seem to grip the leg as well as it once did.  This is not a major issue unless it is a particularly cold day and I can really tell where the socks stop on the leg.  I’ve also been using the socks on work trips for the trail club and day hikes.  In general, I’m very pleased with these socks.  They are listed as light hiking socks but function well for me in the mild southeastern US winters.  

One of my initial concerns was breathablilty.  As stated in an earlier report, I have an old ankle injury that makes the joint swell significantly after a day of hiking.  I’ve had problem with other wool socks causing severe heat rash but can happily report that I’ve had no such problems with these socks.  After my first day of hiking, I tentatively peeled down the sock expecting the red, angry rash that has so plagued me in the past The leg looked fine and I’m quite pleased.  I credit this to the ability of the sock to wick away moisture.

The socks have held up well to wear and routine washing.  They’ve been washed twice on the trail and hung up to dry.  On both occasions, the nights were mild and dry and the socks were mostly dry by morning (only a little dampness left in the toe area).  They are a bit fuzzier after several months of use but there are no real signs of wear like holes or loose threads.


Future Testing:

I will continue to use the socks on walks, day hikes and backpacking trips through the spring.  I will try to address the following:
1) Durability–Will the socks continue to hold up to repeated use?  Will the sagging problem continue to get worse?  

2) Temperature Control– Will the socks continue to keep away the dreaded heat rash as the temperatures climb in the spring?
 
3) Fit–Will the socks keep their loft and continue to fit well under the boots?  Will the sagging present fit problems around the ankles? 

Reviews > Clothing > Socks > Dahlgren Light Hikers > Laurie Corbin > Field Report