Initial Report

Initial 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: October 25, 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: $14.00 US 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

The socks arrived by Federal Express in good condition and were exactly what I was expecting. They were the color (sage) and size (M for my size 8.5 feet (Euro 40)) that I had requested. The size medium socks fit my feet perfectly. They were snug but not too tight around the instep and heel and there was a small amount of toe room. Both socks have the Dahlgren name and logo on one side of the sock and the word “Alpaca” with the brown image of what must be an Alpaca on the other side. My first impression of these socks was that these are the softest hiking socks I’ve ever worn. I usually wear merino wool which can be very scratchy in my opinion.

The packaging states that the socks will get “fuzzy” after wearing but would go back to “normal” after washing. It also states that the socks will be smaller after washing but will stretch back out to the previous size. The socks have a “flex zone” over the arch of the foot. This seems to be a thinner, ribbed section of material that prevents bunching. There is extra padding for the forefoot and heel but not so much that it bunches under my boots.

I’ve worn these socks for two days since they were received. They are soft, warm and very comfortable. They don’t smell but they will get their first washing tomorrow. I will be interested to see if the now fuzzy socks go back to their former smooth, silky selves. The socks do not seem to have stretched that much after the two days of wear. Initially, I am delighted with the socks.

Testing:

I will be testing the socks on backpacking and hiking trips and on trail maintenance trips in Georgia, the Carolinas and Tennessee. I have a bad ankle that swells after a long day with a pack on. My socks have to breathe and transfer the moisture from the sweat outside the sock or I get a terrible case of heat rash under my left sock due to restricted circulation from the swelling. The temperatures will range from 30-65 degrees F (-1.1 to 18.33 C) during the day to 15-45 degrees F (-9.43 to 7.22 C) at night. These are the light hiking socks so I’ll be interested in just how warm these socks can keep my feet in wet, cold winter conditions. Here in the Southeastern U.S., we don’t get brutal winter conditions so these socks should meet my needs.

Test Considerations:

1) Durability–Can the socks stand up to multi-day trips and being washed on the trail and hung from tree limbs? Can they hold their shape or will they sag, stretch and droop? Will the heels and toes develop holes to allow cold air inside? For the Light Hiking socks, I am very interested in how well they hold up to repeated use because I have found that, for me, light socks just don’t last very long.

2) Temperature Control– Can the socks keep my feet warm in the winters and still breathe well enough to keep me from developing the dreaded rash? Can the socks breathe well enough to save me from the rash and still provide enough cushion under the balls of my feet?

3) Fit–Will the socks resist bunching after a day of hiking? Will the padding be sufficient to keep the feet from aching after a long day with a pack?

4) Ease of cleaning–Will the socks hold hiker funk even after a stream washing? How fast will they dry while on the trail?

Read more reviews of Dahlgren gear
Read more gear reviews by Laurie Corbin

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

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