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.

Socks I Like
When it comes to socks for outdoor pursuits, I'm a dyed-in-the-wool lover of wool. I use a variety of brands, but the common feature in all of my outdoor socks (including running!) is merino wool content.

NAVIGATE THIS REPORT

Reviewer Bio	Test Plan
Product Information	This Is Cool
Product Description	This Could Be Improved

PRODUCT INFORMATION

MANUFACTURER	Flagship Brands, LLC
WEB SITE	http://www.feeturesbrand.com
MSRP	USD13.99
FIBER CONTENT	35% CoolMax® polyester, 28% Merino Wool, 18% arcrylic, 17% nylon, 2% Lycra® Spandex.
ACTUAL WEIGHT PER PAIR	2.2 ounces (62 g)
WASHING INSTRUCTIONS	Machine wash warm. Tumble dry. No bleach.
SIZES
As tested	Large (fits US Men's 9-12.5 and US Women's 10-13)
Also available	Small (fits US Women's 4-6) Medium (fits US Men's 5-8.5 and US Women's 6.5-9.5) Extra Large ((fits US Men's 13-16)
COLORS
As tested	Heather Gray
Also available	Charcoal, Khaki

INFORMATION FROM THE PACKAGE

Famous Fit & Feel™ -- hugs your entire foot
Perfect Toe™ -- no irritating toe seam
Ideal blend of wool and CoolMax® to keep feet warm, dry and comfortable
Unique Power Bands of Lyrca® hug your entire foot for maximum support

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

I'm an advocate of the importance of socks to any athletic and outdoor endeavor. The wrong sock can wreak misery -- causing blister-forming hotspots, holding sweat or water and creating a hot, uncomfortable environment for a backpackers preferred transportation mode: the feet. Thus I attack sock tests with gusto, always looking for just the right socks for my feet.

The Feetures Outdoor line is the newest in their lineup, created especially for outdoor activities such as hiking, backpacking, trail running, etc. The claims are of maximum support through Power Bands and the absence of blister-causing seams.

I removed the socks from the package and found them to be cushiony, thick and soft. The Power Bands are quite obvious, as is the PerfectToe -- a "seamless" seam which almost looks as if it was created through some sort of sonic or heat process rather than a sewing process.

Prior to pulling the socks on, I worried that the Power Bands would be too constrictive -- their ribbing makes the socks look tighter at that area. But there is plenty of stretch in them and they didn't feel a bit tight. In fact, the socks fit quite snugly, but are not uncomfortable -- an interesting feeling like a second skin almost.

The Power Bands area felt wonderful. I can see where they can make the claim of support. My arches feel well supported by the extra elasticity in this area.

TEST PLAN: ACTIVITIES, LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS

During the testing period, the Outdoor Quarter socks will be subjected to a variety of activities, locations and conditions:

Dayhiking on the North Country Trail, dune-y local state park trails, and my local nature preserve
Several overnight, two long-weekends and one week-long backpacking trips, mostly in Michigan
Trail maintenance duties on the North Country Trail
Trail running at my local nature preserve, including through some wet areas
Mountain biking at a local state park and on the North Country Trail
Indoor treadmill or outdoor road runs in my neighborhood
Conditions during the testing period may range from the current cold weather (20s to 30s F [-7 to -1 C]) to the first hot days of summer (70s to 90s F [21 to 32 C]). Rain, freezing rain and possibly snow may be involved. Hot, dry conditions may be involved. Some of the tests will be on short, 4 mile jaunts. Others will be on mega-mile days (up to 50 miles [81 km])
In all cases, the socks will be worn with shoes and not boots, most often with trail running shoes

Questions to be Answered
Function

Do the Power Bands actually offer additional support to my arches?
Do they work well with all of my shoes or are they too cushiony for some of my tighter-fitted shoes?
Do the socks bunch up in any places? Do they shift or slip down into my shoe?
How effectively does the sock wick moisture away from my foot?
How comfortable are the socks when wet? Do they dry quickly after a stream crossing?
Do I develop any blisters or hot spots while wearing the socks?
Do the socks retain odors? Do they get smelly fast or can I wear them more than a couple of days without offending others -- or myself?

Durability

How well do the socks stand up to normal laundering?
Do the socks hold their shape and elasticity?
Do the socks develop any fraying or holes during the testing period?

THIS IS COOL

I love how these socks feel on my feet!

THIS COULD BE IMPROVED

Haven't discovered anything yet

Thank you to Feetures and BackpackGearTest.org for the chance to test the Outdoor Quarter socks.

Read more reviews of Feetures gear
Read more gear reviews by Lynne Durham

Initial Report

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