Reviews > Clothing > Socks > Injinji Outdoor Series Socks > Test Report by Ben Mansfield

Injinji Outdoor Series Socks
(Photo Courtesy of Injinji)

Backpacking Background

Over the past 15 years or so, I've tried to average at least one weekend trip per month year round, primarily in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Virginia. During the last 8 years, I've tried to take a week long trip somewhere further, but still usually in the eastern US. I consider myself a mid-weight hiker, preferring some luxury to an ultralight load. I am also an avid fly fisherman, mountain & road biker, and snow skier, and enjoy sailing my homemade dinghy.

Product Information

Socks. With Toes.

Product Description

Injinji makes socks. For a company to be that specialized means that their product has to be not only unique in the market but also actually solve a problem that other products don't. How can a company do this with just socks? Toe socks. That's right, the socks have individual little pockets for each of my toes. The thought process here is that by individually wrapping each of my toes in its own happy little cocoon, I'll gain all sorts of benefits not realized via traditional "mitten-style" socks. Injinji claims that these benefits include the prevention of blisters as well as allowing my feet to work as designed - providing added dexterity and stability, leading to proper balance and overall happier feet.

Injinji makes a number of different models, but all share the individual toe design. The outdoor series socks that I'm wearing are a blend comprised primarily (70%) of Nüwool (a Merino Wool and man-made fiber hybrid) and 25% Nylon, with the remainder being Lycra. The only seams on the socks are barely perceivable ones at the tip of each toe as well as along the sides of my heels. I was initially worried about this but thus far it has been a non-issue. The seams are truly flat and I can't feel any of them when I'm wearing the socks, even if I wear them with shoes that are too tight.

Injinji's double-layered cuff and sewn-in label

My feet are size 11 US, and though one foot is slightly larger than the other, they are close enough that no special handling is required. I also have generally long toes - my wife claims I have 20 fingers. I'm one of those people who can pick stuff up with their toes, and I once pinched my sister with my toes so hard that it left a mark. I'm not sure that it's relevant to the performance of these socks, but I feel better getting that off of my chest. According to the Injinji website as well as the product packaging, I'm a sock size large, and they do fit very well, despite my feet being at the low end of the size range.

The Outdoor series socks come in a few different colors - Forest, Slate, and Blue, as well as two lengths - crew length and quarter length. I'm testing the longer crew length socks in the slate color (though I'd call it pretty much just black).

The Outdoor Series sock packaging and the Injinji website both have instructions on sizing, fitting, and wearing toesocks. The product packaging also details care instructions - machine wash warm, line dry, no bleach, no ironing, no dry cleaning. I didn't see a warranty anywhere, and I guess I don't really expect it for socks. I was pleasantly surprised, however, to see direct contact information on the Injinji website for pretty much anyone at the company I'd ever want to contact (CEO included).

Initial Impressions

These socks are pretty neat. When I first put them on, I was able to get my toes into their little individual homes pretty easily - easier, actually, than I anticipated. Turns out it was pretty much beginners luck, because the next day I tried again (but with a clean pair) and it took a little more effort. Effort here is relative though, and in the end it is pretty easy to get these socks on. Injinji even describes the process and indicates that it may take 10 - 20 seconds longer than normal socks, and I'd say that's probably accurate. The recommended method, and the one that works best for me, is to start the socks onto my feet partway and get each toe in place, then finish pulling the toesocks up the rest of the way.

The feel of the toesocks is a unique sensation to be sure. At first I noticed having each toe individually wrapped and I didn't think that the feeling would go away. In the end, though, when I actually stopped thinking about the socks and writing this report, they disappeared from my conscious mind. It does take me a few minutes to get used to them after putting them on, but in the few days since they've arrived I've worn them around a bit (including to work for a few full days) and I generally don't notice them after a while. They're a little thinner than a lot of my hiking socks, but that may not be a bad thing depending on how well they support and keep my feet warm and dry. I think if they were much thicker the added material between my toes would be noticeable, and I'm not sure I'd like that.

I'm really looking forward to putting some trail days on these socks. I've suffered in the past from blisters between my toes, and my feet can probably be described as being on the sweaty side, so I'll be really interested to see how well they work, especially as the weather changes from Fall to Winter and eventually to Spring, bringing on a variety of temperatures and lots of wet days.

I would like to thank Injinji and BackpackGearTest.org for the opportunity to test these crazy Outdoor series toesocks.

Reviews > Clothing > Socks > Injinji Outdoor Series Socks > Test Report by Ben Mansfield