Integral Designs Hot Socks, Initial Report

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Name:   Carol Crooker

Age:  44

Gender:  Female

Height:  5 ft 10 in  (178 cm)

Weight:  160 lb (73 kg)

Shoe size:  men’s 10.5 to 11, women’s 11 to 12 (43 or 44)

Integral Designs Hot Socks size:  large

Email:  cmcrooker AT att DOT net

City, State:  Phoenix, Arizona

Date:  November 20, 2003

Backpacking background:  For the past 7 years, I've backpacked about 30 days each year.  Most of my trips were three to six days long, and were in Arizona, the High Sierras, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, Pennsylvania and New York.  My three-season base pack weight varies from 13 lbs (6 kg) to 8 lbs (4 kg).  I use a tarp for shelter in all four seasons.

PRODUCT SYNOPSIS

The Integral Designs Hot Socks are insulated socks with abrasion resistant cordura on the sole.  They are designed to be put on after wet and sweaty socks are removed so that feet never have a chance to get cold.  The Socks can be worn inside huts and tents and a sleeping bag.  They are insulated with Primaloft Sport and have a Powerstretch back panel. 

Manufacturer:  Integral Designs

URL:  www.integraldesigns.com

Year of manufacture:  2003

MSRP:  $35 USD

Listed weight in catalog:  4.7 oz (135 g) for size large

Listed weight on web site:  4 oz (113 g) with no size specified

Weight as delivered:  4.5 oz (128 g) for size large

Listed packed size in catalog:  7” x 3” (18 cm x 8 cm)

Listed packed size on web site:  6” x 3” (15 cm x 8 cm) 

Packed size as delivered: 6.5” x 3.5” (17 cm x 9 cm)

Listed loft:  0.5 in (1 cm)

Loft as delivered:  Loft was difficult to measure accurately.  I measured the Sock as being a little over 1” (2.5 cm) thick which included both the left and right sides of the Sock and some space in between the layers.  

Weight of stuff sack:  0.3 oz (9 g)  

INITIAL IMPRESSIONS

I picked the Hot Socks up at the post office on November 14.  My signature was required for delivery confirmation, presumably because they came from Canada.  The Hot Socks and Down Mitts (reported on separately) were packed in a small box.  The Socks came in their own translucent gray Silcoat stuff sack with an Integral Designs label.  The Socks are red and will be easy to find in my clothing stuff sack.  A hangtag attached to one Sock explained the material used in the Socks and their intended use, along with the manufacturer’s contact information.

I found the hangtag information very interesting, so I will quote some of it below:

“…The back panel Powerstretch fleece makes the Hotsox [since renamed Hot Socks] easy to slide on and keeps them snug around feet and ankles.  The footpad is reinforced with abrasion resistant 330 denier cordura, which is suitable for use inside huts and tents, but is still soft enough for use as a sleeping sock.

Pertex 565

Pertex 565 is a 40 denier microfibre ripstop nylon weighting [sic] 1.85oz per square yard [62.7 g per square meter].  The purpose of this fabric is to use fine filament, closely woven calendered materials to create a low bulk product that is windproof, water repellent and breathable.  Pertex 565 is constructed using the same DWR+ technology as Pertx Microlight.  However, the 40 denier base fabric is more robust and abrasion resistant than Microlight, making it the fabric of choice as a shell fabric for Primaloft insulated Hotsox.

Primaloft Sport

Primaloft Sport is a soft durable high loft 100% polyester microfibre insulation.  It is thermally efficient, lightweight and compressible, fast drying and water resistant.  Primaloft Sport has a warmth to weight (clo) ratio of 0.65.  The Hotsox are made with 4oz (per square yard) [135.6 g per square meter] Primaloft Sport which has a thickness (before sewing) of 0.8” [2.0 cm], and a finished loft of around 0.5” [1.3 cm].”

I tried on the Socks first with bare feet. The Sock lining was soft and comfortable on my feet.  The Socks fit well enough that I could walk around in them without them sliding around on my feet.  Next I tried them on with a pair of wool socks and then with thin liner socks underneath vapor barrier socks.  My toes were not cramped with either of these combinations of socks. 

There is a double layer of stretch fleece along the back of the Socks and at the top to hold them up.  I found the Socks comfortable and they didn’t slide down on my foot like down booties I’ve worn.

The Socks are well constructed, all the pieces fit together nicely and seams are even without a lot of extra hanging threads.

The Socks were just as pictured on the Integral Designs web site.

TEST PLAN

My feet get cold easily in camp and while sleeping.  I seem to be a medium to cold sleeper with my feet being the major body structure contributing to the cold part.   I take along an extra pair of wool socks on all my backpacking trips that I wear only for sleeping.  I add thin down booties on trips where I’m expecting lows of around 20 F (-7 C).  On my winter backpacking trips (lows to 0 F (-18 C)), I add a pair of thicker down booties with a plastic sole to wear over the wool socks and the thin booties for around camp and sleeping. 

I will replace the inner down booties with the Hot Socks on my cold weather backpacking trips during the next six months.  I want to find out just how warm they keep my feet with the hope that the Socks might also replace the outer down booties in some cases. 

I plan on three or four, three to four-day trips in the mountains of Arizona and possibly in the eastern Sierras.  Likely locations are the White Mountains and the Blue Range Primitive Area in eastern Arizona, and the Flagstaff Peaks in north central Arizona.   I’ll try to choose the locations so I experience overnight lows of around 20 F (-7 C) on my first trip with the Mitts, and around 0 F (-18 C) on the second trip.  Weather permitting, my third trip will also be in an area with overnight lows around 0 F (-18 C).  Elevations may range from 7000’ to 12,000’ (2100 - 3600 m).     

The following are particular areas I’ll be checking out: 

- How well does the shell of the Socks resist moisture?

- Do the Socks stay in place when I’m wearing them around camp and in my sleeping bag, or do they slide down?

- I’m curious to see if the Powerstretch fabric along the back of the ankle creates a cold spot.  

- The Integral Designs web site says the Cordura sole is abrasion resistant and suitable for use in tents and shelters.  I use a tarp all year round.  I’m interested to see if the Socks can be worn on bare ground without too much damage and on dry snow without getting soaked.  I want to see if the bottoms have enough traction for snow walking.  I will also be checking to see if I can put my Socks clad feet into my winter hiking shoes or boots for late night forays.  

- What is the comfort range of the Socks?  When is it too warm, when is it too cold for the Socks?