|
| Home | Guest - Not logged in | |||
|
» Register
» Login
Gear Reviews
Documents
Tools
» Contact
|
Reviews > Clothing > Socks > Integral Designs Hot Socks > Steve Nelson > Field ReportField Report: Integral Designs Hot Socks Reviewer's Information Name: Steve Nelson Backpacking Background: As an interface design and usability consultant by trade, I'm always excited by analyzing and improving designs and processes; backpacking provides a fertile and fun arena for that. I have been backpacking since I was a kid growing up in upstate New York: we backpacked and canoe-camped in all seasons, throughout the Adirondacks and nearby areas, ranging as far as La Verendrye Wildlife Reserve, Quebec. As an adult, I've backpacked and hiked extensively in California, but also have taken trips throughout the West, from New Mexico to British Columbia, and return often to the Adirondacks. Backpacking Style: In the last year I began educating myself about lightweight and ultralight backpacking, and have been applying more and more of this philosophy to my outdoor jaunts and gear upgrades. I like moving fast, and lightening the load facilitates that. I also enjoy urban strolls, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, kayaking, and aviation in addition to hiking and backpacking, so my gear gets exposed to a wide variety of uses and conditions. Product information Manufacturer: Integral Designs Overview The Integral Designs Hot Socks are lightweight Primaloft booties designed for use within a tent or cabin. I covered basic features and impressions in my initial report, which you may wish to browse for that information. I've now had a chance to use the Hot Socks over the course of dozens of nights, in various types of shelters and at home, on both the East and West coasts, and have found then to be a comfortable and well-made product with just a few limitations, as described below. Field Conditions My outdoor trips with the Hot Socks have been in the Adirondacks and Mohawk Valley areas in upstate New York, and in the Santa Cruz and Sierra Nevada mountains in California. Altitudes have ranged from sea level to 8,000 ft (2,440 m). Temperatures have ranged from 15° to 70° F (-10° to 21° C); weather has ranged from calm and sunny to windy with intermittent heavy snowfall. Shelters have included a tarptent and cabins (including the Sierra Club's Ludlow Hut above Lake Tahoe); I've also taken the Hot Socks on several winter day trips as part of a safety backup system in case I had to make an emergency shelter for the night. Indoor home use has been over the course of many nights in San Francisco and upstate New York. Impressions and Findings The Hot Socks are comfortable and light—I've carried and used them on all of my winter trips this year, as well as on some other trips where I thought they'd add comfort or safety. I also like the Silcoat stuff sack, into which they easily fit, and which reduces them to a compact, convenient package. Comfort while sleeping is good—the materials are soft and breathe well enough that my feet stay warm without getting hot and sweaty, across the entire range of conditions in which I've worn them at home and in the field. Durability also appears good so far—while the soles have picked up a great deal of dirt and detritus from usage, the fabric appears unaffected (including showing no snags or abrasion), stitching looks as good it did the day I received the Hot Socks, and loft appears approximately the same as when delivered despite frequent compression in the stuff sack. I do store them uncompressed when not on a trip, which I hope will contribute to the longevity of the Primaloft filling. I've found the Hot Socks to be a great match for use within a tent, hammock or bivy sack. They are warmer than traditional socks, and they are quite comfortable to wear when I'm not actively walking around. For this use, I think they offer a fine balance of comfort, warmth, and low weight. For use within cabins, or for walking outside (with the caveat that Integral Designs describes them as appropriate for use within tents and cabins, not outside...but with the further observation that their web site pictures them being used in snow), I've found a few limitations. For cabin or hut use, I found them comfortable when I was stationary, but not as good for walking around (and especially not for going up and down a ladder, which is required in some huts)—they're just a bit too slippery and unstructured to be ideal for that. Also, I noted that when I rested my feet on the concrete floor of one hut, I felt cold through the soles of my feet. Compared to other booties that use thicker or harder materials on their soles, or which include overboots, the Hot Socks are a minimalist design and provide less sole protection, foot support, and warmth. I've also noticed that the Hot Socks can absorb moisture more easily than I'd like. The soles and the fleece-like material on the back of the foot and achilles tendon wet out fairly easily; also, seams are not sealed and water enters through the seams connecting the sole to the upper fabric. I've learned to be careful about exposing them to moisture (precipitation, spilled water, and so on). Nevertheless, I decided to give the Hot Socks a try outside in winter conditions on one of my recent trips, since the Integral Designs site pictures them being used on snow. At 2 a.m. I exited Ludlow Hut and walked a bit through consolidated and somewhat wet snow for a "bio break" (temperatures in the low 20s F (-7° C).) While I felt that the Hot Socks provided adequate insulation, and I was reasonably protected from the conditions, in the short 5 minutes I spent outside, the Cordura soles wetted out, and the insulation in the soles and sides of the Hot Socks appeared to get wet and lose loft. I removed the Hot Socks when I returned to the hut's upper floor, as I didn't want to wear them wet in my bivy sack/quilt sleeping combination, and instead left them out to dry (which they were by morning). Bottom line: I feel that the Hot Socks really are best for use inside, not out, despite any pictures hinting to the contrary. Still, for an occasional quick dash outside in consolidated snow, or on relatively dry ground, I'd still consider wearing them, as long as I didn't plan to immediately stick them back inside a sleeping bag or quilt. One other usage note: I've taken to bringing the Hot Socks along as part of an emergency bivy system for winter trips, even those on which I am just day hiking. Combined with the Integral Designs Down Mitts and a backup insulating jacket (or a light quilt), plus an ultralight bivy sack and a minimal pocket survival kit, they form a very compact and lightweight safety net. Long-Term Testing I intend to bring the Hot Socks on all of my remaining winter trips this year (a combination of day snowshoe and cross country outings, overnight hut trips, and snow camping), and also to use them well into the spring on my regular backpacking trips. I also intend to get them wet a few more times in the field, to get a more objective sense of how their insulative value and comfort are affected by this. In addition to further testing them them in these varied conditions, I plan to hand-wash the Hot Socks and see whether that adversely affects the fabric and insulation (they've picked up a fair amount of dirt and debris from the use I've described above). Summary As noted in my previous report, like all Integral Designs products I've seen or owned, the Hot Socks are well-made, quality pieces of gear. Now that I've had a chance to use them in the field, my initial impressions about what does and doesn't work for me have also been confirmed. I find them comfortable and appealing and will continue to take them on all of my trips. I also feel, based on my testing, that they are best suited for use in relatively dry conditions, inside tents and other shelters where I won't be walking around a lot. Things I like:
Things I don't like:
Thanks to BackpackGearTest and Integral Designs for giving me the opportunity to participate in this test. Read more reviews of Integral Designs gear Read more gear reviews by S. Nelson Reviews > Clothing > Socks > Integral Designs Hot Socks > Steve Nelson > Field Report | |||