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Reviews > Clothing > Socks > Smartwool Outdoor Classic Hiker socks > Owner Review by clara sohPRODUCT INFORMATION Manufacturer: Smartwool Product: Outdoor Classic Series Socks - "Hiking" model Color: assorted Year of Manufacture: 2000 URL: http://www.smartwool.com Manufacturer listed weight: 2.8 oz (80 g) Material: 70% "Smartwool", 29% nylon, 1% elastic Sizes: S, M, L, XL Fit Range: women 4 - 12.5/men 6 - 14.5 (US), 2 - 13.5 (UK), 34 - 49 (EU) Design My size medium Smartwool Hiking socks rise about 6 inches (15 cm) above my ankle to mid-calf height. The outside of the socks are smooth, while the inside of the socks are made of "Smartwool" loop-pile. The fuzzy loop-pile keep the socks from chafing, and the packaging that comes the socks provide a money back guarantee against blisters. The top of the socks are ringed with a 1/4 inch (.6 cm) of elastic, and the socks are thicker on the soles and ankle areas. The thicker insole area provides extra cushioning and some mild arch support. The socks have "Smartwool" in huge letters on the underside of the socks, which I found a little ostentatious, since I'm not a big fan of conspicuous branding. Use I own 2 pairs of Smartwool Hiking socks and use them whenever I'm hiking, snowboarding, or want warm socks. The most rigorous use I put them to was during a hike up Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa, and a climb up Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. On Table Mountain, I ended up getting horrendously lost after dark and spent 14 hours wading through ankle deep pools of water and mud, scrambling up and down rocks, and hiking through the bush by headlamp. I was also wearing boots that were fairly new, and had not quite been broken in. Because I waded through so much water, my socks got soaked fairly early into my hike. While they were uncomfortable because of the wetness, I was shocked when I finally took my shoes and socks off to discover that I hadn't gotten a single blister. At that point I knew these were some seriously well-made socks. During my climb up Mt. Kilimanjaro, I also used just one pair of Smartwool hiking socks for the 6 day climb. I literally never took my socks off, and while they were filthy and stinky at the end of the hike, they were impressively comfortable for the majority of the trek. However, because I didn't wear any sock liners, by the time we reached an altitude of about 10,000 ft (3060 m) my feet were constantly cold. The day that I summitted, I got a mild case of frostbite on one toe. I don't think the socks were designed to be used alone on glacier hiking at high altitudes, especially with ill-fitting boots. Considering how poorly prepared I was for the climb, I credit these socks with saving my feet from further damage. Again, after 6 days of heavy hiking and climbing, my feet didn't have a single blister. I have had so many other experiences where I have hiked in broken-in, comfortable boots with regular socks, and have almost always gotten a few blisters, so I was very impressed with these socks. Because these socks are a little thicker than most, and are made of mostly natural material, they take a little longer to dry. While hiking, I almost always handwashed my clothes, and hung them to dry. I would wring the socks out as much as possible, but they were always the last article of clothing that I had to finish drying. Back at home, I toss my socks into the washer/dryer without a second thought, and they have held up well. Considering how much abuse they take while out on a hike, I'm not surprised that they don't require special treatment in the wash. The material has gotten fuzzier and pilled, but I haven't noticed any decrease in comfort level or performance. I can't see any areas where the fabric is close to wearing out after 5 years of use. The loop-pile has also held up very well, and shows no evidence of felting. Comfort and Fit The Smartwool Hiking socks seemed like ordinary socks when I first put them on. The only noticeable difference that I could tell was that they were a little thicker than regular athletic socks, and the thickness varies across different locations on the socks. At first glance, they really seemed like nothing special, and I was fairly skeptical of the manufacturer's claim that guaranteed "blister free hiking" as I am somewhat prone to blisters. The toebox of the socks is a little loose, but that could be because I received these socks as a present, and would probably have bought a size small instead of medium. My feet are also usually cold, but the Smartwool Hiking socks keep my feet fairly warm at all but extreme temperatures. I use these socks when I snowboard and I've noticed they do a better job of keeping my feet warm than my other (Burton) snowboard socks. I used them once on a climbing trip, but had to take them off because they were too bulky and I couldn't feel the rock in my climbing shoes for edging on nubs. However, I always use them for the approach, and for general backpacking/hiking use they are extraordinarily comfortable. I find that many hiking socks are either too tight around the calf, or too loose and slide down. With these Smartwool socks, I had neither problem. Summary The Smartwool Hiking socks are the best socks I own. While they are too bulky for climbing, for all other activities, I don't even pack any other socks. These are the first pair of socks that I have hiked in that absolutely prevented blisters. I don't know exactly how they do it, but the manufacturer's guarantee for blister-free hiking is no joke. They keep my feet warm and happy, and if I could just learn to be a smarter hiker from wearing Smartwool socks, I wouldn't have to test my gear so much. Things I like:
Name: Clara Soh Age: 26 Gender: Female Height: 5'5" (1.65 m) Weight: 120 lbs (54 kg) Shoe size: US 7.5 (5 UK, 38 EU) Email Address: sohclara(at)yahoo.com City, State, Country: Brooklyn, NY, USA Date: 08 February, 2004 Backpacking Background: I have been backpacking for about 5 years. One of my goals is to eventually through-hike the AT. Most of my backpacking experience has been overseas, I spent about 3 years in W. Africa, sporadically hiking and backpacking. The most beautiful places I have been were Zimbabwe, Ghana, Lesotho, and Nepal. I climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro a few years ago, and would like to learn more technical mountaineering so I can climb more peaks. I also spent a season in California in the Sierra Nevadas doing some backcountry snowboarding. I'm not a very big person so I can't carry heavy loads so I usually get the lightest weight equipment I can find and would rather leave things behind than be burdened by a heavy pack. I also enjoy rock climbing and travel in general. Read more reviews of Smartwool gear Read more gear reviews by clara soh Reviews > Clothing > Socks > Smartwool Outdoor Classic Hiker socks > Owner Review by clara soh | |||