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Reviews > Clothing > Socks > Teko Eco Merino Hiking Socks > Kathy Waters > Initial Report Initial Report: Teko EcoMerino Wool Hiking Socks Contents: Tester Biographical Information <back to top> Name: Kathleen Waters Backpacking Background: My husband and I started hiking in 1998 on a gorgeous fall day, starting with Mt. Hahn located just north of Steamboat Springs, CO. Since then, we have returned to Colorado, mostly to the Vail Valley area twice a year, both summer/early fall and winter to play outdoors - we snowshoe in the winter. When we are home in Southeast Michigan, we make it a point to hike 2 or 3 weekdays, usually 6 to 8 miles (10 to 13 km) and then one whole weekend day each week. Our weekday hikes generally take place in the Pontiac Lake Recreation Area, which is a decent mixture of moderately steep hills and flat terrain, heavily wooded. Our weekend hikes can end up being anywhere! Product Information (from website) <back to top>
Description:
ˇ Prevents blisters ˇ Fast drying ˇ EcoMerinoŽ Wool: From one farm that has been practicing environmentally sound techniques for hundreds of years. The wool is shrink resistant and died with non-toxic dyes. ˇ EcopolyŽ Recycled Polyester reinforcement: great moisture transfer, soft hand, and is incredibly durable. Product Information (from tester) Size: Medium Arrival Information <back to top> Two pairs of Teko EcoMerino Hiking socks arrived just in time for a quick afternoon hike yesterday. They were neatly folded in half over a folded four-sided brown cardboard hanger for retail display. The three sides of the hanger detail the Teko company philosophy of minimum ecological impact as well as proclaiming "best socks on the planet, best socks for the planet" as their slogan on the front. An "Editors' Choice Green 2005" from Backpackers' magazine confirms Teko's claims of "environmentally friendly" products. The back of the placard lists some of the EcoMerino Wool Hiking Socks' features accompanied by a diagram of the socks, a sizing chart and care instructions. First Impressions <back to top> These are THICK socks! The socks are primarily black in color with gray heels and toes and a triangular gray tweedy air vent patch on both sides of the arch. There is a very small Teko logo in gray on the cuff in the back of each sock. The cuff is a very nice 2" (5.08 cm) flat weave and sports a gray "teko M" (sic) inside. Slight ribbing makes up the calf section of the sock, which segues into a terry cushioned arch support, which feels a bit thicker than the rest of the sock. The toe seam is straight, relatively flat and is outside of the sock, not inside. I found no loose threads. Pulling the socks onto my feet was so nice! On my initial try-on, the socks are close fitting but not tight with plenty of wiggle-room in the toe area. The medium size was indicated by the Teko website's sizing chart and proved to be a perfect fit for my boot size 8 foot. The cuff rests nicely at mid-calf. It's snowing and cold and I'm off to test these Teko EcoMerino Wool Hiking socks! See ya! Test Plan <back to top> This was the year my backpacking day trips finally expanded into backpacking overnight trips! I love it! I am looking forward to at least two more 2-day hiking trips here in Michigan through early winter. I am hoping to be back in Colorado for the Christmas holidays where I plan to get in a 2-3 day trip to Pike's Peak. In February, again I will be Colorado for a birthday trip to the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. I also plan on averaging my usual 2 day hikes (or snowshoeing trips when weather permits) per week. Hiking or snowshoeing will take place in terrain that will include the sandy lakeshore dunes of Lake Michigan in western lower Michigan, the rockier shore areas of Lake Superior in the UP and the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Elevation will range from 177 ft to 14,110 ft (54 m to 4301 m) and I anticipate that temperatures over the remaining days of winter will vary from 10 F to 60 F (-12-21 C to 15.56 C). I'm sure to experience cold, wind and rain and snow in Michigan and most certainly at Pike's Peak and the Sangres in Colorado. The Teko EcoMerino Hiking Socks will be tested through winter in a wide range of weather and locations. Most of the testing will be 2-3 day trips in western and northern Michigan on lakeshore trails, ranging from sandy, open areas, to rocky, heavily treed terrain and short 2-3 hour day trips. The socks will most likely get damp, if not wet. I will thoroughly test the Teko EcoMerino Hiking Socks for comfort, utility and durability. During the test, I will test to discern the following comfort factors:
ˇ Is the cuff comfortably snug or do I end up with sock "ridges" on my skin? ˇ Can I discern cushioning under my foot while hiking or are the socks thin? ˇ Do the socks remain in place during activity or do they inch downward into my boots? ˇ Is the banded arch support really supportive? ˇ Are the socks warm enough in the winter temperatures that I encounter? ˇ Are the socks too warm and cause my feet to sweat? ˇ Do the socks wick away perspiration and/or water from snowmelt, rain or streams? During the test, I will test to discern the following utility and durability factors:
ˇ What about 2-3 days of hiking or snowshoeing? ˇ Do the socks stretch out after washing? ˇ Do the socks shrink after washing? ˇ Does the elastic remain stable after repeated use and washing/drying? I will also report any other issues that arise during the testing period. Kathy Waters Read more reviews of Teko gear Read more gear reviews by Kathleen Waters Reviews > Clothing > Socks > Teko Eco Merino Hiking Socks > Kathy Waters > Initial Report | |||
