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Reviews > Clothing > Socks > Teko Eco Merino Light Hiking Socks > Heather Oakes Palmer > Long Term ReportLong Term Report Teko EcoMerino Light Hiking Socks February 7, 2006 Tester Info:
Name: Heather Oakes Palmer Backpacking Background: I consider myself an intermediate hiker and beginning backpacker for over five years; my longest backpacking trip being only three nights. Day hiking and weekend backpacking comprise most of my weekend warrior experience averaging one backpacking trip per month and two day hikes per month averaging between 10-15 miles (16.1- 24.2 km) per day. I tend to backpack in warm, humid climates, with a good amount of hiking in the southern Appalachian Mountains and I have rarely hiked in below freezing or snowy conditions yet. I am a lightweight backpacker and buy my gear accordingly, often splitting various objects and amounts of weight with my husband. Shoe Size: Between US 8-9.5. Product Information:
Manufacturer: Teko Field Conditions: I tested the socks during daily city travel, day hikes, car camping, and overnight backpacking trips primarily in the Georgia and North Carolina Mountains. I also wore the socks while I slept outdoors because my feet are like icicles at night. The average elevations I hiked range from 2000 – 5500 ft (610-1676 m) and late summer/fall weather fluctuated wildly with temperatures from the 50’s- high 90’s F (10- 32 C) during the day, and maybe as low as 40 F (4 C) at night up in the higher elevations. Winter weather can host ideal hypothermia conditions as the temperatures can drop to the high 10’s F (-7.8 C) overnight, and I have seen rain, ice, and mini snow flurries in one day. In October, I spent a week in Southern Arizona car-camping, backpacking, day hiking, and city walking. The kinds of environments varied from a riparian canyon, sub-alpine forests, and middle Sonoran desert. The altitudes ranged from about 2600 – 6200+ ft (792- 1890 m) with night temperatures from the mid 30’s- low 50’s F (-1.7- 10 C). Report: Over the four months of testing I have worn both pairs of socks with Teva Steep XCR trail shoes, Montrail Hurricane Ridge XCR trail shoes, short pants, long pants, rain pants, and gaiters. I have worn liner socks during the day and night, and also wore additional heavier socks over the Teko Light Hikers one very cold night. I have used the socks for backpacking trips, day hiking, city walking, and while sleeping in my both my synthetic 15F (-9.4 C) and down 20F (-6.7 C) bags. I am used to pushing the limits of various material objects; I take my Honda Civic up muddy forest service roads often enough to make my mechanic ask pointed questions, I use my three-season tent in four-season weather, and I try to wear Teko light hiker socks in snow. Growing up in the South, especially southwest Florida, snow was always abstract. It was in the movies, people from Up North talked about snow and snowstorms with the same competitive storytelling techniques we locals reserved for hurricanes and gators. So when I was able to finally see and hike in snow that was actually on the ground and could be made into snowballs, I jumped at the chance. Around 4600ft (1402 m), I came to a few conclusions: walking in snow is like walking in sand except that its cold and wet, my shoes are water resistant not waterproof, and that the Teko socks were also not waterproof or really heavy enough to slog through about 6 miles (9.6 km) of snow. My feet were cold and wet, but I saw snow! Normally when dry, the socks have also been warm enough for me to wear around camp and sleep in. Sometime after trying to fall asleep for three hours at 4940 ft (1506 m) in North Carolina in a 20F (-6.7 C) down bag wearing two pairs of socks and every other article of clothing I had packed; I came to the conclusion that ‘light hiker’ means I’ll need a little more sock when its snowing, windy, and my digital thermometer stops displaying the temperature at 22F (-5.5 C). After a day on my feet at work or hours walking around Tucson or St. Augustine, the Tekos keep dry, keep my feet dry, and while they do not smell like roses; the wool keeps the more deadly smells at bay. Numerous day hikes near Atlanta where the humidity and temperature were pretty high for fall and winter, also proved to me how well the socks breathe as I would have had to scrape lesser socks from my person at the end of the day. Out in Arizona, the socks dry out very fast. Not so much luck back in the southeast as the socks continue to take a while to not only air dry, but they are the only still damp article of clothing in my fast-dry hiking clothing pantheon after a visit to the dryer. On the plus side, it takes prolonged exposure to water to get them wet. The good news is; after four months of wearing and washing the toe and heel areas have not been worn down to bald patches, the seams have stayed intact, the elastic cuff is not a quitter, and the socks have not stretched into a shape resembling a scarf. After multiple washings the colors haven’t run, but they have faded. The green pair was the most worn and looks it, with fading, fuzziness, and some snags from Velcro attacks. I wouldn’t say I was particularly rough with the socks, in heavy brush and/or cactus covered areas I always wore gaiters over the socks, so I can only assume that the amount of pilling and fuzzing that has accumulated in both pairs of socks over the past four months is a result of multiple washings and general use.
Summary: Still the most comfy hiking socks I have worn, the Teko Light Hikers have been from the heat of Florida and Arizona to my first snow encounter in the mountains but I will not be fooled by the fuzzy warmth again, these socks have a comfort rating of about 30F (-1 C) for me. While not the fastest drying sock I’ve ever used they still breathe well, keep my feet dry and allow me to brag that I have been blister-free while wearing them. Other than cosmetic imperfections, the socks have held together well and show no signs of ‘sock-pattern baldness’ on the toes or bottom of the heel. Overall I am so happy with these socks; in fact, I want thicker ones for winter and more pairs for work. Thanks to Teko and BackpackGearTest.Org for letting me test these socks.
Reviews > Clothing > Socks > Teko Eco Merino Light Hiking Socks > Heather Oakes Palmer > Long Term Report | |||
