Field Report

Teko EcoMerino Light Hiking Socks
Field Report
December 6, 2005

Biographical Information

Biographical Information
Name	Jennifer Pope
Age	24
Gender	Female
Height	5 ft 7 in (1.7 m)
Weight	140 lb (64 kg)
Shoe size	Women's 8 US
Email address	Jennifer dot Pope at gmail dot com
Location	Los Angeles, CA
Backpacking Background Newbie. I’ve been a car-camper as long as I can remember and started backpacking in Northern California when I was 16. I'm just getting back into backpacking after a hiatus during college. I backpack in the Sierras as well as other National Forests closer to Los Angeles. I also spend time in the California deserts and the mountains and coast of Northern California. I'm a tent camper leaning towards lightweight; but I am a fan of gadgets and I like being comfortable. I also do a mix of short and long day hikes in and around Los Angeles.

Product Information (back to top)
Manufacturer	Teko
Manufacturer URL	http://www.tekosocks.com/
Year of Manufacture	2005
Fabric Content	58% Merino Wool, 25% Ecopoly Recycled Polyester, 14% nylon, 3% Lycra
Color	Sky with moon mist (light blue and gray) (also available in golden green with moon mist and black with moon mist)
Size tested	medium
Actual Weight	2.7 oz (77 g) per pair
MSRP	$16.95 US
Guarantee	one-year satisfaction guarantee
Care Instructions	Machine wash warm inside-out, tumble dry low, no iron, no bleach

Field Conditions (back to top)

So far these socks have seen use for several day hikes in the Santa Monica Mountains of Los Angeles County. Elevations range from sea level up to 3,000 ft (900 m). Lately temperatures have ranged from the mid-50s to 80 F (10 to 25 C). The rain hasn't hit in full force yet, so it's basically been dry. The socks have also seen a lot of urban use just around town, to the gym, and I even wear them as `slippers' around the house.

Field Testing Information (back to top)

Comfort
I love these socks. The material feels plush and soft. The sock is snug around the middle of my foot and around the top cuff of the sock. These socks are comfortable enough that I like to wear them around my house when my feet get cold. I have not noticed any deterioration in comfort over the two-month test period.

The socks are thicker than I expected. I have another pair of "light hiking socks" from another manufacturer that are rather thin. I was expecting these socks to be similar. They are not. They rival my regular hiking socks. They are almost too thick to wear with my day hiking trail runner- but they do work.

Performance
I was afraid that since the socks are thick that they'd be hot. I was surprised that they weren't hot at all. I even wore them in my trail runners while I was cooking in a hot kitchen all day and my feet didn't get sweaty or hot. This surprised me. While hiking and at the gym my feet never broke a sweat.

The socks also added an extra layer of cushion that I wasn't used to. I've also had no problems with the socks slipping down from their position on my calf.

Durability
I've noticed some minor piling on the socks, but other than that the socks are in near new condition. There is no thinning whatsoever in the heel, the ball of my foot, or anywhere else. The color has remained as vibrant as it was when I first received the socks. I have washed the socks several times (inside out as recommended) to no real ill effects. The one problem that I have found is that the socks seem to attract cat hair. Washing the socks inside out prevents the cat hair from getting washed off so it pretty much stays stuck. All and all it's a pretty minor complaint.

piling
The piling is slightly visible in the picture above. It's most visible around the edges.

Summary (back to top)

The socks are comfortable and perform better than I expected- what more could I ask for?

Thanks to BackpackGeartTest.org and Teko for allowing me to test this item.

Read more reviews of Teko gear
Read more gear reviews by Jennifer Pope

Reviews > Clothing > Socks > Teko Eco Merino Light Hiking Socks > Jennifer Pope > Field Report

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