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Thorlos Ultra Light Hiking Protection Level 1 Socks
Long Term Report
March 6, 2006
Tester Bio
Name: Anthony (TJ) Smith
Age: 31 years old
Gender: Male
Height: 5’10” (1.78 m)
Weight: 155 lbs (73 kg)
Shoe Size: 9.5 D US
Email address: tjsmith1946@gmail.com
City, State, Country: Pensacola, Florida USA
Backpacking Background
I have been camping for a little over 5 years now, mostly car camping. I have
recently begun backpacking, and I am constantly adding new gear to my “collection”
in an effort to get my gear list tailored more towards backpacking. Most of
my backpacking trips are short duration, not more than one or two nights.
My current pack weight is around 15-20 lb (7-9 kg) without food and water, depending
on if I'm solo camping or taking my son along. I am a dedicated hammock camper
and have tailored my personal gear to that aspect of camping.
Product Information
Year of Manufacture – 2005
Manufacturer URL – www.Thorlos.com
Weight as Delivered – 2.1 oz (60 g)
Size as Delivered – Large (Fits shoe size 10.5 – 11.5 US)
Color Tested – Hazelnut Brown
Style Tested – Men's Mini Crew
MSRP – $14.99/pair US
Initial Information/Observations
For product information and initial impressions, please see my Initial
Report and Field Report.
Field Information
Date: January 8, 2006
Location: Blackwater River State Forest, Munson, Florida
Weather: Sunny, temperatures ranged from a low of 45 F (7 C) to 71 F (21 C)
Terrain: 4 mi (6.4 km), elevation ranged from 50-100 ft (15-30 m) above sea
level. Trail ranged from sandy ground to packed red clay, most areas covered
with a layer of pine straw.
Trip Details: This trip was a dayhike wearing a small daypack, total pack weight
of less than 5 lb (2.3 kg). The Thorlos were worn with my Nevados Greylock Light
Hiker boots. Throughout the hike, I did not experience any discomfort or slipping
of the socks. The seams stay in their proper location, and I no longer notice
the arch section of the sock without the padding in it.
Date: January 29, 2006
Location: Big Lagoon State Park, Pensacola, Florida
Weather: Overcast with brief periods of light rain, temperatures ranged from
62 F (16 C) to 69 F (20 C)
Terrain: 2 mi (3.2 km), elevation ranged from 10-25 ft (3-8 m) above sea level.
The trail was mostly over wooden boardwalks, a few sections were on white sand.
Trip Details: This trip was a dayhike with minimal equipment carried (water
bottle and a small snack, no pack.) I wore plain tennis shoes with the Thorlos
for this hike. While on this hike, I had gotten sand into my shoe and didn't
even notice until I took my socks off. The Thorlos I feel did a good job of
keeping the sand that had gotten into my shoes from getting to my feet. Yet
again, I was impressed by the comfort of the Thorlos and experienced no comfort
issues.
Date: February 1, 2006
Location: Jackson Red Ground Trail, Baker, Florida
Weather: Sunny, temperatures ranged from 26 F (-3 C) to 57 F (13 C)
Terrain: 3 mi (4.8 km), elevation ranged from 40-60 ft (12-18 m) above sea level.
This trail was mostly hard-pack clay, with a few short wooden boardwalks (less
than 50 ft (15 m) long)
Trip Details: This trip was for conducting trail maintenance (mowing and lopping)
a local section of the Florida National Scenic Trail. I wore the Thorlos with
my Nevados Greylock Light Hikers. During this hike, even while operating a large
trail mower, I did not experience any sliding of the socks inside my shoes,
and had no discomfort even with my feet sliding inside the boots several times
during the day. I continue to be surprised at how little I notice the lack of
padding in the middle of the socks, which I thought for sure would be an issue
upon receipt of the socks.
Date: February 5, 2006
Location: Tarklin Bayou State Preserve, Pensacola, Florida
Weather: Overcast, temperatures ranged from 45 F (7 C) to 57 F (13 C)
Terrain: 2 mi (3.2 km), elevation ranged from 10-25 ft (3-8 m) above sea level.
Most of this hike was on a combination of concrete walkway and wooden boardwalk.
There was also a side trip off the walkway to search for a geocache. This section
was on soft, muddy ground.
Trip Details: The Thorlos were worn with my Nevados Greylock Light Hikers. I
carried a small waist pack with water, a snack, and small items for the geocache
(less than 2 lb (1 kg) of weight carried.) Even though we did not experience
any precipitation on this trip, it had rained quite heavily during the previous
few days. This fact lead to quite a few wet areas in the trail, and I did get
both my boots and socks wet. Upon my return home, I placed the socks out to
see how long they would take to dry. The socks had a good deal of moisture,
but not enough to wring water out of them. I laid them down in the sun to dry,
and checked them every hour. They were dry enough to wear again within 2 hours,
and were totally dry within 3 hours. I find this more than acceptable for my
use.
Date: February 8, 2006
Location: Jackson Red Ground Trail, Baker, Florida
Weather: Clear and sunny, temperatures ranged from 26 F (-3 C) to 61 F (16 C)
Terrain: 3 mi (4.8 km), elevation ranged from 40-60 ft (12-18 m) above sea level.
This hike was on hard pack clay, conducted in an area that recently underwent
a prescribed burn to control underbrush.
Trip Details: During this trip, the Thorlos were again worn with my Nevados
Greylock Light Hikers. As with the previous trail maintenance trip, I conducted
a portion of the trail using a trail mower. I again had no issues with the socks,
and found them comfortable throughout my use on this trip.
Date: February 22, 2006
Location: Juniper Creek Trail, Harold, Florida
Weather: Foggy, humidity near 100%, temperatures ranged from 57 F (13 C) to
79 F (26 C)
Terrain: 3 mi (4.8 km), elevation ranged from 40-60 ft (12-18 m) above sea level.
This trip was on a new trail, recently established. It did not have a real well-defined
footpath, with the trail surface mostly grass and pine needles.
Trip Details: This trip was to paint blazes along a new section of trail, to
allow individuals an easy method of ensuring they are on the established trail.
The Thorlos were worn with tennis shoes for this trip. With the minimal equipment
carried (water, small amount of paint, and lopping shears) I did not experience
any comfort issues with the Thorlos. I found them very comfortable for the casual
pace maintained on this trip.
In addition to the trips detailed, I have also worn the Thorlos with a pair
of Croc sandals, on walks around the neighborhood and on a grass and clay walking
path in a nearby park. The Thorlos have worked as well with these shoes as they
have with both my hiking boots and tennis shoes.
Final Thoughts
I have found the Thorlos to be a great fit regardless of which shoes I have
worn them with. They have worked equally as well in my hiking boots, tennis
shoes, or Croc sandals. I have had no issues with discomfort, shifting, or other
problems in my use. The socks do not have any seams that sit in bad spots for
my feet, and even with my first impressions of the lack of padding in the arch
being a potential spot of discomfort, I did not find this to be the case.
I have found that the Thorlos held up well to my use, with no noticeable stretching
of the elastic, no matting of the material, and no seams fraying. In addition,
the socks have not developed any stains or permanent marks even after exposure
to mud and significant ash in an area that had recently undergone a prescribed
burn.
The Thorlos have dried out very well when wet, even after being soaked. They
dry to a point I can wear them again within a couple hours, and typically only
take a little longer to dry completely. I have not experienced any issues with
washing the socks either. The directions for care are straightforward, and the
socks have held up to washing without problems.
Pros
1. Light weight
2. Comfort
3. Short Drying time
Cons
1. Low cut (more my preference, and Thorlo does make a higher cut in this same line.)
My thanks to Thorlos and BackpackGearTest for allowing me to test this item.
Read more reviews of Thorlo gear
Read more gear reviews by Anthony Smith
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