INITIAL REPORT – THORLO LEVEL ONE LAMBSWOOL BLEND
HIKING SOCKS

Richard Lyon
October 25, 2005

Product Details

Manufacturer: THORLO, Inc. (www.thorlo.com)
Year of manufacture: 2005
Weight as delivered: 3.7 oz (105 g)
Height as measured from base of heel to top of sock:  9 in (23 cm)
Size: Medium (Per manufacturer's website, fits men's US shoe sizes 10.5 – 11.5; see comment below)
Style: Crew (Also available in mini-crew)
Color: Hazelnut brown (Also available in graphite, black, midnight blue, moss green)
Materials: 48% lambswool, 37% nylon, 13% polyester, 2% elastic
MSRP: USD15.99

Off The Shelf

I received one pair of socks by Priority Mail from Thorlo.  The socks were on a paperboard hanger, just as I had seen them displayed in my local ski shop.  The front of the paperboard identifies the socks as "Men's Hiking Lambs Wool Blend – ULTRA LIGHT HIKER, with "Protection Level 1 – Minimum" displayed prominently below the "Thorlos" trademark.  In the upper left Thorlo states that these are for US shoe sizes 8.5 – 10.0 (UK 8.0 – 9.5; EU 42.0 – 44.0).  This differs markedly from the website and is inaccurate, as the socks fit my size 11.5 feet exactly.

The back side of the hanger explains Thorlo's protection level system, includes a table of products fitting its categories 2 and 3, and provides care instructions: no bleach, do not iron, do not dry clean, wash normal (hot water: "106 F, 40 C"), and dry normal - medium.  "For longer product life, maximum protection and comfort, wash and dry inside out (to fluff up the pads) using liquid fabric softener (to lubricate the fibers for longer life.)"  This last bit of advice is new to me, as makers of other wool products that I use uniformly admonish against use of a fabric softener.

First Impressions

These are attractive socks, quite suitable for everyday use with street clothes.  The hazelnut color is a light brown flecked with green and gold, giving something of a heathery look.  The Thorlo name is stitched in white just above the reinforced toe, and "HIL 11 M" printed in white on the inside of the cuff.  Though Thorlo's lightest weight hiking socks, toe, ball, heel, and cuff are reinforced, about double the width of the vamp.  The socks are ribbed above the heel, with the one- inch (2.5 cm) cuff hemmed on the inside.  The elastic in the cuff keeps the socks above my ankles without any sagging. 

Off the hanger the socks were comfortably warm in a chilly house, with no itching.  I wore them one afternoon around the house and on two walks with my dogs, and encountered no slipping at the heel and no sagging at the top.  Outdoors the socks kept my feet warm in the unseasonably cool 50 F (10 C) weather, and I noticed no particular sweaty feel, indicating good breathability.  After their first use at a spinning class, the socks were dry and my shoes sweaty, confirming my initial impression.

Test Plan

Thorlo advertises these socks as "for use on day hikes on flat or varied terrain," and doesn't recommend them for backpacking.  I live and do day hikes in hot, dry Dallas, where a rise of 50 vertical feet (15 meters) is a major hill.  My testing will be conducted on day hikes and at my health club during my thrice-weekly spin classes.  Temperatures in Dallas can reach 90 F (32 C) through November, so even a fall and winter test period will permit some warm weather use.  I'll wear the socks with my bicycle shoes in the gym and with a pair of low-cut Asolo Gore-Tex boots when day hiking.   Day hike testing will include use of a liner on occasion.

I'll adhere to the manufacturer's directions and recommendations for washing and other care, including use of fabric softener.  Because of this I'll wash the socks with an ordinary load of clothes rather than with other wool and synthetic items.

I shall look for:

Fit.  Will the socks shrink with washings? Will the elastic continue to hold the socks up, with no sagging? Will the perfect off-the-shelf fit remain after washing and heavy use? Will the socks "slip" at the heel (a frequent problem because of my narrow heel)?

Comfort.  Will the socks scratch or itch? To avoid this is another reason I prefer socks with a high wool content.

Durability.  I wash my socks after every hike, and usually after every exercise session.  Will the socks retain wickability, fit, padding, elasticity, and shape? Will there be pilling or "erosion" of heel padding?

Odor.  In my experience wool garments accrue a less offensive odor than synthetics.  Which will these socks take after: the 48% wool or the 52% synthetic? Will washing remove any odor? Will the socks pick up odor more quickly after multiple washings?

Construction.  How tight is the weave?  This affects wickability and durability. Will the sock resist snagging? How common are loose threads from wearing the socks or from washing?

Performance.  The two most important questions for any wicking product: How well do they wick? How quickly do they dry? I will look to see if initial performance holds up after repeated use and washing.

Appearance: Will heavy use and washing alter the color or ribbing on the socks?

I favor wool socks for hiking comfort and superior wicking.  I haven't yet found a hiking sock with a significant wool content that is advertised both for use in hot weather and as "ultra light."   My thanks to Thorlo and BGT for allowing me to continue the quest.

Backpacking background

Male, 59 years old
Height: 6' 4" (1.91 m)
Weight: 200 lb (91 kg)
Shoe size: US 11.5 – 12, depending on manufacturer
Email address: rlyon AT gibsondunn DOT com
Home: Dallas, Texas USA

I've been backpacking for 45 years on and off, and regularly in the Rockies since I moved to Texas in 1986.  I do a weeklong trip every summer, and often take three-day trips.  I'm usually camping in alpine terrain, at altitudes 5000 to 13,000 ft (1500 - 4000 m). I prefer base camp backpacking, a long hike in with day trips from camp, but I do my share of forced marches too. Regardless of type of trip, I'll tote a few extra pounds to have the camp conveniences I've come to expect.