Comparisons - scale accurate to 1 g (0.04 oz)
listed weight: none listed
measured weight: 102 g (3.6 oz) for the pair - Size: 43-47 (EU) / 9.0-12.5 (US) / 8.5-12.0 (UK)

From the Website:
"This is a Protection Level 2™ moderate to hot weather product that is designed for use on day hikes on flat or varied terrain.

Lightweight padding in the heel and ball protect the foot from shear and impact forces and helps to prevent painful blistering.
Lace pad protects the top of foot against boot lace pressure.
Spandex and low density padding in the arch create a snug fit.
Ventilation panel enhances wicking.

Fiber Contents: 62% CoolMax, 19% THOR•LON Acrylic, 14% Stretch nylon, 5% Spandex."

This information is repeated on the hangtag which came with the socks. It also states:

"For longer product life, maximum protection and comfort, wash and dry inside out (to fluff up the pads) using liquid fabric softener after each use (to lubricate the fibers for longer life). For optimal benefits, liquid fabric softeners are always recommended."

The hangtag also lists a number of other sock types from the Thorlo product line - in this case, "Hiking" socks of various protection levels. I note that "2" is the medium protection level and that for hiking, Thorlo currently offers two kinds of "Protection Level 2" socks, that being a "Wool/Silk" one for "All Weather" and this "Coolmax" one for "Moderate/Hot" weather. Given the time of year, I will be testing this sock in "moderate" weather and may have to explore the fringes on the cold side of "moderate". It doesn't get *really* cold in western Germany, though, so that should be okay.

Introduction:
These are mid-calf length socks (they are also available in a shorter, "mini-crew" version). The socks are listed as available in "black heather" (blackish), "everglade heather" (greenish), "navy heather" (blueish) and the "walnut heather" I received, which - unsurprisingly - is a light brownish colour. The socks look exactly like I expected them to from the picture of the manufacturer's website. The different zones of construction are easily visible.

Fitting:
These socks are available in three sizes. My usual shoe size falls just over the middle of the middle size for these socks, and they fit snugly without pressure. The feel, at initial trial, is "just right".

Trying Out:
Wearing them for a day showed that while my feet may not feel the different zones in a way which allows me to tell the difference without looking, the difference is felt nonetheless: When I took the socks off, I could tell by the patterns left on the skin of my feet where one zone ended and another began. The "Lace Pad" pattern was particularly pronounced. I will pay particular attention to this to see whether this is good or bad.

Test Plan:
Particular features I wish to check and report on include:
- Blister Prevention:
I was going to call this section *Comfort*, but socks are really all about comfort. There are just different aspects of it (I guess that's true for much backpacking equipment, if I think about it – even food is about being more comfortable when not hungry…). Anyway, while my feet are not particularly blister prone, I attribute this at least in part to being careful with my feet. If my feet are about to develop a hotspot (which is rare these days, I've found comfortable shoes and wear good socks), I like to sit down, air out my feet and my socks for a moment, make sure my feet are dry and then put my socks back on (a dry pair, if available). This generally means I walk free of pain. In fact, with good socks (like the ones from the last test) my feet are the least of my worries regarding physical maintenance on the trail. I like this a lot, and will report on how well these socks will let me maintain that track record.
- Moisture Transfer:
Of course, moisture transfer is a large factor in blister prevention. However, it also comes into play when I step into a puddle that turns out to be deeper than I thought, or when snow gets caught around the rim of my shoes, melts and seeps in from above. How quickly that moisture exits my shoe and for how long my feet remain wet while this happens, is something I'll report on (should this not happen on its own during the testing period, I don't think I'd be going too far out of "real-world testing" by stepping into such a puddle on purpose…
- Odour Resistance:
How quickly will these socks begin to stink, and how badly will they stink? After a day of hiking, after two days and the night in between? Will rinsing them with water and drying them help, or do they need to be washed with detergent to "freshen up"?
- Washing:
How do they stand up to washing? Will they not shrink? Will they attract and hold dirt in a way that makes them difficult to clean?
- Durability:
Will they fuzz excessively or pill (the latter being particularly bad with socks, because it creates pressure points)? Will they wear through easily?

Testing Location and Probable Conditions:
In this region, the test period (October to February) will typically see temps between -5, maybe -10 C (25, maybe 14 F) and 25 C (77 F). For precipitation we'll have fog and drizzle as well as rain in fall, some snow in winter. Fall tends to be windy.
I plan lots of day trips, likely a few overnighters, but have nothing concrete planned yet (no big hikes planned yet during the test period). I hike in hilly, forested terrain which starts a 15 minute walk from where I live and extends for about 30 km (20 mi) in most directions. This includes hikes in the Kottenforst State Park, the Siebengebirge Nature Preserve (Seven Mountains – bit of a misnomer there, they top out at 461 m / 1512 ft), the River Rhine and the Ahr Valley. Elevations range from 60 m / 200 ft to the above-mentioned 461 m / 1512 ft, paths tend to be well-maintained though I do not always stick to them. That said, while the total elevations aren’t anything to write home about, the elevation changes one can encounter can (and sometimes do) add up. So my hikes are closer to a walk in the woods than to a walk in the park...
There are many paths I haven’t seen yet, but I am catching up. I dayhike often(though often not even the full day), which could also be described as an extended walk with my daughter (as long as we’re gone for at least half the day and I carry hammock and cook gear – and occasionally her – we consider it a hike). My overnighters tend to be "mini-adventure" solo trips. Often, it’s a distance I could cover in one long day, which I prefer to cut into two half days by starting Friday afternoon. Lets me get some solo backpacking done without impacting my family time too much.

Personal Biographical Information:
Name: André Corterier
Gender: M
Age: 33
Height: 1,85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight: 80 kg (175 lb)
Shoe Size: 45-46 (EU) / 11.5 (US) Email: andreDOTcorterierATfreenetDOTde
Home: Bonn, Germany

Backpacking Background:
I began backpacking in my late teens using Europe’s "InterRail"-System – weight hardly mattered, as we were on trains a lot. I recently rediscovered backpacking and have started out slowly – single-day 24 km (15 mi) jaunts by myself or even shorter hikes in the company of my little daughter. I am getting started on longer hikes, as a lightweight packer and hammock-camper. I’ve begun upgrading my old gear and am now shooting for a dry FSO weight (everything carried From the Skin Out except food, fuel and water) of about 10 kg (22 lb) for three-season camping. Not quite there yet.

Read more reviews of Thorlo gear
Read more gear reviews by Andre Corterier

Initial Report

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