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Thorlos Trail Socks
Protection Level 2
Initial Report October 18, 2005
Tester Information:
Name: Jason Boyle
Age: 28
Gender: Male
Height: 5' 6"/ 1.68 m
Weight: 170 lb/ 77 kg
Email address: c4jc@hotmail.com
City, State, Country: Snoqualmie, Washington, U.S.
Backpacking Background:
I have been camping and backpacking for about 17 years. My introduction to the outdoors started with the BSA and has continued as an adult. I have hiked mostly in the Southeastern and Northeastern United States. I am generally a lightweight hiker, but will carry extras to keep me comfortable. I have just moved to the Pacific Northwest and have been exploring the new area and learning new places to backpack and camp. In addition to backpacking, I am also an ultra runner and will use the socks during my training runs and races.
Product Information:
Manufacturer: Thorlos
Model: Trail
Protection Level: 2
Size: Men's 9.0-12.5 US/43.0-47.0 EU
Color: Charcoal Heather (received), Walnut Heather, White
Year of Manufacture: 2005
URL:www.thorlo.com
Listed weight: not listed
Measured weight: 2 oz (57 g)
**Disclaimer: the closest my scale will measure is in whole ounces**
Fabric Content: 56% CoolMax, 26% THORLON acrylic, 14% Nylon, 4% Spandex
MSRP: 11.99 US Dollars
Country of Manufacture: USA
Product Description:
This sock is a Thorlos Level 2 sock which means according to Thorlos "it is best suited for use with moderate to hot temperatures on varied terrain." It is a crew sock, so it comes just above the ankle and it is marketed as a trail running sock. The socks have reinforced toe and heel padding. The arch has spandex added to the rest of the fabric to improve fit.
Initial Impressions/Use:
These socks arrived packaged on a standard hang tag, similar to the way that many socks are sold.
I did what I would do with any new pair of socks; I opened the package up, put them on and went for a walk! My foot is at the bottom end of the size range for this sock and I was concerned that the sock would bunch around the heel when worn. However, they seem to fit well and on my initial uses I have not noticed any bunching.
The socks seem to be well made with no frayed seams or loose stitching. The toe has flat seam stitching to help eliminate hot spots and blistering in the toe areas.
The sock packaging did not include much in the way of care instructions. On the back label it only offered a few suggestions such as: "Do Not Bleach, Wash Normal (105F/40C) Do Not Iron (who does this?), Dry Normal Medium, Do Not Dry Clean." However the website provides much more detailed instructions some of which I found interesting. For example, they recommend that you launder your Thorlos after every use for best results. This is hard to do especially when I am out on a multi day trip. They also recommend that they be dried inside out in a dryer and that fabric softener be used. Additionally they recommend that the socks not be "line dried" because they will break down quicker. I find this interesting again because on multi day trips I will have no choice but to "line dry" my socks. I find these to be interesting as I have never really looked much into the care of my socks. I am interested to see if I can tell any difference in the sock wear if I don't consistently follow their instructions.
Improvements:
I have just one suggestion and that is more color choices, basically all that is available is black, brown and white.
Expected Field Conditions:
Rain, Rain, and more Rain. The average precipitation for October is 6+ inches (15+ cm) and the average rainfall increases from there over the next couple of months. Most of my hiking takes place in the foothills of the cascades in places such as Tiger Mountain State Park, Cougar Mountain State Park, and the Mt. Baker - Snoqualmie National Forest. The trails are generally rocky and wet. Average temperatures for the late fall to early winter range from highs in the 60's F to lows in the 30's F (18 C - 1 C) Elevation may vary from sea level to 14,000 ft (4267 m) although a winter summit attempt of Mt Rainer is highly unlikely.
Testing Plan:
I will look for the following characteristics in these socks over the next four months:
My answers are in parenthesis and italics.
Fit:
-Their large pair of socks fit feet size 9 - 12.5 US. Since I am at the bottom of that scale will I feel like the socks are too big on me? (Upon initial inspection they seem to fit fine.)
-Will the fabric bunch up because of the excess needed to fit the larger sized foot? (They have not so far.)
-Does the spandex and padding in the arch actually increase comfort?
-Is there a noticeable increase in comfort because of the lightweight padding in the heel and the ball of the foot?
-Does the flat knit construction help with the blister prevention?
Durability:
-My socks tend to wear in two places, the heel and under the ball of my feet. Thorlo has added padding to these areas, how well do they stand up to abuse?
-How do the socks fair in the washing machine? (Thorlos has some detailed washing instructions. Much more than I normally would follow. We will see if I can follow them.)
-Will they pill up after one wash? (Thorlos recommend washing inside out to prevent this.)
-Will they pill/tear easily while hiking off trail?
Thanks to BackpackGearTest and Thorlos for the opportunity to participate in this test.
Read more reviews of Thorlo gear
Read more gear reviews by Jason Boyle
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