Reviews > Clothing > Socks > Thorlo Level 2 Coolmax Trail Runner > Jennifer Williams > Field Report

Field Report: Thorlo Coolmax Trail Runner Socks - Protection Level 2

TESTER BIO
Name: Jennifer Williams
Age: 27
Gender: Female
Height: 5 ft 3 in (1.6 m)
Weight: 120 lbs (56 kg)
Shoe size: 10 women (US
Email: jensmail78 (at) yahoo (dot) com
Sunnyvale, CA, USA
Date: January 1, 2005

Backpacking Background:
I grew up horseback riding, camping, and hiking, but I just started backpacking about two years ago. All of my trips have been one or two night stays. My trips normally range from coastal trails in the redwoods to mountainous terrain in the Sierra Nevada. I tend to hike where I encounter rain and dampness. This year I am looking forward to making some longer trips in northern California and gaining more experience. I am not a lightweight backpacker yet, but would like to reduce my current pack weight significantly.

PRODUCT INFORMATION
Manufacturer: Thorlo
Year of manufacture: 2005
URL: www.thorlo.com
Weight as delivered: 1.25 oz each (35g)
Size: medium (US Women 6.5-10 or US Men 5.5-8.5)
Style: Mini Crew
Color: Walnut Heather
Materials: 56% Coolmax, 26% THOR*LON Acrylic, 14% Nylon, 4% Spandex
MSRP: $11.99 (US)

FIELD INFORMATION

Central and Northern California Coasts:
I wore the Thorlos on multiple day hikes in state parks ranging in elevations from sea level to 6000 feet (sea level to 1800 meters). The hikes were mostly on maintained trails with gradual elevation gains. The first two hikes were on dry, dirt trails with occasional rocky sections. Temperatures were around 65 F (18 C) and the weather was sunny and slightly breezy. The third hike was after a light rain and the trail was a little muddy in some areas. The temperature was about 60 F (16 C) and the weather was cloudy and a bit foggy. All of the hikes were approximately 6 miles (9.7 km). On all hikes I carried a small daypack weighing about 5 lbs (2.3 kg).

I used the socks almost exclusively in a pair of Teva Steep XCRs trail shoes. The Tevas are waterproof, low-cut trail shoes that are a little heavier than most trail runners but significantly lighter and more breathable than my hiking boots. Since the Thorlos Coolmax Trail Runner Socks only come in a mini crew style, I am unable to wear them with my sturdier Montrail Torre GTX hiking boots. These boots are mid-cut and the tops of the boots were higher than the cuffs of the socks, which caused the boots to rub on the back of my upper heel. I also used the socks a few times in my running shoes while jogging or while at the gym.

FIELD TEST:

The Thorlo Coolmax Trail Runner Socks are thin, lightweight socks in a mini-crew style. See my initial report for a more detailed description.

During the initial field testing phase I used the Thorlos Coolmax Trail Runner Socks for moderately high paced activities like day hiking and high paced activities like trail running and jogging. During the day hikes the socks performed very well and did not cause any discomfort. They stayed in place without slipping or bunching up. None of the seams chafed or rubbed hot spots on my feet. The weather was not especially warm, but I did manage to work up a sweat on all of the hikes. During all of the hikes my feet felt quite dry and I did not develop any blisters. After the hikes, when I would take my shoes off, the socks themselves felt a little damp even though my feet felt dry. It appeared that the socks were wicking the moisture away from my feet. The socks provided adequate padding, but I did not notice my feet feeling particularly less fatigued at the end of the hikes. The socks seemed to perform equally well on the dry, warmer hikes as on the cooler, rainy hike.

During the trail running and jogging, my feet got hotter than when I was hiking even though the temperature outside was not warmer. This was more noticeable in the waterproof Teva trail shoes than my lighter-weight running shoes. My feet also felt a little sweatier while running, but not excessively so. Again, when I would remove my shoes, the socks would feel wetter than my feet, indicated that they were moving the moisture away from my feet. For both the hiking and running, the socks felt like they provided more padding and support than thinner, cotton socks I have used in the past. However, I do not think they are thick enough for me to wear with heavier boots or while carrying a large pack because I prefer thicker socks with a bit more padding on the bottoms when I am backpacking. When trail running or jogging I did notice the socks slipping a little bit in the heel area. I tried tying my shoes tighter and it helped a little, but there was still some slippage by the end of the trail.

The socks seem very durable. I have not noticed any holes or major pilling and the elastic is still stretchy and resilient. I have not found the socks to be abnormally stinky after a hike or run and they are easy to wash and care for. For washing, I just turn them inside out and then they fluff back up in the dryer.

SUMMARY:

Overall the Thorlos Coolmax Trail Runner Socks have performed well and I like how well they seem to manage moisture when my feet get sweaty. They are very durable for high-paced activities and seem versatile enough to use for gym workouts as well as hiking. My only concern at this point is that they do slip a little bit while I am running or jogging. I will continue to try to tighten my shoes and pull the socks up higher before I start jogging. For the remainder of this test I will be encountering more rain and cooler temperatures. I will continue to use the socks for hiking and trail running and occasional gym workouts to determine if they hold up to extended use and to see how they feel in cooler temperatures.

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