Field Report

Thorlos Men's Light Hiker CoolMax Protection Level 2 Socks

Field Report by Ralph Ditton

Date:14th March, 2006

Personal Information
Name: Ralph Ditton
Age: 54
Height: 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight: 79 kg (174 lb)
Shoe size : AUS 9.0 (US 10) (UK 9) (EU 43)
Email: rdassetts@optusnet.com.au
City: Perth, Western Australia.

Backpacking Background

I have been walking the Bibbulmun Track in sections over four years. My goal is to complete the 964 km (603 mi) and become an end to end walker. So far I have completed approximately two-thirds of the Track from North to South, and a quarter in the opposite direction. I have evolved from carrying a heavyweight load--approximately 28 kg (62 lb) including food and water--to being a midweight backpacker, averaging 18 kg (38 lb) at the start of a trip. My trips are usually between three to five days duration.

Product Information
Manufacturer: Thorlos
URL: http://www.thorlo.com
Model: Light Hiker
Style: Crew Medium LTH -11
Protection Level: 2
Shoe Size: US 5.5 - 8.5
UK 5.0 - 8.0
EU 38.5 - 42.0
AUS 5.0 - 8.0
Year of Manufacturer: Not stated
Listed Weight: Not listed
Measured Weight: 90 g (3.17 oz)
Colour: Walnut/Heather
Materials: 62% CoolMax®,19% Thor*Lon® Acrylic, 14% Stretch nylon, 5% Spandex
Country of Manufacturer: USA
MSRP: US$ 13.99

sock at munda biddi campsite

Field Test
Bearing in mind that my shoe size is AUS 9 (US 10, UK 9, EU 43) and the sock size is meant for a foot size ranging from AUS 5.0 - 8.0 (US 5.5 - 8.5, UK 5.0 - 8.0, Eu 38.5 - 42.0) the fit was very snug with slight stretching of the fabric around the ends of the toes.
After about an hour and a half of bush walking, I experienced a tingling in my left big toe, right at the end of it. The tingling spot was about the size of a pin head. Sitting down and taking my boot and sock off, I examined the inside of the sock at the spot where I was feeling the tingling and found a tiny knot between the boundary of the two types of fabric. This was probably the cause of the tingling.

Returning home after the completion of my walk, I removed my boots and walked around the house in the socks. The action of the feet moving through the air made the tops of my feet cool. I can only surmise that the cooling effect was akin to a full canvas water bag whereby air passing over a moist outside cools the inside water. In this case, my perspiration had transferred onto the top of the sock through the ventilation panel.

toe section heel section
From the 4th to the 5th of February, 2006 I used the same pair of socks on a bushwalk to North Dandalup Campsite on the Munda Biddi Track. When I went to bed in my sleeping bag, I took the socks off to dry from my foot perspiration. The daytime temperature was approximately 30 C (86 F). The socks were relatively moist, but not wringing wet. There were welt marks above my ankle from the ribbing of the socks. The welt marks disappeared in a few minutes after taking the socks off.
Night time temperatures were approximately 16 C (61 F) and in the morning the socks were dry. I had hung them over the steps of the ladder to the top bunk as a makeshift clothesline.
I put the socks on again as I wanted to test how they would handle two days of continuous bushwalking. The temperature on the 5th February, 2006 was around 28 C (82 F).
On both days I noticed the tingling in my big toe again in the same spot caused, in my opinion, by the tiny knot. Somehow I managed to put the same socks on the respective feet without mixing them around.
The boots that I was wearing at the time were Blunderstone Mountain Master #480 Bushwalking boots. They are a full grain leather with a dual-density midsole.
When I got home and took my boots off, the socks were again moist from my perspiration and smelled of old sweat.
After washing and drying them, I noticed that the fabric was fraying.

fraying of fabric
The socks are fraying in the heel area.

The next field test was a bushwalk to Prickly Bark in 37 C (99 F) on the 3rd March, 2006. The shoes that I wore were Dunlop KT26 which is like a sneaker with a mesh panel on the top.
The terrain was sandy that could support vegetation.
When I reached the campsite and set up camp, I took my shoes and socks off and discovered that my skin on my feet were dirty with grime. My calf s' were soaked in perspiration and the socks were very moist. Fine grit had worked its way through the mesh panel on the top of my footwear and then filtered through the socks top panel. This made walking uncomfortable as the grit plus perspiration was acting as fine sandpaper. Together with perspiration the dirt spread around my foot finally stopping under my feet. This made the inside foot section of the socks very black and dirty. My feet were sweaty and smelly after being used in my Dunlop KT26's. I did not bother to use the socks again. I changed socks for the evening and the next day's walk.

The next occasion I used them was in my work environment. This was on the 7th March, 2006 and the temperature was 38 C (101 F). I was inside a customers home and I walked around doing the work in the socks. Inside temperature in the home was approximately 23 C (73 F). The socks gripped well on the carpet, so there was no slipping. It was a completely different outcome when I tried to walk on polished floorboards. There was absolutely no grip and I skidded with each step. This was dangerous as I was carrying the tools of my trade. The last thing I needed was to slip and crash to the floor and damage the surface of the polished floorboards. I removed the socks and worked barefooted on the polished floorboards.

Washing of socks
I followed the washing instructions as listed on the hang card that wrapped around the socks. I turned the socks inside out and washed them in warm water with the appropriate liquid fabric softener "Huggie". The pads did fluff up as indicated that they would on the hang card.
There has been no pilling on the outside of the sock

Wear and Tear
The socks are showing signs of wear with use. The fabric is starting to fray around the heel section in both socks as this is where the most movement takes place. The heel slips and slides inside the boot when walking. I do not wear sock liners as I do not normally suffer from blisters.

Test Plan findings to date
I found that there was no natural left or right sock. It did not matter which foot I placed the sock on.
The sock does wick the moisture t the outside of the sock and it does feel cool when walking with the socks on and boots on. I believe this is caused by a water bag effect of wind over a moist surface causing a lowering of temperature. On extreme hot days, this effect is negated as the sock is completely saturated and gains no benefit in the short term until the outside temperature starts to dry the sock whilst on the foot.
So far the 5% spandex supports the sock in staying up and there has been no evidence of bunching. The sock also has a true rib which is a series of raised and recessed ribs that support it in staying up on the calf.
From time to time, I forget to follow the instructions on how to place the sock on the foot. I revert back to my habit of grasping the sock at the top and insert the foot instead of placing my hands on either side of the sock and gather fabric up to the toe area. Then I should gently pull the sock on around the toes then gently pull the sock over the heel then up the leg. I have not noticed any damage from my bad habits so far.

Future Testing strategy
I will be going away for the Easter break for five nights and six days along the Bibbulmun Track. I will be wearing the socks on a few of these days as I will be washing them overnight and hoping that they will dry. The season will be in the middle of our Autumn where nights can be a bit cool or even wet.
Temperatures will range from 6 C to 43 C (43 F to 109 F) with a mean daytime average of 33 C (91 F).

Thank you Thorlo and BackPackGearTest for allowing me to participate in this test.

Read more reviews of Thorlo gear
Read more gear reviews by Ralph Ditton

Reviews > Clothing > Socks > Thorlo Level 2 Coolmax Trail Runner > Ralph Ditton > Field Report

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