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Reviews > Clothing > Socks > Thorlo Level 3 Thorlon Hiker > Becki Stacy > Long Term Report
Age: 32 Gender: Female Height: 5' 3" (1.6 m) Weight: 150 lb (70 kg) Shoe Size: US Women's 7.5 wide Email address: beckistacy at comcast dot net Location: Royal Oak, Michigan, USA Background: I got bitten by the backpacking bug in 1994 when I was a volunteer at the Grand Canyon. My first backpacking trip was the same week I arrived, with gear borrowed from trail crew supplies. My husband and I enjoy car camping and backpacking (we use a double-wall tent), mostly in Michigan. We've pared down our pack weight a little (a necessity for a recent 12-night trip with no resupply), and we are continually re-working our gear list to cut weight without giving up the luxury items we enjoy (such as food that involves more than boiling water). Current footwear configuration: Dunham Wafflestomper Paramount boots with Spenco Backpacker footbeds. I typically wear liner socks.
Website: http://www.thorlo.com/ Product: Hiking Protection Level 3, Women's Crew Medium Size: Women's US 7-9, UK 5.5-7.5, EU 39-41 Length: Crew MSRP: $11.99 Year Manufactured: 2005 Washing Instructions: Wash normal 105 F/40 C, dry normal medium, do not bleach, do not iron, do not dry clean Listed weight: N/A Weight as delivered: 3.3 oz/94 g (pair)
The Hiking Protection Level 3 socks are designed for maximum protection when backpacking. According to the website and the back panel of the packaging, they are midweight socks for use on extended hikes in varied to rugged terrain in moderate climates. The socks are constructed from 86% Thorlon acrylic, 10% Stretch nylon, and 4% Spandex. The color I received was "Khaki", with the heel and toe areas slightly lighter in color than the rest of the sock. They feel to be about the same thickness as my other mid to heavy weight backpacking socks, though the packaging notes that these socks "...may require a 1/2 size larger boot." Thorlo recommends to wear this product when being fitted for new hiking boots. It is recommended to wash and dry inside-out and to use liquid fabric softener. Other care instructions are listed above in the "Basic Product Information" section.
Please see my Initial Report for a detailed description of the socks, and my Field Report for details on the first two month's use.  Since the Field Report, these socks have been with me on an overnighter at a state park, and on several long dayhikes, several of which I had on a full pack to simulate actual trail use. I've also worn them occasionally with my sneakers around town. I've worn them both with and without liner socks, though for longer trips on rougher terrain I have always worn liners. The socks (alone and in conjunction with my liners) did a good job at wicking away moisture, I think about the same as my wool socks. When going on a shorter hike over low-impact terrain (such as my trip to Nordhouse Dunes), the socks alone provided enough cushioning, and I didn't really need to worry too much about blister protection. For longer hikes over a little more difficult terrain (somewhat hilly frozen ground), they played well with my liners, and I didn't get any blisters. Though Thorlo claims the socks may require a half size larger boots, they don't appear to take up any more volume than my regular hiking socks. Contrary to the washing instructions, these socks have been washed and dried right-side out, mainly due to my absentmindedness. There appears to be no damage due to washing them this way, though by now they're quite 'fuzzy' from washing/use, as shown in the picture above. There is a little bit of pilling, but most of the 'pills' that develop are actually on the ends of the strands of fuzz, making it easy to trim off with a pair of scissors. Actually, I don't mind the fuzzing up, since to me it's preferable to the pilling I see from my wool socks, which pill closer to the sock, and have developed larger pills after roughly similar use. The socks wash up decently 'backpacking style', a method I use in the backcountry that uses a ziptop freezer bag as a washing machine, with water and a dab of Campsuds. As far as I can tell, the end result is about the same as my wool socks, with sufficient dirt/scum being removed by the washing process, and only a hint of odor left after drying. Overall, I really like these socks. They still fit comfortably, and don't sag or bag up in areas. The Hiking Protection Level 3 socks for women definitely fit my feet better than my unisex hiking socks. They're coming along on all my future trips, and I would probably buy another pair when one of my pairs of wool socks gives out .
Below are the questions from my initial report of the Hiking Protection Level 3 Socks, with the answers I have obtained: 1. Will the weave of the material tend to `catch' on low branches? I have had the socks catch on a raspberry branch, but managed to untangle it without damage. These socks don't seem to be any more prone to catching/snagging than regular socks. 2. How do the socks stand up to multi day use, with only a zip top bag and a squirt of Campsuds as a `washing machine'? Will they retain `foot funk' after a water- only wash? Will the addition of suds remove the stench? Will I need to put it on the `heavy duty' cycle of my washing machine at home to tackle the problem? How long does it take the socks to air dry? They have not proved prone to peculiar odors after several days of use, backpacking, day hiking, or around the house. Washing them in a ziptop bag with water only retains some smell, but the addition of Campsuds (especially the type that includes citronella) takes care of the worst of the odor. The socks take about 14 hours to air dry at 67 F (19 C), 55% humidity and no wind or sun. 3. Will the padding on the socks cushion my feet as stated, making my hikes more enjoyable? I can definitely feel the padding, even after quite a bit of use and abuse. 4. How well do the socks let my feet breathe? I think they manage to wick away sweat sufficiently, and since I haven't had any problems with my feet, I think they do a good job. 5. How well will the socks stand the wear and tear of the trail, with everyday use added in? How long will they last? Other than 'fuzzing up', there appears to be little wear that would affect the structural integrity of the sock. 6. Thorlo claims the women's socks are designed with the female foot in mind. Will the Level 3 socks live up to this claim? The socks were and remain form-fitting to my feet, so whether it's because Thorlo had the female foot in mind or it is just good design in general, these socks have a better fit than my other hiking socks. I would like to thank Thorlo and BackpackGearTest for the opportunity to test the Thorlo Thorlon Hiking Protection Level 3 socks. Read more reviews of Thorlo gear Read more gear reviews by Rebecca Stacy Reviews > Clothing > Socks > Thorlo Level 3 Thorlon Hiker > Becki Stacy > Long Term Report | |||||||