Initial Report: Ullfrotte Sport Socks
April 28, 2004

Tester Information

Backpacking Background:
I have been backpacking for twelve years, all of it in the Southern Appalachians. I am fortunate to live within a two-hour drive of the Mt. Rogers National Recreation Area, and I try to hike in that area at least once a month year-round. I have completed several hundred miles of the Appalachian Trail in two-day to two-week sections, and along with my family have set a goal of completing the entire trail over the next decade or so. Like many backpackers, I started out carrying far too much gear, but over the years I have pared down my pack weight to a more reasonable level.

Product Information

	Manufacturer:	Ullfrotte
	Model:	Sport Socks and Wildlife Socks
	Web Site:	Ullfrotte Web Site
	Size:	Large
	Listed Weight:	none
	Weight As Delivered:	3 oz (85 g) (Sport), 5 oz (142 g) (Wildlife)
	MSRP:	none

The socks feel good when I put them on. They are smooth and comfortable, and the lighter Sport socks fit easily inside my trail runners. The thicker Wildlife socks (similar to a Trekking style sock) are a tighter fit, but when I try them with my heavy leather boots, they work well.

Sizing:
The Ullfrotte socks come in several sizes. Unfortunately for me, the medium size goes from 40-44 Euro (7-10 USA) and the large size from 45-48 Euro (11-13 US). I wear a 10.5 US and a 44.5 Euro, so I am stuck in the middle between sizes. It was hard to decide without seeing the socks, but I chose the Large. Oddly, the Sport Socks felt too large when I first put them on, but the Wildlife Socks fit perfectly. I measured the length of the sock from toe to heel, and the Sport Sock is about .5 in (1 cm) longer. I don't know if this is a standard difference between these two styles, or simply the result of manufacturing differences. In any case, wearing the Sport Socks isn't a problem.

There is a sizing chart on each cardboard sleeve, listing Euro and U.S. shoe and sock sizes. The sleeves also have a Dupont Lycra logo and a Merino Wool logo, along with washing instructions using the international laundry symbols (Machine Wash Hot, No Bleach, Tumble Dry Normal, Medium Iron, and Dryclean without trichloroethylene.) The socks are made in Sweden by Ullfrotte AB.

Details: Ullfrotte Sport Socks:
The Sport Socks are a medium weight 65% wool and 35% polyamide (nylon) blend. The package states that the weight is '400g per sq m', which they translate as 1.3 oz per square foot. The cardboard sleeve has a picture of a skier, and says Sport Sock on the front, along with the words Multi-Sport, Skiing, and Working. The size Large socks weigh 3 oz (85 g) per pair. My socks are a dark olive green in color, and they immediately remind me of the socks that I was issued in the Army twenty years ago. (I am going to try very hard not to think about this while testing the socks.) The Ullfrotte web site describes the Sport Socks as, "for year-round use. Suitable in both jogging shoes or lightweight hiking or work shoes." If I am interpreting the web site symbols correctly, the socks are available in blue, green, and black.

Details: Ullfrotte Wildlife Socks:
The Wildlife Socks are a heavier-weight 60% wool and 40% polyamide (nylon) blend. The package states that the weight is '600g per sq m', which they translate as 2 oz per square foot. The size large weighs 5 oz (142 g) per pair. The cardboard sleeve has a picture of a mountain climber rappelling down a sheer, snow-covered cliff, and says Wildlife Sock along with the words Protection, Climbing, and Trekking. This pair is navy blue in color. The web site describes the Wildlife socks as, "A thick, durable sock for cold weather. Suitable in heavyweight shoes and boots." These socks also appear to be available in blue, green, and black.

Both pairs of socks have very small seams at the toe and heel, and a simple finish at the top of the sock. The socks are not particularly stretchy or elastic, and after I wore a single Wildlife sock around for five or ten minutes, I noticed that the calf was stretched out a couple of inches wider than its mate, which hadn't been worn. This gives me a few minor concerns about whether they will stay up over a long day of hiking, but we'll wait for the tests to find out.

When I applied for this test, I wrote that it comes at a good time. I have been wearing the same socks every single day for the last six or seven years, at work and on the trail: Thor-lo Coolmax Light Hikers. I have been generally satisfied with these socks, but they are relatively heavy and they take a long time to dry. So I have been auditioning replacement socks, and the Ullfrotte Sport Socks will be added to the group. The testing will mainly consist of wearing one or both socks over the course of a hiking day, and judging whether it is doing a good job with cushioning my feet, and keeping them warm (or cool), dry, and comfortable. In order to provide a standard reference for readers, I will make some comparisons with the Thor-lo socks, since they are commonly available in the U.S.A.

I am not sure how I am going to test the Wildlife Socks. I wasn't expecting them to be in the package, and frankly, they are far too heavy to wear anywhere in the Southeast until at least October. Also, they don't really fit in my trail runners, and I don't wear heavy hiking boots anymore, even in the winter. However, I will bring the Wildlife Socks on some of the day hikes in May, when conditions might be cool enough to wear them, and I will wear them in late September or October, in time to make some useful comments before the Long Term Report is due. I am going to work under the assumption that the main difference between the two socks is the thickness, and that long term durability, etc., is similar between the styles. A reader who prefers thicker socks can then draw conclusions about the Wildlife Socks from my field tests of the Sport Socks.

Thanks to Ullfrotte and Backpack Gear Test for the opportunity to test these socks.