BackpackGearTest.org - Ullfrotte Sport Socks Ken Bennett

Reviews > Clothing > Socks > Ullfrotte Sport Socks > Ken Bennett > Long Term Report

Ullfrotte Sport Sock Long Term Report
28 October 2004

Tester Information

	Name:	Ken Bennett
	Age	42
	Gender:	Male
	Height:	6' 2" (190 cm)
	Weight:	215 lbs (100 kg)
	Email:	bennettk at wfu dot edu
	Location:	Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S.A.

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 A.B.

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

Field Information:

Location Where Tests Were Conducted:
The tests were conducted near my home in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S.A., elevation 900 ft (275 m), during the late spring and summer of 2004. Temperatures ranged from the mid-50's F (13 C) to the low-90's F (33 C), with weather from bright and sunny to heavy rain. Further tests were conducted in the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area in southwest Virginia in May and June, with moderate weather and temperatures from 50 F (10 C) to about 70 F (21 C). Elevations ranged from 4000 to 5500 ft (1220 - 1675 m).

Long Term Report:

Testing:
As I noted in my Field Report, I found the Ullfrotte Sport Socks too warm to wear in the summertime in the southern United States. As a result, I have only worn the socks a few times during the long-term report phase of the test. Now that cooler weather is upon us, however, the Sport Socks will see a lot more use both hiking and on my daily walks. It's nice to have warm socks in the winter.

In order to test the long-term durability of the socks, I did continue to run them through the washer and dryer on a regular basis, and they have held up well. They don't show any signs of pilling or thin spots, and the socks still have most or all of their cushioning. I also noted earlier that the socks shrunk the first time I washed them, which actually helped them fit better. After that first time, the socks have remained the same (correct) size ever since.

I have not had any opportunity to test the Ullfrotte Wildlife socks, but that will change as the weather gets colder. I expect to use them as sleeping socks or camp socks during winter hiking trips this year.

Conclusions:
The Ullfrotte Sport Socks are well-made, comfortable, traditional wool-blend hiking socks. I have found them to be very warm on my feet, comfortable only when the high temperatures are under 70 F (21 C), and ideally even cooler. They handle moisture well, probably due to the 35% nylon blended with the wool, and they dry quickly on my feet without any odor problems.

As I have moved to lighter backpacking gear, I have also moved to lighter shoes, settling on Salomon trail runners as my basic year-round hiking shoe. I have also moved to lighter socks, especially in warmer weather, favoring thin, quarter-height CoolMax synthetic socks. Due to their height, weight, and fabric content, the Sport Socks aren't my first choice for three-season backpacking in trail runners. However, they did do a nice job of cushioning inside my traditional heavy leather hiking boots. If I were still wearing those boots, the Sport Socks would be a good choice.

I love being outdoors in cold weather, and I am looking forward to using both the Sport Socks and the Wildlife Socks this winter.

Likes/Dislikes:

This is simply a repeat of the list in my Field Report, but it's still an accurate assessment of the socks:

Things I liked:

The overall fit and feel of the Sport Socks is very pleasant: smooth, soft, and warm.
The socks dry quickly and don't hold odors.
The socks held up well to heavy use.

Things I didn't like:

The Sport Socks were too warm for summertime conditions in the Southern Appalachians. This isn't a strike against the socks, of course, since they should be fine in colder conditions.
There isn't enough ribbing to hold the socks up around my calf.
I know it's shallow, but I'm still not enamored of their old-fashioned appearance. This wouldn't bother me at all if I were wearing tall leather hiking boots, but with low-cut trail runners, they look awkward and out-of-place.

Ullfrotte

Ken Bennett

Reviews > Clothing > Socks > Ullfrotte Sport Socks > Ken Bennett > Long Term Report

Ullfrotte Sport Sock Long Term Report 28 October 2004

Reviews > Clothing > Socks > Ullfrotte Sport Socks > Ken Bennett > Long Term Report

Ullfrotte Sport Sock Long Term Report
28 October 2004