Reviews > Clothing > Socks > Ullfrotte Sport Socks > Shandra Hunt > Initial Report

Ullfrotte Sport Socks - Initial Report

Name: Shandra Hunt
Age: 25
Gender: female
Height: 5' 3"(1.6 m)
Weight: 145 lbs.(66 kg)
Location: Ben Lomond,California
Email:jns170@yahoo.com
Date:4/25/04
Biography:
Growing up in the Santa Cruz mountains, I have always been an avid hiker and camper. Only recently however, I have evolved into a backpacker. I started backpacking about two years ago. Since then I have done many trips throughout California and I also spent five days packing in the Grand Canyon which fueled my love for the sport even more. I try to backpack as often as possible, I think I may be addicted, and I am constantly looking for more efficient and lightweight alternatives for the gear that I own.

Product Information:
URL: www.ullfrotte.se/
Manufacturer: Ullfrotte
Year of manufacture: 2004
Listed weight: n/a
Actual weight: 3 oz (85 g) Sport
5 oz (142 g) Wildlife
MSRP: n/a
Fabric: Wool and Polyamide blend
Size: 9-12.5 womens (U.S.) 40-44 (Europe)
Color: Blue

Initial Description:
I recieved a cardboard envelope from UPS ground on April 26, 2004. When I opened the package, I was surprised to find two pairs of socks inside, I had expected to only be recieving one pair to test. The bonus pair is what Ullfrotte calls their wildlife sock. The Wildlife socks are thicker and slightly different than the Sport pair. Both socks will be discussed and reviewed in my reports.
The socks come in a cardboard sleeve that is loaded with information about the socks. When I removed the sleeve, I was immediately impressed by how soft the socks felt. I immediatly noticed that the socks also looked too long and upon checking the size on the package, found that they were indeed a size larger than my feet. I tried the Wildlife pair on first and found that the size is actually pretty close and I think it will work fine. I expect that because these socks are 60-65% wool that they will shrink a little when washed. Both pairs of socks are made from a blend of Merino wool and Polyamide (a synthetic fiber) The wool is used to absorb and wick away moisture to keep the skin dry and comfortable and to also reduce the risk of athlete's foot. The Polyamide is added to the wool to increase durability. When I reviewed the company's website, I found that they have two types of Sport socks, one with a logo(the type I recieved) and one without. I could not tell from the website if there is any other differences between the two. I also found on the Ullfrotte website that both the Sport socks and the Wildlife socks can be purchased with a treatment of Aramide, which adds flame resistanc to the socks. The seam across the toe on both socks seems a little thick and I will see if it bothers me as I use these socks with different shoes. Both socks look well made, although I would not say there is anything special about them or that they would be socks that I would pick out in a store.

The Sport Socks with logo:
The manufacturer recommends the Sport sock year round for activities like skiing, hiking, multi-sports, and for use in work shoes. According to the manufacturer, the Sport socks are 400 g/sq m (1.3 oz/sq ft) in weight. The socks are made from 65% Merino wool, that has a 22 micron (fine) quality rating, and 35% Polyamide synthetic fiber. These socks can also be purchased with an Aramide treatment for added flame resistance. I find the fabric to be surprisingly soft and not itchy or irritating. These socks are not a uniform thickness throughout the sock, from the ankle up, the socks are thinner and have ribbing. The top of the socks has a 1/2 in (1.27 cm) folded hem and down both sides of the socks is the company's logo. The logo is about 3 in (7.62 cm) long with the company name (Ullfrotte) in cursive printed red and the word 'original' in light blue underneath. The rest of the sock is solid navy blue. The stiching for the logo had a lot of loose ends on the inside of the sock and I can see this as a possible snag hazard.

The Wildlife Socks:
The manufacturer recommends these socks for trekking, climbing and protection. These socks are 600 g/sq m (2 oz./sq ft) in weight. The fabric blend of the Wildlife socks in comparison to the Sport sock is a litlle different. The Wildlife socks are made of 60% Merino wool, that has a 22 micron (fine) quality rating, and 40% Polyamide synthetic fiber. This sock can also be purchased with an Aramide treatment for added flame resistance and in knee length size. The fabric of the Wildlife socks does not feel as soft as the Sport Socks, but it is pretty close. The thickness of the Wildlife socks is uniform throughout the sock, and unlike the Sport sock it does not have a distinct hem at the top. The top of the Wildlife socks has a loose sewn edge that I found stretched out easily and did not return to its original size when I wore the socks for a little while. The top of the sock that I tried on is now almost 1 in (2.54 cm) larger in diameter than the sock that I did not try on, this worries me that as I use these socks, they will become more stretched out at the top and not stay pulled up.

Test Plan:
I plan to use these socks in several different situations. Both pairs of socks fit in my regular running shoes, hiking boots, etc. but the Wildlife socks are a little thick for some uses. I plan to use the Sport socks in my running shoes, on light day hikes in my hiking boots, and any other time when they are not in the laundry. I think that I will use the Wildlife Socks on light backpacking trips and for keeping my feet warm around the house.
I will be testing these socks for their durability during use in different types of shoes. I will be testing to see if the fabric and stitching holds up to repeated use and laundering and whether the socks hold their shape through time. I will be testing these socks for their wicking ability and on how fast the fabric dries. I will be using these socks in many different environments, including the Utah desert in June and the Sierra mountains in May. In both of these places I expect a wide range of temperatures and will test these socks on how well they control the temperature of my feet.

Reviews > Clothing > Socks > Ullfrotte Sport Socks > Shandra Hunt > Initial Report