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WildernessWear Kosciuszko Socks
Initial Report January 5, 2006
Tester's Information
Name: Liz Neely
Age: 37
Gender: Female
Height: 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Weight: 145 lb (65.8 kg)
Email address: liz at armory dot com
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
Tester's Background:
I've been day hiking for many years, and started
backpacking in 2005. My hiking and backpacking has been primarily in
the San Francisco Bay Area of California, in forested areas of partial
to full shade, on well
marked trails, with occasional stream crossings. I've been on four
weekend
backpacking trips, all in state and national parks in the San Francisco
Bay area.
I've learned a lot about backpacking from reading books and from the
internet message board, forums.backpacker.com. My pack weight has been
in the 30 to 35 lb (13.6 to 15.9 kg) range, and I expect it to stay in
that range.
Product Information:
Manufacturer: WildernessWear
Year of Manufacture: 2005
URL: http://www.wildernesswear.com.au/
Materials: 80% Australian Pure Merino Wool, 15% Nylon, 5% Lycra
Listed Weight: not listed
Measured Weight (size 7-11 Aust & UK; 8-13 US)*: 4.5 oz (127.6 gm)
* The
packaging and website do not mention whether these sizes are men's or
women's, but, based on fit, my guess is that these are men's sizes.
Available Colors: Black, Blue, Bone, Brunswick Green, Burgundy,
Cappuccino, Cherry, Cobalt, Eggplant, Electric Pink, Ensign Blue, Gold,
Graphite, Grey Marle, Gun Metal, Jade, Lilac, Magenta, Natural, Navy,
Oatmeal Fleck, Purple, Red
MSRP: 18.95 AUD (14.28 USD)
Care: Turn socks inside out, machine wash warm, do not bleach, do not
tumble dry
Product Description:
These socks are Boot Length Socks made primarily of Merino wool, with a
small amount of nylon and Lycra for durability and stretch-ability.
These socks are heavy-duty outdoor socks, ideal for hiking and
backpacking.
The socks arrived on December 31, 2005. I received the
size (7-11) and
color (purple) I had requested. I received 3 pairs of these socks, and
a bonus pair of a different model of sock. The bonus pair of socks are
the Merino Fleece model, and appear to be a much thicker sock, which I
imagine would be more of a winter sock than the socks being tested.
This series of reports focuses on the Kosciuszko sock and will not
include any further information about the Merino Fleece socks, although
the opportunity to try them out is much appreciated!
The socks were packaged as a pair, with a
glossy cardboard wrapper around the center of the folded pair of socks,
with the cardboard extending up to the top of the folded pair on the
back, with an
attached plastic hanger at the top. There was also a small tag attached
to the front sock just below the cardboard wrapper. All of the
information written on the cardboard wrapper was visible without having
to remove the socks from the packaging. The socks themselves do not
have any advertising or markings on them.
Here are the features the manufacturer highlights on their website:
- Flat toe seam.
- Y Gore seam keeps the heel in place.
- Nylon reinforced high abrasion areas.
- Full Terry cushioning.
- Ventilation
zones.
- Lycra in the ankle and arch areas for support.
- Forward flex support.
- Double welt band at the top reduces calf.
These are some additional features that were advertised on the
packaging the socks were in:
- Fully reinforced heel and toe provide increased durability and
wear
- Ribbed arch for maximum support and stability
- High density cushioning for extra comfort and protection
- Heavy wicking action draws moisture way from the foot and
prevents rubbing and odor
Initial Impressions:
The socks were attractively packaged and it was easy to find size,
color, fabric, and washing instructions on the packaging without
removing the socks. The socks were easy to remove from the packaging,
and were in perfect condition. The fabric has a very sturdy, durable
feel to it, and feels like a medium thickness sock. The socks are
smooth on the outside, and cushiony on the inside, with an elastic band
around the top of the sock to hold it up. The band feels strong enough
to hold the socks up, without feeling uncomfortably tight around my
calf.
Upon trying them on, they felt somewhat roomy in the toes; I don't know
if this is going to be an issue, I'm just used to the toe area on my
socks being slightly tighter. I'll pay attention to this during my
testing and mention how I feel about it in my next report. Wearing
these around the house, they felt slightly itchy (not very though), but
I haven't had enough time wearing them yet to determine if this is noticeable after
wearing them for a while. They also haven't been washed yet, which
could make a difference. In any case, they certainly didn't feel as
itchy as other wool socks I have worn.
I was a bit surprised to read the washing instructions that say "do not
tumble dry." The instructions do not offer any suggestion as to how to
dry them, so I am assuming this means they need to be hung to dry. This
is a concern for me because it's very humid where I live, especially
now during the rainy season, so I'm not sure how long they will take to
dry. I'll be noting the drying time in my next report.
Test Strategy:
I will test these socks in the Central California coastal and inland
areas on day hikes as well as backpacking trips, wearing them under
hiking boots. The elevations will range from sea level to around 3500
ft (1067 m) and the temperatures will range from 45 to 65 F (7 to 18
C). I will also test them skiing in the Sierra Nevadas, under ski
boots. The elevations I ski at will range from 6500 to 10,000 ft (1981
to 3048 m) and the temperatures will range from 20 to 35 F (2 to 7 C).
I will also test them in every day use under my tennis shoes, at
elevations close to sea level, and temperatures ranging from 45 to 75 F
(7 to 24 C).
Comfort/Fit:
One of my main concerns about these socks is whether they will feel
itchy after extended wear. The reason none of my current socks contain
wool is that I have
found wool socks itchy in the past; however, I have never worn Merino
wool.
I will also be evaluating how well these socks stay up; do they fall
down at my ankles or bunch up in my shoes, or do they stay nicely in
place? I will especially be watching for this in my ski boots, as my
socks tend to bunch up inside my ski boots. On my initial trial of
these socks, wearing
them around the house, they felt fairy roomy in the toe area; it will
be interesting to see what affect this has when wearing them hiking or
skiing. I don't know if it will prevent the tight, pulling feeling I've
sometimes encountered when putting boots over thick socks, or whether
it will cause a bunching feeling of excess fabric inside the toes of my
boots.
I will also be testing the over all comfort of these socks. During each
day of hiking (and skiing), I will take note of how my feet are feeling
several times during the day as well as after the day is over. I will
evaluate whether my feet feel tired, whether they have any blisters or
raw spots, and whether they are too cold or too sweaty.
Durability:
I will be evaluating whether these socks shrink or fade after washing
them and whether they show signs of wear after I've worn them on a few
hikes. I will also re-examine them for shrinkage, fading, and signs of
wear after being worn and washed many times.
Convenience:
I have read the care instructions and found that they can be machine
washed, but cannot be tumble-dried. I will be testing how long they
take to line dry to determine how much of an inconvenience that will be.
Thanks to BackpackGearTest.org
and Wilderness Wear for giving me the
opportunity
to test these socks.
Read more reviews of Wilderness Wear gear
Read more gear reviews by Liz Neely
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