In addition to the Heat Holder’s warmth properties, the advanced insulating yarn provides high performance insulation and superior moisture wicking abilities. They are available in a variety of different colors and sizes.  For more information, visit www.heatholders.com.

Get the most out of your outdoor activity by selecting the right socks.

When you consider most of your outdoor adventures are done on your feet, its no wonder that the type of socks you use will play a key role in the overall enjoyment of your outdoor activity. Face it. It’s difficult to enjoy the scenery after your high country trek, mountain bike ride or even from your campsite,  if your feet are uncomfortable, wet and irritated. So selecting the right socks for your activity should be just as important as the rest of your gear.

Outdoor sport socks are basically designed for two things. The first is to keep your feet dry from sweat and moisture. The way this is accomplished is primarily a result of the fabric used. “Material choice is important,” says Chip Coe, CEO of Teko Socks. “When cotton gets wet, it absorbs and holds water in its liquid form. Moisture allows the fibers to collapse, thus eliminating any cushioning effect of the sock. Furthermore, it creates a perfectly wet environment for blister formation.” With this in mind, those cotton tube socks can do more damage than what they’re worth. They’re obviously not the best choice for your outdoor activities, and should be relegated to the back of your sock drawer.

Running and hiking socks like this Lorpen Tri Layer Ultralight manage moisture by using three layers of different fabrics.

Moisture Management

To absorb and wick away moisture, sock manufacturers use a variety of fabrics. Merino wool is one of the most common, as it has great moisture absorption properties and, depending on where the wool is farmed, is also good for the environment. But for higher aerobic activities such as trail running, a synthetic fiber such as a polypropylene or nylon wicks and dries faster than wool. To get the best of both worlds, many prefer to combine natural and synthetic fibers and have created proprietary blends such as CoolMax, Olefin, Lycra, Thorlon, and others. For example, a popular blend combines merino wool with CoolMax and silk to create a multi-sport sock that’s effective in both hiking and running applications.

Other methods include layering  various fabrics to offer the best moisture absorbing, wicking and drying capabilities all in one. Lorpen for example, utilizes a three-layer system of materials, in which fabric layers perform a specific function.  In this instance, a  first layer made from CoolMax acts to wick away moisture from the skin. A middle layer made of Tencel, a natural fiber, spreads moisture away for quick evaporation. Then, a nylon knit outer layer offers added durability on high-friction areas to improve the life of the sock.

But for high-aerobic activities the combination of fabrics alone isn’t always enough to control moisture. So to further aid in moisture management, air channels and mesh insteps are often used to improve ventilation. For obvious reasons, a running sock will have more ventilation than a backpacking sock so it still makes sense to look at the packaging and choose the right sock for your particular activity.

Comfort = Performance

The second function of an outdoor sport sock is to provide comfort. Depending on the activity, cushion is added in key areas to provide shock absorption and minimize movement within the shoe. “Thicker pads can take up any extra foot movement in the shoe so that it eliminates any friction. At the same time it reduces shearing forces for maximum comfort,” says Jeff Lawson of Thorlo. “By using variable density, engineered pads, socks can offer outdoor enthusiasts excellent foot protection and comfort so that they can enjoy their activity.”

The heavy looped padding on the heel of this Teko sock is designed to take up movement in the shoe, thus reducing impact and shearing forces.

“Cushioning level is really a personal choice,” says Cole. “For example, long distance runners seem to prefer a light to medium cushioning to help with shock absorption and reduce friction. Too much cushion however, can create a looser fit, resulting in movement and friction. Thus it produces the potential for bunching and blisters.” The various amounts of cushion used depends on how the sock will be used. That’s one of the reasons why it’s imperative to match the sock to the shoe. Don’t be afraid to take your favorite pair of hiking or running socks with you to the outdoor retail store when you’re selecting a new pair of hiking, or trail running shoes.

Along with extra padding sock manufacturers also minimize or even eliminate pressure points with various manufacturing techniques. Items like seamless toe closures eliminate irritation at the top of the toe. A Y-stitch heel pocket allows the heel of the foot to properly fit into the sock, preventing any slippage or extra material from bunching up at the back of the ankle and causing blisters. Arch bands are also used to keep the sock correctly positioned on the foot to eliminate movement and a chance to create blisters.

Various styles of ankle bands provide support and protection from rubbing. Wide bands also help to keep out dirt that can work its way into the sock.

In addition, sport specific socks like those used for trail running and mountain biking, also include a wide ankle band in crew socks that fit over the ankle. This is intended to keep out dirt and small rocks that can get kicked up and work there way in.  You may also notice some socks with high-heel protection on crew or below-the-ankle socks to prevent irritation from trail running shoes or light hiking shoes that feature tall rear quarters for extra stability.

Compression

Along with moisture management and cushioning, some socks also utilize compression as an added feature. Compression helps to reduce delayed onset muscle soreness (DOS) that often occurs during long periods of hiking, running or even snowboarding and skiing.

Compression often helps blood circulation and is most often used in an over-the-calf style sock. Compression is added to a sock in the form of a stretchable fabric such as Lycra, and nylon and is often combined with a moisture wicking fabric such as CoolMax or other brand of fiber. Swiftwick for example, uses a proprietary fabric called Olefin combined with nylon and spandex. This proprietary blend is fast drying, retains less than .01 percent of its weight in moisture and its production leaves very little waste.

Environmentally Friendly Choices

Despite the use of synthetic fabrics and technical savvy, most outdoor performance sock manufacturers are greatly concerned about the environment. Many minimize their packaging and utilize recycled materials.

Here you can see the difference in this Swiftwick compression sock versus the same size standard sport sock. The compression aids in preventing sore muscles after strenuous exercise.

Some only use wool derived from certified organic wool farms, which means that the wool is washed without the use of chemical treatments, bleaching, pesticides and mulesing, a technique where strips of wool bearing skin is cut away from the sheep. Some companies go even further. Teko for example, donates a portion of their proceeds of sales to groups such as The Conservation Alliance, City WILD and others to help promote environmental awareness.

The bottom line is, do your homework. Try various manufacturers’ socks and find out what works best on your feet and for your outdoor sport. Is it worth the cost? There’s no doubt that outdoor sport specific socks are more expensive than a package of six white tube socks. But once you try a single pair on your next hiking, mountain biking, backpacking or running excursion, you’ll be asking yourself why you would wear anything else.

By Dan Sanchez

When people talk about their outdoor gear, most won’t include their socks in the conversation. But the right socks make a huge difference in comfort and how well you can perform in an outdoor environment, and should be an important part of your outdoor gear.

Dahlgren is one of many sock manufacturers who put a lot of effort into designing socks that provide moisture management and comfort for a variety of outdoor activities.

We practically live in outdoor socks, mostly because they’re comfortable and were constantly hiking, mountain biking, trail running or backpacking every chance we get. The Dahlgren Ultra Light Trail Sock proved to fit great and provide excellent moisture management during several  hikes.

Many sock manufacturers use various forms of moisture managment that wick away and dry moisture from your fee. Dahlgren’s method, however, is quite unique, using a technolgy they call Dri-Stride. This involves channeling moisure away from the foot, with a combination of fibers that absorb, wick and ultimately evaporate moisture.

Natural fibers in the toe and heel (alpaca), soak up moisture and transfer it via a set of wicking rings and channels that are located in the arch and instep. The moisture is then directed to a combination of fabrics in the leg, which allow it to evaporate. It’s one of the most elaborate and “cool” moisture management systems we’ve seen and experienced.

The sock’s graphic designs aren’t just for good looks. They represent the cleverly positioned fabrics that when the sock is turned inside out, is clearly visible. Aside from the moisture management the Dalghren Ultra Light Trail Sock also features a deep heel pocket. This allows for a snug fit that doesn’t ride up your boot.

Shown inside out, you can see how the cleverly placed fabrics are used to provide superior moisture managment.

While this sock is an over the ankle design, it works well with ankle-high hiking boots and provides lightweight cushioning for light to medium hiking, trail running and mountain biking. We wore these during all-day 5-7 mile hikes across various terrain with lightweight fast hiking boots. Because they’re not overly thick you’ll need to wear them with properly fitting shoes or boots.

We also liked the wide ankle band that was comfortable and kept out dirt and small rocks. Because these socks also incorporate alpaca, they are incredibly soft on your feet and feel great. Dahlgren also has a variety of over-the-calf light hiking, moderately cushioned hiking and heavy cushioned backpacking socks. For more information, visit www.dahlgrenfootwear.com