Socks

Do your feet stay wet, cold and clammy when you're hiking, biking, skiing, snowboarding, exercising, etc? You might want to try some thin polypropylene sock liners by Fox River Mills (children sizes). Polypropylene sock liners are great for warm or cold weather. The polypropylene fabric is designed to keep your feet nice and dry helping your feet to regulate their temperature better. Polypro sock liners are especially nice in the winter time because they add a layer of warmth to your feet while keeping them dry. Polypropylene retains more heat than any other fabric and it also absorbs less water than any other fabric. If you have trouble with smelly feet, you'll want the Fox River Polypro socks with x-static. X-static is an anti-bacteria fabric that prevents odor causing bacteria from developing in your socks.

Everyone knows how warm wool is. The natural insulating properties of wool along with the ability to wick sweat and keep your skin dry has made it a favorite among hikers, backpackers, campers, etc. The only nameable downside to wool is the scratchy, itchy texture of the wool fibers. Synthetic fabrics can cause allergic reactions in the skin making them not an option form many. For others the scratchy, itchy feeling of wool is unbearable and not a good option either. Well, that's where Merino wool comes in. Merino wool comes from merino sheep. The wool fibers of merino sheep are finer and softer and non itchy making it the perfect natural solution to staying, warm, dry and comfortable. With merino wool, you get all the natural features of wool without the itch. So, the next time you are shopping for Wool Socks remember to look for Merino wool

Fox River has recently announced a new addition to their sock lineup. Their "Good Earth Collection" is made of 100% renewable resources and unlike other synthetic fibers, it does not use petroleum. Instead, making the Ingeo fiber involves a process of extracting sugars or corn starch from corn, which is then transformed into a polymer(plastic). The result is a hi performance product that is totally environment friendly. Fox River's testing of the new line of socks revealed that wearers preferred the comfort of the Good Earth socks over other synthetic socks.

The Good Earth Collection of socks range in styles from Athletic, to Casual, to Outdoor. If you support the movement to make more clean earth friendly products, you'll want to try Fox Rivers newest line of socks. Fox River is also a member of "One Percent For The Planet," which is an organization that donates 1% of their sales to environmental organizations worldwide.

For those of you who don't feel the need to invest in a nice quality pair of socks, you really don't know what you're missing. I used to be one of you. I always wore my cheap cotton tube socks for every outdoor sport I participated in from soccer and basketball to hiking and backpacking. I really never thought twice about it, but my feet were always hurting or sore afterwards. I thought that was just part of the sport.

Well, one day I read about some new fabric technologies and about how a company named Fox River Socks used these new technologies to make dramatic improvements in the quality of sport socks. A few months later, I ran across a sale on some Fox River Socks at a department store. The article I had read came to mind and so I decided to pick up a couple pair. That was one of the better purchases I've made with regard to my collection of outdoor apparel. I tried them on when I got home and was already sold on them. They felt great and I could not wait to try them out on my next hike. The particular pair that I bought had some extra elastic in the arches of my feet that I really liked. I was invited to play basketball with some friends that same week and thought "What could it hurt." So I wore them to basketball. Although they were not exactly "in style" for playing b-ball, they really felt great. They kept my feet dry and I noticed a big difference in the way my feet felt after the game.

Since then, I've never worn anything else. I got online and looked up Fox River Socks and found out that they make socks for pretty much every sport. I especially like their ski and snowboard socks. Fox River has added extra cushioning in all the right places. Fox River really knows sports and they know socks. Try a pair out. You won't regret it: Fox River Socks.

Main Clothing- If you are looking to just get away from everything for a few days, or even just overnight, backpacking is the way to go. Peace, quiet, and tranquility are all provided compliments of Mother Nature. If you are new to backpacking, you'll want to know some important dress rules that will keep your clothing from being a major distraction on your trip.

It is first necessary to assess the type of backpacking trip that you will be taking: What will your elevation be (high elevation=cold/snow)? What time of the year will you be going? What is the weather forecast? That last question can be a bugger. There are always those rare occasions when an unforcasted storm can roll through, but as a general rule, you can get prepared for a trip based on the immediate forecast. Later on I'll mention some items that are handy to have along for those surprise storms. Now that you know what to expect from the elements, you can dress based on whether you trip will be a cold one, a hot one, or a little of both.

Cold weather backpacking trips require a developed clothing system known as "layering." You can check my articles section out for more in depth info on layering. Layering is just that. You layer your clothes, typically 3 layers, so that you can better manage your body's heating and cooling system. Your first layer should almost always be a long, thin, synthetic layer. Synthetic materials wick or pull moisture away from your body to keep your skin warm and dry. Polypropylene works great as it is typically the least expensive and dries faster than any other material. Leave the cotton at home. Cotton gets wet and stays wet. The middle layer should be an insulating layer. Synthetic or wool (especially merino wool) works great here. In general, the more air your clothing traps inside the warmer it will be. Finally, the outer layer should be windproof and breathable. It should also be waterproof and breathable if you are expecting some rain. In some follow ups to this post, I will list some great layering systems including brands that I would recommend. So, this will pretty much cover you for a cold weather trip. See future posts below for Accessories to wear such as socks, hats, gloves, etc.

Now, if you are planning on hot weather, you can skip the long underwear layer. If you're a lady, you'll need to look into a nice wicking sports bra that breathes well. There are assortments of them nowadays since there has been such a push for athletic clothing manufacturers to make athletic clothing that actually fits a woman. Women no longer have to improvise with men's stuff that altogether fits wrong. Synthetic, wicking briefs are a must for men. There is nothing as uncomfortable as cotton briefs that stay wet your whole trip. Some men and women, for that matter, prefer boxer style briefs. I personally don't like them due to the tendency for them to ride or bunch up. But, that's just my own preference. Not too long ago, Patagonia started
producing their capilene material in the form of a thong for those ladies who like to floss. Anyway, the point is, wear as little as possible against your skin, and what you do wear should wick well and dry quickly.

The next layer should be light weight and breathable. A nice athletic t-shirt made of polyester works great. If you prefer to stay out of the sun, loose fitting long sleeve shirts are also available in polyester or similar synthetic fabrics. I can't stress enough just how important fast drying, synthetic fabrics are for outdoor activities. When you finish hiking and start making camp, the last thing you want is the discomfort of all that cold wet cotton garbage clinging too you. Trust me on this one. In fact, one way to tell if fellow packers are newbies is by their apparel. Cotton = Newbie, Synthetic = Veteran (or well informed newbie cloaked as a veteran). You get my point. For hot weather, your pants can vary. There are so many products out there that you really just need to stick to lightweight and breathable and you'll be fine. By this time, I no longer need to add "quick drying" and "synthetic" to the description. Shorts work great for backpacking, but you might prefer long pants to save your legs from scratchy brush. I always were a pair of zip-off long pants so that I can make that decision on the trail.

You're all set! Stick to these basics and you'll be a happy backpacker. I'll get some more posts on here about backpacking accessories as soon as I get a chance. The good thing about most of this gear is that it is interchangable with other outdoor activities. So, once you buy your backpacking thermals, you also have your ski thermals, your snowshoeing thermals, your snow camping thermals, and so on. The key is just to get them in the right materials. Please post comments if you think I left something out that you feel is vital or otherwise important. Also, I guess I forgot to mention the handy extras to take along "just in case," so I'll add those in another post.