Tag Archives: wool

When it comes to selecting good socks for hiking you have to learn from history and embrace modern knowledge at the same time. From Ragg Wool to synthetic materials there are many good options you can choose from. Maybe you have good socks for hiking and need more help with preventing blisters. If that's you then sock liners might be the answer.

Let's start by going back in time, tried and true, durable and dependable wool. Classic Ragg wool is very warm and very durable. Odds are you will wear out many years before ragg wool socks do. Merino wool is probably the most popular and practical type of wool you can get. It doesn't smell bad or itch and wool will always be a renewable material so it's good for the environment. Wool naturally wicks moisture away from your skin and maintains its thermal properties when wet. Below are just six fantastic hiking socks for you to consider.

A lot of hikers don't know about or use sock liners. Sock liners provide a protective layer to your feet by reducing friction and hot spots during long hikes and strenuous activity. Sock liners are made of polypropylene or other synthetic materials that are designed to wick moisture away and keep your feet dry. Pull them on over the top of your hiking sock to reduce friction, hot spots, blisters, and wet feet.

Most normal socks are made with little thought to their specific use. Cotton and spandex are sewn together and mean to be pulled on our feet without consideration to blisters, heat spots, durability, length, moisture control, and insulating properties. Common socks are not the only option. Expensive exotic socks are not the only alternative.

There are socks made specifically for hard working people who live on a hard working budget. We've put together a selection of socks for work that might work well for you. All of the following are less than $20 and many come in two packs.

Boot Socks - A variety of boot socks are designed to be long enough for wearing boots without having them bunch down around your ankle. Some socks have been created with military use in mind, but they can give you a huge advantage around a construction project, landscaping job, or any work environment that is demanding on your feet. Boot socks are made from your choice of wool, merino wool, acrylic, nylon, cotton and sometimes a comfortable blend.

Great socks for work aren't all boot length. A great pair of hiking socks are also perfect for your hard working feet. They are sewn with flat, smooth toe seams and with stitching to reduce hot spots and blisters. If you face long days on your feet then you should treat your feet well with some thick comfortable socks.

Not all sheep are equal! Did you know that there is a complex quality grading system in place to measure and determine wool quality? Why does this matter? It actually matters a lot when you are talking about clothing and apparel. The correct grade of wool can be the difference between finishing your hike in comfort and itching and smelling the whole trip.

Wool is classified according to its fineness because the finer the wool, the better the appearance, comfort, and style. The wool industry utilizes three different systems to determine the grade and quality of wool. Currently, there exists The American Blood Grade System (ABGS), Spinning Count System, and the Micron System. The Micron System is more or less the international standard.

An interesting note is that the ABGS system bases its standard on the amount of Merino genetics present in the wool fiber. A pure bred Merino sheep would be considered to have the highest grade because it has the longest and finest fiber of wool available. Every other sheep that is a cross breed would fall farther and farther down the scale according to how diluted it was from the Merino. The Micron System is capable of differentiating the difference simply based on the diameter of a wool fiber.

If you look at this table closely, you can see that pure Merino sheep produce the finest diameter of wool fiber and also the highest yield of clean wool. What does this mean? Merino wool products are warmer, more comfortable, and more attractive! Merino wool is the highest quality, most renewable, and most desirable wool available. When you feel Merino wool in your fingers the difference between it and lower grade products is tremendous. There is no doubt, in your own hands, that you will notice a major difference between low quality wool and Merino wool.

If you enjoy the outdoors then understanding wool quality standards can be a tremendous advantage. Most average wool products are made from lower grade wool. You are probably familiar with the bulkiness and lack of comfort in low quality, course wool. Low quality wool products can make you itch, feel stiff and inflexible, and are often unfashionable. On the other hand, Merino wool products feel soft against your skin (like cotton), do not itch or smell, are warmer, naturally wick moisture way from your skin, and will fit in your day to day wardrobe.

Hands down, Merino wool wins the contest. Merino wool products such as thermal underwear, socks, jackets and even hats are all available and affordable. Don’t waste your money on something of poor quality and comfort.  Upgrade your wool apparel to Merino wool and you will never look back!

This post was posted in Merino Wool and was tagged with base layer, merino wool, thermal underwear, wool