Socks
Overlooked yet Critical
Socks are that piece of equipment that everyone ignores. They are often overlooked yet critical. Most people drag out something from the drawer and hope that it will work for them when they put their boots on. Socks are used by fitters as a tool, the thickness can be varied to accommodate differing foot volumes and different fibre combinations used to maintain comfort for different foot physiology.
Wool fibre
One of the best natural fibres for making socks from but it has to be fine grade merino wool to get the best results. Wool is a very clever fibre. It regulates temperature very well and can hold around 1/3 of its weight in moisture before it even feels damp.
Wool fibres pull moisture from the skin keeping it drier and regulating the temperature, critical when in an alpine environment.
Man Made fibre
Man Made fibres also form a critical part of sock construction, be it as a lone material category or as the framework for a wool based sock. Their strength helps a wool sock stay in one piece and their properties allow them to pull moisture from the skin and get it away form the foot. To do this requires heat, so someone who gets cold feet are best with a wool blend sock, whereas someone who has hotter feet can go with either natural or man made fibres.
