Smartwool are known primarily for their socks and their toasty toe-wear are hard to beat. I’ll be the first to admit it, I’m a sock snob. I always cringe if I’m in a running shop and I see people digging in the three for a tenner bargain bin. As runners, walkers and climbers, our feet are our tools and, considering the abuses we put them through, deserve and need to be spoiled.
You’ll struggle to find a better running sock than the Phd Running Light Crew Sock (£13.95) from Smartwool and, although they’ll keep your feet toasty warm in winter, because of the magical properties of merino, they’ll also keep them cool and sweat free in the summer. They’re wonderfully cushioned on the impact zones giving extra protection, comfort and insulation but they’re also thinner on the top surface to allow enhanced breathing and moisture transport. They really shine on cold and wet days or, if like me, your runs tend to take in bogs and streams. Even when soaked through, they keep on insulating, shift the water amazingly quickly and never rub.
It’s exciting to see then that Smartwool are producing much more than socks in marvelous merino these days and now even offer a complete base and mid layer range. With temperatures finally dropping into single figures, we’ll be getting our hands on some samples, putting them through their paces and letting you know how they fare.
To see the range go to www.smartwool.com
In the meantime, here’s some blurb from Smartwool:
SmartWool®Layer Up System is a complete Merino Wool layering system that is designed to work together in fit, form and function. This system offers technical Next-To-Skin (NTS) Baselayer and Thermal Midlayer (TML) pieces specifically designed to work together.
The SmartWool® Layer Up system is made from New Zealand’s finest Zque™ Merino wool. With that comes all the inherent breathability, moisture management, odour control and temperature regulation properties for which wool is famous.
Since SmartWool® first and second layers are created from the same high quality fibre with the same inherent properties, SmartWool® layers work together to manage moisture, control odour, breathe and regulate temperature.
SmartWool designers created first and second layer specific fits that maximise comfort and mobility when layered together. The baselayers are ‘form fit’ designed to work next to the skin whilst the midlayers are ‘semi form’ fit providing insulation, adding warmth and minimising bulk.
