GearGuide Entry: point6 Merino Socks: November 10, 2012
Product Code: GearGuide-25
Price: $0.00
Description
November 10, 2012
point6
It’s been pretty cold in Dallas this week (I don’t know how anyone up north does it), so I figure it’s a good time to talk about socks. No, not the kind you really hope you don’t get for Christmas. I’m talking about point6 merino socks, which are arguably the best tactical socks on the market, as odd a concept as that might sound. I am being completely serious, though: point6 merino wool socks are naturally breathable, antimicrobial, and flame resistant. (Does anyone else think of that late 80's show/toy line Barnyard Commandos when they think of flame resistant wool?)
Merino wool has fine fibers that are 90% keratin protein with a rippled crimp. This superior wool naturally has a plethora of tactical advantages. First, keratin protein is resilient and antimicrobial so your socks will last for years and your feet will feel fresher longer, even during rigorous activity. The crimp in the fibers gives them a natural stretch and creates air pockets, giving merino wool the ability to keep you cool when it’s warm and warm when it’s cold. This means when it’s hot out, your wool socks will help keep your core temperature low so lactic acid doesn’t build up and slow you down; when it’s cold, the air pockets will trap and create heat.
Merino fibers also have a coating of waxy cuticle cells which wick moisture away from the foot as a vapor, before it gets a chance to condense into water. Other moisture-wicking products only move liquid, which then gets trapped if it can’t pass through outer layers. By wicking moisture away from the skin while it is still vaporous, your own body heat evaporates the vapor out of the wool and passes it through non-wicking layers to the outside.
My favorite part is that merino wool is naturally flame retardant! It has a high ignition temperature and a high limiting oxygen index, so it is difficult to catch on fire and extinguishes itself if it ever does. Wool won’t melt onto your skin like synthetic fabrics, either, so you are safer wearing Merino than cheaper fabrics or manufactured alternatives.
It is also incredibly soft because of its fine fibers and is machine-washable. It won’t pill or shrink if you pop it in the dryer. All of these features are natural properties of the specialty merino wool used by point6.
Not all merino wool is this good: it has everything to do with the health of the sheep. The sheep used by point6 are free range and special care is taken to ensure they are stress free so they do not grow thin patches or weak fibers. This kind of natural quality only comes from point6 merino wool.
No other sock has this much to offer. Point6 Merino socks help maintain your body temperature, wick moisture, and keep your feet from smelling without using plastics or chemicals. Seriously, if you put any thought into your footwear (which I’m sure you do), you need to think about what socks you are going to wear. Moisture wicking liners in boots work a lot better if your socks help move the moisture away from your foot. Otherwise your boots can only start drying your feet once your socks are soaked…better to go ahead and get some good socks. If you’re on your feet all day, every little bit of comfort helps.