The new year is here! It's time to take a step in the right direction! Some of you may be thinking, great ... now she's going to tell us we should exercise more, eat more healthfully, and stop visiting the tasting room at the brewery every afternoon. Alas, I am not going to tell you any of those things. In fact, what I am going to tell you will help you have a more enjoyable walk into the brewery this afternoon.
Last March I socked it to you. Going on and on about some of my favorite low-cut socks for warmer weather. But what good are those socks doing you now? Well, not much good unless you're inside the gym or hanging out in some warm, sunny, tropical climate (I don't want to hear about it. Okay, maybe I'll look at a few pictures.).
You're sporting hiking boots on the weekends, maybe your oh-so-chic knee high boots (they look much better on your wife, Bob), maybe even your RedHead boots or wellingtons. You're sealed up like a UPS package. You've lost all that airflow from the mesh on the front of your running shoes. There's no longer a little air sneaking down your ankle into your shoes. No air holes in the arch. You're trying to keep your feet warm and dry. Keeping your tootsies toasty may not be a problem, but dry ... ? By lunchtime you feel like you walked through a puddle, and you may as well have. Your socks are getting wet from the inside out. No airflow means all that moisture that had several ways to escape, is now trapped inside your boots. It's like a steam bath in there. Then you head outside into the cold and feel like you're walking sock-footed in a winter wonderland. But wonder not. It's your soggy socks bringing you down.
One company has virtually solved this problem. I sang their praises last spring, and I'm singing them again. Wigwam has created my new favorite sock for boots and shoes-- the Wigwam Pro Series Crew. The sock is soft, has a cushiony feel, and even comes in a variety of colors. While I usually prefer fabrics that are at least partially natural, especially when they're against my skin, this one isn't (40% Olefin, 36% X2O® Acrylic, 20% Stretch Nylon, 4% Spandex). I have to say, I don't mind it a bit. This sock feels amazing! What I really love about this sock is that it's perfect for most any use. I wear them in my hiking boots all day on the trail just as comfortably as I wear them all day in my Frye boots. They're not too thin; not too thick. The price is nice too. They're one of the least expensive technical sock companies out there, and I think we're just beginning to see what they can do.
Wigwam has a great list of dealers to help you find them online or at your local outdoor gear retailer.
