The Bottom Line
I've been using Lorpen hunting socks for years, and I have yet to find any better socks.
Pros
- Very comfortable and warm.
- Arch support built into the socks really makes a difference.
- Knee-length socks stay up very well and help keep your legs warm.
- The STOP odor elimination works. It didn't kill all of my foot odor, but did get rid of most of it.
- Well-designed and well-made, for wear resistance and long life.
Cons
- The shorter crew-length socks don't like to stay up very well for me.
- They will pill, despite the anti-pilling nylon knit into the sock. They still work very well.
- Made in Mexico.
- The inner sock of the two-sock Cold Weather System may slide around inside the outer sock.
- Tight fit might not be comfortable for everyone.
Description
- Heavy-duty hunting socks with STOP odor eliminator.
- STOP fibers knit into the sock are said to transform sweat into odorless compounds. They work.
- The STOP Odor Eliminator is permanent, so it won't wash out.
- High-quality hunting socks made with Merino wool for insulation and nylon for wear resistance.
- Toecap seam is flat, so these socks are kind to your toes.
- 10% Lycra included throughout the sock, so they retain their elasticity.
Guide Review - Lorpen STOP Odor Eliminator Stalker Hunting Socks
Fighting Stank-Foot
When Lorpen came out with their Stalker line of socks with STOP Odor Eliminator, I was asked to test and review them. My first thought? Well, considering the reaction from my fellow hunters whenever I pull off my hunting boots, I knew these socks would have to be very good to tame down my stank-foot. Lorpen didn't balk at the challenge, and confidently sent the socks on their way. My feet, my wife, and my fellow hunters are happier for it.
Yes, friends, it's true, and now you know my smelly secret: my feet sweat, and smell an awful lot like feet - especially after a day of wandering the woods. While these new socks are not miracle-workers, and I do detect some odor when I shed my shoes, the socks keep it well under control. I'd say they reduce it by a good 80% to 90%, if not more.
Lorpen knits special fibers into the inside of the sock, which convert sweat into "odorless compounds." This feature is permanent and won't wash out. Mine have been through several washings, and still work just fine.
I Tested Three Types of Stalker Socks
Now that I've embarrassed myself (I'd blush if I could remember how), let's move on to the socks themselves. I tried three different types of Lorpen Stalker hunting socks: Crew and High "Hunting Heavy," and "Hunting Cold Weather System," which includes two pairs of socks.
The Hunting Heavy socks are my favorites, and I prefer the high over-calf socks. Not only do they stay up much better than the mid-calf crew socks, they help keep my legs warm. Both sizes offer the same arch support, warmth, and comfort on the bottom end, and are not overly bulky.
The Cold Weather System includes two pairs of socks. The inner one is a thin sock, and it's kind of slick. During a day of stalking hogs in south Georgia, I had a little trouble with them. The inner sock would slip around inside the outer sock, which sometimes made it tough negotiating uneven terrain - which is exactly what I was doing.
Tighter boots may have helped, but these boots (Herman Survivors from Wal-Mart) are plenty comfy when I wear thinner socks, so I don't think that was my problem. And it might not be a problem for anyone else, but I thought it was worth a mention.
The Cold Weather System socks did live up to their name, and kept my feet plenty warm even as I crunched over ice-encrusted ground in non-insulated boots.
A Tight Fit
All of these socks are fairly tight-fitting, which I enjoy, but others might not. I'm thinking of my father, who couldn't stand tight socks in his later years.
My Favorite
Of the three types of Stalker socks I tried for this review, I would most often opt for the Heavy Hunting over-calf socks. The STOP odor elimination feature ensures that these socks will also see plenty of non-hunting use.
- Russ Chastain
