The Bottom Line
Pros
- Very comfortable and warm, using either wool or Primaloft insulation.
- High-quality construction means they last longer.
- At press time, only Lorpen socks have Lycra throughout, which keeps them up and wrinkle-free.
- Knee-length means they stay up better and help keep your legs warm.
- Polyamide added to high-friction areas to help resist abrasion.
Cons
- The wool socks can get a "pilled" look after laundering (though they still feel and wear fine).
Description
- Socks specifically designed for hunters, containing new Merino wool as well as man-made fibers (Lycra, Polyamide, Primaloft).
- Knee-length socks help keep the legs warm as well as the feet.
- Abrasion-resistant Polyamide in certain areas to help the socks last longer.
- Wool or Primaloft insulation helps you stay warm when it's cold outside.
- Each sock is designed to be worn on either the right or left foot.
- Extra fabric is knit into the soles, so you have more cushion down there.
- Toecap seam is flat, so it doesn't hose your toes.
Guide Review - Lorpen Hunting Socks
I used these socks on what, for me, were some pretty cold mornings. Temperatures an hour or so before daylight ranged from the low 20s to the mid-to-high 30s (F). My boots were lightly-insulated Herman Survivors, right off the Wal-Mart shelf.I had three pairs of Lorpen Hunting socks with me on this hunt, one of them featuring Primaloft insulation and the other two made with Merino wool, one being Super Heavyweight and the other designated as Extreme. The Super Heavyweight socks are thicker than the Extremes.
The Primaloft socks are not as thick as the wool ones, and they seem to look better after a trip through the washing machine, but I don't doubt the continued effectiveness of the wool socks. It may have been my imagination, but it seemed that my feet didn't stay as wet from perspiration with the Primaloft socks. As much as my feet sweat, that's a good thing.
I used the Super Heavyweight socks on two mornings, one when the 5:00 AM temp was 23 degrees F, and another at 29. Sitting with my back to a tree waiting for a deer for several hours, my toes got a bit of a chill on the colder morning, but not for long - and they probably would have done fine in better boots. They were just fine on the 29-degree morning. In all cases, my legs definitely appreciated the extra warmth provided by their knee-high length.
The Extreme socks served me well on a day that dawned at 26 degrees F and warmed up into the 80s. My activities that day ranged from sitting still for hours, to helping pour a concrete slab up a steep hillside, and everything in between. The socks served me well throughout the day and left me with comfy feet come suppertime.
I'm very pleased with Lorpen socks, and hope to continue using them for years to come.
- Russ Chastain
