Outdoor Insight

away moisture while regulating temperatures, keeping feet and toes warm. The Le Send Cody Townsend sock is spe- cifically designed to be a ski touring sock. It aims to deliver comfort and efficiency on the uphill, combining material blends and technical features that the Australian brand says result in warmer, dryer, and more secure feet. Designed in collaboration with elite skier Cody Townsend, the sock has a thicker and wider toebox and has welded silicone strips on the heel to lock down the foot from any sort of upward slippage while touring, boot packing and skiing. "It's the simplest solution to a problem that caused blisters, inefficiencies in hiking, less downhill performance and generally drove me crazy," says Townsend. Darn Tough Vermont's Outer Limits Over the Calf Padded Light Cushion is a ski sock built to excel in the backcountry. Extending mesh up the back of the leg improves ventilation and wicking, and cushion under foot provides just a bit of warmth and padding for drop after drop on the descent. A streamlined piece of padding along the shin protects from the boot. Wigwam's Dendrite Ultralight, MSRP $19, is a knee-high ski and snowboard sock with Wigwam's patented Ultimax technology. It combines a polyester/Tencel foot bottom that is hydrophobic with a Merino leg that is hydrophilic to move moisture from the foot, up the leg and out the sock. It is knit to fit snugly around the ankle and stretch to fit in the calf. It has a wide cuff and a seamless toe closure to prevent slipping, bagging and hot spots. "Basic lifestyle socks are a thing of the past," says Margaret Newhard, director of product. "Consumers won't put up with socks that sweat or bag or don't fit." Hike and Run Performers Technical fabrications and innovative design have performance hike and run socks taking it to the next level. Here, brands discuss new products and trends on the rise. Balega's UltraLight No Show, MSRP $13, is a performance athletic sock that features Drynamix performance yarn, a triple "Y heel" construction that expands like a fan to cup the heel for a precise fit, extended cushioning in the heel and toe areas for durability and comfort without added bulk and three levels of elastica- tion. "For a number of seasons, we have moved toward a combination of natural and synthetic fibers and lighter weight construction," says Tanya Pictor, Balega's VP–marketing. "It is all about comfort and performance at the same time. We are pushing the boundaries by making the socks so comfortable that you hardly know you are wearing them and creating innova- tive solutions for some of the issues athletes struggle with." Drymax's Extra Protection Hyper Thin Running Sock, MSRP $23, features a thin flat-knit dual-layer foot-hugging design with strategic ventilation on the top of the foot and around the arch and PTEE in the forefoot and heel to eliminate friction. "Drymax is choosing to focus on technical advances in synthetic fibers, fiber durability, blister protection, antimicrobials and advanced proprietary knitting techniques," says EVP Bob MacGillivray. "Drymax makes socks for the feet; the eyes are of secondary concern." The Feetures! Elite Light Cushion No Show Tab, MSRP $15.99, features targeted compression with an anatomical fit. It has arch support for comfort and support. "Customization is prevalent in the market in the form of sub- limation printing and 360 printing and it will continue to gain momentum," says Joe Gaither, VP-marketing. "The next big thing will be incor- porating smart textiles into socks, whether it's in the form of a topical treatment or inherent in the yarns." Fox River's Basecamp, NFZ, MSRP $18, is a lightweight hiker. The Merino blend sock is treated to protect against ticks, mosquitoes and other insects. It features Wick Dry Technology, a combination of strategic padding and mesh panels for comfort and a proprietary fit system. "Fox River has made significant investments in technology to dramatically reduce the lead times and improve the ability to directly link the shop floor to the design group to reduce the layers to product development and design," says Bruce Barrows, VP–business development. "This technology gives us the ability to look at 3D printing, sublimation or traditional knit in outdoorinsightmag.com January 2019 • Outdoor Insight • 37 1 2 4 3 5 Left to right: 1. Thorlo Edge Running Sock; 2. Balega UltraLight No Show, MSRP $13; 3. Drymax Extra Protection Hyper Thin Running Sock, MSRP $23; 4. Feetures! Elite Light Cushion No Show Tab, MSRP $15.99; 5. Under Armour Run Cushion Crew, MSRP $17.

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