Outdoor Insight

38 • Outdoor Insight • January 2019 outdoorinsightmag.com designs as we develop new products. We're also seeing the use of recycled or repurposed yarns." Lorpen's T2 Synthetic Light Hiker is a trekking sock with a modern technical design. It has padding in the sole and open mesh in the instep for comfort and ventilation. This sock is made with ThermaFeel technology, a polyester that retains body heat while expel- ling moisture, according to the brand. "Two trends are converging," says Dakota Hyde, U.S. sales manager. "First is user demand to have socks in a variety of heights loaded with technical features for top performance. Second is having more aesthetically pleasing designs in performance-oriented socks. The next big thing is to unify the worlds of printed designs with top performance features and materials without compromising on either front." OS1st's FS4 Plantar Fasciitis Socks, MSRP $24.99 pair, are designed to provide 20-plus mmHg of compression to reduce swelling and improve circulation. The socks are a good option when footwear does not have a removable insole for an orthotic to fit in — the socks themselves deliver an "orthotic effect." A deep heel cup in conjunction with compression built into the sock helps central- ize the body's natural soft tissue pad back under the heel bone. The brand recently launched a new program called "Socks With Purpose." According to Tommy Nason, OS1st national sales manager, "It is both product and merchandising driven. We are the only company presenting this as a unique pack- age to retailers. And the response has been huge as we clearly define who the product is for; FS4 Plantar Fasciitis and BR4 Bunion relief socks for instance. This will be the all the buzz in 2019." The Socks With Purpose program aims to give retailers a defined space that allows them to interact with customers and openly talk about pain solutions. It is purposely designed to call products what they are — Plantar Fasciitis, Bunion Relief, called out with signage. A customer who may not want to advertise or discuss their specific foot problems can find the products they need via effectively merchandised product. The program consolidates OS1st's "pain solution" products into one easily found area and features uni- form packaging for all products and a clean retail presentation, taking up minimal space, according to Nason. Point6's 37.5 Hiking Mixed Stripe Light Crew, MSRP $23.95, is made with 69 percent New Zealand Merino wool. The sock's shape, stretch and durability are enhanced with a dynamic nylon called 37.5, which contains natural particles that increase the surface area of the fiber, the brand says, allowing the sock to use body heat to evaporate moisture in vapor form before it becomes sweat. Sof Sole's Perform Three-Pack No Show Tab, MSRP $9.99, are performance athletic socks sold in a three-pack. The socks are con- structed with Invista's Coolmax and feature half cushioning, an arch band, mesh venting and a comfort toe seam. "We have all been in search of the perfect fit for a long time," says Brent Lamm, senior director of prod- uct development and sourcing. "A sock that when you put it on makes you want to throw everything else out of your sock drawer and make you say, 'I'm done.' Whether through design, construction, materials, etcetera, we, the industry, are pretty close and whoever lands it, will have a moniker we all covet." Thorlo's Edge Running Sock, MSRP TBD, is designed with a Cushioned Suspension System (CSS) featuring an intelligent chassis with tuned dampeners in the forefoot and heel and dynamic linkage in the midfoot for precision fit and performance. Tracy Harris, Thorlo marketing, notes that it "hugs the curves of your foot for maximum acceleration in the straightaway for miles and miles. It is engineered with NanoGlide technology for friction reduction, moisture wicking and durability." Under Armour's Run Cushion Crew, MSRP $17, is a technical run sock that offers the com- fort of a cushion sans the bulk. UA's crew sock features a proprietary fiber blend in the footbed that's made partly from recycled PET bottles. The socks also have an anatomically contoured fit, a reflective Under Armour logo and anti- odor and sweat-wicking technology. "We're seeing more use of sustainable materials and advanced yarn technologies and advancements in sublimation printing and direct-to-garment printing," says Corey Crawford, design direc- tor for UA Socks. "3-D printing will continue to influence new possibilities in hosiery and we're seeing a resurgence in the purchase of multi-packs by consumers, which is typically a value buy, but the consumer is expecting high technology and product stories even within these price points." l HOSIERY 1 2 3 5 4 Left to right: 1. Lorpen T2 Synthetic Light Hiker; 2. Point6 37.5 Hiking Mixed Stripe Light Crew, MSRP $23.95; 3. Fox River Basecamp Crew, NFZ, MSRP $18; 4. OS1st FS4 Plantar Fasciitis Sock, MSRP $24.99; 5. Sof Sole Perform 3pk No Show Tab, MSRP $9.99.

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