T***@usaring.com
2008-11-18 21:43:19 UTC
Ryan,
I've posted my HTML in the test folder at:
http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews/test/TESTS/IR%20-%20Feetures%20Bamboo%20&%20Wool%20Socks%20-%20Kathy%20Waters/ or http://tinyurl.com/654ca6 and you can see the text below.
Thanks in advance for your edits.
Kathy
__________________________
FEETURES! BAMBOO & WOOL HIKING CREW SOCKS
TEST SERIES BY KATHLEEN WATERS
IR
November 18, 2008
TESTER INFORMATION
NAME: Kathleen Waters
EMAIL: ***@usaring.com
AGE: 57
LOCATION: White Lake, Michigan USA
GENDER: F
HEIGHT: 5' 4" (1.63 m)
WEIGHT: 125 lb (56.70 kg)
I started hiking in 1998 after an eye-opening climb up Hahn's Peak in Colorado. Hooked, I return to Colorado often. I've hiked/snowshoed glaciers, rain forests, mountains and deserts in domestic and exotic locations, including Iceland, Costa Rica, Slovenia and Death Valley.
At home, I plan for 2-3 hikes of 6-8 mi (10-13 km) weekly and one weekend hike monthly. Weekday hikes take place in Pontiac Lake Recreation Area, a mixture of heavily-wooded moderate hills and flat terrain. Weekend hike locations vary.
My hiking style is comfortable, aiming for lightweight. Current pack averages 25 lb (11 kg) including food and water
INITIAL REPORT
PRODUCT INFORMATION & SPECIFICATIONS
Manufacturer: Feetures!
Year of Manufacture: 2008
Manufacturer's Website: <<HYPERLINK GOES HERE - "http://www.feeturesbrand.com" LINK TEXT = "http://www.feeturesbrand.com">>
MSRP: N/A
Listed Weight: N/A
Measured Weight: 3.3 oz (92 g)
Colors Available: Charcoal Heather, Navy Heather and Brown Heather
Color Tested: Brown Heather
Sizes Available: Small to XLarge
Size Tested: Medium (fits Women's size 6.5 to 9.5)
Materials: 39% Bamboo, 35% Wool, 22% Nylon, 2% Polyester and 2% Lycra Spandex. (Made in China)
<B>The Most Comfortable Sock Ever - Guaranteed!"</B>
<em>"Feetures Guarantee: If you can't agree that Feetures! Bamboo and Wool is the most comfortable sock you've ever worn, then you can return it for a full refund."</em>
INITIAL IMPRESSIONS
These are nice-looking socks! The Feetures! website uses a graphic representation of the Bamboo and Wool Hiking Crew Socks (here after simply called "Socks"), so I really didn't have a clue what they would look like. Taking the Socks out of the retail packaging gave me a nice surprise. The Socks are a haltered brown (brown muted with flecks of gray) except for a solid dark brown heel and toe cap. The toe cap "no-seam" seam appears as an accent in the heathered stitching.
"Feetures!" is stitched into the right side of the arch Power Band - a Lycra, ribbed section touted for "maximum support". An "M" (for medium) is on the flip side.
Right out of the box, the Socks measure 8 inches (20 cm) from toe to heel and 6.7 inches (17 cm) from the top of the cuff to the top of the heel. The cuff is 0.5 inches (1.3 cm). The Power Band at the arch is 1.7 inches (4.5 cm)
The Socks are ribbed nicely down to the heel and then the ribbing is repeated in the arch Power Band. The rest of the Socks are flat-stitched.
Turning the Socks inside out for an initial inspection revealed another surprise. While most of the Socks is neatly constructed, on the left insides at the heels and the toe caps, I found a very untidy mess of loose threads. While I am used to some loose ends (other socks I own have the same feature), the threads seem excessive in number and length. It remains to be seen if snags become a problem.
CARE INSTRUCTIONS
The packaging contained the following washing instructions. "Machine wash warm. Tumble dry low. No bleach. For best results wash socks inside out."
I am currently forced to use commercial dryers. Commercial dryers have not been kind to some of my clothing in the past. So during most of my testing, I will be line drying the socks just to be on the safe side. However, near the tail end of these next four months, I will throw caution to the wind and use the clothes-scorching, fabric-melting monsters at least once to see if the socks hold up.
TRYING IT OUT
Ah ... these Socks feel nice! The fit is such I feel like the Socks were made for me. Often, socks have excess material at the toes, but these Socks are tapered and form-fitting without being constrictive. The toe cap has no raised seam to rub on the top of my foot and extends under the ball of my foot seamlessly. The heel fits exactly where it's supposed to fit with no excess material. The cuff of the Sock falls just short of mid-calf on me and while snug is not tight.
I was concerned as to the sizing of the Socks as the Feetures! website does not have a size chart. I found a list of unisex sizes elsewhere but often unisex socks are too wide for my taste. I wear a women's size 8.5 boot (in most brands) and the Feetures! Medium appears to be perfect right out of the box.
Pulling on the Socks went smoothly despite the interior loose threads. The fabric is soft, cushiony and comfortable. When I tried one Sock on, I had had a pair of light weight hiking socks on (from another manufacture) and I could immediately feel the difference in the thickness and comfort of the Feetures! Sock. The Sock was noticeably more supportive and warmer. I was very quick to change out the remaining light weight sock for the other Feetures! Sock!
SUMMARY
I love testing footwear, both boots and socks! I wear light to heavy weight socks with my boots almost all the time. It's a rare day I don't at least hike out on our property or down the dirt roads to our mailbox (5 miles/8 km round trip). So boots and decent socks are very important to me.
I'm also very keen on products made with consideration for the environment, so testing and buying an eco-friendly product particularly pleases me.
I am headed out right now for my first real test of the Feetures! Bamboo and Wool Hiking Crew Socks. It's a gorgeous autumn day and the mountains are calling! Perfect for testing a mid-weight hiking sock!
<em>Kathleen Waters</em>
Please return to this page in mid-January to see how my testing is progressing.
Thank you to Feetures! and Backpackgeartest.org for introducing me to these neat socks and giving me a chance to try them out.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
------------------------------------
I've posted my HTML in the test folder at:
http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews/test/TESTS/IR%20-%20Feetures%20Bamboo%20&%20Wool%20Socks%20-%20Kathy%20Waters/ or http://tinyurl.com/654ca6 and you can see the text below.
Thanks in advance for your edits.
Kathy
__________________________
FEETURES! BAMBOO & WOOL HIKING CREW SOCKS
TEST SERIES BY KATHLEEN WATERS
IR
November 18, 2008
TESTER INFORMATION
NAME: Kathleen Waters
EMAIL: ***@usaring.com
AGE: 57
LOCATION: White Lake, Michigan USA
GENDER: F
HEIGHT: 5' 4" (1.63 m)
WEIGHT: 125 lb (56.70 kg)
I started hiking in 1998 after an eye-opening climb up Hahn's Peak in Colorado. Hooked, I return to Colorado often. I've hiked/snowshoed glaciers, rain forests, mountains and deserts in domestic and exotic locations, including Iceland, Costa Rica, Slovenia and Death Valley.
At home, I plan for 2-3 hikes of 6-8 mi (10-13 km) weekly and one weekend hike monthly. Weekday hikes take place in Pontiac Lake Recreation Area, a mixture of heavily-wooded moderate hills and flat terrain. Weekend hike locations vary.
My hiking style is comfortable, aiming for lightweight. Current pack averages 25 lb (11 kg) including food and water
INITIAL REPORT
PRODUCT INFORMATION & SPECIFICATIONS
Manufacturer: Feetures!
Year of Manufacture: 2008
Manufacturer's Website: <<HYPERLINK GOES HERE - "http://www.feeturesbrand.com" LINK TEXT = "http://www.feeturesbrand.com">>
MSRP: N/A
Listed Weight: N/A
Measured Weight: 3.3 oz (92 g)
Colors Available: Charcoal Heather, Navy Heather and Brown Heather
Color Tested: Brown Heather
Sizes Available: Small to XLarge
Size Tested: Medium (fits Women's size 6.5 to 9.5)
Materials: 39% Bamboo, 35% Wool, 22% Nylon, 2% Polyester and 2% Lycra Spandex. (Made in China)
<B>The Most Comfortable Sock Ever - Guaranteed!"</B>
<em>"Feetures Guarantee: If you can't agree that Feetures! Bamboo and Wool is the most comfortable sock you've ever worn, then you can return it for a full refund."</em>
INITIAL IMPRESSIONS
These are nice-looking socks! The Feetures! website uses a graphic representation of the Bamboo and Wool Hiking Crew Socks (here after simply called "Socks"), so I really didn't have a clue what they would look like. Taking the Socks out of the retail packaging gave me a nice surprise. The Socks are a haltered brown (brown muted with flecks of gray) except for a solid dark brown heel and toe cap. The toe cap "no-seam" seam appears as an accent in the heathered stitching.
"Feetures!" is stitched into the right side of the arch Power Band - a Lycra, ribbed section touted for "maximum support". An "M" (for medium) is on the flip side.
Right out of the box, the Socks measure 8 inches (20 cm) from toe to heel and 6.7 inches (17 cm) from the top of the cuff to the top of the heel. The cuff is 0.5 inches (1.3 cm). The Power Band at the arch is 1.7 inches (4.5 cm)
The Socks are ribbed nicely down to the heel and then the ribbing is repeated in the arch Power Band. The rest of the Socks are flat-stitched.
Turning the Socks inside out for an initial inspection revealed another surprise. While most of the Socks is neatly constructed, on the left insides at the heels and the toe caps, I found a very untidy mess of loose threads. While I am used to some loose ends (other socks I own have the same feature), the threads seem excessive in number and length. It remains to be seen if snags become a problem.
CARE INSTRUCTIONS
The packaging contained the following washing instructions. "Machine wash warm. Tumble dry low. No bleach. For best results wash socks inside out."
I am currently forced to use commercial dryers. Commercial dryers have not been kind to some of my clothing in the past. So during most of my testing, I will be line drying the socks just to be on the safe side. However, near the tail end of these next four months, I will throw caution to the wind and use the clothes-scorching, fabric-melting monsters at least once to see if the socks hold up.
TRYING IT OUT
Ah ... these Socks feel nice! The fit is such I feel like the Socks were made for me. Often, socks have excess material at the toes, but these Socks are tapered and form-fitting without being constrictive. The toe cap has no raised seam to rub on the top of my foot and extends under the ball of my foot seamlessly. The heel fits exactly where it's supposed to fit with no excess material. The cuff of the Sock falls just short of mid-calf on me and while snug is not tight.
I was concerned as to the sizing of the Socks as the Feetures! website does not have a size chart. I found a list of unisex sizes elsewhere but often unisex socks are too wide for my taste. I wear a women's size 8.5 boot (in most brands) and the Feetures! Medium appears to be perfect right out of the box.
Pulling on the Socks went smoothly despite the interior loose threads. The fabric is soft, cushiony and comfortable. When I tried one Sock on, I had had a pair of light weight hiking socks on (from another manufacture) and I could immediately feel the difference in the thickness and comfort of the Feetures! Sock. The Sock was noticeably more supportive and warmer. I was very quick to change out the remaining light weight sock for the other Feetures! Sock!
SUMMARY
I love testing footwear, both boots and socks! I wear light to heavy weight socks with my boots almost all the time. It's a rare day I don't at least hike out on our property or down the dirt roads to our mailbox (5 miles/8 km round trip). So boots and decent socks are very important to me.
I'm also very keen on products made with consideration for the environment, so testing and buying an eco-friendly product particularly pleases me.
I am headed out right now for my first real test of the Feetures! Bamboo and Wool Hiking Crew Socks. It's a gorgeous autumn day and the mountains are calling! Perfect for testing a mid-weight hiking sock!
<em>Kathleen Waters</em>
Please return to this page in mid-January to see how my testing is progressing.
Thank you to Feetures! and Backpackgeartest.org for introducing me to these neat socks and giving me a chance to try them out.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
------------------------------------