Going shopping for extreme cold can be a pain in the butt. Especially when you find limited stock online. Me and Dina went store hopping a week or two ago and came up partially empty handed. I was looking for a warm solution to keep my feet warm in such harsh temperatures. My first intention was to look for smartwool which is a popular brand. Although of good quality and made in the USA I felt adventurous. I Saw these socks that said 40below plus they were all made in Sheboygan, USA. I was having difficulty getting the full use of their socks so I dropped Wigwam a line to see what they could do. I’d love to give credit to the customer service representative, but they didn’t make note of their name. Quite humble of them to give their kind generosity to the company as a whole.
When I contacted Wigwam they decided to send me some sample socks to give me a better understanding of their product line in the severe cold that can be seen in Wyoming during winter. Soon after it was shipped FedEx dropped it at my door. What I received were three pairs of socks and a pair of liners. Not just any socks or liners. I will break them down by material composition, function, and personal experience. I will be using my North Face ICE STORM 400 BOA GTX II boots which I recently purchased at paragon sports (didn’t like or appreciate their online ordering system) here in Manhattan at 20% off!
Socks:
Canada -
Made of–> (48% Wool, 25% Acrylic, 17% Nylon, 10% Olefin)
These socks bring all the warmth you would expect from a thick and cushy sock, but with a bit less bulk. They are a mid-range sock between The Ice Sock and The Base Camp Fusion I would say. They have a softer and tighter knit then The Ice Sock. I found them incredibly comfy to just throw on and wear around the house. They still carry enough bulk that your normal boot size with these will squeeze your toes a bit. The good news is that they settle out as you walk in them becoming less of a concern the more you wear them.
The Ice Sock -
Made of–> (85% Wool, 15% Stretch Nylon)
If you want the warmest sock around then look no further. This has a homemade feel with a thicker homespun wool. It has incredible warmth with all the cushy bulk you could want. You will definitely feel a squeeze in your boot, but if you can settle it in it will be worth it. Feels as if it will take anything you throw at it. Taking on the weather old school.
Base Camp Fusion –
Made of–> Liner (100% Olefin)
-> Outer Sock (55% Merino Wool, 25% Stretch Nylon, 17% Olefin, 3% Spandex Lycra)
These socks I personally found the most impressive. They are a composite of a super warm sock, mild cushyness to have enough for support and comfort, while pairing it with a polypropylene like liner all in one. This sock I find is phenomenal for those people who are looking for a less rugged style sock and can look clean and well trimmed at the snow lodge. It is the tightest of knits and will fit perfectly with your regular boot size. It provides a great ability to cut the bulk, but keep the warmth.
Liner:
Gobi Liner -
Made of–> (100% Polypropylene)
This is a key item many may over look. The liner is either merino wool or in this case a senthetic made of polypropylene. Polypropylene is described on Wikipedia as being used for the “advantages are its strength, colorfastness and comfort, stain, mildew, abrasion and sunlight resistance, and good bulk and cover.” This is a key element as it provides another layer of warmth, but more importantly wicks away moisture incredibly fast and efficiently. All these socks do a fine job of it on their own, but this boosts their capability. Heat will leave the body 25x faster when in contact with moisture! Something that you cannot have in severe weather. The beauty of the liners is they can be used as a climate regulation in warm or cold weather. As the motto goes out in Wyoming “Cotton Kills” (in cold weather.)
I will truely get to test these further on my trip. Where they will get put to the test. Currently it feels like -41 degree in Wyoming at night right now. It’s no joke. If you play it safe, smart, and simple you will make sure to have fun and not have a disaster.
Thank you again Wigwam. I love your products so far and look forward to giving them the work through!
