SNUGPAK Merino Technical Socks

I am slowly getting my kit stowed away for the biggest NATO exercise since the end of the Cold War and SNUGPAK Merino Technical Socks are sitting atop the pile, writes Bob Morrison.

 

Norway, like the UK, has been experiencing a milder than usual autumn this year, but as the LIVEX phase of TRJE18 (TRIDENT JUNCTURE 2018) draws relentlessly closer the long range forecast from the Norwegian Met Office is indicating the big freeze is imminent. In the Tyldalen valley, where the teeth arms of the British-led 4 MNB (Multi-National Brigade) are likely to see a fair bit of action early next month, it is predicted that the thermometer will plunge below freezing again on Friday (26th) evening and will then stay well below 0°C until next spring.

 

Suitable warm winter clothing in Norway is an essential, though a lack of decent garments can be compensated for to some extent by layering up whatever clothing you have in your bergen, but if you are not wearing proper boots and socks in snowy conditions you will feel cold and dismal no matter how many layers you are wearing or how warm your upper body is. My way of ensuring my feet remain toastie when out on the ground in sub-zero conditions is to pack a couple of pairs of decent quality Merino wool socks to wear, inside my slightly larger than usual UK-issue Boots Cold Wet Weather, doubled up with my favoured HAIX Multifunctional combat boot socks.

 

The Merinos I am taking are from the SNUGPAK Technical Sock range, currently available in green & black or black & grey, which are made from a 30/25/18/25% Merino/ Polypropylene/ Polyamide/ Acrylic mix with 2% Elastane for stretch. The Merino wool in the mix not only makes the socks very comfortable against the skin but also helps reduce foot odour through the wool’s natural properties. I have a pair of similar but shorter earlier model SNUGPAK Merino socks, which had a 20/35/18/25/2% mix, that I have worn through the last four winters and though they have been well worn and washed countless times they are still in good enough condition for me to wear them as travel socks on my forthcoming trip to the Hedmark region.

 

The latest version of the SNUGPAK Merino Technical sock is higher on the leg but with the same fully cushioned sole for comfort and flat linked toe seam to reduce abrasion risk as found on the earlier model. Although these socks are designed for warmer climes they are also ideal for use as liner socks in extreme cold conditions, and that is precisely how I plan on wearing them with my Iturri CWW boots, but when back indoors in the evenings and wearing my lightweight Lowa Innox boots I will just slip off the top socks and keep the Merinos on until bedtime (with two pairs of SNUGPAK socks in my bergen I reckon I should last a fortnight without my feet and boots smelling too much like warm Arbroath Smokies).

 

To read more on the technicalities, or to order online, click on this snugpak.com link.

{images © Bob Morrison}