Gear Review - Extremities Hiker socks by Terra Nova

Socks.  Ok, perhaps not the most exciting pieces of walking and outdoor kit - forgotten about almost as opposed the other essentials required for trekking.  Well, of course.  After all walking socks can't have anything like the immense technology which goes into a waterproof jacket these days... And surely socks are socks... one pair can't be any different to other?

Well, all that is wrong.  Socks are very important.  And the specialist walking pairs do have masses of fabric technology in them.  And if you've ever suffered from cold feet, itchy feet, blisters or sore toes whilst walking, then changing your socks to a pair of specially designed walking pair will make an amazing difference.

One of those specially designed walking socks are the Extremities® range from British company Terra Nova.

And as soon as you unwrap them from their packaging you immediately start to understand how their difference to the run-of-the-mill M&S stuff.

For starters, the loop construction all the way up to the shin is designed to give greater comfort in stiffer boots.  And that's just the beginning of the planning which have gone into these socks.

There are no fewer than 10 versions of the Extremities range - each one proudly made in Britain.  I tried the Hiker version, designed for use on year-round hikes and the more demanding backpacking trips.

Look, no toe seems!

As soon as you put them on, you feel your feet starting to love you more.  Your toes are the first to say thank you... they particularly like the specialised toe seams - finished by hand - which don't dig into your toes.

Putting on your walking boots and you feel like you can walk for miles.  Whereas ordinary socks can rub along the in soul of your boots, the specially positioned padding, support areas and grip zones for the Hiker socks are all designed to stop that.  As a result, steps are more comfortable and you feel like carrying on for longer.

In the interests of testing - and to replicate a multi-day backpacking - I wore the socks for 3 days running... to see exactly whether they would carry on the rest of the walk on their own...  And I can happily report that even after 3 days of constant wearing whilst walking, these Extremities socks didn't smell like I should have thrown them in the bin - and perhaps more importantly neither did my feet!

The fact the Extremities socks are made in Britain at Terra Nova's factory in the Midlands only makes these socks even better.  Excellent for walkers of all levels - in fact I feel sure if you've just started on the path of the walking hobby, then a pair of these socks will allow you to go further and keep your feet feeling loved.  So... socks... pretty important then.


What's good...

Great quality
Lightweight but durable
Warm and supportive
Washes very well without bobbling

What's bad...

Price - possibly a tad steep for the more casual walkers

Extremities Hiker socks by Terra Nova - Rough Price - £18

Walks Around Britain rating  9/10

Gear Review - Men's Wool Ultra Socks- 2-3 Season

To say these have been a lifesaver would be a tad of an over statement – but my trip to Jersey would have certainly been more painful without them...

For reasons best left to another blog post, on my recent trip to film and experience walks on Jersey I discovered at Doncaster Airport I had left my walking boots at home.  I know, as I said, the reasons are best left to another blog post…

So, I was down on the itinerary to go on a “Moonwalk” along the coast during low tide, a walk through some the green lanes of Jersey and a challenging hike along the north coast part of the Channel Islands Way.

Now, for the Moonwalk, the crocs were a must, and they were fine for the roads and paths of the green lane walk – but for the north coast part of the Channel Islands Way – with its rocky coast, undulating paths and steep climbs, crocs certainly wouldn't have been my choice…  Brasher Fellmasters yes, crocs a definite no.

I had visions of blisters; of broken nails; of rubbed feet unable to convey me around the rest of my trip to this fabulous island.

So, having these socks in my kit back to review, I decided to save them for my coastal jaunt – and I'm glad I did.

First impressions are good.  The light grey colouring is one I don't mind people seeing between my trousers and my boots when I sit down, and it makes a change from the various shades of brown people who buy me socks for Christmas always seem to find.  (Seriously, how many shades of brown can there be in sock wool?)

Upon putting them on, it’s clear they are a great fit – not too big, which is always my bug-bear with walking socks.  This means all the parts of the sock is in contact with the areas they are supposed to on the foot.  The elastic around the top of the sock is judged well – not too tight as to stop the circulation to the foot, but not too loose that they fall down all the time.

So, I took them out for a road test along that north Jersey section of the Channel Island Way.  It’s strange attempting a path which, at times, can get quite challenging in crocs, but the socks certainly helped.  Obviously, socks with crocs provides nowhere near the support wearing a proper set of walking boots does but I was able to do the whole walk I'd planned without having feet throbbing like in a cartoon.  And when you think I’m walking around double the length of the 5 miles of the planned route to allow for the filming, that is no mean feat.

I can happily tell you that although they aren't necessarily designed to be waterproof, they do seem to resist water quite well.  Now, this might not be too important when you haven't got sidetracked and are wearing sensible walking boots, but when you're walking one of the most beautiful coastal paths in the world in crocs, it is good to know…  (note to self, always check footwear in future)  And when they get wet, they dry out quickly.

Subsequent wares of the socks inside proper walking boots have shown them to be most comfortable, and, during walks in the cooler temperatures of late autumn, fairly warm too.

So, in conclusion, they are a great ware and I certainly would recommend them for serious walkers everywhere... not just on Jersey.


What's good...
Great fit
Warm without being too sweaty

What's bad...
Started to go a tad bobbly after several washes

Brasher Men's Wool Ultra Socks- 2-3 Season - Rough price - £12

Walks Around Britain rating 8/10