Sarah Barber reviews Stance performance wool hiking socks and was provided the socks at no cost for the review.
Remember the early generations of hiking socks that were thick gray wool, maybe with a red stripe around the top? They’re what my parents wore when they hiked through the Colorado Rockies in the 1970s. My parents also wore stiff, heavy, round-toed boots made of chestnut-colored leather that had metal eyelets and red laces—I think they were called “waffle stompers.”
Fortunately, Father Time stops for no one, including the sock industry, and that means technology has led to major advancements in the products. Gone are the days when a pair of socks could be split and pulled on in the dark. The best socks on the market today require the wearer to look for the “L” and the “R” when getting dressed (also when sorting clean laundry). And the best socks are no longer thick, gray wool! The best socks know that function and fashion are not mutually exclusive, even in the world of hiking.
Blisters are a non-topic
Apparel company Stance figured this out over a decade ago and started churning out athletic socks specialized for everything from golf to alpine skiing. Of course, running and hiking socks are top priorities, and recognizing that people will always have opinions, Stance created a smorgasbord of options ranging from over-the-calf to barely-there ankle socks, all with the same purpose in mind: fashionable function, everyday and anywhere. With seamless construction to eliminate friction and anatomical shape for support and comfort, blisters are a non-topic.
Meanwhile, reinforced yarn on high-impact areas ensure the lifespan of my favorite socks is right up there with that of my Great Aunt Gertrude who was born in 1932. With autumn upon us and fall colors igniting the foothills in my hometown, I’ve felt compelled to stop gasping, start appreciating the foliage, and exchange some of my running mileage for hiking. As such, there’s never been a better time for me to test-drive Stance’s Performance Wool Hiking Socks.
Stance directs you with L and R to insure proper fit on the feet.
Merino-wool blend
The afternoon sun has been warm enough for bare legs, which means vibrant patterns on the mid-calf are displayed above my high-top hoofers—ideal for Stance’s orange, pink, and grey merino-wool blend to scream, “Look at me!” to all the trail users I passed. I was rocking a design that evokes visions of the mountains at sunrise, but Stance has something for everyone, whether one’s preference is stripes, solids, geometric prints or other.
Although the Stance socks made no sound, nearly half the other hikers I encountered noticed and commented on my stylish saunter. They knew a good look when they saw it, but what they didn’t know was the delightful feel my feet were experiencing with each step. Lucky for the passersby, Stance socks are made with a moisture-wicking anti-microbial finish to ward off bacteria…which wards off stench…which also makes my sock-loving dog less likely to abscond with them when she finds them near—but not IN—the laundry basket.
From rugged to relaxed
More important, it means I can wear them several days in a row, which is a really good thing because I just don’t want to take them off. Put it this way: much like clothing designers attempt to create professional attire that can be worn all day long, from the corporate office to the cocktail hour, Stance has created socks that can go from lunging to lounging, rugged to relaxed, and hardcore hiking to couch surfing in the blink of an eye.
Stance: From rugged to relaxed.
Just as the branding claims, Stance apparel is “stitched different.” One could argue that waffle-stompers are timeless, and what worked well back then can still work well now, but I say ditch the old gray wool socks. Take a Stance for unique performance and inimitable artistry—don’t settle for anything less.
Editor’s Note: Read more of Barber’s reviews here.
