Review: Teko Socks

AUSANGATE, PERU: Trekking around Nevado Ausangante. Starting in the town of Tinki to Pacchanta (4,200m) to Pucacocha (4,653m) to climb Campa Peak (5,500m) camp at Campa Camp (4,746m) to Ausangante Advanced camp (5,180m) to Pampachncha Valley Camp (4,630m) to Hatun Pucacoha (4,600m). Trekkers/Climbers: David Bailey, Robert Horner, Cameron Martindell; Trip organized by Martin Hurtado de Mendoza.I never thought I’d really be able to discern much difference between brands of socks, but I’ve been using Teko socks exclusively for my more ambitious outdoor adventures and they do not disappoint. I have a number of different pairs, various thicknesses to suit the weather or the kind of boot I’m wearing.

On my last trip to Peru, where we were trekking in the warm lowlands (relatively speaking, of course), the lightweight merino wool hikers did a great job of providing just enough cush in my Limmer boots without letting my feet over heat. As we got higher (like above 15,000′) I switched over to the thicker merino socks and they kept my feet toasty and dry as we hit the 18,000′ (5,500m) peak of Campa on the Ausangante trek. Along the way, I needed to wash some socks and with just a little soak in some Dr. Bronners they were good to go for another round. The beauty of the merino wool is they don’t hold body odor like I’ve found synthetic socks to do.

Comfort and protection is key, but the best part about Teko is their commitment to minimizing waste in their manufacturing process. They recycle and reuse as much as they possibly can, they purchase wind energy credits for 100% of the electricity used in manufacturing, their factory is in the USA (no overseas shipping), and their packaging is minimal, from recycled material and totally recyclable again.

Your dollar is your vote. I vote for green. I vote for Teko.
http://www.tekosocks.com/

About the author

Adventure Correspondent Cameron L. Martindell is a freelance adventure travel and expedition writer, photographer and filmmaker who founded Offyonder.com in 2000. He has contributed to Elevation Outdoors Magazine, The Gear Junkie, National Geographic, The Christian Science Monitor, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Outside, Backpacker, Wired, Australian Geographic, Mountainzone.com and others. He has been to all seven continents and lived on five of them, including a four-month stint at the South Pole. Cameron has more than 10 years of mountain search and rescue experience, is an Eagle Scout, has been an Australian bush firefighter, competes in sailing regattas, plans national and international youth programs, guides Oregon rafting trips and Australian bush backpacking trips.

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