Spare a moment of pity for the sock company marketing director. No matter how talented or creative that person may be, they have a tough job getting consumers excited about socks, even ones that cost $15 to $20 a pair and look it.
I’ve been trying out a few pairs of Lorpen socks though and while they didn’t make me excited enough to do cartwheels, I like they way they perform. These socks look strikingly different, first of all, which at least helps me find them in my sock drawer. Lorpen socks don’t just look like they have something unique going on though. They back that up with some innovations meant to provide more comfort and performance. These include flat stitch seams, cushioning in the right places, and a thin venting layer for the area between your toes to let them air out easier.
The ones I’ve been trying out are built in three layers: synthetic, natural, then synthetic, in a design that’s meant to be comfortable to the skin but to provide the required wicking abilities to keep your feet dry and protect the socks against abrasion. Naturally they dry a lot faster than ones made of regular wool or cotton, so they’re good for travel.
Lorpen also makes versions for men and women, instead of acting like both sexes have the same size feet.
These aren’t made in America socks, but they’re not made in China either. The company’s headquarters are located in Etxalar, Spain, which they say is “smack in the middle of nature.” They have another facility in Puebla, Mexico that follows the same strict quality standards. In a nice move, their packaging doesn’t use any plastic—just thread and recyclable cardboard.
Lorpen socks are sold in more than 55 countries, so you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding them. I’d link to their retail finder, but they’ve got one of those frame-built sites with the same URL for every page, so you have to go look for it at the Lorpen North America site. Or just get them online at Backcountry.com, where prices start at $12 a pair and 3-packs are available.
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