The Merino Myth: Why I Spent a Year Building a Better Backcountry Hunting Sock
If you want something done right, you've got to do it yourself. I’ve been backcountry hunting for ten years, and for that entire decade, the industry standard for hunting socks has been a merino wool base. I know this is going to upset some people, but here is the bottom line: I do not think merino is the best-performing material available for backcountry socks. For years, I just accepted the status quo. I’d go on multi-day hunts, and my socks would stay wet for way too long. I’d go to put them on by day three or four, and the heel pocket would end up halfway up my calf because the sock had completely stretched out. They didn't dry fast, they didn't hold their shape, and if you pushed them hard, they weren't durable. I got tired of gear that didn't work. So, over the last year, across seven different iterations, I designed the Forged Base Series Socks from the ground up to be the single best-performing sock on the market for backcountry hunters.
The Problem with Merino Wool Socks
Let's get honest about merino. When you critically assess its performance on a heavy, multi-day hunt, it fails in more areas than it succeeds. There are three main problems:
- It does not evacuate moisture well. If you've ever had wet boots while wearing merino socks, you know the feeling. Your feet just stay wet and soggy forever.
- It loses its shape. Merino has predominantly two-way stretch. By the second or third day of getting hot and sweaty, the sock loses its structural integrity. It fits like a toga for your foot.
- It is not hyper-durable. If you only hunt 10 to 14 days a year, a merino sock might last you a while. But if you put in 100+ days a year like I do, it falls apart. I have never had a merino-based hunting sock last more than two seasons.
I needed a sock that was going to dry fast, last a really long time, and fit the exact same way on day six that it did on day one.
The Solution: 6 Fabrics, 7 Iterations, 1 Year
To solve these problems, I partnered with an apparel consulting firm that has designed for brands like Lululemon and Kuiu. We went through seven different iterations. I brutally tested these socks—at one point, I wore a single pair for 20 straight days in the field without washing them, and there was zero wear in any of the high-wear areas. What we finally nailed down is an 88% synthetic, 12% wool makeup utilizing six different textiles. We didn't just pick a fabric and call it a day; we strategically placed specific fabrics in specific zones to optimize performance. 
The Sole: CoolMax for High Heat
The bottom of your foot is a high-heat, high-moisture area. Across the entire bottom of the sock, we placed CoolMax, a fabric that is exceedingly good at evaporating moisture at a high rate. If you flip the sock inside out, you'll see the CoolMax has a series of loops. This is intentional. Think of it like radiator fins—the loops create more surface area to absorb moisture and evacuate it out of the bottom of the sock as quickly as possible.
The High-Wear Zones: Reprieve X
Throughout the toe box, the ball of the foot, the heel, and up the lower part of the calf, we used a brand-new fabric called Reprieve X. This is a cross-sectional polyester with extremely high tensile strength. It acts almost like it's reinforced four ways instead of two. This is what makes the sock hyper-durable and ensures it holds its shape day after day.
The Top and Shin: Wool/Acrylic Blend
Across the top of the sock, we utilized a thinner wool and acrylic blend to help with heat and moisture evacuation without adding bulk. Along the shin—where you take the most abrasion from your boot collar—the sock is thicker, but because it's a synthetic blend, it doesn't trap heat like a thick wool sock would. Finally, we blended in the perfect amount of spandex to lock in that shape retention over the long haul.
Why There's No Over-the-Calf Design
I know I’m going to get questions about why this isn't an over-the-calf (OTC) sock. In my opinion, for a three-season sock, an OTC design is inferior. When you run a sock over your calf, you are almost doubling the amount of fabric that has the ability to wick moisture down into your boots. The real reason most sock companies use an OTC design is because their standard hem isn't engineered well enough to keep the sock up without it falling into your boot. It's a band-aid solution. With the Forged Base socks, I specifically engineered an extra-wide, dual-layer hem. It provides enough friction to keep the sock locked in place without being so tight that it cuts off circulation. I have yet to have these socks fall down into my boots. 
The Lifetime Warranty Myth
Let's talk about the elephant in the room: the lifetime warranty. I think it's a crock of shit. Do you see any other piece of apparel with a lifetime warranty? Underwear? Jeans? Jackets? No, because no fabric is actually designed to last a lifetime. What these companies are doing is counting on the fact that you only hunt 10 to 15 days a year. Maybe that sock lasts 100 days, which for the average guy is 8 to 10 years. They also know that 80% of people are too lazy to actually send the socks back when they do get a hole. They are taking the extra money you pay for that sock and using it to fund their warranty department, charging you for two or three pairs of socks up front. I am not hiding a warranty fund in the price of this sock. I wanted to put all of the money from the sale of the sock into the actual design, R&D, and high-quality textiles. I'm not going to lie to you and tell you this sock will last your whole life. But I will give you my personal word: this sock will go head-to-head with any other outdoor gear you have. If it does not live up to your expectations, I will personally handle it. 
Big News for US Customers
One quick note for my American audience: I have officially set up US drop shipping through Unknown Munitions in Idaho. If you've been holding off on ordering because of cross-border shipping, that excuse is gone. Shipping is now about 30% cheaper for US residents, there are no more duty fees, and your gear will arrive much faster.
The Ultimate Guided Hunt Giveaway
I am so confident that I've crafted the best performing sock on the market that I am launching the most insane giveaway I have ever done. This isn't a sponsored giveaway where I begged other companies for free stuff—this is me giving directly to you. For every $5 you spend at Forged in the Backcountry between May 17th and July 17th, you will get one entry to win a custom guided hunt from Mindful Hunter Outfitting. I am going to work personally with the winner to build the hunt of their dreams. We could go after Black Bear or Mule Deer in British Columbia. We could chase Archery Mule Deer in Alberta. Or we could head down to my leases in Mexico and hunt Coues Deer in the rut with a rifle. It is an all-expenses-paid trip valued at roughly $10,000. I am extremely passionate about delivering phenomenal gear to backcountry hunters, and I truly believe the Forged Base Series Sock is something unique. 