Ausangate Socks–footwear of royalty
Retail price: Alpine Meadow Knee-High Alpacor Yarn Ski Socks $19.99
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received Alpine Meadow Knee High Alpacor ski socks for free from Ausangate as coordinated by Deep Creek Public Relations in consideration for review publication.
Specs per manufacturer: Great sock for ski boots. The natural warmth of alpaca hair will keep your feet warm while wicking away moisture at the same time. These socks constructed with Alpacor® yarn regulate temperature naturally just like the alpaca hair adjusts in alpaca’s hair does in nature. Hit the moguls!
Findings: First off, I have to admit I had no idea Alpaca could be made into socks let alone that it was once the yarn of Inca royalty. Thank goodness the ancients decided to share this yummy yarn with us mere mortals. The Ausangate (named for a mountain in the Andes) folks have all sorts of cool facts about Alpaca fiber on their site. Definitely worth checking out. I wasn’t surprised to learn that Alpaca fiber kicked cotton’s booty, but I was somewhat surprised to learn of the superior qualities over wool. It is hypoallergenic, flame resistant, extremely hydrophobic, softer than wool, stronger than wool and even provides more thermal regulation than wool. Alpaca fiber also requires no chemical processing making it more eco friendly. Harvesting the hair is also a more humane procedure than that of wool. Okay, I’m sold right there on Alpaca fibers. But can Ausangate weave this wondrous fiber into a great sock??
My friends, I’m here to say yes. I have only had the pleasure to test out one style of their socks, but I am a convert already. I was a bit skeptical about their thermal qualities give the thinness of the socks. So being a good gear tester, I slipped them on a balmy -15 F day on a backcountry ski trip miles from any source of heat. I tested the ski socks, so they are knee highs. I have calves that are generally described as “far from small”. That being said, most knee highs dig into my legs and cause me to whip out a knife to release the tourniquet like effect ASAP. While these socks were snug at the top, the blood supply to my feet was never compromised. Test #1, passed. On to warmth. I was impressed with how well the socks stayed in place, kept my feet dry and most importantly warm, even at -15 F. Even just standing around the cabin, my feet stayed pretty toasty. They weren’t itchy at all and I’m pretty picky about that sort of thing. I haven’t had the socks long enough to speak to their durability, but they seem well constructed. Now I want some Alpaca hats and mittens! Get you get on that Ausangate??