Gordini Socks : Acts Like Wool, Feels Like Fleece

Cool, warm, and warmer. It might sound like title of the latest offering from Hollywood, but it’s really just a simple way of describing the lineup of performance socks from Gordini, a manufacturer whose diversity in its product line is a rare and welcomed distinction.

My outdoor activities run an extremely wide gamut of terrain and conditions, requiring a staggering collection of footwear. My closet looks like a shoe convention gone wrong: boots, sandals, shoes, clogs, and more all contend for my attention and for precious space in the first row, indicating my current preferences.

Not so in my sock drawer; I like to keep it simple there. One type for running, one for cycling, one for winter sports, one for hiking/travel/business/weddings (o.k., I’m lying. I have a special pair for weddings. But don’t tell the year 1994 that I have its socks—it might want them back).

After testing the sock lineup from Gordini, I’m starting to rethink my sock strategy. I used to be convinced that a hiking sock was a hiking sock. Now I've seen the light. Just as the real estate mantra, “location, location, location,” Gordini’s calling card is “selection, selection, selection.”

All of these socks are made from Lavawool fiber, which is specially designed to wick away moisture from the feet AND disperse it. So I get the superior moisture management of wool in a fleecy soft sock. My feet stay dry, I stay happy. Here are a few models I've worn this summer:

Exhibit A: The Raid, a lightweight quarter sock perfect for trail running, river approach, or a day-hike. It's heavier than its lightweight marathon-specific running cousins, but this is a sock built for the trees and ferns, not for the pavement. A ribbed top, reinforced heel and toe, and a stretchy instep section made for extreme comfort with no weight penalty. For some strange reason, I have a tendency to poke holes in socks near the tip of my big toe. These super soft yet tough- as-steel babies showed no sign of extraordinary wear, even after two days of extreme mountain biking in a variety of conditions. The most important test: once I put them on I forgot all about them. No pinching, no binding, no moving around inside my shoe.

Exhibit B: The Distance, a higher crew cut, yet lightweight all-purpose sock. More sock than the Raid, the Distance is still a nearly invisible barrier between my foot and my shoe. If I had to pigeonhole this model, I’d nominate it for the “travel sock of the year” award (assuming the sock community holds an annual awards show). Cool in hot weather, warm enough to wear on cooler days, and tough enough to withstand a recent weeklong trip, the Distance is my favorite.

Exhibit C: The Lava, a crew cut sock best used on cold or wet days. This sock kept my feet from getting clammy with sweat as I climbed from boulder to boulder on a Pacific Northwest mountainside. Temps outside my boots ranged from the low 40s to the mid 60s, but my feet felt consistently comfortable and cool inside their Lava shell. I'm not sure if climbing puts more wear and tear on socks than other activities, but these socks did show some wear in the heal after a few outings.

All in all, I'm quite happy to move aside some other socks in my sock drawer to make room for my new Gordinis.

Bottom LIne: When you select a sock model from Gordini, you’ll face just one challenge: Trying to limit yourself to just one model. On second thought, try all three. With Gordini's exceptional design and functionality built into every sock, you’ll have a use for each at one time or another. And they're priced right, too.--G.P. (Sept. ‘05)

Price: $12 Raid, $15 Distance, $14 Lava.

Manufacturer's Site: www.gordini.com

Buy Online: , Altrec.com