Regular readers of the Hiking Lady website know that I wear either wool or synthetic socks when hiking, never cotton. Why? Because synthetics and wool wick moisture (sweat) away from your foot, which is critical in preventing blisters.
Why wool?
Wool has a lot of properties that make it ideal for hikers and backpackers:
- Durability
- Moisture wicking
- Odor eliminating
What are Dachstein socks?
Dachstein wool socks are made of 100% organic wool in the Dachstein mountain region of Austria. Almost out a a fairy tale, they’re made in a small family factory from boiled wool. Boiled wool? Yep, the boiling process makes them dense, and they are woven extremely tightly. This makes them almost waterproof! In Austria, Dachstein socks are known and used by locals for hiking, climbing, skiing, and more. Their U.S. distributor, Sweater Chalet, introduced me to them and I’ve had a chance to see them first hand.
How do Dachstein socks compare?
Dachstein wool socks are very different from other performance wool socks I’ve tried, such as Icebreaker and SmartWool.
- First of all, they are much thicker. They come in various thicknesses, and I tried the 2-ply and 3-ply. Some are available in 4-ply, which would be ideal for winter mountaineering.
- Secondly, they are more waterproof than other wool socks.
- Third, they are wider don’t have nylon or lycra, like others we are more familiar with in the U.S.
Who are Dachstein socks good for?
Hikers who want all of the benefits of wool without any compromises. Because these are 100% wool they look and feel different than the competition like SmartWool and Icebreaker (which often have a mix of wool, nylon, lycra and/or polyester). Therefore, they have a less snug feel on your foot, but you get more of the wool benefits.
Happy trails!
P.S. The added bonus is that Sweater Chalet makes each sale special. I got a personal note and festive stickers, as well as a sample of some special all natural wool wash. Pretty cool!