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Silver and Wool: The Anti-Smell Sock Formula
September 9, 2009, 2:19 pm / Categories: Footwear
On the trail, comfy, clean-smelling feet correlate into a comfy, happy hiker — Wigwam knows that. As such, the Sheboygan, Wis., sock manufacturer developed a new model, the Wool Runner, to keep feet from smelling like moldy cheese. The secret, er, sauce? An antimicrobial treatment called SmartSilver and merino wool.
Indeed, the Wool Runner employs a proprietary nanotechnology (SmartSilver) found in a range of products, including health care, apparel and footwear. The antimicrobial agent prevents your hiking buddies from passing out when you take off your trail shoes at the end of the day. The wool sock has a heel tab to help reduce slippage, and there is a seamless toe closure to prevent rubbing in the wrong way.
The Terrain Trax Pro, another model, helps maintain a pain-free, moisture-free foot, the company says. It combines the treatment Dri-release with a Merino wool. The result is a soft sock that stays dry even when you sweat, the company says. It has a breathable mesh fabric on top and the same seamless toe design found with the Wool Runner.
Both will be available in November for around $14 a pair. www.wigwam.com
—Ryan Dionne
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For clarification on the Silver Wool Runner socks, the socks do not use a Silver thread. Wigwam uses SmartSilver antimicrobial additives which bind to the fibers that won’t wash out or wear off for the expected life of the socks. As moisture passes through the fabric, permanently attached SmartSilver particles release silver ions, killing odor-causing bacteria.