The correct socks can directly affect the comfort and safety of your boots. These alpaca socks are an excellent choice and worth considering for hot weather hiking.
by Leon Pantenburg
Disclaimer: Hollow socks supplied the products for this review. I was not paid to write it, and the company had no input. At the time of publication, there was no affiliate or advertising relationship with Survivalcommonsense. All we ever promise is a fair and unbiased testing and review.
Footwear made of alpaca fiber was an easy sell for me. I got a pair of Snuggly Toes alpaca insoles about 10 years ago, and I wore them in uninsulated hikers on a frosty Oregon morning elk hunt. Our usual elk hunting protocol was to be in the desert at dawn, stay in one place for two to three hours, then start walking to locate the herds.
If you wore heavy, insulated boots, your feet might stay warm in the morning, but get sweaty hot when it warmed up. I wanted to see if insoles would really make a difference.
Bottom line: Yep, they sure did. It seemed like they added another 10 degrees to my boot comfort. That made me want to try out some alpaca socks from Hollow Company.
What are Alpaca Socks?
Hollow Company alpaca socks are made of alpaca wool, nylon, and spandex and come in black and gray. The company is headquartered in Wisconsin and the socks are manufactured in North Carolina.
I’m a long-time user and proponent of wool socks and wear them year-round. So what is the big deal about alpaca and why should anyone want these socks?
Here’s what the Hollow Company claims:
Alpaca wool is higher end and better quality than sheep wool. 87% of all alpacas live in Peru, which affects availability and shipping.
Alpaca’s hollow fibers and scale-like structure make it unique. It wicks and repels moisture, leaving feet dry and comfortable.
Alpaca fibers are extremely water resistant, and dry much faster than merino sheep wool when wet. Merino retains up to 30% of its weight in water, according to the Hollow website, holding onto moisture and keeping your feet uncomfortably wet, while alpaca only retains up to 10%.
Because alpaca fibers are hollow, moisture can’t saturate through them. Instead, the moisture is moved to the surface of the sock, where it quickly evaporates. Not only does this keep the sock dry, but less moisture means less bacteria. The fiber’s moisture-wicking capabilities also prevents bacteria from building up and causing odor.
Here’s My View of Hollow Company Alpaca Socks
Odorless: After a hot, sweaty hike, these socks are nowhere near as stinky as some of my others. The alpaca fibers apparently live up to the hype.
Temperature regulating: These socks work really well in hot temperatures, and I am impressed with how they don’t seem to heat up in the boot. I’ve tried them in waterproof and mesh hikers, and the socks do very, very well as far as staying cool. Now, my feet still got hot, but not as much as I would have expected!
Low water retention: The absolute worst socks for getting wet and staying soggy are the 100-percent cotton athletic socks you can buy in bundles at Walmart or Costco. The worst combination for hikers is cotton socks inside a boot with a waterproof liners. The cotton socks will get soggy and remain that way, and the waterproof liner will hold in the moisture. Your feet will become soft, and sore feet are a foregone conclusion.
But the alpacas did remarkably well inside waterproof boots in the heat. There is no way to keep your feet from sweating in those circumstances, but the Hollows were much drier than any other style of sock.
Cold Weather: There’s no comparison in these alpaca socks to anything else, and I do love my wool. Alpaca is warm, cozy, not sweaty, cushy, no stink, doesn’t get dirty, and completely perfect.
Spousal Support: I convinced my wife to buy a pair of locally produced alpaca socks at a winter festival in Bend, Oregon. She shrugged and said, sure! She took them on our trip in Italy for hiking every day and is now a major fan.
Do you need some alpaca socks?
Your socks are important, maybe almost as important as the boots or shoes you put them in. Dry feet stay comfortable. Wet, soggy socks are awful, they will let your feet soften up and lead to blisters. My experience so far with these Hollow alpaca socks shows they are keepers!
There are a lot of factors that determine how comfortable your hiking footwear will be. Consider these things when you are shopping:
- Shoes or boots for hiking?
- Waterproof or not?
- What are the best socks for the conditions?
- How do you avoid getting sore feet?
- Will the shoes or boots keep your feet warm?
