Of all the gear in the world to review, nothing — nothing, I tell you — is more difficult than socks. I mean really, how much can you say about socks? I hear tales of gear glory all the time, like, “Thank goodness my backpack has an integrated bottle opener — all that beer would have gone to waste,” but I can’t think of a single time socks were the obvious hero. I suppose there was one time when I forgot to bring coffee-making paraphernalia on a two week trip and ended up with a designated coffee sock for filtering grounds, but really, cowboy coffee would have sufficed.

Of course the opposite is also true. It turns out that, if you have nothing much to say about socks, it means they work as advertised. That doesn’t mean I have literally nothing to say, though. Far from it. In fact, I have brought to bear my full scientific thinking powers to bring a sock-reviewing method to the madness.

Wigwam Trail Trax Pro Features

• 49% Wool Dri-release, 35% Nylon, 14% Merino Wool, 2% Spandex
• Cushiony sole
• Foot hugging fit
• FreshGuard eliminates odors
• Seamless toe closure
• Dri-release dries super fast

Wigwam Trail Trax Pro Review

The Trail Trax Pro may be made primarily with runners in mind, but I found it to be a terrific all-around outdoor sock.

Do I think about these socks when doing my thing?
Not even slightly, and that’s a great thing. I should be worried about river levels, marauding hillbillies and truck clearance, not my socks!

Are my feet uncomfortable in shoes that were previously comfortable?
The thought hasn’t even crossed my mind. The cushiony sole is more than adequate for my wimpy feet, and they wick moisture with aplomb. Add FreshGuard to the mix and wear them multiple days in a row without climbing partners noticing.

Did the socks’ qualities change after a few wash cycles?
I’m not sure, but my impression is that the Trail Trax Pro shrunk slightly over a couple wash cycles. This may have something to do with the wool content. If they did shrink, the difference is slight.

How long did the socks last under heavy use?
This is hard to answer, since it sort of depends on how many pairs of socks are in my rotation. For me, a non-backpacker-occasional-runner with something in the neighborhood of twelve pairs of socks I wear regularly, I had better damned well see at least a year out of my socks before the elastic weakens and I start to see my foot through them. Something in the neighborhood of two+ years is average. Three+ years is awesome. (If you only have five pairs of socks, adjust your perspective appropriately.)

Unfortunately, I haven’t had these socks long enough to say how well they held up over time. I’ll revisit this review every six months or so to update. Bookmark it now!

How do these socks look?
This is perhaps the least important attribute of a sock, but still, the Trail Trax Pro can have a little of that I’m-wearing-suit-socks-with-my-sneakers effect, if you’re not careful which color you buy. I have the taupe/brown heather version… <pregnant pause…> I have absolutely no idea what that means, but it’s a color combo I like. It looks outdoorsy.

Bottom Line:

The Wigwam Trail Trax Pro is fantastic compromise between light and feature rich. This is a terrific all-around outdoor sock.

Buy Now: Slip into a pair of Wigwam Trail Trax Pro socks.

Of all the gear in the world to review, nothing — nothing, I tell you — is more difficult than socks. I mean really, how much can you say about socks? I hear tales of gear glory all the time, like, “If it weren’t for that tire patch kit, I’d be vulture food,” but I can’t think of a single time socks were the obvious hero. I suppose there was one time when I forgot to bring coffee-making paraphernalia on a two week trip and ended up with a designated coffee sock for filtering grounds, but really, cowboy coffee would have sufficed.

Of course the opposite is also true. It turns out that, if you have nothing much to say about socks, it means they work as advertised. That doesn’t mean I have literally nothing to say, though. Far from it. In fact, I have brought to bear my full scientific thinking powers to bring a sock-reviewing method to the madness.

Wigwam Ironman Flash Pro Features

• 83% Stretch Nylon, 16% Acrylic, 1% Spandex
• Heel tab prevents sock from slipping (Note: This is the weirdest feature. I’m not sure it actually does very much. I don’t think the socks would slip without it, but it does effect the looks of the Flash Pro — see below for more.)
• Cushiony sole
• Foot hugging fit
• Breathable mesh instep
• Seamless toe closure

Wigwam Ironman Flash Pro Review

The Ironman Flash Pro may be made primarily with runners in mind, but I found it to be a terrific all-around outdoor sock.

Do I think about these socks when doing my thing?
Not even slightly, and that’s a great thing. I should be worried about wet rock, copperheads and accidentally inhaling dried vulture poop, not my socks!

Are my feet uncomfortable in shoes that were previously comfortable?
The thought hasn’t even crossed my mind. The cushiony sole is more than adequate for my wimpy feet, and they wick moisture with aplomb.

Did the socks’ qualities change after a few wash cycles?
No change whatsoever! After roughly six washings, these socks look and feel the exact same as when they were brand new.

How long did the socks last under heavy use?
This is hard to answer, since it sort of depends on how many pairs of socks are in my rotation. For me, a non-backpacker-occasional-runner with something in the neighborhood of twelve pairs of socks I wear regularly, I had better damned well see at least a year out of my socks before the elastic weakens and I start to see my foot through them. Something in the neighborhood of two+ years is average. Three+ years is awesome. (If you only have five pairs of socks, adjust your perspective appropriately.)

Unfortunately, I haven’t had these socks long enough to say how well they held up over time. I’ll revisit this review every six months or so to update. Bookmark it now!

How do these socks look?
This is perhaps the least important attribute of a sock, but still… I have the orange/black version, which is flashy, but I definitely like it more than any of the other four available colors. The heel tab, which is there to prevent the sock from slipping, makes the sock look like a Peter-Pan bootie. That’s a strange thought, huh? I know, but it’s the first thing that crosses my mind when I pull them out of my sock drawer. However, once they’re on, I don’t even notice it, and have even come to like it.

Bottom Line:

The Wigwam Ironman Flash Pro is fantastic compromise between light and feature rich. It looks a little funny, but is rapidly becoming one of my all-time favorite socks.

Buy Now: Slip into a pair of Wigwam Ironman Flash Pro socks.

Of all the gear in the world to review, nothing — nothing, I tell you — is more difficult than socks. I mean really, how much can you say about socks? I hear tales of gear glory all the time, like, “That $10 snake bite kit saved my dog’s bacon after he tangled with that gila monster,” but I can’t think of a single time socks were the obvious hero. I suppose there was one time when I forgot to bring coffee-making paraphernalia on a two week trip and ended up with a designated coffee sock for filtering grounds, but really, cowboy coffee would have sufficed.

Of course the opposite is also true. It turns out that, if you have nothing much to say about socks, it means they work as advertised. That doesn’t mean I have literally nothing to say, though. Far from it. In fact, I have brought to bear my full scientific thinking powers to bring a sock-reviewing method to the madness.

Wigwam Ironman Spark Pro Features

• 42% Stretch Nylon, 33% Dri-release, 21% Acrylic, 4% Spandex
• Dri-release dries super fast
• Lightweight sole
• Foot hugging fit
• FreshGuard eliminates odors
• Breathable mesh air vents
• Seamless toe closure

Wigwam Ironman Spark Pro Review

Made primarily with runners in mind, the Wigwam Ironman Spark Pro is feature-rich big brother of the Ironman Triathlete Pro.

Do I think about these socks when doing my thing?
Not even slightly, and that’s a great thing. I should be worried about my rickety elbows, my newly repaired lumbar spine and wether or not my dog is getting enough water, not my socks!

Are my feet uncomfortable in shoes that were previously comfortable?
The thought hasn’t even crossed my mind. Still, a little bit more cushioning wouldn’t hurt.

Did the socks’ qualities change after a few wash cycles?
No change whatsoever! After roughly six washings, these socks look and feel the exact same as when they were brand new.

How long did the socks last under heavy use?
This is hard to answer, since it sort of depends on how many pairs of socks are in my rotation. For me, a non-backpacker-occasional-runner with something in the neighborhood of twelve pairs of socks I wear regularly, I had better damned well see at least a year out of my socks before the elastic weakens and I start to see my foot through them. Something in the neighborhood of two+ years is average. Three+ years is awesome. (If you only have five pairs of socks, adjust your perspective appropriately.)

Unfortunately, I haven’t had these socks long enough to say how well they held up over time. I’ll revisit this review every six months or so to update. Bookmark it now!

How do these socks look?
This is perhaps the least important attribute of a sock, but still, my Wigwam Ironman Spark Pros are not too shabby in the looks department. I have the black version, which is a little bit geeky, but there’s some color in there, too, and a lot of gray to mitigate the I’m-wearing-suit-socks-with-my-sneakers effect. It comes in three other color styles, too, and a couple of them look nice and outdoorsy.

Bottom Line:

The Wigwam Ironman Spark Pro is fantastic compromise between light and feature rich. It wicks moisture like you’d expect from a sock with the word “Ironman” in its name, and has just enough cushion for trail pushin’.

Buy Now: Slip into a pair of Wigwam Ironman Spark Pro socks.

Of all the gear in the world to review, nothing — nothing, I tell you — is more difficult than socks. I mean really, how much can you say about socks? I hear tales of gear glory all the time, like, “That little cam held my 40-foot air-bike ride with only two lobes engaged,” but I can’t think of a single time socks were the obvious hero. I suppose there was one time when I forgot to bring coffee-making paraphernalia on a two week trip and ended up with a designated coffee sock for filtering grounds, but really, cowboy coffee would have sufficed.

Of course the opposite is also true. It turns out that, if you have nothing much to say about socks, it means they work as advertised. That doesn’t mean I have literally nothing to say, though. Far from it. In fact, I have brought to bear my full scientific thinking powers to bring a sock-reviewing method to the madness.

Wigwam Ironman Triathlete Pro Features

• 30% Olefin, 30% Acrylic, 20% Stretch Nylon, 15% Spandex
• Lightweight design
• Vitually seamless toe closure

Wigwam Ironman Triathlete Pro Review

Made primarily with runners in mind, the Wigwam Ironman Triathlete Pro is a light, stripped-down, no-frills sock.

Do I think about these socks when doing my thing?
I do actually think about them a little bit, and not just because I’m reviewing them. They have zero cushioning, and since I’m used to at least a little cushioning, I sort of notice it.

Are my feet uncomfortable in shoes that were previously comfortable?
A resounding “no.” Although as mentioned, I prefer more cushion in my socks. I may use these more as a base layer in cold weather, instead of a stand-alone sock for running or crag approaching.

Did the socks’ qualities change after a few wash cycles?
No change whatsoever! After roughly six washings, these socks look and feel the exact same as when they were brand new.

How long did the socks last under heavy use?
This is hard to answer, since it sort of depends on how many pairs of socks are in my rotation. For me, a non-backpacker-occasional-runner with something in the neighborhood of twelve pairs of socks I wear regularly, I had better damned well see at least a year out of my socks before the elastic weakens and I start to see my foot through them. Something in the neighborhood of two+ years is average. Three+ years is awesome. (If you only have five pairs of socks, adjust your perspective appropriately.)

Unfortunately, I haven’t had these socks long enough to say how well they held up over time. I’ll revisit this review every six months or so to update. Bookmark it now!

How do these socks look?
This is perhaps the least important attribute of a sock, but still, my Wigwam Ironman Triathlete Pros are straight black, which doesn’t do much for a playa’s image, if you catch my drift. Who but a nerd or a suit wears black socks?! They also come in all white. You can’t see me, but I’m rolling my eyes right now.

Bottom Line:

The Wigwam Ironman Triathlete Pro is a no-frills basic performance sock. It wicks moisture like you’d expect from a sock with the word “Ironman” in its name, but it looks a little goofy in its plainness. Also, if you need cushion in your socks, check out a few other Wigwam models first.

Buy Now: Slip into a pair of Wigwam Ironman Triathlete Pro socks.

I’ve been running my old shoes way past their breaking point. They were Adidas, so they didn’t have air — which to me has always been a downfall. I like the everyday wearability of pure EVA or foam-like midsole shoes, like Adidas makes (oh sure — they may call it Adiprene or something special, but it’s really just tricked-out foam or a variation on EVA). However — the problem with EVA or foam-ish midsole shoes is that they lose their absorption much more quickly than any other kind of midsole. EVA not so much as some cheaper foam-ish materials, but still much more quickly than an air bladder. So I’ve decided that I only really want to do foam/EVA midsoles if they also have an air bladder in them. Or, I could do an EVA-only midsole if I’m in a racing shoe that I want to be super-light for just a few uses until it is tossed.

You may say, what’s lighter than air? Well, foam or EVA is because with air you have to have a heavy plastic bladder to contain the air. Okay, then why is it that you want Nike air instead of an EVA or foam-only midsole? Because have you ever been running in an Adidas shoe for a few times & then noticed all the compression wrinkles in the midsole? That’s because all the air bubbles in the foam-like material are being popped — so pretty soon the midsole is all wrinkled and it loses all its absorption. Then your joints are just pounding the ground.

I learned this the hard way. In college I ran on non-air shoes for a while and ended up with a misalignment of the patella (kneecap). It was very painful, and when I went to the orthopedist (also a runner) he asked how much I ran. I said about 50 miles per week. Then he pointed to my shoes and said, “Not in those wrinkly things I hope?!” I confirmed, and he told me there are three main things you have to balance when deciding on picking up some good running shoes for everyday use:

1) Not having air under your heel will allow your heel to drop down into the midsole a bit and give it more of a stable cup to sit in, however..

2) That comes at a cost of more wear and tear on your joints — so he recommended sacrificing some heel cup stability to have enduring cushioning (as long as it doesn’t pop, an air bladder has just as much cushion 30 days later as when it was purchased — whereas a foam- or EVA-style midsole will have lost a ton of absorption through wrinkling).

3) The third consideration is fit — and though Adidas seem to have a wider forefoot which I like, it’s not worth risking joint injury.

Nike running shoes seem to come a bit narrower than other running shoes, and as such I usually have to purchase them a half-size larger than my skate shoes or other brands of running shoes. With some dress shoes and casual shoes I go with a 9.5 for a snug fit, but I can’t do that in Nike. In Nike shoes I almost always get a 10 and it fits just as closely to the foot as a 9.5 in other shoes. It’s also slightly narrower than something like an Adidas running shoe.

For durability, I suppose the best combination would be a polyurethane midsole with an air bladder. But I have seen some old Nike’s with polyurethane midsoles and they are way too heavy in my opinion. So I think the best is a combination foam or EVA midsole with an air bladder under at least the heel (if not the ball of the foot too).

And that’s the combination that the Nike Air Structure Triax has. There are also two key features of the Air Structure that I really would like to point out:

1) It has very sturdy support (harder material) under the inside portion of the heel — so it’s great for most runners, including those who tend to pronate. But beware if you supinate — these things will pitch you out onto the outside of your heel even more.

2) Since it is not a pure road running shoe, but rather is a trail running shoe, the Nike Air Structure Triax comes with a Gore-Tex liner — which is heavier and much less breathable than the lightweight mesh-style uppers of road running shoes such as the Nike Air Pegasus. This is great in wet or cold situations — such as you often find when trail running. And it is also a more durable upper than more ventilated road running shoes. But I wish it came with a fabric such as eVent which is still waterproof but has much better breathability than Gore-Tex.

I noticed the ventilation of the Nike Air Structure Triax to be in stark contrast to the exceptional breathability of the Vasque Aether Tech Softshell trail running shoe. Also, I preferred the BOA-style lacing of the Vasque shoe to the traditional laces of the Air Structure. But I really liked the waffle-style sole of the Air Structure, which has good grip but wide channels to clear the mud readily.

All in all, the shoe is a great option for trail running if your foot can fit a Nike. If you are a particularly wide foot, you may want to look elsewhere. And because of the limited breathability, I wouldn’t recommend this shoe as your summer road running shoe by any stretch. This is better as an Autumn or early-Spring trail runner.

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