Wigwam Cool-Lite Hiker Pro

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, “With this one small multi-tool, I fended off seven banditos until the Policia arrived… and I never even got past the wine opener,” however, 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 Cool-Lite Hiker Pro Features

• 50% Coolmax, 22% Stretch Nylon, 21% Acrylic, 7% Cotton
• Cushiony all over
• Stay-put top and leg
• Breathable mesh instep
• Low-profile toe closure

Wigwam Cool-Lite Hiker Pro Review

Though it’s made primarily for hiking, the Cool-Lite Hiker Pro is an outstanding all-weather all-around sock. I’ve even been using them inside neoprene booties for cool-weather whitewater fun.

Do I think about these socks when doing my thing?
Not even slightly, and that’s a good thing. They’re a crew-length sock, though, and I won’t wear them much in the summer. In the heat and humidity of the Southeast, I much prefer quarter socks and shorter. This time of year, however, thumbs up.

Are my feet uncomfortable in shoes that were previously comfortable?
The thought hasn’t even crossed my mind. The ample cushioning is more than adequate for my wimpy feet, and they wick moisture with aplomb. Well, not so much in the river…

Did the socks’ qualities change after a few wash cycles?
There’s been no change whatsoever. These socks are exactly the same as they were when 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 the Cool-Lite Hiker Pro has nothing to worry about in that department, anyway… unless you’re wearing them with short shorts. Hint: Your shorts should always be longer than your socks.

Bottom Line:

The Wigwam Cool-Lite Hiker Pro is a terrific cool and cold-ish weather sock, even though they’re billed as a year-round sock. I’m just not that into long socks in the Southeast humidity. I’m sure, however, that I’ll continue to get plenty of mileage out of these in coming months.

Buy Now: Slip into a pair of Wigwam Cool-Lite Hiker Pro socks.