Keep it long, treasure it long.

Functions that are good for your feet

It's easy to throw away socks and end up buying more than one, but when you're at a critical moment, such as climbing a mountain, traveling, or going to a winter theme park, it's a good idea to choose socks that are functional.

Hike Medium Crew Socks are medium weight socks made from merino wool. The key point is that the pile fabric is soft and comfortable to wear. The fabric is a blend of merino wool, nylon and Lycra, and has increased strength and elasticity against abrasion, so you can wear it with confidence even in tough situations such as mountain climbing. Furthermore, by changing the material depending on the part of the foot, it becomes more comfortable. By using a pile lining with cushioning properties only in the bottom part, it absorbs shock and reduces the burden on your feet. The instep part is made of thin fabric to ensure breathability.

It doesn't smell bad even when worn for long periods of time, and it has just the right amount of heat retention for everything from high-altitude mountain climbing in the summer to hiking in the winter, making it highly versatile. It also features an asymmetrical oblique type shape that makes it easy to move your toes.


There are four main advantages of merino wool

1. Soft to the touch
Merino wool is the world's highest quality super microfiber with a thickness of 17 to 19 microns, and the fibers are of very high quality, thin, soft, and gentle on the skin, so it doesn't have the prickly feeling that regular wool does.

2.Excellent breathability/humidity management
The fiber itself has high hygroscopic properties, so it absorbs water vapor emitted by the body even before sweating and releases it into the atmosphere. Sweat from exercise is absorbed and evaporated by capillary action, so your skin is always kept dry and comfortable.

3.Ideal temperature control
When it's cold, when it absorbs moisture from the skin's surface, the adsorbed heat and body heat are stored in the many air pockets created by the ultra-fine fibers, keeping you warm. On the other hand, when it's hot, the gradual evaporative cooling caused by the evaporation of sweat allows you to adjust your body temperature to a comfortable level.

4.Natural antibacterial and deodorizing effect
Sweat contains a mixture of fat and salt, which encourages the growth of bacteria and is the source of unpleasant odors. Merino wool is a material that does not attract bacteria and does not easily generate odors.

For clothing that comes into direct contact with your skin, you want to choose materials that are stress-free. Merino wool is a versatile material that is both seasonal and comfortable to wear, making it a versatile material that can be worn year-round.

Easy to use

Merino wool is also easy to care for. It doesn't require hand washing or fabric softener like regular wool, and can be washed in the washing machine with regular mild alkaline detergent. Regular washing in a washing machine will keep it clean and can be used at any time, and washing also has the effect of restoring the fabric. The fact that it doesn't wrinkle and retains its shape without ironing is also why it's so easy to use. It is also convenient for traveling.

Merino wool is a material with a high UV shielding rate, and even the light color of Icebreaker's thinnest product has a UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) of 15 or more, and even neutral colors are said to have a UPF of 50 or more. Recommended for those who often play sports outside.

My encounter with merino wool

icebreaker was founded in 1994. It all started when the founder, JEREMY MOON, met a merino sheep farmer through his girlfriend. JEREMY MOON had been kayaking for a long time and was fed up with the breathability and peculiar smell of outdoor clothing at the time. At that time, outdoor wear was dominated by synthetic fibers, and few people were interested in merino wool.However, the 100% merino wool T-shirts given to us by farmers were light, soft to the touch, breathable, and had an odor. The company was founded after learning about the characteristics of merino wool that does not easily get scratched, and wanting to create stress-free wear for various sports. I quit the company I was working at at the time, got a loan from a bank, used my own savings, and started manufacturing a total of 5 types, including 4 types of tops, including T-shirts, and 1 type of leggings.

The raw material for icebreaker is the wool of Merino sheep raised at an altitude of 1,800m in the Southern Alps of New Zealand. Merino sheep live in harsh highlands where the temperature changes rapidly, and in the summer when the temperature can reach 35 degrees, the highly breathable wool of the sheep keeps the sheep's body temperature at an appropriate level, and in the winter, the thick layer of wool keeps the sheep at a temperature of -20 degrees. It also protects the sheep from the cold weather. Merino wool is a highly functional product created by nature. It is not made from the latest technical fibers or petroleum, but from the power of nature itself, created by grass, water, and the sun. Since it is biodegradable and can be recycled, it enables sustainable manufacturing.