Ultimax Wigwam "Hiker II” Performance Socks
Reviewed by: Bill Ames
Where to buy: Anywhere quality sporting goods are sold
Cost: $9.00 or so

Billed as "blister free" these are supposed to be the most hi-tech socks available. At least that's what it says on the packaging. 

Made from a blend of about 20 different petroleum distillates, and a little bit of merino wool, these socks do live up to their billing. Merino wool is as soft as can be--it's not what you think of as wool--it's extremely soft and doesn't itch at all.

My feet were quite comfortable in a brand new pair of Altama jungle boots, and while I did develop a small blister, I think that it would have been much worse had I been wearing cotton socks.

Two neat things I noticed about these socks were the "Y" design of the heel and the very thin top. 

The "Y" heel adds extra material to the heel, that is, this sock is not made like a "tube" sock. Basically, they cut the tube and added more material into the heel. 

The trick works . . . it keeps the sock from slipping down into your boots as you walk. I think it's part of the blister free thing too, as I didn't notice a lot of rubbing.

The top of the socks is much, much thinner than the soles, which helps to keep your foot cool and dry . . . just one of those things that makes you feel like there really was some thoughtful design going into these. 

Water is no problem at all in these socks--with the proper boots, they dry so fast you don't mind walking through puddles or fording streams. Combined with my Mil-Spec Altama jungle boots, I fear no water on the trail :-)

While I generally don't like to use the commercial "hi tech" hiking and camping stuff, this was one thing that did work as advertised. At $9 a pair, they should! 

Addendum: I've used these socks on a number of excursions now over the course of a year and 20+hikes, and they really are my favorites. Well worth the money! I've been hiking in everything from swampy spring runs to cold and wet winter snow, and they have certainly outperformed everything else I've tried. In winter, my feet were plenty warm, in spring, they were kept dry. The cushioning has lasted over 100 rocky trails miles and is showing no signs of  giving out. What more can you ask?

Second addendum: I'm now into my 8th year with the original two pairs of Ultimax cool hikers from Wigwam, and they're still going strong. I've got well over two hundred day hikes on them, and they show no signs of stopping. Meanwhile, some other brands I've tried have been relegated to the rubbish tip . . . they just don't hold up, and they're not nearly as comfortable. This includes the USGI socks, which I've never liked because they're too slick.

I've come to appreciate the grip these socks have, too. A lot of socks allow your foot (especially your heel) to slip around, and that causes injuries and blisters. The Ultimax have enough traction to hold your heel in place, even on the rockiest boot-busting trails.

As for the difference between the 'Cool Lite Hiker' and the 'Hiking II' products, I honestly don't see much, except that the Hiking II socks are a bit warmer in the winter, which they're not designed for, but work quite well! If you're into light weight trekking, you can save a few grams, but I can't really say that they are much cooler—both models seem cool to me.