I pulled these socks on at every opportunity that came along. It's hard to count everywhere they went with me, but it was a lot. I wore them on day hikes and on multi-day traverses in the Malá Fatra, the Veľká Fatra, and the High and Western Tatras. I also climbed Triglav in them and walked my way across the German Alps.
Specifically, I tested four models:
Bridgedale Hike LW Cotton CC Boot
Bridgedale Trail Run LW T2 MS Crew
I was surprised how soft and comfortable the socks are. No scratching, no itching, no pulling anywhere.
The key is choosing the right size. Luckily they're nice and stretchy and, within their size range, mould nicely to your foot. The seams are soft, they don't press anywhere and don't leave marks.
Straight off the knitting machine, Bridgedale socks are still a good deal bigger than the finished product. Only after being steam-washed repeatedly and shaped on a last several times do they reach their final size. That's why they never shrink and keep their shape for ever.
No girl wants ugly socks – especially when they're on show. Or at least I don't. Luckily, Bridgedale offers all sorts of colours, almost always finished off with a pretty detail. The turquoise shades caught my eye the most. And if you're not a fan of bold colours, Bridgedale has neutral colours too.
100%. They deliver on what they promise. In the chilly mornings they keep you warm, and in the afternoon heat they cool and breathe brilliantly. They're like a second skin – and your real skin underneath comes to no harm.
They're made differently from other socks. The merino fibre is first "wrapped" in a synthetic fibre, and this combination then produces a dense, resilient fabric that lasts for years of use.
Neither on all-day hikes nor on multi-day treks did I have any trouble with blisters. The socks fit brilliantly, yet they're not tight at all and my toes can still move freely. And in all honesty – nobody wants smelly socks, which multi-day treks tend to encourage. But these socks really don't smell even after several tough days.
Just air your Bridgedale socks on the tent guy line overnight and in the morning you can carry on in the same pair. The natural antiseptic, antifungal and antibacterial properties of merino wool prevent odours from forming.
There's nothing worse than a sweaty foot that feels like it's on fire. Well, apart from cold feet. Thanks to their blend of materials, Bridgedales are superbly breathable and dry quickly too.
Even after all my trips, the socks haven't lost any of their qualities. After ten washes the fabric still looks the same and still works the same, too.
I'd never had special hiking socks before, but I can compare them with ordinary socks from the likes of Nike. THEY'RE WORTH IT. No question. They may cost more than you'd expect, but they last a really long time, don't wear through and always keep your feet comfortable. No blisters or sore spots. My next pair will be Bridgedale again.
Before leaving the factory in the small Northern Irish town of Newtownards, every pair of Bridgedale socks goes through a hand inspection. And with socks checked like that, you also get a lifetime guarantee on workmanship and materials.
