These socks have several different names, Walking, Hiking, Mountaineering - they are all the same socks made on the same machines from the same batches but given different names for SEO purposes (essential for online companies). There is no difference for men or women.
Our thickest, warmest all around terry looped socks so the same thickness throughout the sock. These are made of 75% pure alpaca and 25% nylon, which gives the socks shape. Alpaca is as soft as cashmere to wear but far more hardwearing.
Alpaca has unique hollow fibres which have higher insulating properties than any other wool. The fibre has a low prickle factor and can be worn by those who normally cannot tolerate wool next to their skin. Alpaca naturally repels bacteria and odour so socks can be worn for a week without the need to wash. Embrace the arrival of Long Life Socks!
Sadly after 160 years of hand linking the last hand linker retired recently so all new stock of walking socks will have a machined toe.
Natural yarn colours - like all animals alpaca fleece colours are different on each and every one of them. Sometimes our mid grey is a bit paler, sometimes a bit darker. Charcoal can sometimes take on a slightly brown hue - these are natural, undyed colours and they vary.
WASHING INSTRUCTIONS
We have found that alpaca socks and knitwear wash beautifully and there is no shrinkage at all, ever. We have socks that have been worn and washed regularly for the last five years and they are still perfect.
It is not heat that will ruin your alpaca goods but agitation, this is why it is imperative to do them on a wool cycle only in your machine – or hand wash of course. Beware of washing machines that are microchipped - once you have selected a setting it cannot be changed if it is incorrect - the programme is set (Miele is the prime example) and no amount of knob twiddling will change that setting!
- Wash on a 30/40°C WOOL PROGRAMME ONLY.
- No more than 1 Kilo of washing to be in machine per load.
- Use wool specific detergent.
- Wash in a net bag or pillowcase.
- Can be washed gently by hand in tepid water with a short spin; do not rub
- Wash dark colours separately.
- Reshape while damp.
- Do not bleach.
- Dry naturally – they do take 24 hours to air dry properly.
- Do not dry on direct heat such as a radiator or Aga.
- Do not tumble dry.
- Can be ironed.