Smart Wool socks ?

On Mon, 11 Oct 2004 21:55:22 +0100, Judith
<[email hidden]> wrote:

Hi there,

[...]

Quoted message said:

Are these socks widely available in shops in the UK, or will I need to
order online?

They seem to be fairly widely availalble. I've bought some recently in
Cotswold and Field & Trek, and I've seen them in other places too.

Quoted message said:

Which manufacturers use Smart Wool? Did someone say Bridgedale? Or
do only Smart Wool make Smart Wool socks?

Hmmm.... I'm not sure. I think I assumed it was a brand name, but I'm
not sure.

Oooh... it seems they have quite a cute website :-)
www.smartwool.com

Best wishes,
--
Peewiglet

On Mon, 11 Oct 2004 22:14:43 +0100, Peewiglet <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Oooh... it seems they have quite a cute website :-)
www.smartwool.com

It's cute because of the sheep on the front page.... but then I got
bored when I was confronted with loads of things that changed when the
mouse rolled over them. Also, I had to go to "International" to find
a dealer, and it only offers one company in the UK and I'd never heard
of them.

<Rant Over>

I didn't find the site easy to use but may try again when I'm in a
more receptive mood.

Cotswolds and Field & Trek would seem more likely to sell them than
Blacks ..... what *was* I thinking of ?!? (I've recently changed jobs
and am within 2 minutes walk of a Millets and a Blacks ..... so no
decent outdoor shops near me :-( )

Judith

"Judith" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

A few weeks ago, when I was nursing blisters, somebody (Pete Clinch, I
think) suggested that I try Smart Wool socks.

I went to Blacks today and (surprise surprise) they didn't have any.
One of the assistants had at least heard of them but she thought that
only the bigger shops would be getting any.

They had them in Blacks in Bristol on Saturday when I went to get a gas
cannister and they're in their catalogue I picked up.

Quoted message said:

Are these socks widely available in shops in the UK, or will I need to
order online?

All over the place.

AndyP said:

They had them in Blacks in Bristol on Saturday when I went to get a gas
cannister and they're in their catalogue I picked up.

Quoted message said:

Are these socks widely available in shops in the UK, or will I need to
order online?

All over the place.

Perhaps I chose the only Blacks that doesn't sell them!

I'll look again when I can get to a bigger shop.

Ta

Judith

The message <[email hidden]>
from Judith <[email hidden]> contains these words:

Quoted message said:

Which manufacturers use Smart Wool? Did someone say Bridgedale? Or
do only Smart Wool make Smart Wool socks?

Quoted message said:

I wore woolly socks today for the first time in ages and found them
very comfortable. However, I also wore my cheapo, synthetic, soft
Aldi boots which are completely different to my Brashers, so I don't
know which variable caused the increase in comfort.

I have worn loop stitch sock for years (and years). I thought they were
wool but the latest packet says "wool Rich Cushion Loop Socks". The %age
wool is not quoted. The manufacturer is "Terra Firma" who (according to
the blurb) also do liner socks should you want to adopt a 2 pair
strategy.

I had to ask my local shop (Speaks of Keighley) to order some as they
never seemed to have my size in stock and I have found that using too
large socks leads to lumpiness under the toes.

--
Roger Chapman so far this year 69 summits
New - 47 (Marilyns 13, Sweats 5, Outlying Fells 35)
Repeats - 22( Marilyns 7, Sweats 16, Wainwrights 16)

Judith said:

Quoted message said:

Oooh... it seems they have quite a cute website :-)
www.smartwool.com

It's cute because of the sheep on the front page....

Exactly right - that's as far as I got :-)

Quoted message said:

but then I got
bored when I was confronted with loads of things that changed when the
mouse rolled over them. Also, I had to go to "International" to find
a dealer, and it only offers one company in the UK and I'd never heard
of them.

Uh-oh.... annoying. In fact, the site almost didn't let me in at all,
because I have a popupstopper thingammy, and the site told me to get
rid of it! Whatta nerve... I did like the little sheep, though 🙂

Best wishes,
--
Peewiglet

Judith <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

It's cute because of the sheep on the front page.... but then I got
bored when I was confronted with loads of things that changed when the
mouse rolled over them. Also, I had to go to "International" to find
a dealer, and it only offers one company in the UK and I'd never heard
of them.

After reading Pete's post on these socks I ordered mine online from Needle
Sports in Keswick (free postage). "No connection" etc....

Quoted message said:

Cotswolds and Field & Trek would seem more likely to sell them than
Blacks ..... what *was* I thinking of ?!? (I've recently changed jobs
and am within 2 minutes walk of a Millets and a Blacks ..... so no
decent outdoor shops near me :-( )

My situation too. My small local Blacks did at least tell me that they knew
what I was looking for and thought their larger stores stock them. Millets
just told me that they had some socks with wool in them but they didn't know
if it was smart wool :-(

They feel really nice. Haven't been out in them yet, though!

Stuart

I like the Smartwool socks. I've got 6 pairs!

If you're really struggling to get hold of Smartwool socks near you then
consider www.foxriver.co.uk and check out their merino wool socks. They're
the same quality as Smartwool but Trail mag rated them higher because
they're a little cheaper and I seem to recall that they do free postage so
it might be worth giving them a call.

Cheers, Jiffy

Jiffy said:

If you're really struggling to get hold of Smartwool socks near you then
consider www.foxriver.co.uk and check out their merino wool socks. They're
the same quality as Smartwool but Trail mag rated them higher because
they're a little cheaper and I seem to recall that they do free postage so
it might be worth giving them a call.

Thanks. I'll check them out.

Once I find something I am comfortable with I will follow your example
and buy six pairs.. That way, I won't need to choose new socks again
for a long time. (Socks can be more difficult to choose than boots
IMO.)

Judith

On Mon, 11 Oct 2004 23:05:08 +0100, Peewiglet <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Uh-oh.... annoying. In fact, the site almost didn't let me in at all,
because I have a popupstopper thingammy, and the site told me to get
rid of it! Whatta nerve...

Understatement of the year. Any site that relies on (extremely
annoying) pop-ups is, by definition, badly designed.

Peter.

Judith said:

A few weeks ago, when I was nursing blisters, somebody (Pete Clinch, I
think) suggested that I try Smart Wool socks.

Possible: I don't use them, but Roos does and seems pleased with hers.

Quoted message said:

Are these socks widely available in shops in the UK, or will I need to
order online?

Fairly widely available up here. I think we've bought them in Tiso's
and what was Mountain Supplies.

Quoted message said:

Which manufacturers use Smart Wool? Did someone say Bridgedale? Or
do only Smart Wool make Smart Wool socks?

Smartwool is a company specialising in Merino wool products. Bridgedale
specialise in socks made from a mixture of yarns (mix of wool and
different synthetics IIRC) with all sorts of differentiated zones, and
they're my personal faves at the moment. I haven't tried Smartwools
yet, because I'm happy with my Bridgedales and they've plenty of life in
them.

Quoted message said:

(Having spent oodles of money on the Brashers, I really do hope I
don't have to chuck 'em out in favour of the £17.99 Aldi boots!)

But if you do, and the time comes to replace them, you won't have to
spend oodles next time around...

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

"Judith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

A few weeks ago, when I was nursing blisters, somebody (Pete Clinch, I
think) suggested that I try Smart Wool socks.

I went to Blacks today and (surprise surprise) they didn't have any.
One of the assistants had at least heard of them but she thought that
only the bigger shops would be getting any.

Are these socks widely available in shops in the UK, or will I need to
order online?

Which manufacturers use Smart Wool? Did someone say Bridgedale? Or
do only Smart Wool make Smart Wool socks?

I wore woolly socks today for the first time in ages and found them
very comfortable. However, I also wore my cheapo, synthetic, soft
Aldi boots which are completely different to my Brashers, so I don't
know which variable caused the increase in comfort.

(Having spent oodles of money on the Brashers, I really do hope I
don't have to chuck 'em out in favour of the £17.99 Aldi boots!)

Judith

Hi Judith, you can get them from Rock and Run in ambleside or order them
online from
www.rockrun.com
They have three different thicknesses in a full range of sizes and are a
good company to deal with. About £12 a pair.

hope this helps

simon

"Judith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Mon, 11 Oct 2004 22:14:43 +0100, Peewiglet <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Oooh... it seems they have quite a cute website :-)
www.smartwool.com

It's cute because of the sheep on the front page.... but then I got
bored when I was confronted with loads of things that changed when the
mouse rolled over them. Also, I had to go to "International" to find
a dealer, and it only offers one company in the UK and I'd never heard
of them.

<Rant Over>

I didn't find the site easy to use but may try again when I'm in a
more receptive mood.

Click on the link to the website of this company you had never heard of
(Anatom - the UK distributors) and you reach a properly designed web site
and in two seconds are at http://www.anatom.co.uk/dealers_page.html which
gives all UK stockists of their products - they are widely available.

Judith <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

(I've recently changed jobs
and am within 2 minutes walk of a Millets and a Blacks ..... so no
decent outdoor shops near me :-( )

I buy my walking socks from Blacks, I think they are Bridgedale, and
since I have worn them I have never had a blister.
I tend to ignore comments like "XXXX is a rubbish shop", and trust my
own judgement. ;-)

I have about four pairs which I use in turn[1].

[1] I tried "cycle" and "rotate" in that sentence, but thought it would
have been a feed line for the likes of Rooney[2].

[2] I mean Paul Rooney, not the famous one.
--
Gordon

Gordon said:

....thought it would
have been a feed line for the likes of Rooney[2].

[2] I mean Paul Rooney, not the famous one.

He *is* the famous one on here. Famous for not turning up on
expeditions :-)
--
Phil Cook looking north over the park to the "Westminster Gasworks"

Judith <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Once I find something I am comfortable with I will follow your example
and buy six pairs.. That way, I won't need to choose new socks again
for a long time. (Socks can be more difficult to choose than boots
IMO.)

I was ok once I discovered loop pile socks, soft and comfortable.
--
Gordon

Phil Cook <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Gordon said:

....thought it would
have been a feed line for the likes of Rooney[2].

[2] I mean Paul Rooney, not the famous one.

He *is* the famous one on here. Famous for not turning up on
expeditions :-)

Drat! I forgot about that....
--
Gordon

On Tue, 12 Oct 2004 13:12:54 +0100, Gordon <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I was ok once I discovered loop pile socks, soft and comfortable.

I agree ..... but all my loop pile socks seem to have holes in them.

Perhaps you're only supposed to wear them everyday for five years or
so. Nothing lasts these days.

Judith

simplesimon said:

Hi Judith, you can get them from Rock and Run in ambleside or order them
online from
www.rockrun.com
They have three different thicknesses in a full range of sizes and are a
good company to deal with. About £12 a pair.

hope this helps

Thanks for that.

I have tried two Blacks (Llandudno and Southport) and both suggested I
try one of their larger shops (eg Liverpool) but I don't know when
I'll next be able to make a special trip just to get some socks.

I would like to see them before I buy, but at least I now know that
they are available.

Judith