The Great Outdoors – August 2019

First

Look

HJ Hall

Protrek Socks

From £10 Size UK 4-13

hj.co.uk

Sock specialist HJ Hall has launched a new range of

walking socks for 2019 called ProTrek. For the last

few months I’ve been trying a couple of pairs, the

Adventure Hike and the Mountain Climb. Both are

made with wooltech, a mix of nylon, polypropylene

and wool that HJ Hall says is ‘ultra-durable’ and

‘provides the ultimate in moisture-wicking and

breathability’.

The Adventure Hike, the socks I’ve worn most,

are made from 37% polyamide, 32% polypropylene,

30% wool and 1% elastane. They have high-density

cushioning around the toes, under the ball of the foot

and around the heel. There’s a thinner stretchy section

between the ball and the heel. Thinner upper and leg

sections are described as ‘ventilation mesh zones’.

The socks are treated to inhibit bacteria growth and

reduce odours.

The socks are soft and comfortable. When

wet they dry quicker than socks with more wool

content, as you’d expect. They do wick moisture

and breathe well, though I can’t say there’s any

noticeable difference from other top-quality socks.

As to durability, it’s too soon to tell yet. With a high

synthetic content, I do expect them to last well. The

anti-odour treatment has so far worked well.

These socks aren’t expensive for good-quality

ones. I think the Adventure Hikes are most useful and

suitable for year-round use except in the hottest and

coldest weather.

Chris Townsend

THE UK’S

MOST

EXPERIENCED

GEAR

TESTING

TEAM

TGO’s gear reviewers

Chris Townsend

Height 5’8” Boot size 9

Clothing size Medium

(with short legs)

Chris Townsend has written 20 books on

the outdoors, including the award-winning

The Backpacker’s Handbook. Among his

walking achievements, he was the first

person to complete a continuous round

of all the Munros and Tops and the first to

walk the 1600-mile length of the Canadian

Rockies. Chris has been reviewing gear

for The Great Outdoors since 1991.

Judy Armstrong

Height 5’2” Boot size 3.5/4

Clothing size 12/Women’s medium

Judy Armstrong has been

testing gear for The Great Outdoors

since 2005 but has been hillwalking and

mountaineering for 30

years. Originally from

New Zealand, Judy

lives in the North York

Moors National Park

and also has a base

in the French Alps.

Alex Roddie

Height 5’ 7”Boot size 10.5

Clothing size Medium

Alex Roddie is The Great

Outdoors magazine’s Online Editor and

a regular feature writer. A reformed

climber with a background in Scottish

winter and alpinism, he loves nothing

better than long-distance lightweight

backpacking in wild mountain

landscapes, particularly the Scottish

Highlands and Swiss Alps. Read his

reviews online at tgomagazine.co.uk.

Salewa

Wildfire Edge

£140

The Wildfire Edge is a mountain shoe that can be adapted from

walking to a more climb-focused mode. Salewa’s Switchfit

system works by lacing the additional rear eyelet, meaning the

heel is pulled in and the foot pushed forward into the toe area.

This compresses the toes, the same way

as climbing shoes. For grip and friction in

both dry and wet conditions, the Pomoca

Speed MTN outer sole is made from

Butilic Compound with a smooth

‘climbing zone’ at the toe.

salewa.com

Jack Wolfskin

HydroHood

£100

This multifunctional fleece jacket

features new water-repellent DWR

tech from Jack Wolfskin, who say

that this new technology

lasts many times longer

than conventional

waterproofing in fleece.

The jacket features

two side pockets and a

permanently attached

hood. PFC-free, the

jacket weighs in at

402g for a women’s

size small.

jack-wolfskin.co.uk