In recent years the clothing that we wear on the mountains has been revolutionized. New fabrics, new manufacturing processes, new materials. Add that to lighter weight, better performance and what I will be wearing on Everest will be very different to the clothing I was wearing 15 years ago. Everything except socks – until now.
I don’t know why, but sock manufacturers have not really produced anything new since Merino wool became standard 20 or 30 years ago. The socks that I wore to the top of Everest in 2010 were exactly the same brand and style that I wore on Denali in 2003, or up Kilimanjaro in 1997. Finally things are changing. This year I’m taking a new style of sock and I’m very excited about them. Frostbite is a very serious hazard on Everest, I’ve seen many cases of frostbite and know several people who have lost toes, so you will understand how I’m excited to have a new and better sock.
Let me introduce you to FITS socks. I will be reviewing the performance of these socks on Everest, but I’ve already tested them here in Minnesota and I know they’re going to be an improvement. Check out their website http://fitssock.com/