Socks are socks, right? Wrong! Socks aren't just socks. They're a part of nearly everything we do in a given day. They protect our feet from blisters, from pulling out the insoles of our shoes, they provide cushion and moisture-wicking when we're hard at work—or hard at play—and they can make or break a day out riding.
That might sound weird, but I'm particular about my socks because I've had terrible experiences with some. I've seen socks shred after only a handful of uses. I've seen them give me blisters the size of silver dollar pancakes. And I've had them fall down my moto boots while out blitzing trails, as happened when I went on my backcountry trial of my Lord and Savior, the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450.
So socks aren't just socks.
That's why when I find a good pair of socks, which is rare, I tend to get a couple pairs. And recently, I found such a pair when prepping for a few stories that'll hit RideApart in the coming weeks and months. Funnily enough, they aren't from Alpinestars or Dainese or any of the big moto apparel brands. They're from the hiking company Meindl, and the specific ones are the MT6 Mid-Weight Merino Wool Hiking Socks from the brand.
If you ride, you should buy a pair. Or three. Your feet will thank me later.
Merino Wool is the key to these socks' success, as it wicks away sweat—and I sweat a lot—is cushy right out of the box, and even after a number of washes, and have enough elasticity to stay up on your calves even when you're putting them to the test. I've now worn these socks with my new Meindl hunting boots, my Altra trail runners, and a handful of different moto boots, and they've been perfect all the way through.
"These are our go-to socks when traveling light and fast on the trail, or simply knocking around in the outdoors," says Meindl about the MT6s, adding, "These 10" tall, 3mm thick, 3-ounce technical trekking socks are designed and built with Meindl's legendary quality and attention to detail. Made with two-layer construction that combines just enough Merino Wool to get all the soft, moisture-wicking and odor-absorbing benefits and an organic bioceramic yarn that helps wick away moisture and regulate temperature of your feet."
Basically, the socks are designed for heavy, hard use in the rigors of the outdoors, making them perfect for off-road motorcycling or just regular motorcycling in general.
See, despite being great at keeping your feet safe, motorcycle boots, shoes, and full-size ADV boots aren't really designed for comfort. It's a weird thing to say, but the fit and fitment is there to encase your foot if you fall off your bike. That means that there's room where there shouldn't be, no room where there should, and the overall fit isn't the best for everyone's feet. And so, when you throw on some socks, you tend to find yourself adjusting them mid-ride or cursing the heavens that they're now balled up beneath your heel. These, somehow, don't do that.
Maybe I'm still in the honeymoon phase of our relationship. Maybe they'll fall apart after another couple of months. But I don't think they will. As I've said in these pages before, I'm incredibly awful to my gear. Engineers fear me and my hatred toward using things for their intended purpose and their intended purpose alone. Yet, these socks have given me exactly what I've been looking for in a sock; a sock that does it all.
Doesn't hurt that they're only $25 a pair either.
