Review: THERMOHAIR SOCKS: My most loved socks this winter
Written by Yasushi Hisatomi
table of contents
Merino wool isn't the only material that's great for socks
Merino wool has become the most popular material for socks in recent years. Its high quality has been proven in the comparative tests conducted on this website. In addition to its excellent temperature regulation properties, keeping you cool in the summer and warm in the winter, it is also durable, flexible, and naturally antibacterial, making it ideal for socks. This is why I had concluded that merino wool is the only choice for socks all year round. That was until last year
However, the outdoor world is still as vast as ever, and we never imagined that the one pair of socks that arrived at our editorial office would become our most worn socks this winter
The socks are called THERMOHAIR. They are knitted from kid mohair, the rarest type of Angora goat hair (mohair), so what's new and amazing about them? Let's take a quick look at their review
Detailed Review
Item name (reference price)
THERMOHAIR SOCKS (Thermohair socks) *The photo shows regular socks (Reference price: 4,320 yen)
Main specifications and evaluation
| item | Specifications and reviews |
|---|---|
| material | Mohair - 68%, Nylon - 32% |
| Antibacterial and deodorizing effect | For now, ◯ |
| Comfort | ★★★★★ |
| Support | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Cushioning | ★★★★☆ |
| Heat retention | ★★★★★ |
| Breathability | ★★★☆☆ |
| quick drying | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Overall score | ★★★★☆ |
This is amazing!
Exceptional comfort and cushioning
If I were to explain to someone how great these socks are, I would have no hesitation. I would have them first touch the lining without saying anything. The moment they touch it, they would feel a smooth, incredibly soft texture unlike anything they have ever encountered before .
The secret, of course, lies in the material. The "kid mohair" used in these socks is an extremely rare fiber that can only be extracted from kids of Angora goats less than one year old
Unlike wool, mohair has less frizz and smaller scales on the surface of the hair (see photo). This makes it smooth and silky to the touch . Kid mohair is also thinner and softer than regular mohair, so the difference is clear when compared to merino wool, which is generally said to have finer and softer fibers than mohair. It's truly an addictive comfort.
Magnified micrographs of merino wool fibers on the left and mohair fibers on the right
Furthermore, its excellent elasticity means it remains firm even when stretched 30% from its original length, and its extremely long pile of 5mm allows for excellent cushioning and a comfortable feel . To give you an idea of cushioning, here's a comparison photo of the Smartwool Mountaineering (left), the thickest Merino wool, a winter staple, with the Smartwool PhD Outdoor Heavy Crew (right), a spring-to-autumn staple. Thermohair has the longest pile, but overall the Mountaineering is denser and slightly thicker, providing the best cushioning, while Thermohair provides just as much cushioning as the PhD Heavy (right).
It is less cushioned than Smartwool Mountaineering (left) because it is less densely woven, but compared to PhD Heavy (right), its overwhelmingly larger pile fabric provides almost the same cushioning
Excellent heat retention and moisture absorption
Angora goats originally inhabit cold regions like Tibet and the Himalayas, and their fibers are highly insulating, blocking outside temperatures and retaining body heat. From what I've researched, it seems that Angora mohair generally doesn't offer better warmth than wool. However, in the case of these socks, the quality of the kid mohair itself, as well as the 5mm pile knitting, efficiently create an insulating layer of air, so they're not inferior in any way to warmth . I experienced their superior warmth in February when I compared the thickest socks, Smartwool Mountaineering and Thermohair, overnight in my tent. Surprisingly, Thermohair, despite being less thick, provided just as much warmth as Mountaineering, which I'd previously considered the "warmest" socks!
However, like wool, mohair has excellent moisture absorption properties and has natural temperature and humidity control properties, so it keeps you cool in the summer and warm in the winter . Even if you sweat, the inside of your socks will always stay dry.
Durable, long-lasting and easy to care for
Also known as "diamond fiber," mohair is said to be the strongest animal hair in the world. According to the manufacturer, when these socks were completed, a retailer commented, "Socks this strong won't sell! Make socks that tear easily." Indeed, even now, after just over a month of use, there is only a slight amount of pilling, and the durability itself is not particularly noticeable. Incidentally, after wearing them for a while, the pile in areas that are subject to heavy loads, such as the heel and toe, will collapse, but this is not an essential deterioration and does not particularly affect the warmth or breathability (I inquired to confirm this)
The pile was crushed in the heel area, but this did not affect the warmth or cushioning
And best of all, it's incredibly helpful that they don't require the delicate handling that down or other high-quality natural fibers require. Basically, just like the latest merino wool, you can turn them inside out, place them in a laundry net, and toss them in the washing machine without any problems ( detailed care instructions are available on the manufacturer's website). Some Amazon reviews mentioned that these socks lose threads when washed, but this is "loose fibers" left over during the manufacturing process and is not a quality issue. This is inevitable at first, and will eventually go away if you follow the manufacturer's instructions for disposing of them.
This is not so good
Support
Compared to other outdoor socks, I was concerned that these socks lacked the technical features to support stable walking. Unlike many outdoor sock manufacturers today, which aim to improve fit and hold by controlling pressure and cushioning from the toes to the instep, arch, heel, and ankle, these socks lack the features to accommodate more active movements, such as reducing slippage and stabilizing the foot, or reducing fatigue
Comparing the lineup, the Walker's Fit is the most flexible and designed for a comfortable fit, but unfortunately it is made with slightly thinner yarn and a smaller pile, which means it lacks the soft feel and warmth of the regular. It would be ideal if it had the thickness and length of the regular but the fit of the Walker's Fit
price
Unfortunately, perhaps because it is produced in small quantities due to the rare material, the price is not very reasonable
Summary: What activities is it recommended for?
In terms of whether these socks are ideal for winter, the kid mohair material they are made of not only matches merino wool, but in some ways even surpasses it, demonstrating excellent performance
In summary, kid mohair has the following three advantages:
- Excellent insulation (heat retention)
- Smooth to the touch and comfortable to wear
- Durable and easy to care for
These Thermohair socks make full use of these characteristics. They are ideal for everyday use as well as winter outdoor activities where warmth and breathability are required at the same time, and we can confidently recommend them to anyone looking for high-quality comfort for a variety of winter activities such as skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, winter mountain climbing, winter camping, etc. However, for extremely active activities such as running or speed hiking, other products still have an advantage
I tried out three different styles, and found that the ankle socks are more suitable for everyday wear, while the regular socks are best for general winter activities. For more active scenes, there's the Walker's Fit, but the kid mohair is a little more subdued, so if this is your first time trying Thermohair, I recommend starting with the regular or ankle socks
For more information on Thermohair Socks, please visit the official website
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