Brother Bark is at the Thermal Club private road course outside Palm Springs, CA today, to drive the new Acura NSX. Oddly enough, I’ll be there next week for something completely different. This happens to us a lot.
In fact, it’s a family tradition. My father once arrived at a rental counter in the LGA airport just three minutes after one of his younger brothers left said counter. “Was there a problem with the car?” the rental agent asked. It took him a few minutes to realize that Dad and his brother were two separate people and that there might be two similar-looking Baruths renting cars on the same day. When Dad told us this story, I asked,
“So, how is uncle Kerry, anyway?”
“How should I know?” he replied. Did I mention that another one of our family traditions is to, ah, restrain our affection?
Alright. While Bark enjoys a brilliant track in ninety-degree California weather, I’m going to give you all the scoop on some socks.
Fox River had a deal on Massdrop early last month, so I took a chance on their Peak Series socks despite their rather outre appearance. They’re meant to be worn under boots, so it doesn’t really matter what they look like.
My general reference for sock quality is the limited-edition Flint and Tinder Explorer. You really can’t kill them; after fifty washings they still look and fit like they’re brand new. At first glance, the Fox Rivers appear to have the same thoughtful construction and attention to detail. I’ve worn them under my Frye and A-E boots for some long wintertime motorcycle rides and I’ve been totally content.
They’re exceptionally thick, so you wouldn’t want to wear them while running or using an elliptical, particularly indoors. In bad weather, on the other hand… I rode the CB1100 to work yesterday and by the time I left the office the temperature had dropped for about 40 degrees, the winds were high, and there was a bona-fide thunderstorm in progress. Standing water everywhere. So much humidity that I had to keep my visor up, which meant I was getting rain in the eyeballs at 50mph. Worst non-snow weather I’ve ridden in, I think. Took me forty minutes to get home, at which point I couldn’t feel any of my fingers. My feet, on the other hand, were perfectly warm and dry.
So it’s two big toes up for the Fox River Peak Series. So far, anyway. And they really don’t cost that much more than Chinese socks. Check them out at FoxSox.com.
Another brand to check out is Darn Tough based out of Vermont. The only socks that I know of that have an unconditional guarantee. If you manage to wear yours out you can return them and they’ll send you a brand new pair. I’ve got a few pairs and they live up to the name.
darntough.com
I’m embarrassed to admit that I have two pairs on the way already for a comparison test!
I fully expect this comparo to be written in the Motor Trend “Mustang vs Camaro” style… “Darn Tough vs Fox River. This time it’s PERSONAL!”
Having owned both Darn tough and Fox River (though not the peak series), I found the darn tough to be less irritating to my leg hair. This is all with wool socks btw
I’ve been especially enamored of Fox River socks after noting several of the higher paying fluff ‘n’ fold customers wore them exclusively, and trying them out on their unwitting recommendation. After the first day wearing a pair to work (adventure cross trainer type), I donated a couple score of the standard substandard bulk Hanes crew socks to the young man in the house.
I got a pair of fox river ski socks 7 years ago as a gift and they’ve held up great, pleasantly surprised to learn they’re made in the US. I never found them in any stores, I don’t know why it never occurred to me see if they had a website. Time to get a couple more pairs.