A s someone who turns into the grinch if I’m forced to hike past 6 p.m., a comfortable camp experience is high on my priority list. And with a base weight under 10 lbs, I’m always looking for ways to squeeze in the little luxuries. In the past, I’ve brought a large pair of wool socks along on trail just to keep my piggies toasty through the night, but my base weight aches for the ounces, and they don’t always succeed at keeping the cold at bay. Are the Zpacks Goose Socks worth the weight to spoil my feet after a long day of hiking? Let’s find out.
MSRP: $69.95 Material: Ventum Ripstop Nylon, 850 Fill Power Down Weight: 1.8 ounces (medium)
I broke these booties out in Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Big Bend National Park, and several TX state parks, where I saw a few nights below 40 degrees and many in the 40-50 degree range. I’ll update this gear review with more cold weather beta come September when I tackle JPD’s Appalachian High Route . But don’t worry – as someone who gets the stink eye from my partner when I throw on a hoodie when it’s 78 degrees, my threshold for most cold weather is remarkably low. It’s worth noting that I thru-hiked the AT NOBO with a zero-degree bag and used a 30-degree bag as a liner for several months.
Ventum Ripstop Nylon – Possibly my favorite feature of the Goose Socks, Zpacks has selected Ventum Ripstop Nylon as their fabric of choice. Soft, lightweight, and breathable, I found this fabric choice to be my favorite feature of these delightful booties.
‘Responsible Down Standard’ Certified DownTek – The RDS ensures the Goose Sock down wasn’t collected with any unnecessary harm involved to the geese. DownTek stays dry 90% longer than traditional down, thanks to a water repellent treatment.
Adjustable Cuff Cinch – Say goodbye to the nights of kicking off your down booties only to wake up to frozen piggies – ZPacks has you covered.
Zpacks seems to have thought of everything a camper faces during a night on trail, and moisture management is no exception. The dreaded tent condensation/foot sweat dynamic duo must’ve played into their decision to treat these booties with “C0” Durable Water Repellent to ensure a night that’s as comfortable as possible. Additionally, the Ventum Ripstop Nylon fabric is quite breathable. Even if moisture does accumulate inside the sock, it can easily be turned inside out for prompt drying.
Moisture Management – As discussed, the “C0” Durable Water Repellent treatment and the breathability of the Ventum Ripstop Nylon make these down socks a high-scorer in this category.
Comfort – From the moment I took the Goose Socks out of their package, I was astounded at how soft the fabric felt. The Ventum Ripstop Nylon is not sticky or plasticky like other fabrics used with down fill in this weight range, and I was disappointed when temps got too high for me to wear them only for the added comfort around my hard-working feet.
Price – This one’s pretty obvious, but a pair of socks usually isn’t $69.95. If you’re tackling consistently cold temperatures on your adventures, these may be worth the investment. If not, an extra pair of wool socks is probably sufficient.
Definitely Not Camp Shoes – If you’re looking to kill two birds with one stone, these aren’t the socks for you. These down socks should not be worn outside of your tent or sleeping bag if you want to make them last.
If you’ve made it to the end of this gear review, you’re probably in the niche audience that ZPacks is targeting with their Goose Socks – someone who needs an ultralight solution for the problem of ultra-cold feet overnight. For me, they delivered that solution wrapped in wildly comfortable material and so lightweight I barely batted an eye.
Shop the Zpacks Goose Socks
MSRP: $69.00 Weight: 2.1-2.7 ounces (men’s large, fabric dependent) Insulation: 850 Fill Power
MSRP: $65.00 Weight: 2.0 ounces (large) Insulation: Climashield Apex Synthetic Insulation
Outdoor Research Tundra Aerogel Booties
MSRP: $89.00 Weight: 9.3 ounces Insulation: NASA-Approved VerticalX Insulation Other features: No-slip durable tread
The Zpacks Goose Socks were donated for purpose of review.
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Katie (she/her) has the Appalachian Trail, Colorado Trail, and Lone Star Hiking Trail under her belt with a bucket list of many, many more. She is the Social Media Lead for The Trek and enjoys any opportunity to write about her adventures, good trail ethics, and trail stewardship. Check out her adventures with Thru the husky @oatshikes on Instagram or www.oatshikes.com