Chocolate Fish sent me some samples from the 70 Mile Bush range of socks to trial as they were looking to bring them into the UK. They’re Kiwi-made from Kiwi merino and the versions I’ve got here cover a good cross section of weights and ideal use. They’re now in the UK, so here’s some thoughts on them so far.
The Taihape Mountain’s (in the packaging) are big and badass, these are for lining your winter boots, or wearing inside your wellies while you’re making a snowman or fishing. Like the other models they have old-school home-made looks, but the finish is fine, the toes have low profile seams and they’re a good length to match my ¾ length merino leggings. Very well padded, so good for inside rigger and steel toe-capped boots too, but that’s for when they get a little worn out, that padding will be repelling crampon straps first.
The Taihape Fell’s (at the right) are what you’d call a traditional hillwalking sock, still thick, but not like the Taihape’s loft insulation style. The same good toe is here, good length, good padding. These have had the most use so far, a nice GI outdoor sock.
The Taihape Trail is the sock with the black toes and heels, it’s thinner, it made a good summer sock and has been around Assynt most recently. It’s also a good sock for the daily sock drawer, these have been in my Vans and Converse as much anything.
The look like proper outdoor socks from better days don’t they? But the construction is up to date, the materials are a sensible mix of merino for comfort and performance ,with nylon and lycra to give a reliable fit and hopefully better durability.
The fit is well sculpted, the heel shaping is good, and I’ve had neither bagginess around the ankles or a cuff digging into my calves. They’ve all been washed a few times now and are still looking good.
Looking at the weather forecast, we’ll have more on the Taihape Mountains soon.
