Icebreaker Socks Provide Maximum Comfort and Maximum Performance

December 11, 2007

Icebreaker's innovative range of socks gives cyclists, runners, hikers, skiers, snowboarders and travellers a combination of high-performance features and the luxurious comfort of merino wool.

The finest quality merino wool - sourced from sheep stations in the Southern Alps of New Zealand - keeps feet warm in cool weather, and cool in warm weather. Icebreaker's merino socks are breathable, wick away moisture and resist odour.

While other sock producers use a coarse wool micron, Icebreaker's fine merino wool microns are softer and prevent itchiness.

Icebreaker Accessories Business Unit Manager Lisa Ferreira says the company's design team has worked closely with the manufacturer to develop a unique "sandwich" construction of merino wool and Lycra or nylon.

An all-merino sock wouldn't be sufficiently resilient or keep its shape well, so Icebreaker has developed a layered process to increase the merino content by wrapping the nylon yarn in merino wool yarn, and to ensure merino wool is always next to the skin.

"Socks get much more wear than any other item of clothing. All your bodyweight goes on to the bottom of your foot, you wear your socks every day. So they have to be very comfortable, and very durable," says Lisa.

"Icebreaker's heritage is merino, and we knew it was important to have merino next to the skin. It's more comfortable and is very anti-friction, which prevents blisters."

The socks have extra cushioning under the foot and at the back of the heel. They come in six different weights and a variety of basic colours, with Icebreaker's trademark cool, quirky colour trims.

Icebreaker has also produced a sock for adventurous children, to keep their feet dry, comfortable and blister-free when they're tearing around the great outdoors.

The socks are easy care, and can be washed in a machine and tumble-dried.

Like all Icebreaker garments, the range of socks complies with the company's absolute insistence on sustainability and a high standard of animal welfare, as well as practices that are socially ethical, have a low impact on the environment and use the latest clean technology.

The socks were launched in 2007, and have been met with a great reaction from customers who know and trust Icebreaker's sleek, dynamic outdoor clothing. "The market was clearly ready for a new option in merino," says Lisa.

About Icebreaker

Launched in 1994, Icebreaker was the first company in the world to develop a merino wool layering system for the outdoors. It was also the first outdoor apparel company in the world to source merino direct from growers, a system it began in 1997. There are now 10 distinct pure merino fabrics in the Icebreaker system, covering underwear, mid layer, and outerwear.

Icebreaker is sold in nearly 2000 stores in 24 countries throughout Europe, Asia, Australasia and North America. Based in Wellington, New Zealand, Icebreaker uses only pure merino hand-picked from 120 high country stations in the country's Southern Alps to create edgy outdoor clothing that combines nature's work with human technology and design.