Alpaca Socks: The Warmest Socks Guaranteed To Conquer Frostbite

The onset of winter is fast approaching as much as you may hope to just sit by the fireplace and sip hot cocoa to keep the cold away, you may not get your wish. At some point, you will have to go outdoors, even if it is just to scrape ice off the windshield. You will be surprised at how chilled to the bone you can get with what you think will be just a quick dash outside. Even if you manage to stay indoors throughout the winter, the cold floor could still give your feet frostbite.

That is why it is important for you to start shopping around for some warm socks for the winter. Different stores will try to sell to you different types of socks as the warmest socks guaranteed to conquer frostbite. Some will tell you it’s merino socks, others cotton, while others will insist it is wool - without the proof to back up the claims.

However, the warmest socks guaranteed to conquer frostbite are alpaca socks. Alpaca socks are made from wool obtained from alpacas. This South American animal, often confused with the llama, is known for its soft, strong, and hypoallergenic fiber that only holds at most 30% moisture. The fiber is used to make socks that are warmer, more breathable, and lightweight than wool from sheep.

And they’re guaranteed to keep your toes warm all winter long.

Benefits of Alpaca Wool Socks

Alpaca socks are good at moisture desorption

Alpaca socks do not absorb any moisture from your feet – but they will wick it away. Here, the micro-fine hair in the wool will gather the moisture and use the warmth from your body to evaporate it. The result is that your feet will stay dry throughout. You won’t enjoy such comfort when you use cotton, merino wool, or cashmere socks.

They are all-season socks

Winter will come and go. That, however, doesn’t mean that your feet should now boil inside heated socks because of trapped heat. Alpaca socks will keep your feet warm when it’s cold and cool when it’s warm. The good news is that alpaca socks come in varieties for boots, dress shoes, loafers, and even outdoor activities. They are also available in ankle-size or knee-high to suit your needs. With alpaca socks, you won’t have to shop for socks for every season.

Softness guaranteed

The alpaca fiber has a reputation for being one of the softest materials on earth. It's inherently softer than cashmere, and even 26-micron alpaca fiber will have the softness and comfort levels of 16-micron wool fiber. Younger alpacas produce softer fibers. This means that the softness of the alpaca socks is in its own league. Most manufacturers aim to use only baby-quality fiber so that the socks have an unmatched softness that is comfortable on the feet.

They are light on the feet

For material that is warmer and more durable than wool, you will be surprised at how lightweight alpaca socks are. You can wear them with any shoes without worrying about dragging your feet around. Unless of course, you are looking for socks that will stuff your feet so much that you can get to wear a larger shoe size. In that case, keep off the alpaca socks.

Alpaca socks are odorless

Unlike most farm animals, alpacas don’t attract flies. This is because their fur doesn’t contain lanolin that gathers dust and dirt. Even during shearing and spinning, alpaca fiber doesn’t require as much cleaning as other types of wool. This characteristic is passed on to alpaca socks, and you won’t have to worry about walking around with smelly feet simply because your socks like trapping dirt inside them.

The socks are hypoallergenic

Most people are allergic to wool because wool contains lanolin. Wearing woolen socks causes them an allergic reaction resulting in itchy, swollen, blistered, or red feet. If you are one of these unfortunate individuals, then alpaca socks are the solution you have been looking for. You won’t have to worry about any allergic reactions.

They are environment-friendly socks

Alpaca socks are made from 100% natural materials and are therefore sustainable. When you have to dispose of them in the long run (they are very durable), you won’t have to worry about any added chemicals causing environmental degradation.

They can be machine washed

The heat from washing machines makes most socks to shrink. However, alpaca fiber is known for having high heat resistance and you can, therefore, machine-wash your alpaca socks when they need to be cleaned.

How to Care for Your Alpaca Socks

Alpaca socks are very durable. This does not, however, mean that you should handle them carelessly. To get the longest life out of your alpaca socks, you should take good care of them too. Here are a few tips on how to take the best care of them possible:

Machine Washing Tips

• Use mild detergents and turn the socks inside out before washing.
• Always use the wool cycle instead of the hand wash cycle. The machine should be set to a cold wash and the dark colors washed separately from the bright ones.
• To prevent stretching and loss of shape, alpaca socks should be washed in a mesh laundry bag. The mesh bag helps in keeping them from tangling with other pieces of laundry or in the inner parts of the washing machine.
• Use cold water for washing and rinsing.
• You should not use bleach on the socks nor should you scrub them using a brush.
• Use as little shampoo as possible and after rubbing them with your hands, soak the socks in the water for about three minutes before rinsing.
• Press the socks slightly to remove excess water before airing to dry. You should never wring alpaca socks as they can lose their shape. Do not air in direct sunlight. You may need to air them for up to 24 hours to dry properly.
• Stubborn stains should be cleaned only through dry cleaning instead of scrubbing.
• Don’t use the dryer to dry your alpaca socks. Instead, air them out to dry. Remember to avoid keeping them in direct sunlight.
• You can iron the socks after drying. However, ensure the heat is set on the low.
• When the winter is over, you may need to keep away your alpaca socks for the next cold season.
• The socks should only be stored once they are fully dried (dirty socks should be cleaned first).
• Keep them away from the reach of moths and other pests. You can keep them in a shirt box, cardboard box, clean pillowcase, or a plastic bag where air can circulate freely.
• Dried lavender sachets or cedar chips can be added to keep the pests away. It is not recommended to use mothballs.

Hand Washing Tips

Other Laundry Tips

Storage Tips

Factors to Consider When Buying Alpaca Socks

There are a wide variety of alpaca socks and settling on a given one can be quite an overwhelming task. Here are a few factors to put into consideration when shopping for alpaca socks:

Budget

As the warmest socks guaranteed to conquer frostbite, alpaca socks won’t come on the cheap. However, it is a sacrifice worth making for you are assured of getting value for your money. Unlike other materials, they won’t leave your toes vulnerable to frostbite by soaking up and holding in moisture from your feet.

Design

There are a wide variety of designs for alpaca socks intended for different needs. If you are looking for something just to keep your feet warm while sipping coffee indoors, then you can go for 100% pure alpaca fiber socks. Other alpaca socks are designed in combination with other materials to enhance durability and comfort.

Purpose

While shopping for alpaca socks, the quality you go for should be informed by the intended purpose for the socks. It would be a waste of money to buy grade 1 alpaca socks if you intend to use them for outdoor sports such as hiking. They are too soft and are likely to wear off easily. On the other hand, grade 5 alpaca socks wouldn’t go well if you are just looking for dress socks because they are too heavy. If you’re looking for something that blends durability and comfort, you may even opt for a hybrid, such as our alpaca and bamboo Pakaboo sports socks.

Comfort

The socks should feel smooth and flush against the skin without any irritation. They should also fit perfectly: not too loose to increase friction neither too tight to restrict blood circulation. If you are buying alpaca socks for the kids, then ensure that they are the right fit and not just shortened adult socks that will leave them feeling uncomfortable.

Trusted brands

Not all manufacturers produce alpaca socks of the same quality. When shopping for alpaca socks, look for brands that can guarantee authenticity. This will keep you from always going back to the shop for a new pair of socks, or worse, having to deal with allergic reactions.

The human foot has about 16 bones and many more ligaments, muscles, and tendons. The last thing you want is to suffer frostbite. You should take good care of your feet, and that starts by getting the warmest socks guaranteed to conquer frostbite during winter.

Get yourself a pair of alpaca socks today. You won’t regret it.