Walking Equipment and Accessories

Bridgedale MerinoFusion Summit Sock | Review

Bridgedale take the best from a range of materials to produce this high-tech sock

When you’re picking a warm winter sock one of the key things you should be looking out for is merino wool.

It’s an extremely fine variety of wool that most people would argue is the best you can get, the main benefit of it being that it’s extremely soft and smooth so there’s none of that itchiness that knitted wool clothing is sometimes associated with.

Merino also has a higher elasticity than other types of wool, meaning that it’s able to keep its shape for longer and, last but not least, it has high insulation and moisture control properties.

The Bridgedale MerinoFusion Summit, which is available in men’s and women’s versions, isn’t a full merino sock. Instead, it’s a blend of merino, CoolMax Polyester, nylon and Lycra, the idea being that it combines the qualities of merino with the long lasting, moisture wicking properties of Coolmax fibres, and the strength and close fit from the nylon and Lycra.

“Bridgedale have been making socks for over a hundred years now, and they’re so confident about the quality of their products that they slap a three-year guarantee on them…”

The weave construction of this blend of fibres varies at different points throughout the sock. For instance, there’s a thick, double density weave under the foot and at other hotspots like the back of the ankle, then there’s a slightly thinner weave around the ankle that’s able to spread out moisture so it can escape faster out of the top of your shoe.

A sock that combines the qualities of merino with the long lasting moisture wicking properties of Coolmax fibres, and the strength and close fit of nylon and Lycra. Photo: Chris Johnson.

Available both in male and female. Photo: Chris Johnson.

Purpose-built for the trails. Photo: Chris Johnson.

Seams and stitches are unwanted in a sock as they can sometimes rub or niggle against the skin and fortunately these are kept at an absolute minimum with the Bridgedale MerinoFusion Summit, with particular care taken with the toe box.

There are a number of different socks in the MerinoFusion range, and the Summit is the warmest of the lot (outside of their ski range). The version pictured here is the crew length cut, but you can also get a longer knee length version as well, though that one uses a standard wool rather than merino.

Bridgedale have been making socks from their Northern Ireland base for over a hundred years now, and they’re so confident about the quality of their products that they slap a three-year guarantee on them. This allows you to exchange your socks for a different pair if you have any trouble with them or if they wear out – but that should require a very, very high amount of mileage.