Keith: The Men’s Chocorua Midweight Crew top and Kancamagus Midweight Bottom came in a very attractive navy blue, but are available in six other colors and patterns, including a “Mossy Oak Break-Up Infinity” (think woodsy camo). The construction was flawless inside and out – the flat-lock seams are so well done that the only way to tell which side is the inside was by looking for the tag. After a number of cycles through the washer and dryer (cold wash, low-heat dry) there was no sign of pilling of the material, and the wool was as soft as when I first pulled it out of the box. The Merino Ski and Snowboard Sock was similarly soft and well-constructed, with a seamless toe (important in tight ski boots, seams make blisters quickly!), and held up without complaint through multiple wash cycles.
Shawnté: To break out of my usual neutral color rut, I chose The Franconia Women’s Midweight Bottom and Ossipee Women’s Midweight Crew top in Violet – really, more of a deep pinky-purple color that nearly matched my wind-chapped face during one recent outing on a rather brisk, windblown section of the Pacific Crest Trail. These are impeccably constructed and incredibly high quality – I felt so strangely guilty getting mine dirty that I actually slipped my rain jacket and hiking pants over both layers while sitting around camp at night! The Merino Day Hiker Sock was equally excellent – like the top and bottoms, still plush and pill-free after several washes and a lot of gnarly trail. Want to stay warm and comfortable during the winter months? Check out the field test and review from Modern Hiker here!