It's funny how you can stumble onto a product, put it to good use and the experience not only becomes a practical lesson on what's currently on the market, but it completely changes your mind about a brand.
For me, this happened in December.
I was at Okemo's annual media weekend - two-and-a-half days of skiing and snowboarding, networking among the region's top snow sports journalists and equipment testing.
Tucked into the goodie bag - among the souvenir beverage glass, the mints, the herbal drink mix and the resort magazine - was a pair of Wigwam socks.
I have never been a big fan of the brand; maybe it was the boots or the bad feet, but the socks never seemed to complete the equipment package.
So when I pulled a pair of Wigwam Snow Steeps Pro socks out of the bag, unfastened the packaging and slide them onto my feet it was admittedly a "what the heck …" moment. Besides, the black-and-blue color scheme was nowhere in the socks collection and the things looked pretty cool.
Oh, one more thing, with a 6-year-old in tow, I always forget something and that weekend happened to be the extra pair of snow sports socks.
The moguls must have been aligned because the performance of the Snow Steeps Pro was a pleasant surprise. It was refreshing because there are many reasons to like Wigwam.
For one, the socks are made domestically in Sheboygan, Wis. For two, they are relatively cheap compared to what else is out there.
And lastly, the Wool Dri-Release system (88 percent polyester and 12 percent wool) kept my feet nice and dry through a technical wicking system all daylong on the hill.
The cushioned sole added comfort and reinforcement near the instep kept the socks snug where they needed to be, and they tested well on a cold day.
The Snow Steeps Pro socks retail for $18.95.
To find a retailer, head to the Wigwam Web site and employ the easy to use search tool.
