Falke TK2 Wool Silk Trekking Socks Review

Material

The Falke TK2 Wool Silk socks are as the name suggests made of wool and silk fibers. However, they also include nylon and elastane fibers which is a standard practice when it comes hiking socks. Nylon fibers make the socks more durable and the elastane fibers provide stretch and recovery performance. The Falke TK2 Wool Silk socks feature the following contents of fibers; 60% virgin wool, 27% nylon, 12% silk and 1% elastane.

When I put the socks on for the first time, I was really surprised how soft and comfortable they are. I have several pairs of Coolmax socks at home and I’ve always considered them as super comfy, but I must say that the Falke TK2 socks feel even better against the skin. So, why is it important that the material of hiking socks is soft? In my experience socks made of rougher materials often cause blisters, especially when you are hiking downhill. The rough fabric starts chafing the skin on your toes and consequently blisters can form. I think that socks in general play a big role in preventing blisters. You can read more abut this is in my blog post How to prevent blisters when hiking.

When I was testing the Falke TK2 Wool Silk socks on trails in the Dolomites I focused on breathability, drying time, odor resistance, durability and moisture-wicking properties. These are in my opinion the most important qualities when it comes to hiking socks besides the softness of the fabric.

After wearing the socks on quite some trails in the Dolomites, I can certainly say that they are breathable and moisture-wicking. The fabric is thinner on the upper side which allows the moisture to easily escape to the lining of the boots while the bottom part of the sock and the heel area are made of thicker more woolen fabric for good cushioning. The legs and cuffs are made of relatively thin material (silk/nylon) which is very breathable and moisture-wicking.  I was also surprised how fast the socks dried. Often, they were completely dry before the end of a hike in spite having been soaked in sweat during the most intense climbs. As the socks have a high content of wool fibers, they are also odor-resistant (wool is naturally antimicrobial). I wore the socks on four different hikes without washing them in between and they didn’t become particularly smelly.

Now, socks are typically not the most durable garments and in my experience they rarely last for more than two years. Nevertheless, the material of Falke TK2 socks seems pretty robust. So far, I haven’t noticed any durability issues, but I will of course update this post in case I do.

Functionality, fit and sizing

The Falke TK2 socks, are according to Falke, designed for long hikes on easy terrain. I was, however, testing these socks mostly on rocky trails in the Dolomites which probably can’t be classified as “easy terrain”. Nevertheless, I was satisfied with the performance of Falke TK2 socks on such trails and I do think that the socks provide enough cushioning also for more complicated alpine ascents. Ultimately, the suitability of any hiking socks for a certain type of terrain also depends on your footwear. I wear relatively lightweight Salewa Mountain Trainer Mid boots which work well with thinner socks.

In the Dolomites the temperatures were quite low this summer (5° – 15° C) and the Falke TK2 socks were perfect for this temperature range. I’m planning to wear these socks also at higher temperatures, but for very cold conditions, I might consider the Falke TK1 socks which seem to be thicker and warmer.

The Falke TK2 socks fit me perfectly and so far, I haven’t encountered any chafing or skin irritation while wearing them. The stitching is minimal. There are no seams in the toe area and all other seams are either hidden or super smooth. The socks are also left and right foot specific for optimal fit. I got the socks in EU size 42-43 while my Salewa boots are size 44.  The socks thus seem to run slightly big.

Washing and drying

The socks can be machine washed at 40 C, but you should steer clear of softener or bleach. Like most other activewear, they shouldn’t be tumble-dried. Due to high content of wool, the socks can be washed less frequently than 100% synthetic socks which will help them last longer.