Endorsements
Socks
From the Street 2 Xtreme, Vara socks will stand up to any challenge
The following endorsements reflect Vara's commitment to the development of the world's best Merino wool socks:
"Tested
the socks, even going kayak surfing in Donegal. Absolutely fantastic!
The socks almost work like a wetsuit in their own right. Not much weather
gets harsher than the Atlantic off Donegal in late December!"- Timothy Tottenham - Royal Marine Captain and Team Leader of Team ATP of the 2006 Race to the North Pole Polar Challenge. (V007.6 Ultra light Alpine)
- "The VARA socks were brilliant and considerably better than the BRIDGEDALE ones we were issued as they dried faster, smelt a lot less and were a lot warmer. Simon also proved that they smell quite nice when they are on fire as he dropped a possum wool sock on the camping stove by accident!"
- Mike Dann, Member of Team ATP of the 2006 Race to the North Pole Polar Challenge. (VX001 Possum and Merino Expedition)
- "Pulling them onto your feet is like entering a silky cocoon! As a jogging addict, I would highly recommend the VARA merino ankle socks, for their softness and their natural shock absorbing texture (since the ground is merciless in the big cities!). Of course, they can also be used in tramping. They can be worn all year round, especially in the summer. As far as I am concerned, Merino socks suit me the best, all the more as they are stitch proof!"
- Sophie Cremel - Paris Based fashion designer, jogging and cycling enthusiast. October 2005 (V003.3 Low Ankle Technical)
"Firstly
may I say that we are all sock freaks, spending as much time as we
do on our feet outdoors in rain, hail, snow or sun, we like to be warm
when cold and cool when warm, but most of all COMFORTABLE. We all spent
the winter training in Vara Socks and were impressed with the durability
of the socks, they also stayed soft once they had been worn for quite
some time and didn't go hard or brittle, they didn't wear through and
they didn't shrink, so we were excited. Not nearly as excited as we
were when a full compliment of socks turned up for the girls to race
in - although we did look sideways at the knee high socks we were issued
for the tramp sections in the Traverse.
However much to our delight, the Knee highs were the best under our gaiters, the highly elasticized lightweight knit was comfortable and stopped the sweaty leg syndrome. The Thunderbirds would endorse Vara socks for anything from the bar to the mountain top, comfort, and style guaranteed. Thanks for the support Vara!"- The Thunderbirds - Training and participating in the 2003, Southern Traverse, six day event, South Island, New Zealand. (V003.3, V017.3, Merino Technical series)
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“These socks were used by our skiers and were a great success. Personally I would have to say they are the best ski sock I have used both for warmth and comfort. I would highly recommend them and would be keen to use them again in February next year for our team travelling to the Special Olympics World Winter Games”.
- Dave Pryor, South Island Regional Sports Coordinator, New Zealand Special Olympics. December 2004 (V007 Alpine sock)
“Just
got back from Antarctica and loved your socks – very warm and
very soft too. Good feeling to wear”.- Tashi Tenzing, Mountaineer & Adventure Consultant. December 2004 (VX01.9 Expedition sock)
- “These little beauties are made from Merino wool out of New Zealand, and we all know how seriously the Kiwis take their sheep. The High Heel Technical Sport sock (the little one) is great for summer trails and comfy as standing on shagpile carpet, while the Quarterback (the longer pair) is ideal for under all the strap-on armour you might want to protect your legs with. They may be wool but they’re cool when you want to be cool and warm when the weather turns on you.”
- Australian Mountain Bike magazine, April/May 2004
- The 2003 Canterbury Under 21 Netball Team, when asked which is the best sock to wear, their choice is VARA Merino Technical Sport socks!
- 2003 Canterbury Under 21 Netball Team (V003.3 Technical series)
- "Awesome socks, most comfortable to wear."
- Vilimaina Davu, Canterbury, New Zealand Netballer (V003.3 Technical series)
- “Wearing Vara Socks I was smoking, the trip down the slopes felt like flash in time”
- Claudia Riegler, ex New Zealand Olympic Skier
“They
have a different feel compared to that of a cotton brand, great comfort
and a durability that has maintained over 14 months, every wear feels
as good as the first time”.- Amy Barnes, Les Mills Instructor of the Year
- “I am currently training for the 2005 Rotorua Marathon. I am running 50-60km per week, and regularly running for 2-3 hours at one time. I used to suffer from blisters and other typical runners’ ailments, but since I have started using my Vara socks, I have suffered none of these problems. They are brilliant for serious training and I will no longer go without them”.
- Tony Herring, Partner - Simon Mortlock Partners & Marathon Runner www.smpartners.co.nz
- "I can't believe how comfortable they are."
- Peter Murphy - Niseko Chalets Japan. (V005.6 Snowboard sock) www.nisekochalets.com
- "I have cold feet and easily get frost bite, the socks feel
very warm."
"I can't think of any other material better than Merino wool." - Akira Kanamata, Snowboard guide at Niseko Adventure Centre. (V007.6 Snowboard Sock) www.nacweb.com
"I
have a serious workout regime and have always been frustrated with
the longevity of my sock performance ... not anymore! I kid you not,
these are the best long wearing socks I've ever had!! I am wearing
them right now, on my way to the gym ... they are simply the best!"- Kylie Bax - Model Based in Los Angeles (V003 Tech series) have you seen my website www.kyliebax.com
"New Zealand has an unpredictable weather system. One day the temperature can be -15 degrees and the next day +3 degrees, so the clothing that I wear needs to perform in all conditions. With my job I spend a lot of time standing around in the snow not moving very much. I found that the Alpine Sock keeps me warm and more importantly dry so come the end of the day I can still feel my toes. For pleasure I ski tour and climb through the Southern Alps, once again I use the same sock for these trips, because of the high wicking my feet stay dry and comfortable with no chances of any blisters, then while standing around belaying my feet stay warm. At night the merino socks dry quickly so they are ready for the next day’s adventure.
The design of the heel cup insures that there is no movement, the padded skin helps with comfort and fit inside my boots. These are the best socks that I have skied and toured with and I am not planning to change away from Vara socks in the future".- Taz Dawson, New Zealand Ski Instructors Alliance Examiner, Telemark and Ski instructor
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"I got back today from an exceptionally wet and windy 'Bonfire' trip to the Pennines. Not much fun - how's that for honesty? There really was no dry place for days.
I had worn my VARA Socks for five half days before going and used them solely for the entire trip, in the wet and damp and in the bag as well as all day in the boots. I brought a spare pair but only in case of falling into a bog. I never used them.
I placed them into my washer today - not because they smelled bad but because I knew they needed it. They must have been pretty dirty but I never had any odour problems at all. My feet are no worse than anyone else's, but that is bad enough. I once read that the average persons’ feet sweat 0.75kgs each day. This does not include an active person backpacking! " - Will Bankes, Secretary of the UK Backpackers Club, (V015.4 Hiking Sock)