I did not believe there was a sock that could be described as “life-changing” until that fateful evening, when in mere moments I went from Unbeliever to Paihama Convert. I have never looked back.

It is impossible to describe the exact feeling of wearing paihama, a feeling simultaneously akin to both utter security and lavish luxury, a sensation of floating in softness yet being firmly rooted on earth. I tested the durability claim (for scientific purposes) by wearing my first pair for two months straight without washing them, which lead to my battle-cry: “these are ENDURANCE SOCKS!” Although they passed the endurance-challenge, I did buy a second pair so that while one set is washing and drying I will never, ever, be forced into the position of wearing inferior sockware, even for an hour.

You may think it’s all too good to be true. That’s understandable. That’s how I felt, five months ago, when I claimed not to care about the transformative power of a really good pair of socks. In fact, I’m still not a “sock-person”; I’m a “Paihma-person”.

Now isn’t it time for YOU to experience the Conversion?

I work on a 750 acre organic farm. I work in these socks everyday - in both summer and winter… and they are still so cozy and comfortable!

A 12 day hike around a windy, cold, muddy island found my feet in the same pair of trekking socks. They are still in gorgeous shape and never smelled!

What else can I say… they have improved my life heaps!!

So I went for a hike with a friend on the legendary Lost Coast near to the westernmost point in the contiguous US. I was anticipating: sand, saltwater, wind, both slippery as well as rough rocks and terrain. So I wore my Paihama socks, mainly so I could say I actually wore them on a hike instead of as slippers in my house.

I’d have nothing spectacular to report if I didn’t give up on trying to balance on smooth, wobbly boulders and just ended up wading across the dang creek. I could have swore I felt a frigid sliver of sea water slide down my ankle, but as soon as I started walking it seemed like my feet were dry. I wondered about my feet many times throughout that 6 mile walk, usually exposure to sea water created serious odor issues with my footsies, not to mention how wrinkled and pitted they get. Ok I do have some serious athlete’s foot that has been plaguing me since I was in the military, but I’ll save you the horrid details, as long as you understand what I was expecting was waiting for me inside my hiking boots when I was going to arrive at home and finally take them off (6 mile hike with soggy salt water, 1 hour drive in heated vehicle). Though to be honest with you, 10 steps beyond the creek and I’d forgotten all about how dry my feet felt, and didn’t think about them again til we came back to the same creek and I ended up using the same strategy for crossing it. I was sure the first time I’d just gotten lucky and the foot that had been submerged must have had a bubble of air around it or something. So I made sure to slip and almost got to test out the water resistance qualities of my cotton overalls.

Anyways, to make a long story short, when I finally arrived home and took my boots off, I detected no smell. As I removed my socks I was very suprised to discover that they were soaking wet! Though my feet were wet too, I detected no smell whatsoever, other than the smell of the ocean in my shoes.

I’m looking forwards to doing more product testing on subsequent hikes, but I’m definitely sure I’ve found my favorite hiking sock of all time! Thanks Paihama!