In the Wild: Former Green Beret Puts Fits® to the Test in New Mexico

In the Wild: Former Green Beret Puts Fits® to the Test in New Mexico - FITS®

May 24, 2016

Photo taken of Philip and his dog, Sig, by his expedition partner and son, Ryan on a recent trip in New Mexico.

"I just put them to a pretty extreme test backpacking 31 miles across the Gila Wilderness in southwest New Mexico with only those two pair of socks for the entire journey. The socks performed flawlessly. I love the socks. I hiked in them dry and I hiked in them wet and I never got a blister. I made numerous river crossings, probably 50 or 60, as I hiked up the West Fork of the Gila River. I am a former Green Beret, an avid archery hunter/outdoorsman and I have tried everything, but I can honestly say these are the best socks that I have ever worn."

- Philip Fortenberry

Philip Fortenberry has represented every aspect of the Fits brand and lifestyle that most people with your average 9 to 5 only dream about. The former Green Beret in the US Army has been on more hunts, treks and expeditions than your average 55 year old, to say the least. Not only is Philip an avid outdoorsman, but he is also a mentor and friend to many young men who are growing up without a male role model, as Philip himself grew up without a father. He now uses his love for the outdoors to help young men stay on the right path who may be going through difficult experiences without a male presence in their life.

"As far as my favorite trips; I love spending time with my son in the wilderness. We hike, archery hunt elk, bear, dear, cougar, and we also fly fish (usually small water). I also enjoy taking fatherless young men on great expeditions. I started this in 1998 and have taken 300 to 400 through the years. I feel like my whole life has prepared me to do that. I teach survival, rappel, hike, explore, fish and I also help them move beyond the pain of their past."

A few of Philip's most notable treks include:

28 miles in the Uncompahgre Wilderness and summiting Uncompahgre Peak
Sierra Nevadas on snowshoes in January
Crossing the Flat Tops Wilderness in Colorado for an archery elk hunt
Mount Ranier in Washington
Aldo Leopold Wilderness in NM
Numerous crossings of the Gila Wilderness
Numerous White River National Forest archery elk hunts
Wheeler Peak in NM
Clearwater National Forest in Idaho
Beaver Creek Wildlife Study Area in Colorado

fits sock fan photo

Sock Sizing

The Perfect Fit Starts With the Right Size.

Your sock size shouldn’t be a guessing game. Our socks range from small to double XL, but the best way to know the perfect fit for you is to match your shoe size to the chart on the left. That way, you’ll know the size you select will give you the fit and feel you expect.

Between sizes? Go with your gut, but rest assured that your socks will still fit great. If you receive your order and find yourself wishing you’d gone up or down a size, just let us know. We’ll happily send you replacements for your preferred size.

Concerned about laundry mix-ups? All FITS® socks are coordinated by color and size, based on the colors you see on the size chart. So, you won’t have to worry about mixing up your sizes with the other FITS® wearers in your home. (But stray socks mysteriously going missing in the dryer? Unfortunately, we can’t help with that.)

The Light Hiker is perfect for everything from big adventures to everyday wear.

How Do You Determine Sock Size?

Sock sizes are typically measured in inches, not by your shoe size. So, a sock size 6-8 will comfortably fit someone whose feet are between six and eight inches long. However, at FITS®, we make it easy for you to choose the ideal sock size without having to measure your foot. Simply use our sock size conversion chart based on your shoe size to select the right fit for you.

How Do You Measure Your Foot for Socks?

To measure your foot for socks, measure the length from the heel of your foot to the tip of your longest toe. The measurement in inches correlates to your sock size. For example, if your foot is 10 inches long, a sock size 9-11 should fit you comfortably. At FITS®, you can skip this step and find your sock size based on your shoe size using our conversion chart.

What Is the Sock Size Conversion?

The sock size conversion refers to sock size compared to shoe size. While all companies may vary slightly on which size socks to purchase based on your shoe size, you can always measure your foot to find the right fit for you.

What is Sock Size to Shoe Size?

Because sock sizes are determined by the length of your foot in inches vs. your shoe size, shoe and sock sizes differ. The FITS® sock size to shoe size conversion is as follows:

FITS® Sock Size Small = Shoe Size 3½ - 5½ men’s and 5 - 7 women’s
FITS® Sock Size Medium = Shoe Size 6 - 8 men’s and 7½ - 9½ women’s
FITS® Sock Size Large = Shoe Size 8½ - 10 men’s and 10 - 11½ women’s
FITS® Sock Size Extra Large = Shoe Size 10½ - 12½ men’s and 12 - 14 women’s
FITS® Sock Size Double-Extra Large = 13 - 15½ men’s and 14½ - 16½ women’s

Knowing this makes it easy to choose the ideal sock size based on your shoe size without measuring your foot.

What Age is Sock Size 9-12?

Sock sizes typically don’t correlate with age. For kids, age can be a general indicator of what size sock they’ll need, but everyone is different. An adult sock size 9-12 fits anyone whose feet are approximately nine to twelve inches long. For kids’ sock sizing, check with the company to find exact details to ensure your little one gets the perfect fit.

Got more questions about finding the perfect sock size for you? Let’s talk.

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