Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why should I buy Bridgedale socks ahead of any other technical sock?

Bridgedales are renowned the world over for their technical construction, durability and all-day comfort. With years of knitting experience, we take care of the little things because we know the littlest thing, like a blister, can ruin a day in the mountains. Using natural and synthetic performance fibres, Bridgedale’s unique Fusion Tech provides socks with supreme lasting comfort, meaning they are warm when they need to be and wick moisture away from the feet when things heat up.

Continuous investment into new machinery means your Bridgedale’s benefit from the latest innovations in sock knitting such as almost invisible toe seams. Our comprehensive range of styles means you will find the best Bridgedale for your chosen activity, climate and footwear. Your chosen style will be ideally suited for your activity because at Bridgedale, we design and develop every style in close collaboration with test teams all over the world. In addition, our strict quality control standards ensure every pair is thoroughly checked before it is released for sale.

2. How do I find my nearest retailer?

Bridgedale have a network of stores across New Zealand. Visit the Store Locator page for details on the retailer nearest to you.

3. How do I care for my socks?

For best results, we recommend they are washed inside out. Wash dark colours separately. Do not use fabric conditioner. Wash at 40°C wool cycle. Do not bleach. Do not iron. Tumble dry on LOW heat. Do not dry clean. Visit the Washing & Care page for more information.

4. What is the difference between Heavyweight, Midweight, Lightweight, and Ultralight?

Bridgedales have been designed to offer comfort for a wide range of outdoor activities, and to make the selection of the correct sock for your activity easier, we have divided them into Heavyweight, Midweight, Lightweight and Ultra Light styles. 

Heavyweight

Designed to be worn in colder conditions (tested with partners down to -25 °C), these are our thickest, most cushioned, and insulating Bridgedales, suitable for use with Mountaineering and Trekking boots. These styles feature Terry loop insulation throughout, providing defence against the cold with high-density cushioning in the footbed that remains resilient all day long.

Midweight

Designed for 3-season hiking and trekking in all conditions, our Midweight Bridgedale offers a balance of high-wicking yarns to manage variations in temperature that cause feet to sweat, and resilient cushioning throughout the footbed and around the ankle to keep the foot comfortable in both leather and synthetic footwear.

Lightweight

Designed for 2-season versatility for warm weather hiking and trekking, our Lightweight Bridgedale socks have been developed for use with lighter synthetic footwear. They offer dense underfoot cushioning for comfort, but have a light open knit structure for breathability.

Ultra Light

These are our lightest Bridgedale’s using some of the finest yarns available. Targeted resilient underfoot micro cushioning provides all-day comfort, while the main body features large areas of mesh venting, allowing the foot and lower leg to breathe and rapidly evaporate moisture.

5. What is Bridgedale’s warmest sock?

Tested at -25 °C, Explorer Heavyweight Knee are the warmest Bridgedales in the range. These heavyweight style socks are designed for year-round Mountain Expeditions as well as for Mountaineering. Dense cushioning throughout provides extra warmth, extra impact resistance, and extra comfort.

6. How do I choose a style for the activity I want to participate in?

Everyone has their own preference when it comes to choosing Bridgedales for their activity. Many people base their decision on the weight and feel of socks, going for heavier styles in cooler conditions and lighter styles for warm weather treks. On top of the different weights, we offer two fits, Performance Fit and Comfort Fit, both are suitable for all-day walking, but we find the Performance Fit is great for multi-day and big mountain days, whereas the Comfort Fit finds favour from day hikers who like the softness and versatility of the sock cuff.

See the Technologies page for more information. You can browse products by activity to find the best socks for your preferred outdoor activities.

7. Do Bridgedale make asymmetric socks?

We have led the market in designing and manufacturing some of the most technically advanced socks, and our research has found that an asymmetric design doesn’t add any technical benefit to the wearer. From all our user trials, almost no tester could say correctly which variation was on which foot. We then found that the durability of asymmetric Bridgedales was also compromised because the high-wear areas, such as the big toe nail, were not being evenly exposed between the left and right sides, meaning the socks wore out almost twice as fast.

Bridgedale’s MTB/Gravel socks break tradition with an asymmetrical design that caters to the specific needs of cycling. Each foot works differently on the pedals, so by tailoring left and right socks individually, Bridgedale delivers cycling-specific protection, cushioning, support, and breathability exactly where you need it. The result? Greater comfort, reduced pressure points, and a smoother ride mile after mile.

8. What is the difference between Men’s and Women’s styles?

Since launching Women’s Bridgedales, they have been warmly welcomed by female outdoor enthusiasts worldwide. First developed in the 1990s, we were the first technical outdoor sock brand to offer a true women's fit. Specifically designed to fit the anatomy of the female foot, which is generally narrower, slimmer, and with higher arches. We worked closely with our sock technicians and the manufacturers of the sock machines. All this together ensures the perfect fit for a woman's foot.

9. What are the letters on the bottom of my socks?

The letters on the sole of your Bridgedale socks indicate the size of the socks you have. If you have two socks with L on them, you have a pair of size Large, not two lefts.

View our comprehensive sizing guide.