Products
Icebreaker — Men's Merino Hike+ Medium Crew Socks

Icebreaker

Men's Merino Hike+ Medium Crew Socks

SocksSKU: IB:0A578M:0IB:S::1:
B

74/100

Well-made, but rough on the environment.

Buy once, keep for years to amortize the production hit.

Material B · 74Health B · 71Eco · 53Label · high

Why this material grade?

This product scored 74/100 on the 7-axis material rubric, based on its composition of 60% Merino Wool, 38% Nylon. Blended from 60% Merino Wool, 38% Nylon — the score is a weighted average based on each material's proportion.

B (70-84): Good material composition — above average across most axes.

Good quality

Well-balanced fabric that should serve you well. The natural-synthetic blend offers durability with comfort. Follow the care guide to maximize lifespan.

Breakdown

Composition

60% Merino Wool, 38% Nylon

Mixed blend — natural + synthetic

⚠️

Synthetic fabrics can contain BPA, which mimics estrogen. Studies have found BPA transferring to skin through sweat contact.

🌍

This fabric will take 200+ years to decompose. That means a shirt you buy today will still exist in the year 2226.

🐑

Wool is naturally antibacterial and self-cleaning. You can air it out between wears instead of washing — it'll stay fresh.

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Cost per wear

rough estimate
52¢/wear · 50 expected wears

Reasonable cost-per-wear

How we got there

Base for Socks: 50 expected wears.

× 1.00 for Merino Wool (mid-durability fiber, durability 77).

= 50 expected wears. $26 ÷ 5052¢/wear.

Missing GSM — this is a category-level estimate, not garment-specific. Expect ±30% variance.

Real life is messier than a formula: how often you wash, how you wash, whether you wear it inside-out, dry on low — all of it shifts the number. This is the ceiling under reasonable care.

30°

Wash

cold (30°C)

Bleach

Do not bleach

Dry

flat dry

Iron

low

P

Dry Clean

recommended

Cycle: delicateDetergent: mildSoftener: No

Best For

👔Formal/Office
Excellent

Excellent durability (77) and comfort (72) for office wear

🏃Athletic Wear
Good

Good breathability (64) and moisture wicking (73) for light activity

🧥Winter Outerwear
Good

Good warmth (67) for cold weather

👕Everyday Casual
Good

Good comfort (72) and care ease (62) for casual wear

😴Sleepwear
Good

Good comfort (72) and breathability (64) for sleeping

🌧️Rain/Weather
Good

Good moisture wicking (73) and durability (77) for weather protection

⛰️Outdoor/Hiking
Good

Good durability (77) and breathability (64) for outdoor activities

Tradeoffs

Health Impact

Microplastic shedding · skin-contact synthetic load · likely chemical treatments

B71/100

Moderate health impact — some synthetic content or possible chemical treatments. Rotate with natural-fiber alternatives where you can.

MicroplasticsMEDIUM

500,000 fibers/wash

Skin contactMODERATE

38% synthetic

ChemicalsLOW

No flags

🌿 Find plastic-free alternatives →How we score health impact →Not medical advice — based on material composition.

Eco Rating

53/100

Moderate impact — consider eco alternatives

Learn about eco ratings →

Biodegradability

Not Biodegradable

Materials will persist in the environment for decades.

Health & environmental impact →

What this score doesn't measure

  • ×Fiber grade. Staple length, micronaire, strength. "100% cotton" could be short-staple upland or long-staple Pima — same label, very different fabric.
  • ×Yarn processing. Singles count, ply (single vs two-ply), spinning method (open-end vs ring-spun vs compact), mercerization. Invisible from any label.
  • ×Knit / weave structure. Single jersey vs interlock, knit tightness. A loose knit pills; a tight knit lasts.
  • ×Fabric weight (GSM). One construction signal among several — and high GSM can come from loose cheap yarn just as easily as from fine tight yarn. We have it for blank manufacturers, rarely for retail.
  • ×Pre-shrink processing. Sanforized cotton shrinks ~1%; non-sanforized can shrink up to 10%. Not visible from the composition tag.
  • ×Construction quality. Stitch density (SPI), seam types, collar geometry, manufacturing tolerances (AQL). These often matter more than the fiber itself.
  • ×Specific chemical loads. Health Impact flags "likely PFAS / possible formaldehyde" from composition × category — we don't lab-test individual SKUs.

We rate the fabric, not the garment. Composition is the floor of what you're guaranteed to be getting — most shoppers don't have that.

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