Steve Pennaz has spent virtually his entire life in the woods. An avid hunter and sportsman, he recently relocated from Minnesota to southwest Montana; rather than sit-and-wait hunts for whitetails, he’s now pursuing a variety of game including elk at elevations of up to 9,000 feet or more. With these dramatic changes in weather and terrain come some unique challenges.
“On opening day this year, we found three different herds of elk working between 7,000 and 9,000 feet of elevation. We covered a lot of miles, hunting everything from old burns to dark timber.” Pennaz says. “I shot a great bull right at the end of shooting light knowing we’d be packing it out in the dark. This is grizzly country, so leaving animal overnight isn’t an option. It’s almost a guarantee there will be a bear on it by morning. So, the three of us shouldered some heavy packs and headed out. We got back to the truck at 2:00 am. According to OnX, we walked 19.7 miles that day, the last 4.6 carrying elk meat.”
In those kinds of conditions, having the best quality gear isn’t just a luxury, it’s a necessity. Pennaz says avid western hunters invest in high-performance gear, including clothing. it’s not uncommon for hunters to spend $200 on a pair of pants and $400 for boots. But socks? Pennaz has been wearing the new merino wool Medium Weight Over the Calf socks from Hunt Monkey for the past two seasons and says the difference between Hunt Monkey socks and those offered by other brands is shocking.
“These socks are designed specifically for hunters, and without them I doubt I could hunt as hard or as long,’ said Pennaz. “The merino wool and the vented panels wick moisture away, which keeps your feet dry and warm. And the arch support and compression fit really help reduce fatigue. At the end of the day, it’s the difference between walking another two or three miles to glass the next ridge or going back to the truck. And the over-the-calf design stays in place all day. Not once in three months of solid hunting did I have to stop to pull up a sock. That’s not true for other socks and I’ve worn them all over the years.”
Pennaz also points out that with cotton socks or other low-end socks can, after hikes of several miles, start to embed into the bottom of your feet. That’s doesn’t happen with Hunt Monkey’s cushioned foot bed. There’s no irritation, hot spots or blisters from the stitching either, thanks to Hunt Monkey’s Y-gore construction and seamless toe design.
“I’ve used a lot of products over the years, but the Hunt Monkey socks are by far the best I’ve ever worn,” he says. “They deserve to have a voice, to tell this story of an incredible product that really helps you stay a lot more comfortable.”