Travel gadget: Icebreaker socks

Icebreaker's new hiker socks. Photo / Supplied

Icebreaker promote their new merino hiker socks as "the world's most comfortable socks", which is a big call, but after giving a pair of the latest version a pretty thorough track-test I'm inclined to think they're right.

There's no doubt they're extremely snug fitting and easy on the feet - more so than any of my existing socks - and the merino wool does a great job of wicking away moisture so your tootsies feel dry and comfy.

Icebreaker also claim the merino reduces odour - a considerable challenge in my case - but at the end of a busy day I persuaded my wife to give them the sniff test and she concluded, "That's pretty good, considering," which is high praise.

In fact I liked them so much that on our latest trip, with the prospect of another long walk looming, I found myself washing the Icebreakers at the end of the day and going to some trouble to get them dry so I wouldn't have to wear a different brand of socks. And the next day, when washing and drying wasn't possible, I wore them a second time ... and they still didn't pong too much.

You can get further details and a list of retailers at www.icebreaker.com.