The warmest wools are: qiviut (musk ox down), yak wool and bison wool.

Merino and alpaca wool are also very warm fibers. See my previous article for a closer examination different types of wool.

Listed below are the warmest socks I’ve tested:

Warmest Boot Socks

• 50% Bison and 50% Merino Boot Socks by Buffalo Wool Company — a very warm sock with full terry loop knitting — $45
• Icebreaker Mountaineer Socks — 79% Merino Wool, 20% Nylon, 1% LYCRA Spandex — $21
• Smartwool Merino Wool Heavy Cushioned Socks — 70% Merino Wool, 29% Nylon, and 1% Elastane — $22
• Time May Tell Merino Hiking Sock — 80% merino wool, 14% Nylon, 5% Poly, 1% Spandex — $15
• Darn Tough Boot Socks — 64% Merino Wool, 33% Nylon, 3% Lycra Spandex — $25
• Wayfarer Sock by Khunu — 56% yak wool, 34.5% nylon, 9.5% Elastane — £22 ($28)
• 78% Alpaca Socks by Williamston Alpaca — 78% Alpaca, 20% Nylon, 2% Lycra — made in the USA — $22

Warmest Crew Hiking Socks

• Icebreaker Everday Crew Sock — 79% Merino Wool, 20% Nylon, 1% Spandex — $20
• Fox River Trailhead Heavyweight Crew Sock — 77% merino wool — $17
• 100% Cashmere Socks by Lona Scott – very soft and warm — made in Scotland – $40
• 100% Alpaca Wool Socks by Gamboa — $20

The post The Warmest Wool Socks appeared first on Reactual.

• The best kitchen knife set is the Wüsthof Classic 8-Piece Knife Set with Block. This knife set from the well-known cutlery brand feature blades that are precision-forged from a single piece of high carbon steel; full tang; and triple-riveted handles.
• A less expensive but still high-quality alternative is the Zwilling J.A. Henckels Twin Signature 7-Piece Knife Block Set. These knives are made from special formula steel and have been hand-sharpened and polished. The ergonomic design features a full tang and triple-riveted handles.

The Details

Consistently named a top pick from culinary and consumer product review magazines and websites, the Wüsthof Classic Knife Set is German craftsmanship at its finest. With proper care, these high-quality, durable knives will easily last a home cook or professional chef a lifetime of use.

The set includes a paring knife, 4.5-inch and 6-inch utility knives, 8-inch bread knife, 8-inch chef’s knife, kitchen shears, 9-inch steel sharpening rod, and 17-slot knife block made of beechwood, measuring 10.5 inches long, 4.5 inches wide, and 8.5 inches tall.

The blades are precision-forged from a single piece of carbon stainless steel, and have been heat tempered to a hardness rating of 58 Rockwell. High-quality kitchen knives typically receive a Rockwell hardness ranking of between 56 and 62; the higher the number the harder the steel, and therefore the ability to hold an edge and stay sharp. Furthermore, Wüsthof uses robotic precision edge technology to create an edge that is 20% sharper and maintains double the edge retention than a blade that has been sharpened by hand.

The knife blades have a full tang, or extension, to the end of the handle. The full tang allows the weight of the knife to be evenly distributed throughout in order to maximize precision control and comfort, which is important when dicing or chopping for an extended period of time. In addition, the knife handles, which adhere to the tang via three strong rivets, feature a full bolster and finger guard, and are made from comfortable and highly-durable black polyoxymethylene, a synthetic material that resists fading and discoloration.

Wüsthof offers a limited lifetime warranty on its products, which covers defects in workmanship and materials under normal use and conditions.

Note: If you love this set but do not care for the beechwood knife block that comes with it, Wüsthof offers a deluxe version, which includes the same classic eight pieces with your choice of wood, such as cherry, walnut, acacia, and bamboo. Deluxe knife sets are available from Amazon and other sellers starting at approximately $400.

The Wüsthof Classic 8-Piece Knife Set is available on Amazon starting at $379.90

A Less Expensive Alternative

Zwilling J.A. Henckels has been producing quality German cutlery since 1731. The company has many lines of varying quality. Twin Signature is a mid-range line, offering high-quality, durable, and sharp knives at a more affordable price point.

The seven-piece set includes a 2.5-inch peeling knife, 4-inch paring knife, 5-inch serrated utility knife, 8-inch chef’s knife, kitchen shears, sharpening rod, and 10-slot knife block, made of hardwood and measuring 7.2 inches long, 4.5 inches wide, and 10.8 inches high.

The blades are precision stamped from a single piece of Zwilling special formula steel, and have been ice-hardened to a hardness rating of 57 Rockwell. The ice-hardening process further strengthens the steel and prevents discoloration. Each blade is hand polished and sharpened with the help of precision lasers that angle the edge to a perfect 15 degrees on each side.

Similar to the Wüsthof set, the knife blades feature a full tang. The ergonomically-designed handles are made from polymer and are triple-riveted to the tang for strength and durability.

Zwilling offers a lifetime warranty on its products, which covers defects in workmanship and materials.

The Zwilling J.A. Henckels Twin Signature 7-Piece Knife Block Set is available on Amazon starting at $149.99.

The post The Best Kitchen Knife Set appeared first on Reactual.

I’ve owned a Vers dock for about three years, I’m pleased with the sound of the speakers. The reproduction is clear, and the sound certainly fills a room. Vers says the thick wooden enclosure allows to the dock produce a richer sound than a dock constructed with plastic.

Vers also aims to be an environmentally responsible manufacturer — they are a Carbon Free partner,  Energy Star partner, and participate in the e-Stewart recycling program. You can read about the company’s mission here.

All Vers sound systems carry a one year warranty against defects relating to materials and workmanship.

The Vers iPod dock is available from Amazon for about $200.

The post Vers iPod Dock: Handcrafted In The U.S. appeared first on Reactual.

DODOcase puts a lot attention to detail into the design of their iPad cases. DODOcases have a hand-machined bamboo interior that fits the shape of iPad precisely, holding it place. The outer layer of the case is similar to large moleskin notebook — the material is Moroccan cloth and constructed using traditional book binding technique. The cases sell for $59.95 from Amazon.

Blackbox iPad Case

Blackbox Case  is a company in Golden, Colorado that makes bamboo iPad cases that are “precision cut, hand sanded, hand rubbed” (you can see the whole process here). They also offer a lifetime guarantee that allows you to return the case if you have any issue with it. It sells for $99 from Blackbox Case. They also offer a range of cases for MacBook Pros.

The post iPad Cases That Are Handcrafted In The U.S. appeared first on Reactual.