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The Giesswein Wool Cross X Shoe is uniquely made from 100% wool lining and is designed to be worn without socks. Unlike most shoes its also machine washable at 30C. The wool helps regulate hot feet better in the Summer and the natural fiber means they are also very ‘stink resistant’.

In Depth Review

I reviewed socks that didn’t need shoes last year so it only makes sense that now its time to look at shoes that don’t need socks. Giesswein are fairly new to the trail shoe market and their website is rather lacking in details so I got my hands on a pair to see if I could find out more.

What is Merino Wool?

The shoes are made from 100% wool and the lining is made from a smooth 100% merino wool lining. In effect you need to think about these shoes having a built in sock and being made with comfort in mind.

The Merino Wool used in these shoes are ethically sourced from Uruguay and they are made in Austria.

The fleece of the merino-sheep consists of light, thin hairs, that prove especially useful in the summer and make the heat bearable. In the winter months, the merino sheep grows a coat to ward off the cold. Particularly fine, curly fluffy hair that keeps the sheep warm. These are the same properties we need for warm clothing or shoes.

The structure and shape of the wool fibres naturally create air chambers that enclose the body and retain heat. The air chambers also decrease the contact between skin and material which increases the insulating effect.

Fit

The wool has some stretch to it so this is the rare occasion where I would say that if you are between sizes on this shoe you should opt for the lower size for a more snug fit. They don’t come in half sizes so this dilemma will happen for quite a few people.

The shoes are unisex too meaning they are the same shape and size for men and women. I’ve been led to believe that women have slightly different shaped feet size for size than men so I was slightly dubious.

Cushioning

Without having any actual specs on the site I’m guessing that the cushioning is about 25mm which places it in the range of a medium cushioned shoe. I would say this is a neutral gait shoe with medium arch support and would guess the drop from heel to toe is around 8mm.

Grip

The grip on the shoes has some aggressive lugs for various terrain and the rubber holds well on even wet rock, without clumping and getting clogged in thick mud. The lugs also point in various directions on the front of the shoe which helps with grip sideways as well ( stopping your feet sliding sideways when you are running or walking on a camber). The shoes are also stiff across the mid section creating a decent guard against large stones and rocks.

Machine Washable Shoes

You can wash these shoes in a machine at 30C ( cold wash) but do not use fabric softener as this can damage the properties of the fabric. Do not tumble dry these shoes or leave them on or near something hot to dry, just leave them naturally to dry on their own.

Breathability

The Wool Cross X shoes dont feel clammy when worn without socks and for the heat of the summer you remove one layer of insulation by not wearing socks so it helps keep your feet cool. Cooler feet mean less swelling and sweating and less chance of blisters and discomfort. I think these would be a bold move to wear in the winter without socks so possibly consider buying half a size up for the winter and wearing with socks.

Good in the Wet ?

I was worried these shoes would get very heavy and soggy when wet like a wet sweater. The wool is so tightly wound that it actually repels water splashes nearly as well as synthetic water repellent materials, and because its tightly wound it doesn’t seem to hold much water when wet and dries relatively quickly.

Gripes

It would be good to see them offered in half sizes and offer shoes shaped slightly differently for men and women.

Closest Contender

This is a tough question because I cant really think of anything that is designed to be sockless and washable. The On-Running Cloudventure comes close with bomb proof European build quality and design and comfort even without socks.

Verdict

There are lots of different types of shoes out there for trails. The advantage these Wool Cross X shoes have over anyone else is the breathability and temperature regulation on a hot summer day and the fact that you can machine wash them without them falling apart. If you are looking for a shoe for hot days on trails, made from a natural fabric that’s more eco conscious, and want comfort in mind then these are well worth a try.

Specs

Material	100% virgin wool
Lining	100% merino wool
Sole	EVA sole
Care Instruction	30°C (wool wash cycle)

About Giesswein

The founders grew up with wool as a part of their everyday lives.Our mission is to make wool perform in its most optimal way, and to use these properties to enhance your clothing and footwear.They develop outstanding fabrics which maximize the positive features of wool; our wool is sourced ethically, and our products are produced in-house.

0% of our wool is wasted; 90% of our production water is recycled.In the footwear industry, 20% of scrap material is wasted and thrown away. We’ve found a new way of creating 0% waste during our production process.