Packing for Touring

[PH]

Waterproof socks ?

No such things, there's a big hole where you put your feet, if there wasn't you couldn't put them on!
Better say that the material is impervious to water

I wondered where I could get a pair and do they sweat your feet ( not that mine sweat much anyway ) and do they feel like normal cotton socks?

Discussed a bit in the riding in the rain thread, I like them, my contribution to that thread
viewtopic.php?p=1868300#p1868300

[simonhill]

Aldi were selling them last week.

[Cowsham]

Waterproof socks.

The ones I bought are “sealskins”, and they consist of two thin layers of sock material, with what amounts to a fancy plastic bag between the two, sealed around the top with a fancy rubbery band that grips the leg. The fancy plastic bag is a “one way” membrane, so no, they don’t seem to make the feet sweaty, but I’m not a sweaty-feet person anyway.

Do they work? Yes, they keep my feet dry even in cases like last week, where I rode through floods so that each foot was submersed on each turn of the pedals. They are comfortable enough that I pretty much forget I’m wearing them on the sort of cool, damp days when they are needed. I guess if I wore them on a baking hot day they’d be horrible, but why would you?

Thanks -- is the brand sealskins?

[mattheus]

Waterproof socks.

The ones I bought are “sealskins”, and they consist of two thin layers of sock material, with what amounts to a fancy plastic bag between the two, sealed around the top with a fancy rubbery band that grips the leg. The fancy plastic bag is a “one way” membrane, so no, they don’t seem to make the feet sweaty, but I’m not a sweaty-feet person anyway.

Do they work? Yes, they keep my feet dry even in cases like last week, where I rode through floods so that each foot was submersed on each turn of the pedals. They are comfortable enough that I pretty much forget I’m wearing them on the sort of cool, damp days when they are needed. I guess if I wore them on a baking hot day they’d be horrible, but why would you?

If the flood water goes over the TOP of your fancy socks, do they keep it out?

[I'm pretty happy with my goretex over-socks, but I mainly wear them with goretex trousers that overlap the "cuffs" of the socks, and I've yet to ride thru deep floods with them!]

[Nearholmer]

They do, because of the rubber-band/elasticated tops - I have to remember to put the legs of the tights over the socks, because the other way round they wick the water inside.

You do have to be a bit hardy, because clearly with the outer sock soaking wet, they aren’t exactly warm for a while, but that doesn’t really apply in ordinary rain, only after sploshing through deep water.

I’m guessing that goretex over-socks are doing the same job as the membrane layer in these sealskins.

These ones https://www.sealskinz.com/products/bris ... 3966256277

[pwa]

I never found Sealskinz socks kept my feet dry for long in real rain. They are only as good as the seal around the top, and in heavy rain water will trickle in that way. Unless you have waterproof trousers that go over the top and stop your shins getting wet. And even then, I have found that at one point in the pedal stroke the trouser bottom rises above the shoe and sock to expose the top of any overshoe or sock. Having said that, I bought my last pair of Sealskinz socks about ten years ago, so maybe the seal around the top works better now.

[Nearholmer]

Tights seem to work in combo with them, provided the tights are over the socks, not the other way round. I’ve not had water get inside the socks.

[Biospace]

I also take a ... spare phone ( my old smart phone ) cos if the main one breaks it's a major problem these days since there's very few payphones or telephone boxes around anymore.

Making a call generally isn't the problem if a phone goes out of action, losing its data and access to the internet is. If your main phone remembers passwords and other data which are required for anything, it's important to have a back up of this.

I miss being able to carry spare phone batteries which weighed almost nothing, the size of modern ones means a battery bank capable of recharging phones a couple of times weighs heavy.

[PH]

I never found Sealskinz socks kept my feet dry for long in real rain.

How long ago was that? I had some in about 2010 and made the mistake of wearing them with shorts and sandals, much to the amusement of others I poured about a pint out of each at a cafe.
They have improved, I don't know about current Sealskin version, but the Showers Pass and Dexshell ones I have now are far better. I wouldn't say they were unbeatable, but neither can I last remember when they were significantly beaten.

[Mtb tourer]

Why not buy good merino socks, you feet get wet but not cold.Sealskin socks only work if you have fat ankles. Water fills the sock.DeFeet Woolie Boolie if really cold and GOBIK skinlab if it's just cool and wet, not used overshoes since using merino.

[Nearholmer]

Sealskin socks only work if you have fat ankles.

I can assure you that the elegant slimness of my ankles would do a ballerina proud, but since the socks seal half way up the calf, that really isn’t relevant.

I honestly think people must be talking about different sealskin socks from the ones I have ….. follow the link I gave above.

[PH]

I honestly think people must be talking about different sealskin socks from the ones I have ….. follow the link I gave above.

The early ones, as mentioned above, were pretty awful. Such reputations are hard to shake.
although I don't have any more recent Sealskins, I've no doubt they've improved, all the brands have.

[mattheus]

They do, because of the rubber-band/elasticated tops - I have to remember to put the legs of the tights over the socks, because the other way round they wick the water inside.

You do have to be a bit hardy, because clearly with the outer sock soaking wet, they aren’t exactly warm for a while, but that doesn’t really apply in ordinary rain, only after sploshing through deep water.

I’m guessing that goretex over-socks are doing the same job as the membrane layer in these sealskins.

These ones https://www.sealskinz.com/products/bris ... 3966256277

Thanks!

(I had some Sealskin socks nearly 20 years ago! No doubt they were an utterly different design and construction, but I really didn't get on with them.)

[mattheus]

Why not buy good merino socks, you feet get wet but not cold.Sealskin socks only work if you have fat ankles. Water fills the sock.DeFeet Woolie Boolie if really cold and GOBIK skinlab if it's just cool and wet, not used overshoes since using merino.

Big fan of wool here. I wear merino socks on 90% of my rides.
But dry wool is warmer than wet wool!

[Mtb tourer]

Sealskin socks only work if you have fat ankles.

I can assure you that the elegant slimness of my ankles would do a ballerina proud, but since the socks seal half way up the calf, that really isn’t relevant.

I honestly think people must be talking about different sealskin socks from the ones I have ….. follow the link I gave above.

Better watch out ,the fashion police might fine you. .long cycling socks waterproof or not are a fad. Not good for the suntan and are heavy if waterproof.