Waterproof Socks
- fausto copy
- Posts: 2809
- Joined: 14 Dec 2008, 6:51pm
- Location: Pembrokeshire
Re: Waterproof Socks
Me and Mrs. Copy bought a pair of Sealskins a few years ago during a wet tour of Wales (is there ever a dry tour?).
Mine seemed fine but hers weren't doing the job, even wearing waterproof overtrousers, overlapping the socks etc).
On returning home, we washed and dried them and tried them again with the same results next time out.
I decided to fill both pairs up with water and lo and behold, Mrs. C's pair leaked like a sieve.
I contacted Sealskins who told me to send them back for analysis.
They tested them, agreed they were faulty and sent a new pair.
This new pair seem no better, even though they don't leak the same.
Last week I rode for 30 miles in the rain, in shorts, with Sealskins on and Goretex overshoes on.
At the end of the ride, my feet felt warm and dry but on examination the socks were wet.
I put this down to water trickling down my leg, although my shoes were absolutely soaking.
I'm not convinced that these socks are truly waterproof, although I don't mind wearing them because they do keep my feet warm, even after riding in cold rain all day.
But then again, if they're truly waterproof, that is not letting water in from the outside, then I can surmise that after pedalling thousands of revolutions during the 30 mile ride, there would be a certain amount of moisture generated within the socks (and no, I don't suffer from sweaty feet, thank you) which would cause the dampness itself.
I have a feeling that Sealskins will offer you a replacement pair Mick, but I would opt for a refund if you get the chance.
And I hope the weather will be nice and dry for your forthcoming tour and your feet stay sweet and dry.
Mine seemed fine but hers weren't doing the job, even wearing waterproof overtrousers, overlapping the socks etc).
On returning home, we washed and dried them and tried them again with the same results next time out.
I decided to fill both pairs up with water and lo and behold, Mrs. C's pair leaked like a sieve.
I contacted Sealskins who told me to send them back for analysis.
They tested them, agreed they were faulty and sent a new pair.
This new pair seem no better, even though they don't leak the same.
Last week I rode for 30 miles in the rain, in shorts, with Sealskins on and Goretex overshoes on.
At the end of the ride, my feet felt warm and dry but on examination the socks were wet.
I put this down to water trickling down my leg, although my shoes were absolutely soaking.
I'm not convinced that these socks are truly waterproof, although I don't mind wearing them because they do keep my feet warm, even after riding in cold rain all day.
But then again, if they're truly waterproof, that is not letting water in from the outside, then I can surmise that after pedalling thousands of revolutions during the 30 mile ride, there would be a certain amount of moisture generated within the socks (and no, I don't suffer from sweaty feet, thank you) which would cause the dampness itself.
I have a feeling that Sealskins will offer you a replacement pair Mick, but I would opt for a refund if you get the chance.
And I hope the weather will be nice and dry for your forthcoming tour and your feet stay sweet and dry.
Re: Waterproof Socks
Thanks FC!
The weather forecasts for the next few days aren't too bad, so I should be ok. (Fingers crossed!)
The weather forecasts for the next few days aren't too bad, so I should be ok. (Fingers crossed!)
Mick F. Cornwall
- fausto copy
- Posts: 2809
- Joined: 14 Dec 2008, 6:51pm
- Location: Pembrokeshire
Re: Waterproof Socks
So, Mick, now you ARE banking on the weather forecast
It is looking good, though, apparently well into the weekend.
We will keep our fingers crossed, both for yourself and our son, who's getting married on Saturday.
The do is right on the cliff top here in Pembs. so hopefully he will be getting wed, not wet!
I may be taking photos from the nearby beach, but won't be wearing my Sealskinz.
It is looking good, though, apparently well into the weekend.
We will keep our fingers crossed, both for yourself and our son, who's getting married on Saturday.
The do is right on the cliff top here in Pembs. so hopefully he will be getting wed, not wet!
I may be taking photos from the nearby beach, but won't be wearing my Sealskinz.
Re: Waterproof Socks
Excellent!
Have a great day, and pass on my regards to the happy couple, and you and Mrs C as well!
The weather forecast is still wrong here, it's been drizzle and rain all day, but they maintain that tomorrow and Thursday will be sunny! Following the forecasts in a northerly direction up to Lancashire and Cheshire, they are still showing good weather.
Although I've not packed SealSkinz socks, I have packed Rain Legs and my Goretex top!
(Mudguards are still fitted.)
Have a great day, and pass on my regards to the happy couple, and you and Mrs C as well!
The weather forecast is still wrong here, it's been drizzle and rain all day, but they maintain that tomorrow and Thursday will be sunny! Following the forecasts in a northerly direction up to Lancashire and Cheshire, they are still showing good weather.
Although I've not packed SealSkinz socks, I have packed Rain Legs and my Goretex top!
(Mudguards are still fitted.)
Mick F. Cornwall
Re: Waterproof Socks
My socks have been returned to me with a letter.
I'll paraphrase:
........ we can confirm that we have pressure tested the socks to 1psi of hydrostatic head in our lab and can confirm that they do not leak.
I am returning your socks in the hope that you can get a refund .......
Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do to prevent water entering the top of the sock .......
I am sorry ............ but as no manufacturing fault was found, we have no alternative but to return your socks.
Signed Lisa Malyon, Customer Services and Returns
Just as I expected, I suppose!
Waterproof?
As advertised?
I'll return them to SJSC, get my dosh back, then perhaps contact Advertising Standards.
Do I have a case?
I'll paraphrase:
........ we can confirm that we have pressure tested the socks to 1psi of hydrostatic head in our lab and can confirm that they do not leak.
I am returning your socks in the hope that you can get a refund .......
Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do to prevent water entering the top of the sock .......
I am sorry ............ but as no manufacturing fault was found, we have no alternative but to return your socks.
Signed Lisa Malyon, Customer Services and Returns
Just as I expected, I suppose!
Waterproof?
As advertised?
I'll return them to SJSC, get my dosh back, then perhaps contact Advertising Standards.
Do I have a case?
Mick F. Cornwall
Re: Waterproof Socks
I emailed SJSC asking for a Returns Number in accordance with their policy. I've just received a reply:
Hi,
I'm sorry to hear of your disappointment. Please do not send the socks back,
since sealskinz have tested them and found them not faulty we cannot get a
credit on them and we cannot sell second hand socks. So please throw them
away. I have processed a refund of £20.00
This will show in your account in 3-5 working days.
My apologies for any inconvenience.
Many thanks
Shelley Williams
Customer Service
St John St Cycles
Can't say fairer than that!
Well done SJSC!
Hi,
I'm sorry to hear of your disappointment. Please do not send the socks back,
since sealskinz have tested them and found them not faulty we cannot get a
credit on them and we cannot sell second hand socks. So please throw them
away. I have processed a refund of £20.00
This will show in your account in 3-5 working days.
My apologies for any inconvenience.
Many thanks
Shelley Williams
Customer Service
St John St Cycles
Can't say fairer than that!
Well done SJSC!
Mick F. Cornwall
Re: Waterproof Socks
Blimey that's good of them - but I'm not sure that they'd be too pleased that you'd broadcast it, especially if they have a run of sealskins socks that all mysteriously get sent back to Sealskin first before return to them
Re: Waterproof Socks
I share your disappointment / frustrations MickF.
A couple of years ago I asked for some of these socks for christmas after hearing recommendations from other cyclists. Santa called with 2 pairs, one from a family member & one from a close friend. Both pairs performed... err, make that behaved as yours. Absolute rubbish.
I do not know how people can stick up for these at all given the widespread failures reported. All I can say is that they must be in denial, or they don't know rain. I'm in the Northwest & cheshire, hardly the monsoon capital of the world but damp enough some days.
Before you all start saying "its your fault for not wearing longs / daring to test the product to the limit / pulling them on too tight / yadda yadda" etc. no. They are the long leg versions which stop just under my knee, I was wearing them under waterproof breathable leggings which didn't fail, had them inside nike road shoes with no overshoe to impead breathability/wicking and they still failed.
It really was one of those 'imagine my suprise..' moments when I felt the dampness, then the coldness, then the sloshing feeling that I was riding with my feet inside 2 plastic bags filled with ice. I haven't had the heart to tell my gift-givers that their presents failed so I find myself lying when asked "how are your nice socks?" They paid £30.00 per pair too! I feel guilty for them!
Lets get this right. They do not work as claimed and have no other function so should not be promoted by anyone. Do not buy. Save your money. Please, stop recommending them or trying to say 'they're ok for short rides / 20mins' etc. They are indefensible.
The thing that gets me about stuff like this is that subquality wet weather gear has a saftey implication - How long would you last if stranded in the hills with leaky boots & anoraks? Gear sold for extreme conditions should perform in extreme conditions, end of story.
Shame on you sealskins for lying to us & taking our money. Rum bugg*rs!
A couple of years ago I asked for some of these socks for christmas after hearing recommendations from other cyclists. Santa called with 2 pairs, one from a family member & one from a close friend. Both pairs performed... err, make that behaved as yours. Absolute rubbish.
I do not know how people can stick up for these at all given the widespread failures reported. All I can say is that they must be in denial, or they don't know rain. I'm in the Northwest & cheshire, hardly the monsoon capital of the world but damp enough some days.
Before you all start saying "its your fault for not wearing longs / daring to test the product to the limit / pulling them on too tight / yadda yadda" etc. no. They are the long leg versions which stop just under my knee, I was wearing them under waterproof breathable leggings which didn't fail, had them inside nike road shoes with no overshoe to impead breathability/wicking and they still failed.
It really was one of those 'imagine my suprise..' moments when I felt the dampness, then the coldness, then the sloshing feeling that I was riding with my feet inside 2 plastic bags filled with ice. I haven't had the heart to tell my gift-givers that their presents failed so I find myself lying when asked "how are your nice socks?" They paid £30.00 per pair too! I feel guilty for them!
Lets get this right. They do not work as claimed and have no other function so should not be promoted by anyone. Do not buy. Save your money. Please, stop recommending them or trying to say 'they're ok for short rides / 20mins' etc. They are indefensible.
The thing that gets me about stuff like this is that subquality wet weather gear has a saftey implication - How long would you last if stranded in the hills with leaky boots & anoraks? Gear sold for extreme conditions should perform in extreme conditions, end of story.
Shame on you sealskins for lying to us & taking our money. Rum bugg*rs!
"There's room for all of us on the road you know, you'll just have to take that bit of room behind me!"
Re: Waterproof Socks
I do not know how people can stick up for these
Possibly because other people have found them to work fine?
Remember that there are a variety of models, and people use them for a variety of purposes in a variety of ways. The tops of mine are always covered by my bib longs and thus I find that no water gets into the top (unless I'm standing in a stream where the tops are submerged, or in a long torrential rain storm - in which case I don't notice 'cos water gets into everything). I use them for long day rides in bad winter weather on the MTB, among other things, rides where my feet would normally end up soaking wet and freezing cold - 'cos when ever I put a foot down it is inevitably into a puddle or stream of cold, muddy water. With my seal skinz they stay warm and dry, QED they work for their intended purpose in my case.
Re: Waterproof Socks
I used a pair of Sealskins on LEL this year (so a very wet 4 days!). They actually made things worse, because water collected inside the sock and stayed there until physically emptied out by pouring and wringing. So my feet were sloshing about in warm water for 90 hours all told. Surprising that I didn't get foot-rot or some other tropical disorder.
And yes, I was wearing leggings going over the outside of the sock, and even used cuffs made from the wrist sections of household rubber gloves!
And yes, I was wearing leggings going over the outside of the sock, and even used cuffs made from the wrist sections of household rubber gloves!
Re: Waterproof Socks
There was a thing on Radio 4 last week, and a presenter was at the Cycle Show, Earls Court. I couldn't hear the article very well, so missed most of it. However, the lady was saying that she'd taken part in a demonstration standing in water with waterproof socks on. I wonder which stand she was at?
I still feel I want to take this further, but I've enough on my plate at the moment. Advertising Standards will surely find in my favour, not because the socks aren't waterproof - they are. Its because they are not fit for purpose - AS ADVERTISED.
Remember, I bought these socks because of the advert showing a cyclist with bare legs. These socks are designed to be visible, not hidden underneath waterproof trousers.
I'm still angry, even though the socks were returned AND I got my £20 back.
I still feel I want to take this further, but I've enough on my plate at the moment. Advertising Standards will surely find in my favour, not because the socks aren't waterproof - they are. Its because they are not fit for purpose - AS ADVERTISED.
Remember, I bought these socks because of the advert showing a cyclist with bare legs. These socks are designed to be visible, not hidden underneath waterproof trousers.
I'm still angry, even though the socks were returned AND I got my £20 back.
Mick F. Cornwall
Re: Waterproof Socks
toontra wrote:I used a pair of Sealskins on LEL this year (so a very wet 4 days!). They actually made things worse, because water collected inside the sock and stayed there until physically emptied out by pouring and wringing. So my feet were sloshing about in warm water for 90 hours all told. Surprising that I didn't get foot-rot or some other tropical disorder.
And yes, I was wearing leggings going over the outside of the sock, and even used cuffs made from the wrist sections of household rubber gloves!
As a general point I've found that once things get to a certain level of wetness (and I'd include the weather you had for LEL this year!) it becomes counter-productive trying to keep dry, and one should concentrate on keeping warm instead.
Re: Waterproof Socks
I have used them for quite a few years and they are fine.
Waterproof overshoes are not fit for purpose by the same reasoning then.
Waterproof overshoes are not fit for purpose by the same reasoning then.
Re: Waterproof Socks
Dunno, never used them, but the way I understand them, they have drain holes in the bottom? Your cleats have to go through the bottom, so the rain will drain out.ianr1950 wrote:Waterproof overshoes are not fit for purpose by the same reasoning then.
Mick F. Cornwall
Re: Waterproof Socks
But they are still waterproof.
Are waterproof boots not fit for purpose as water can get into them the same way as the socks.
Are waterproof boots not fit for purpose as water can get into them the same way as the socks.