Finally decided that I am indeed an old fart and need waterproof socks to keep my tootsies warm. Experiences? Recommendations?

Thanks,

Nope - they're crap in my experience. And most of the guys I ride with in my club would agree.

I've Sealskinz - which are waterproof but do not stop the water soaking down your leggings against your skin and into the sock at it's opening. One guy I ride with has a pair that stop just below the knee. It just takes a little longer for his feet to get wet as a result..... Water proof socks are only a worthwhile purchase if you wear water proof trousers or gators - and that would make you look like a rambler.

That said they are 'splash proof' - ie you're riding on a relatively dry day and hit a puddle - your shoe gets soaked but your foot will stay dry.

They also help stave off the cold and wet - but only for a short while pending on the conditions. I've just started wearing them again now as they are warmer than standard socks.....recently I've been considering wearing my wetsuit! Neoprene socks would be ideal if you can get them - you'll get wet but you'll stay warm!

s

nah, wetsuit socks don't really work cos you keep pumping the water in and out with the pedlin action. I found thickish wicking socks under sealskins about best.

Word of caution though if your shoe fit is too tight (cos of millions od sock layers) then the constricting of the circulation will make your feet cold anyway, defeting the object.

I know cos i have the same problem

I'd disagree with that, they are more than splash proof. I find Sealskinz socks great, they're very waterproof.

Sure if you wander through a stream above the depth of the sock, the water's obviously going to seep in.

I've often been out and been really soaked and yet the feet are virtually dry wearing the sealskinz.

I'd also recommend the new Merino wool lined Sealskinz being very toasty too.

Sealskinz are OK for short rides but the water does eventually seep down the internal material to wet your toes... they should have a rubber seal at the top like a dry suit...

If you have to seal sealskinz so tight to your legs to stop water seeping in would that not restrict the blood flow ?

I use the porelle drys (an older version of sealskinz) If water seeps in it soon reaches your body temperature. Maybe that's the theory behind a wetsuit

At the end of the day if you're going out to play in the wet, cold & mud you're going to get wet, cold & muddy whatever you wear.

a length of gaffa tape around the top will keep the water out...

keep the blood flowing into your feet and you will never suffer from cold feet.

My experience is not good. The main reason I got them was due to cold feet in the winter (chill factor + wet toes = AAARGH).

Had some proper winter boots which were better but got nicked with my 2 bikes 18 months ago.

Gonna try neoprene overshoes this year. They look a bit roadie but I've seen some MTB specific ones which were pretty good for about £25.

i use goretex socks (£10 from a army surplus store) over some wool hiking socks with a neoprene over shoes if its bad. I find the over shoes stop the most of the water and the goretex socks keep the rest out. Yes i do get a bit of water running down inside if it is realy wet but if your that bothered id get some full length mud gaurds ;-)

i use goretex socks (£10 from a army surplus store) over some wool hiking socks with a neoprene over shoes if its bad. I find the over shoes stop the most of the water and the goretex socks keep the rest out. Yes i do get a bit of water running down inside if it is realy wet but if your that bothered id get some full length mud gaurds and only go out if its dry ;-)

I find seal skins great. Just been wearing them today through many deep puddles with skates shoes (with holes in them).I've got the second generation ( thinner ones ) I think.

goretex socks are about £30 new. used to use them in the army. better than waterproof boots as when your boots get water in them in the field, you can't dry them out. so you have two pairs of goretex socks, easy to dry when wet really, just turn inside out and hand to dry or shove in your jacket pockets to dry with heat of your body!.

going to be riding more and more xc, so i will be investing in some for myself shortly, shame i'm size 13.5 and there are nearly impossible to get for my size!

Distructo these are new they were still in the wrapers but the sizeing a right pain in the arse hence the shop has more out of wrappers since my visit the had 3 sizes per foot size in my canse 8S 8M 8L the S M L is the width fitting apparently. At £10 i dont think you can go wrong?

canse= case

Dh'o

Mr D, i ordered a couple of pairs of these but had to return them cos they were fecking huge!
I'm size 9, and these things probably could have stretched over my shoes. Quite probably fit you well.

nah, know i need special sizes, if i have to stretch them at all my feet will get uncomfortable and the waterproofing will deteriorate too fast. done that before!

Nah they're shite.
Get some proper waterproof boots like shimano 101's.

Thanks for views - in the end I spent twenty quid on sealskinz mid lights as I didn't want to get cold and wet again on my sunday ride. Typically the sun shone, the sky was blue and I didn't fall off in any puddles so I have no idea whether my money was well spent...

Will post feedback when have been out in real weather.

Going back to what people were saying about water running down your leg. I've found that wearing a set of water resistant bib tights (like Lusso max repel) over seal skinz works really well. I've been out in some pretty foul weather over the last couple of weeks and my feet have been v. dry using this combination.

Update on Sealskinz Mid-Lights.

Go out at 7.30am every sunday for approx 15 mile xc with three "friends" and would you believe it there has been no rain in thames valley on sunday mornings since I bought waterproof sox. Perhaps the b1oody things are magic!

They certainly keep my feet dry from puddle splashes, but obviously can't yet comment on rain runnning down leg.

p.s. I wear normal socks underneath to keep my tootsies warm