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What are your favourite waterproof socks, and why?
I've just bought some mid-height shoes for winter and am thinking about socks to keep my feet dry and warm (reynauds is an absolute 🤬, so this is important). Last time I tried waterproof socks they were thick, stiff, plasticky and unpleasant next to the skin. I'm sure the state of the art has moved on since then, but I don't know where to start looking.
Feel free to define "favourite" any way you want.
Aldi are the best waterproof socks IMHO. They less straight-jackety for your feet than Sealskinz and just nicer to wear. They had them in a couple of weeks ago so may well have some left. 12 quid a pair I think. An absolute bargain
I'm currently using the Altura ones, theyre dry, soft and warm. About £20 a pair.
I'm currently very impressed with the Aldi waterproof socks - they are 12 quid!
Sealskins do, as you say, go hard and brittle after a while, I've worn a few pairs out. I had some Polaris ones which are quite good and lasted a while.
But two fresh pairs of Aldi specials, nice and soft, fit well, and seem to be keeping me warm and dry, will see me through this winter. Reccomended.
I wear dexshell and sealskins ones. Both are similar in construction but whilst I can't say I've felt them to be plasticy etc* I've noticed much change in construction over the years so you may find they're exactly the same.
One thing I will say is they're no better for my reynauds than woolen socks as they don't tend to stay warm particularly well. Even the knee length ones need silk socks underneath** for me to stand a chance of my toes not going white and then completely dead within ten minutes.
*except the pair that got tumble dried on hot...
**though to put that in perspective, I'm in double socks for at least six months a year.
Oh I forgot to add - over the depths of winter I've found the number one key way to keep your feet dry (and thus warm) is not the socks used - but wearing trousers!
Currently using Ottershell knee length, but just looked and they don't seem much cheaper than sealskinzs anymore. Still nice though.
Top tip I only learnt after a good few years of doing otherwise - don't store them in a drawer smooshed together (is there a technical term for what you do with a pair of socks normally?). Something about the membrane doesn't like it and they loose their elasticity quickly.
don’t store them in a drawer smooshed together (is there a technical term for what you do with a pair of socks normally?) Something about the membrane doesn’t like it and they loose their elasticity quickly.
Autoeroticism?
I can't offer any experiences of these, but I'll be trying them when I need another pair of waterproof socks. Banana industries gear is generally very good.
www.bananaindustries.co.uk/collections/socks-1/products/sock-16-dont-worry-its-waterproof
Oh I forgot to add – over the depths of winter I’ve found the number one key way to keep your feet dry (and thus warm) is not the socks used – but wearing trousers!
Yeah, I'm pretty much in trousers (I refuse to call them pants) until spring now.
One thing I will say is they’re no better for my reynauds than woolen socks as they don’t tend to stay warm particularly well. Even the knee length ones need silk socks underneath** for me to stand a chance of my toes not going white and then completely dead within ten minutes.
That's disappointing, but useful to know.
Brigdale has a nice range of waterproof socks:
https://www.bridgedale.com/collections/mens-waterproof-socks
They are not as crinkly feeling as Sealskinz
Autoeroticism?
Chapeau. That is simultaneously awful, and perfect.