[Closed] Sealskinz socks expectations

Sweat?
I've used the knee length version for a couple of rides now. I also wear thin socks underneath.
The tops are covered with my 3/4 tights.
Seem pretty good so far.

I use the short ankle length sealskinz and wear bridgedale liner socks underneath. Ever since I started using overshoes as well I've never had an issue with cold wet feet, and that includes riding through floods.

Why don't you just try and dry the inside then stick in the sink with your hand inside?
(obviously cuff above water?)
My sealskinz seem to keep dry....

The short ones are rubbish IMHO. Whatever I wore over them they seemed to get water inside. Then thecuff delaminated, so now they're only used when nothing else is available. Knee highs are ace. Still get a little cold from water in the shoe (especially in the vile conditions this weekend) but they are vastly better than the others

if you wore just the socks with no liner then it probably is just sweat. there is nowhere for sweat to go especially if the top is sealed tight!. you are effectively pedallying about with a tesco bag on your foot.

also i found sealskins are also not very warm on their own.

you bought the thin version and expect them to keep your feet warm?? they do thermal versions for that!!

I have very hot and sweaty feet but when wearing sealskins I only get wet feet once they are a few years old and leak.

You can test for leaks by turning them inside out and filling with water. they are supposed to be semipermeable so non sweaty

My guess is yours are leaking

I have the cold and extreme cold and generally I can see where water has soaked into the outer, but my feet are mostly dry. The only time I've had them leak is after a very, very wet ride and around 4 hours of riding. By this point you could pour water out of my shoes.

'Better than nothing' is about all I expect out of them, I wear them with thin ankle length icebreakers underneath.

Have waded rivers in them and stayed dry, but went for a sopping wet boggy run on Saturday and it felt like some water had got through, but it might just have been sweat.

Still much much better than no waterproof socks when running through ankle deep puddles.

Just get some overshoes. Cheap Halfords ones for 13£ will do or spend a bit more on Endura or Sealskinz. They are the one of the best bits of winter clothing I've ever bought. Not only do your feet stay warm and dry they also stop your mtb shoes/trainers from getting knackered. win win win. I can't honestly believe I've been winter cycling for as many years as I have without them.

Overshoes and pedal pins are not a good match.

I have knee length and standard length SS, none of them leak, I think yours may be faulty.

Sealskins tend to be thicker than normal "summer" socks, shoving them into slightly too tight shoes is a recipe for cold feet.

The short ones are rubbish IMHO.

They are mid so calf height, so not that short.

you bought the thin version and expect them to keep your feet warm??

Ok, I'll give you that one on the 'warm' comment - bought thinner ones so I could use the same shoes as they are so much thicker than a normal sock.

My guess is yours are leaking

I think yours may be faulty.

Bit shit if they are as only first wear.

Just get some overshoes.

But why should I even need overshoes too if they have a 'Lifetime Waterproof Guarantee'?

Sealskins tend to be thicker than normal “summer” socks, shoving them into slightly too tight shoes is a recipe for cold feet.

See above - bought thinner socks so feet still have plenty of wiggle room.

But why should I even need overshoes too if they have a ‘Lifetime Waterproof Guarantee’?

It's another layer for water to get through before it even touches your shoes, let alone your socks.
Your feet will stay warm and toasty.
They protect your shoes from getting caked in mud and knackered.

I've had mine 5 years and don't get wet when wearing trousers over the top i.e so it doesn't leak down the legs. Although I've nearly always worn a liner sock as generally get cold feet (raynauds).

I'd try once more but with a thin pair of socks underneath and if not get them returned no point having waterproof socks if they aren't properly waterproof. Suggesting overshoes and what not is just throwing more money into it when the socks should work in the first place

Suggesting overshoes and what not is just throwing more money into it when the socks should work in the first place

This.

Try with a liner sock to wick away sweat. I wore mine (calf length) underneath proper waterproof trousers today and didn't have any issues.

What I wear with these is thin wicking socks and then the mid length thermal waterproof sealskinz and so impressed with them! No matter what the weather feet always warm and dry, socks soaked on the outside but bone dry on the inside!

Top tip is get some wicking socks underneath them, helps them feel like they fit a bit better as I found on their own they felt a bit rigid, perfect with wicking socks under though, nothing special just a pair of fox or Troy Lee summer type socks, so long as your sealskinz are longer than the under socks

Almost certainly sweat if the socks are in good condition. But be aware some unthinking retailers pin the price swing ticket through the sock, thereby creating a hole.

I find if I wear boots with them then I'm more prone to getting cold wet feet, but if I wear them with Keen sandals, then my feet stay warm, possibly because then the sock can breathe, whereas boots trap moisture inside.

Keen sandals and SealSkinzs have got me through many a foul weather 'Puffer 24 hour.

(Obviously not a fashion statement, but I'd sooner have warm feet)

As above, I wear with thin socks underneath.
Otherwise they can get a bit sweaty and cold.

I also have a pair of cheapish Shimano spd shoes that are a size too big that I wear in winter.

Knee-length Sealskinz + socks underneath + riding trousers + roomy shoes = dry and warm feet.

you are effectively pedallying about with a tesco bag on your foot

They're supposed to breathe I think.

I have some of the actual knee length (which were hard to find) rather than the mids (which were easy). They are great for keeping the spray off. I found I could stand in puddles and streams and stay warm and dry - as long as I didn't stand for too long as the water chilled me from the outside! I was washing my (non-winter) shoes off in the stream to clean them before I went home even on freezing days, I still had dry feet.

They may be a bit fragile though - there are dire warnings about the length of your toenails on the packaging. I keep mine really short.

I’ll try some wicking socks.
The whole point of getting thin Sealskinz was so I could wear my usual shoes. What are the thinnest/least bulky socks out there that will do the job under the SS?

As others have said I wear liner socks (cheap Planet X merino) underneath my short sealskin sock and again as others have stated then take my leggings over the lot ( flat shoes worn )

It’s a combination that works very well with no leaks, is dry and not cold (my feet normally run very cold due to a condition)

You'll struggle to get liner socks and sealskinz below your usual fitting shoes, and to keep warm too, they'll be too tight.

As someone who has tried neoprene waterproof socks, I can assure you that sealskins do breathe, and quite well.

It's my experience that irrespective of the seal at the top of the sock, anything below the 'splash zone' lets water in. Its just a matter of time.

IMO anything less than knee high is pretty pointless for mtb.

My big toes seem to wear the membrane and I get leaks there first. On very rough ground my feet move around so much I wore holes in both big toe positions in one ride, but mostly I get a year/18 months from a pair.

OP here.
I've read all the comments and thought I'll try liner socks.
I've put the thinnest socks I own (socks don't come any thinner than these!) under the SS socks and now can't wiggle my toes at all.
So without them I get wet (or sweaty) feet - either way they are not what you'd expect from '100% waterproof and breathable' socks. The whole point of buying the thin ones was so I could wear my usual shoes...but if I want dry feet if have to use a secondary pair for them to be fit for purpose, which makes the shoes too small!
I can't use them if that's the case...do I have a case to return them?
Yes they've been worn once but they don't do what they say they do...take them back to Go Outdoors and explain (I have the receipt and packaging) or will they just look at me dumb and say 'tough shit', or do I contact SS as a first port of call?

If you've worn them, it's tough I'm afraid, one of the negatives of buying online and not (or not being able to) try them on.

one of the negatives of buying online and not (or not being able to) try them on.

I bought them in the local store.
I doubt they'd let you try socks on anyway.

Check for leaks as above first, then you at least know if you're returning faulty for replacement or not happy with them and returning for refund.

FWIW, if they're too snug [I'm assuming in your shoes] to get very thin socks under they're probably too snug to keep your feet warm too.

IME if they're too tightly packed into your shoes they will also not be waterproof when you're moving. The same socks in bigger shoes work well for a ride, in my snug shoes they leak, standing in a stream in my snug shoes to prove I'm not going mad, they work just dandy so I assume this is a weird capillary action or the like actually pulling the water into the sock.

Sorry mate, my bad!

I use merino ankle socks under my knee length sealskinz socks, never had any issues.