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Went on my first winter trail yesterday. Lots of muddy puddles, rain a little cold , no apocalyptic Arctic Blast funnily enough.
I used some nylon/polyester cycling socks. Feet were fine for the first hour, shoes drain well. The second hour my toes did get cold.
Any suggestions for winter socks? Seems like smartwool are probably favourite but are there any others to consider. Sealskinz? Presuming these will just hold water if it gets in through the top.
Innov8 neoprene socks here.
Sweaty horrible things in one way. But warm.
Smartwool or any decent merino socks. You’re feet will get wet so something which stays warm is the only way to go IMO. Make sure you’ve got roomy toe boxes in the shoes though as you’ll want space for toes to move about.
I also find that shoes which drain well but have a DWR coating on the outer (but not waterproof themselves like goretex lined ones) help. Inov8 mudclaws are pretty much the perfect winter shoe from experience.
Sealskinz/goretex socks working well with 5:10 shoes here and we get hods of snow and -10 or less.
I use sealskinz for long days in cold conditions. I've got some shoes half a size up to accommodate them plus wooly sock underneath. However, for anything less than about 4 hours or positive temps I just wear wool mix hiking socks.
Inov8 mudclaws are pretty much the perfect winter shoe from experience.
Even in the winter mudclaws are going to be overkill for a lot of people, it really depends on your exact usage.
Even in the winter mudclaws are going to be overkill for a lot of people, it really depends on your exact usage.
Probably should have qualified my comment; my running is in the Peak District largely and longer runs and races. Think Marsden Edale Trigger where mudclaws are pretty much essential.
I've ordered some Hilly Off Road socks, says they're about 50% merino. I'll see how I get on with them.
Good thread. I was thinking of the same question as I was breaking through the crust on icy puddles yesterday.
I'm at a socks for Christmas age now so I think I'll ask for a few different types and see how I get on over the winter.
Does anyone know if the Smartwool Run Cold socks are thicker than the PHD run socks, or does anyone have any feedback of the smartwool socks in general?
I’ve got a pair of these (but just a shorter length I think), need roomy shoes but lovely and warm.
https://www.outside.co.uk/smartwool-mountaineering-extra-heavy-crew-socks.html
Tbh I'm mibbe just a lucky bugger, but I never really get cold feet running, even on really cold days in the hills, I just always put it down to the amount of movement your foot is doing compared to biking? we're all different though.
Wearing longs will help feet stay warmer too, instead of shorts.
IME once the sock is wet it isn't going to make any difference if its Wool or Polyester. What you want is shoes a half to full size larger and neoprene socks with a thin liner sock.
I only revert to this in the depths of winter when I'll be out for a few hours, all the rest of the time I use my Hilly Mono Skins (which I use pretty much year round).