driftwoody
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Take the path closer to the edge, especially if less traveled
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Post by driftwoody on Oct 25, 2016 9:30:07 GMT -8
This is a follow up to my Trail Runners thread, regarding breathable trail running shoes that are not waterproof -- just let them get wet and continue hiking; they will dry out faster than goretex boots/shoes that get wet.
Two concerns come to mind when hiking in wet shoes and socks:
In colder weather, are neoprene socks or some type of waterproof socks recommended?
When wearing regular socks (wool, wool blend, synthetic) in 3-season weather when your shoes and socks are likely to be wet for extended periods, what kind of socks (materials) and/or brand are better for comfort and avoiding blisters?
Of course, one should always bring a pair of dry socks for camp and another for the trail, but in rainy weather or when frequently crossing creeks it may be impossible to hike with dry socks.
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driftwoody
Trail Wise!
Take the path closer to the edge, especially if less traveled
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Post by driftwoody on Oct 25, 2016 16:30:57 GMT -8
40 river crossings?!! Where the heck were you -- Big Frog / Cohutta?
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driftwoody
Trail Wise!
Take the path closer to the edge, especially if less traveled
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Post by driftwoody on Oct 25, 2016 17:04:59 GMT -8
What were the temps, day and night?
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Post by Lamebeaver on Oct 27, 2016 7:15:50 GMT -8
I'm not a big proponent of trail runners for backpacking, preferring waterproof boots for that reason. But here's a little trick I learned when my kids were little. Stick bread bags (think wonder bread) over their dry socks before slipping them in their boots.
Kids hiking shoes are rarely waterproof, and you don't want to spend a lot of money on them as they outgrow them on a yearly basis.
I carry a pair of sandals for river crossings.
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Post by dayhiker on Oct 27, 2016 11:14:09 GMT -8
I have tried that trick, but those bags, even carrot bags aren't that durable, and your feet will sweat in them. I now have vapor barrier socks, which I use in a waterproof boot under my socks, with a sock liner under it for comfort, and to prevent abrasion.
Two VB socks would work for both outside water and inside sweat, with the sock in between, but most likely your boot won't be big enough for that. I suppose one could use a wonder bags instead in that case.
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BigLoad
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Post by BigLoad on Oct 27, 2016 11:22:53 GMT -8
Maybe I'm lucky, but I've had no problem hiking all day in soaking wet wool socks (as long as my boots fit well).
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driftwoody
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Take the path closer to the edge, especially if less traveled
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Post by driftwoody on Oct 27, 2016 12:07:00 GMT -8
Maybe I'm lucky, but I've had no problem hiking all day in soaking wet wool socks (as long as my boots fit well). Any particular brand/product of wool socks that are most comfortable when wet?
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BigLoad
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Post by BigLoad on Oct 27, 2016 12:21:08 GMT -8
Maybe I'm lucky, but I've had no problem hiking all day in soaking wet wool socks (as long as my boots fit well). Any particular brand/product of wool socks that are most comfortable when wet? Well, "comfortable" is the word I would choose, but once I was wore Smartwool socks when I crossed the Payette River with boots on, and they were wet for a day and a half, about 14 miles altogether. I've hiked pretty far in wet REI socks, which have a higher wool content than Smartwool, according to the label. Neither was as abrasive as wet cotton socks, but I was careful to avoid letting them bunch up anywhere. I also took my boots up a few times during the day to let my skin dry out. That was one of the few times I ever intentionally wore boots in the water. It was wide, deep and rocky, and I couldn't see the bottom. Altogether I crossed three times. I've also hiked long distances in boots/socks thoroughly soaked by rain. Among the worst was last fall in AZ, when the temps plummeted after an all-day rainstorm to finish with three inches of snow. My boots were frozen solid in the morning and my socks were still wet. Getting my boots on was the hardest part of the day. Ironically, temps were in the 70s by late afternoon.
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Post by dayhiker on Oct 27, 2016 12:45:43 GMT -8
I take my socks off and my insole out for river crossings. I dry my feet with the outside of my socks. Works well in warmer weather.
Off course it takes time, so in Utah, hiking in a river I used "water shoes?", like runners but even more porous , my neoprene socks filled with sand some how.
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walkswithblackflies
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Post by walkswithblackflies on Oct 27, 2016 12:51:01 GMT -8
I swear by WrightSocks. They come in varying thicknesses, and since they are constructed of two separate plys, I don't have issues with blisters even if they're wet/moist. I must have walked/run over 1,000 miles in wet WrightSocks with no blisters.
If it gets too cold to walk with wet socks / trail runners for a considerable length of time (about 1.5 hours @ 30F for me), I switch to boots.
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driftwoody
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Take the path closer to the edge, especially if less traveled
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Post by driftwoody on Oct 27, 2016 13:04:02 GMT -8
I swear by WrightSocks. They come in varying thicknesses, and since they are constructed of two separate plys, I don't have issues with blisters even if they're wet/moist. I must have walked/run over 1,000 miles in wet WrightSocks with no blisters. Thanks, that's the kind of info I'm looking for.
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reuben
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Post by reuben on Oct 27, 2016 14:38:57 GMT -8
I've used both Wrightsock and Smartwool. Love the Smartwools, which at least in my experience are thinner, which I like - my pups like to breathe. I've only tried one style of Wrightsock, which was a dual layer version, which should be better at preventing blisters. I got blisters anyway, but after 14 miles and 4,000 elevation change, that's not super surprising, especially given the fact that socks aren't the only issue. Either @tdale or cgaphiker swears by Wrightsock. I don't have anything against them, I just normally like thinner socks than the dual layer Wrightsocks I happened to buy. YMMV. HYOH.
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Post by cgaphiker on Oct 27, 2016 14:50:47 GMT -8
Wasn't me.
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Post by stevet on Oct 27, 2016 18:14:52 GMT -8
I've been wearing trail runners for about 10 years. I like the Montrails that have a full length rock plate, both stiffer and more foot protection.
As to wet trail conditions: no Gore-Tex. I want the shoe to drain even if it stays wet all day. Wear two pair of socks. For me these are injinji toe socks. against my foot one of the lightweight coolmax. and in warm conditions >60 degrees a second coolmax socks. For cooler conditions one of the injinji lightweight wool socks as the 2nd sock.
Never any problem with the wetness, no blisters, etc. Even 10+ hour >20mile hiking days. At night I wring out the wet socks and hang to dry as much as they will and either go barefoot or put on a dry sock overnight. If I need to put my shoes on in camp I slip my foot first into a plastic bag to keep them dry inside the wet shoes.
This works for me as long as morning temps are above freezing. As to below freezing????just haven't hiked in wet below freezing conditions so don't know the lower limit.
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walkswithblackflies
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Post by walkswithblackflies on Oct 28, 2016 5:00:45 GMT -8
reuben If you like your thicker WrightSocks, you should check out their other versions. I own thin, medium, and thick WrightSocks. The thin ones are about the thickness of a typical dress sock, but they're two ply. Surprisingly durable, too. 3+ years and just beginning to wear out. Nearly all of my (super-thick) winter socks are Smartwools. Love them, too.
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