Gortex™ socks any good?
 

Anyone used them in very wet conditions (river crossings0. Are they worth it or just plastic bags?

thanks

Chris

------------------
Author of Sahara Overland and the Adventure Motorcycling Handbook, among other things

http://www.sahara-overland.com

Chris

Have used the sock during a few deep crossings, trouble is your left with water in the boot. They are also very thick so might be to tight with some mx boots. But all in all not bad.

The gortex linings seem to be a better value, seem to keep more water out and are thinner although once over the height of the boot, the water runs inside them.

So really it would depend on what conditions you are going to be travelling in. If likely to be cold go socks if extremely wet got liners

Julio

Chris,

I use "Porelle Drys" when trail riding in England. Predictably my feet are often in water but are always comfortable despite this. The socks are fairly thick so possibly a bit OTT for summer use, but heavily recommended for other conditions. Other downsides are that they are expensive (30 UKP/pair) and don't pack down especially small either.

However, I always get home home with my feet dry and comfortable regardless of how much of the river got into my boots.

I'd recommend them for short trips in wet climates without hesitation, but for longer journeys it depends on where you're going.

Andy

If you can get a hold of them, try a pair of SealSkinz. I own a pair of the gloves which look like something a little girl might wear, but keep your hands completely dry even in a downpour. The socks are supposed to be similarly amazing.... but as of yet I have been unable to get my hands on any of them.

[This message has been edited by DogTag (edited 01 July 2001).]

I got me a pair of Seal Skinz socks for my upcoming trip to nordkapp from denmark, I hear there can be a lot of rain up that way in summer, will let you know how they fair.
Didnt know they made goretex socks- Dingofish

I do courier work averaging about 250-300km a day 5 days a week in Ireland not known for it's sunny weather!!! : ) Don't buy Daytona "waterproof" Goretex lined boots. They are NOT waterproof and here cost over £220!!! I have used Porelle Dry Socks and have found them great. A full 9 hours riding in solid rain and puddles and splashes from articulated trucks and the boots were sodden, the outside of the Porelles were wet, but inside my feet were dry as were the thin socks I wear inside the Porelles. I spent £60 on Goretex pants but found on my first day in the rain with them that they leak around the seat, probably because of the contact of backside to seat. This makes me dubious of Goretex liner claims - but would like to know of more experiences of the liners

Regarding waterproof pants.... try H/H (www.hellyhansen.com). They make great durable products that don't seem to leak like some of the gortex gear I own. I'm not sure what material they work with... but it's lite, packs small and has kept me dry.... so far. Their website is great!

Bill

I have had a pair or Porrelle waterproof socks for 2 years now and have used them for mountaineering and motorbiking. Having tried Gore-Tex socks and all sorts of waterproof boots I have to say you can not beat a pair of Porrelle's.

They are now available in two lengths, ankle and calf length.. the Calf length ones are totally waterproof and have never leaked. The only time I have had wet feet was mountainbiking wearing a pair and having cross a river in flood that went well over my knees - when riding.

My motorbike boots do leak - but once again the socks have never let me down.

Highly recommend them - even despite the price - I know of pairs that are well in excess of 5 years old and have daily use.

Thanks for your sock thoughts,
Bought some seal skinz but never got to use them in the real wet recently as the daily waxed boots got merely damp on ordinary hiking socks which was tolerable with a cabin at the end of most days.
And the day the boots filled up, seal skins would have filled up too, but kept feet warmer in the long run I guess.
They all double as cozy leisure slippers

Chris S

------------------
Author of Sahara Overland and the Adventure Motorcycling Handbook, among other things

http://www.sahara-overland.com

I ride a motorcycle daily in Bergen, Norway, AKA "Rainy City". I use a pair of IXS GoreTex boots and a Yoko (Finnish brand) 2-piece GoreTex suit. Granted, GoreTex won't keep you completely dry in all conditions, such as torrent rain for hours on end, but IMHO it's the best COMPROMISE. You take one set of gear and don't have to worry about bringing an extra rainsuit etc. I've been using GoreTex for the last ten years or so, and it's certainly gotten a lot better than it was some years back. Some days you'd be better off with a fisherman's type rainsuit and rubber boots, though.

[This message has been edited by OyvindSn (edited 16 September 2001).]

Chris,used them around spain in rain,snow and ice and found they keep you dry but your feet get really cold still(MX boots full of ice cold water).

heres the deal with gore tex: Gore tex is realy just a Teflon but basicly stretched out. Its Polytetraflouraethylene (iirc) which is pretty much just teflon stretched into sheets of fabric. Gore Tex has on average 9 billion holes per square inch. These hole are small enough so that water droplets cannot make it through the gore tex laminate. However vapor droplets...ie sweat...can escape through. So actualy Gore tex is not 100% waterproof. It is just the most waterproof and Breathable fabric on the market to date. If it were 100% waterproff it would not breathe at all and you would be drenched from sweat. Gore tex works best in jackets and pants where it is laminated to a layer of outer nylon, and if it is a 2 layer jacket it will have a mesh on the inside. The reason for the mesh is that gore tex that rubs on your skin will wear out very quickly since it is not very durable on its own. If it is a triple layer system it will have a thin layer of nylong laminated on the inside as well. Jackets and pants also have what is known as a DWR (Durable Water Repellent) which is sprayed on the outside of the jacket shell. This DWR causes the water that hits the jacket to bead up and fall off. when the DWR wears off, the water soaks into the outer layer of nylon and creates a water barrier that cant get past the gore tex layer, but at the same time the gore tex layer cant breathe any more. SO you sweat and get wet.
Gore tex in boots and in socks is not the greates thing. This is because the boot is a hostile envirionment and the goretex quickly gets dirty and wont breath any more. it will still be waterproof, but your feet will sweat like crazy. So in short...my advice is dont bother spending the extra for the gore tex lining in footwear or socks. You are better off getting a wool or synthetic or wool/ synthetic blend sock. these socks will stay warm when wet and will dry much faster then cotton. AVOID COTTON!!! in the outdoor industry we say: COtton kills. it gets wet, stays wet, and has no insulating properties when wet. ok hope this helps.

Just to add my two-cents worth (gee I didn't know I had that much), Having been conditioned from my army days, we used to wear two pair of socks and had a dry pair in our packs and used to rotate (if operationally possible) daily. Did try Gortex socks on a water operation and were found to be wanting!, and there was much cursing.

Anyway, taking my military conditioning into civvy street I wear when touring on the bike/4WDing 'Explorer' (trade name by Holeproof Australia) socks which are a wool/nylon mix. When on the bike I also wear Thorlo (trade name) under the 'Explorer' socks, and rotate nightley with a spare set. This has the advantage of keeping a close control of personal hygeiene when on the 'road' and if the socks do get wet they dry the following day.

So endeth the thoughts of Chairman Macca :-)

------------------
Macca
Without adventure life is in full decay.

[This message has been edited by Macca (edited 05 May 2002).]