Hey everyone,

I will be in BWCA in late May for a 7 day trip. I'm used to Arizona weather, so I'm guessing my feet might get a bit cold, especially since I'm planning to wet boot it. I'm considering buying the Sealskinz trekking thick Mid socks. I've seen them mentioned a few places on the forums, so I'm wondering...

1. How well do they actually work?
2. Do they trap water if it gets in over the top of your socks?
3. Will they keep my feet warm, or should I use them in combo with another Merino/Wool sock?

Any other advice or insight about the socks is welcome as well!

Thanks,

SimbaHasani

I would also be curious if anyone has any thoughts on these. I'm heading in for opener and am not looking forward to those cold feet.

I've worn them for May trips. I don't think they keep my feet any drier but they did keep them warmer. I wear a thin poly-pro base, then Sealskinz, then a thinner lighter weight wool. I had an extra pair of portage boots that were a half size larger than my normal pair. I was more comfortable in those. Make sure you get the right fit. You will sweat in the Sealskinz.....they will stink.....the poly-pro layer will keep your feet feeling nicer.

In my experience, water will get in and then they will be no warmer, actually less warm perhaps, than a plain pair of Smartwool socks, but sometimes others report better experience.

try Chota Hippies

I have a pair of NRS neoprene socks..........ended up going in a different direction after sweating up a storm and found them a bit of a hassle to get on and off. But wet booting in shoulder seasons sounds like anything but fun with wet feet. Definitely need something. They cost a bit but if you go early you would likely be willing to pay 5 times as much when your teeth are chattering and your feet ice cold.

NRS Boundary sock

Another thought occurred to me.........get yourself some down booties for sleeping in at night. Your feet will take a very long time to get warm at night without them. They are not just a luxury item but a requirement for me to get a good nights sleep. Hard to crash with cold feet IMO.

Down booties

I have a pair of over-the-calf sealskins. You feet will sweat some and I wear liner socks to help this. I find that I usually wear them leaving base camp for a morning fishing session. I peel them off upon returning and turn them inside out to dry. They do seem to warm my feet when I get up to put on a cold damp shoe.Liner socks are a must with me.

I wore some one trip and thought my feet were just as wet with them. Probably from sweating. Thought they were just as warm as my heavy wool socks but I don't have a problem with my feet getting cold.

I am very happy with these . I am still on my first pair that have been used on several portage clearing trips along with a number of other shoulder season canoe trips. I wear medium weight wool socks underneath and wear Caney Forks. Still no leaks but I want to pick up another pair before they quit making them.

Ive always just worn knee high boots and been extra careful at portage landings. Dont get me wrong Ive dunked my boot a couple times and its awful, but I always bring a couple extra pairs of socks for that very reason.

I use the Duluth Trading Co Midweight 7 year socks

I've used them & I'm not a big fan. They definitely do trap the water when you go over the top. I believe a good wool sock is a lot warmer. When I go shortly after ice out, I have used knee high overshoes & kept dry feet.

Chota Brookies are the ticket.

If you're going in colder weather I would suggest buying an old school pair of ragg wool socks. Even when wet they will keep your feet warm.

My experience with SealSkinz was one foot stayed dry and the other, wet. Spend money on merino wool socks coupled w/ Chota Hippies.

I prefer the NRS wetsocks as well.

I had both the Sealskinz and Chota Hippies on my last trip that I wore under 5.11 Skyweight Rapiddry Boot. I wore poly pro liners under both. Like others have said, I sweat profusely with the Sealskinz. I much preferred the Chota Hippies and I didn't have to worry about water going over the top. The boots were very comfortable and I liked the extra support. My next trip, however, is going to be in August and I don't think I'll take either of those.

quote jeroldharter: "try Chota Hippies"

Switched from sealskinz to hippies a couple years ago and never looked back. Warm, dry, and much higher than sealskinz. Get em at the Midwest expo and get the discount.

quote mastertangler: "Another thought occurred to me.........get yourself some down booties for sleeping in at night. "

We may be kindred spirits MT. This is one of my guilty pleasures.

Over 10 years of annual Canadian trips both early season just after ice out and fall trips have demonstrated that for me wool socks/wet feet are fine. I have found I dislike sweating feet due to neoprene, over boots, etc more then cold feet. Experience will demonstrate what works for you. Of course, once I am off the water for the day I go to dry shoes/socks with foot powder.

quote mastertangler: "I have a pair of NRS neoprene socks..........ended up going in a different direction after sweating up a storm and found them a bit of a hassle to get on and off. But wet booting in shoulder seasons sounds like anything but fun with wet feet. Definitely need something. They cost a bit but if you go early you would likely be willing to pay 5 times as much when your teeth are chattering and your feet ice cold.


NRS Boundary sock "

I like these as well. I use them with a SmartWool liner sock and wear them in OTB Abyss boots. Has worked well for May trips.

I haven't tried the seal skins, but I have a knee high pair of water proof kayaking boots I love for spring and fall. My husband wears neoprene socks under his larger pair of trail runners and he stays plenty warm and the combo seems really comfortable. The neoprene socks were really cheap, and the sock trail runner combo is much better for portaging than my kayaking boots seem to be. I wear thick smart wool hiking socks under the boots and even if they get overtopped my feet stay warm.

I have a pair and I do not like to use them. My feet tended to perspire more and after a few days my Sealskinz were pretty ripe. I would suggest using a good pair of wool socks.

I've read dozens of posts and I'm still confused...

- Seems like if I have cold tolerance I can just wear thick wool socks and any sort of draining or nondraining shoe or boot.
- Less comfortable than wool, is neoprene socks - but perhaps they offer a wider temperature comfort range? Neoprene isn't waterproof, it just keeps the water near your skin warm, correct?
- PortageKeeper seems to use the Hydrus waterproof socks (which are like a baggy goretex sock) over his wool socks. The disadvantage is that because the footbox is nylon/goretex instead of tight fitting neoprene, these can slip down during portaging. The advantage is total dryness/easy to dry out.
- the chota hippies and chota wading socks solve the slippage problem of the hydrus socks, by using neoprene around the foot and nlyon around the calves. But doesn't neoprene let some water in? Aren't those cold in the morning if it gets below freezing?
- muck boots, which I have, have been recommended. These arent bad, but they do let water in if you are in the water past the part of the boot where the neoprene starts. Cheap rubber boots don't do that, and are easier to dry?
- I've also seen nrs drysuits and drysuit pants with built in nylon socks (not removeable, just like nylon waders). Perhaps, those solve the slippage issues that the Hydrus socks have.

If I go up in may, I am leaning towards getting the Hydrus socks, and using them only in the morning with wool socks if my muck boots are wet. But I don't know.

During the spring and fall I use muck boots and wear wool socks. I've never had a leak in my boots.

I have Sealskin socks I used them once. I felt they didn't keep the water out when I needed them to and kept most of my sweat in. They sit in a drawer now.

No water has gotten in my Chota Hippies.....yet.

I will say this for Sealskinz, they are a nice addition to my boots during ice season.

quote TuscaroraBorealis: "I prefer the NRS wetsocks as well."

I used these last Sunday, feet stayed very warm, Saturday didn't were any and yes one foot got a little cold. My trip in 2 weeks I'm thinking about wet footing it, I'd like to get away from the water boots.

We fished the opener for the first time last year and I went through the same dilemma searching for the right footwear. I ended up going with an 18" LaCrosse non-insulated muck boot paired with an old pair of running shoes. This worked perfectly for me. As you would expect that time of year there were very cold days and some warm days. On the warm days my feet sweat a little, but I was glad I had the muck boots when it was 35 degrees in the morning.

I would recommend a muck boot that time of year. People will have varying opinions, but I just don't like wet-footing and the muck boots were the solution that worked or me. Here is a link to the pair I purchased. make sure to bring a pair of tennis shoes or maybe keens to tromp around camp in.

http://www.lacrossefootwear.com/men/hunt/boots/alphaburly-pro-18-forest-green.html