I am interested in getting input from those of you who have experience with either water proof socks or their neoprene cousins while in the BWCA. I am intrigued by the mid calf water proof sock but am not sure if they would work as advertised. The neoprene may be too thick for my current boot set up.

I have historically used an ankle high boot and worked hard to keep my feet dry. I enjoy the stability of a good boot so I have never gone the duck boot route. I now have an over the ankle boot that I like so it will provide an opportunity to get out in shallow water rather than on shore. The boot I have is multi purpose but intended for hiking so it fits my foot and not oversized enough to accept a sock like you would use in a Chota.

I would enjoy any insight on your experiences with water proof socks and/or neoprene. In particular: do they work as advertised, how are they sized, is sweating an issue, anything else, etc.

I have done my research but comments on product websites are so scattered I don't trust what I am reading. Here on the other hand, its a different kettle of fish.

Much appreciated.

JJ

JJ,
I have pairs of both socks and Neoprene. I bought them like regular sock sizes and while snug to fit, they are not too uncomfortable. Ive used the socks over the past couple of years and are great inside my water shoes. The only problem is if you go in a bit too deep and then they take on water and it stays there. I did pick up some neoprene gaiters that fit inside my water shoes and will be trying them out in a couple weeks. Most of my portage entries are a bit deep and the neoprenes are over the calf. Both are a little warm on ave temp days, so have a good thirsty towel on hand. I'll let you know how they work when I get back.
Garymud

I’ve used the Chota Quetico Trekker system for a long time and have been very happy with it. It’s not so fun to put on the wet neoprene in the morning but my foot warms up quickly and I’m probably stepping into the water a few minutes later anyway. This year, I wore wool socks instead and that was also great. A slight advantage as it is easier to have an extra pair with me. The wool is pretty warm but maybe in the shoulder seasons I would give the nod to the neoprene. On the other hand, I wear keen sandals and wool socks out here in California for wading in water that requires wet suits for swimming and that works fine. I don’t have a problem with my feet staying wet. I put on dry shoes in camp and my feet dry out fine.

I have not tried waterproof socks but am a bit worried about anything that depends on not getting in water that is too deep.

Jimmy J-

You know me. The support in a quality rubber duckie like in Muck Boots, is more than you think. On a 2001 trip - with high waters on the Kawishiwi River leading into Insula and Alice, one of my buddies suggested "rubber duckies" ie-- knee high rubber boots. Immediately I was concerned about ankle support. Not true. Tried the same deal in 2002 to the same area (same trip) and was remarkably surprised not only on the support of "rubbie duckies" - but their overall toughness. Done the Grand Portage with them once. That is a little much for your knees. But for common to even major portaging in the BWCA- rubber duckies win out 95% of the time.

Marcie and I both tried waterproof socks last year. They were NOT! I had the Chota neoprene socks and the knee high gaiters also. The neoprene socks were too snug in my boots. The knee high gaiters worked great. However after a few days they smelled awful. Maybe a combination of all the muddy portages and feet sweating. When I got home I washed them twice and they still reeked. Ended up spraying them with hunting scent eliminating spray, that did the trick. I think I walked the Grand Portage with just wool socks in the Chotas. If you read Muddyfeets report on last years Challenge he reports on blisters on the portage from his muck boots. I'm sure I would have the same complaint. I'm considering walking the Grand this year in running shoes and packing the Chotas. Hopefully I'll get to make that decission. That's an awful lot of paddling in 8 days.

I use neoprene socks and water shoes, and shorts unless it's to cold, I bought a half size bigger water shoe, sock are 3mm and fit really nice and feet stay plenty warm in the colder spring and fall water, we also use a neoprene diving boot if really cold water, adds another 6mm of neoprene, hate the old knee high boots any more unless I'm paddling in snow and Ice water.

Chota Hippies adjust from mid calf to upper thigh. What sock can do that?

I have used the "duck" boots as you called them. I went years with out getting water in them, some portages took some ingenuity but it can be done. My feet also SWEAT all the time and they did in those boots. Other wise I have used my Keens and with regular white low cut socks. If, I had a long or nasty looking portage, I would switched to a my regular boots. I do have a pair of Seal skins socks for the shoulder season. I used them with my Keens and never was cold or had issues. I suppose if you submerge them, they they would hold water, but I never did. I liked them also cause they covered your foot/calf for those occasional rock turtles that always seem to sneak up on your and nip your ankles ;-)

I use both the waterproof sealskinz socks and neoprene chota brookies. Both are knee high and I wear one over the other with my chota trekker boots. I usually wear gaitors over those to protect the neoprene from getting scratched and punctured on portage trails. I also have the chota hip waders which is an excellent system. The only issue I've had with the hippies is that they will fill with water like balloons if you tip and dunk. It can be a bit dicey at that point. However the waterproof (or exceptional water-resistance) nature of the system of socks and neoprene works quite well. They can be warm in the summer months though (think calf incubators).

Just got back from a week in BW, had 1 pair of mid-calf gore-tex socks & 2 wool socks. I wore keen hiking sandals & (stupidly) decided against camp shoes at the last minute. Gore-tex worked great until day 2 when we hit a knee-deep portage entry point. Then my feet sat in gore-tex bathtubs for the rest of the day and softened my skin, so that when I tried portaging w/ no socks, I got a few blisters. My gore-tex socks took 3 days to dry/wear again, then another deep entry point and bathtub effect again. Knee-high waterproof socks might work better, but I did go into the water up to my thighs a few times (slippery rocks), so maybe not. Next year I'm bringing 4 pairs of wool socks, 2 for daytime & 2 for camping. And camp shoes in addition to keen hiking sandals.

...short answer: I don't know about neoprene, but I would not recommend gore-tex socks (ex: RANDY SUN waterproof socks on amazon)

Used a pair of NRS boots last week which kept my feet warm and dry. A bit too hot for July/August perhaps but worked nicely for a September trip out of Hog Creek-->Perent Lake. Minimal portaging on that route but was comfortable in them all day. My feet were NOT wet from sweat, surprisingly.
I normally wear a men's 10 or 10.5 and had to get a size 12 in these. I had to send a pair of size 11 back because it pressed against my big toe.
Socks: I wore a pair of thin knee-high elastic socks to address my leg circulation issues plus a pair of thin SmartWool socks.
I have neoprene and waterproof socks but it's a fight to get those off and on. Slipping into the boots was so much easier-- less the grunting and pulling while putting on the socks.

Neoprenes aren't made to be stuffed into regular, normally sized boots - they're intended to be used with with wading shoes/boots such as the Simms, Chotas, Orvis, etc. The neoprenes we're talking about here are effectively just short stocking-foot waders. That said though, I wetfoot using Chota socks and Caney Fork boots. So long as I don't go too deep (nearly knee high), my feet will be bone dry other than a little sweat at the end of a day. On top of that, the Caney Forks are a comfortable, and very secure feeling boot to portage in.

I have Chota Caney Fork boots with the Caney Fork socks. I use them in all months. I pull them off and turn them inside out to make sure the inside dries out, then turn them outside out. My boots are one size bigger than my normal size.