Wet Not, Want Not Dry Feet Are Happy Feet On The Trail

In the old days, a cold-weather slog across a soggy marsh or along a slushy trail meant reaching for a retired bread bag to keep your digits dry.

The plastic supposedly would prevent any water that leaked inside the boot from soaking your insulating socks.

However, the plastic tore easily and the lack of evaporation turned feet into overcooked prunes quickly.

Nowadays, there’s the oversock made of a waterproof-breathable membrane to turn back the floods without creating an internal sweat bath. An oversock is designed to be worn over another pair of socks, either a cushy wool or synthetic insulating sock or a thin liner, depending on your preference and comfort requirements.

Cuffs on the oversocks prevent them from slipping down and bunching around the ankles.

An oversock will increase your foot size by up to one-half. That means the boot that fits perfectly now may be too tight for comfort when combined with an oversock.

Following are the results of field testing three types of oversocks in a variety of conditions from warm and wet to cold and downright disgusting.

The Gore-Tex version of oversock is manufactured by several companies - including Manzella, (716) 632-8857, and Rocky, (800) 421-5151). Of all the socks tested, these offered the best fit and good comfort, providing they were combined with a cushy pair of socks underneath.

Prices range from $36 to $43. One rightfully should be concerned about the several seams in each sock. But they appeared to be impeccably sealed with tape. No leaks, runs or errors were recorded during the tests.

SealSkinz, (615) 847-6071, made from a DuPont proprietary membrane that’s sandwiched between a protective nylon shell and a Coolmax or Thermax lining, were the top performers when the weather was warm and only a thin liner sock was worn underneath.

While these socks are seamless, comfortable and cushy, they tended to be a bit baggy and, at times, the socks required adjustment to prevent irritation from fabric migration. The All Seasons sell for $25 - a great value.

Both Tecnica, (603) 298-8032, and Fox River (515) 732-3798 make oversocks from a Triad membrane, which is a polyurethane-treated polyester that sucks moisture outward. Of the three styles, the Triad versions are the lightest and most compact and they dried very quickly when the tester went in water over the cuff.

They also seemed to breath better than either the Gore-Tex or SealSkinz socks. But that comes with a trade-off - they are also the most fragile.

The single seam on the Tecnica we tested began pulling apart and opening the floodgates on the third test hike, a particularly long and difficult slog. At $30, these oversocks seem best suited for those who want to carry the lightest pair available for a “just in case” water-logged adventure. Don’t expect them to last forever.