Acerbis No-Wet Socks

Product Information

Although much more pliable than the first generation, waterproof don’t stretch as much as conventional socks and can vary considerably between brands. Gaiters absolutely essential in winter conditions, to stop snow getting in your boots - don't really wear them much otherwise, overtrousers perfectly adequate for rain/wet vegetation. Just be aware that they are a little thicker than normal socks so you my have to size up your shoes I was lucky and had room to spare ! The trick is just to get shoes/socks that fit well (no rubbing), drain well and don't go sloppy when wet (minimal unnecessary padding).

Residual dampness in the morning if conditions prevent drying out completely overnight is really not much of a problem either, just a discomfort. If I'm going through a lot of wet brush I might bring gaiters, but I'm going to assume with a trip that covers that much distance in that amount of time you're not going to do a lot of off-trail stuff. It's simple really: the Merino feels nice and cozy while wicking the sweat off your feet, which then passes internal moisture to the membrane, which “hydrophilicly” passes the water out of the sock where it dries.Once you’re out running in the rain, you can feel confident that if it’s incessantly heavy precipitation, or you accidentally stick your foot in a deceptively deep puddle, your feet will remain warm and dry (even more so if you pair the socks with waterproof trainers). Often apparel designed to work in one sporting activity very nicely crosses over to other similar activities.

Stink seems to be a minor problem, again thanks to merino wool construction, which we strongly recommend.In the UK they are Ok in dry caves, but to be honest you may as well wear a good pair of walking socks and would be great in a wet cave if you could guarantee you wouldn't be in deep water, only up to the waterproof part of the sock - impossible I know so don't bother. but I also really like bringing a pair of the old-school, flexible sole Tevas (which they're making again, oh joy! I've also decided on non-'waterproof' boots as they will take forever to dry out in colder temperatures so breathable boots will dry quicker and be more comfortable in general. I also have an older style of Vivobarefoot waterproof shoes, not the Trail Freak but probably its predecessor, and they give me YOOOGE blisters on my heels.

Even if they leak (they didn’t—we poured some water inside for testing) they remain warmer than wet socks, because like a wet suit, they hold the water in place so it can warm up. They are also designed with a close fit, including elastic arch support, with the idea being that they won’t become too baggy when drenched with water.Note, if you are doing any river crossings this is their demise as you would have to take them off or otherwise they would fill up with water! But another unexpected pro is that in addition to being pretty cheap and quite light, they are also almost perfectly minimalist. These results are simply anecdotal, but perhaps I’ll do some experimenting this winter with various configurations and report back. It's a very strange sensation that makes you ask the question: what is the difference between wet and cold?