Waterproof socks or Booties?
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Waterproof socks or Booties?
I'm wondering which way to go. Has anyone tried both? I've heard that booties tend to wear out quickly when you walk in them. How long do they last?
At the moment I'm leaning towards waterproof socks like sealskinz. They also take up less room than booties I would imagine. I use a backpack and like to keep my baggage to a minimum.
This is for commuting 14 miles round trip. Thanks
At the moment I'm leaning towards waterproof socks like sealskinz. They also take up less room than booties I would imagine. I use a backpack and like to keep my baggage to a minimum.
This is for commuting 14 miles round trip. Thanks
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I used Sealskinz. They were great. Only downside was putting on cold, wet cycling shoes for the commute home.
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I've used both booties and waterproof socks ( the goretex kind ). Both have good points. The booties are not waterproof, although if there is not much rain you can count on staying fairly dry. They do add about 5 degrees of warmth though ( my estimate ) which is nice if you are riding in the cold.
With the goretex socks I have not yet had wet feet ( max. commute time about 1.5 hrs in pouring rain) during the past year which is as long as I have been trying them. It can be a bit daunting putting on wet shoes for the ride home ( sometimes it isn't possible to dry them out here at work, or I forget ) but when your feet are dry they warm up pretty quickly once you get going.
I would choose the socks for warm wet rides and the booties for cold dry rides.
Cheers
With the goretex socks I have not yet had wet feet ( max. commute time about 1.5 hrs in pouring rain) during the past year which is as long as I have been trying them. It can be a bit daunting putting on wet shoes for the ride home ( sometimes it isn't possible to dry them out here at work, or I forget ) but when your feet are dry they warm up pretty quickly once you get going.
I would choose the socks for warm wet rides and the booties for cold dry rides.
Cheers
#6
Cycle Year Round
In the dark ages, before goretex, we use to take grocery store meat or produce bags and put them over the socks and add a rubber band. Still works well.
Consider it as a potential emergency measure for the sudden storms when the new socks/boot covers got left at home.
Consider it as a potential emergency measure for the sudden storms when the new socks/boot covers got left at home.
#7
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No such thing as a dry foot in a healthy rain. That said, wool socks (lightweight if you can find them) and sandals play nice in the rain. Actually, just sandals are even better if you find a good fit.
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Believe it or not, customer reviews on the sealskins website claims they are waterproof. Actually I think you are going to get wetter from the sweat so they recommend wearing them over a wicking layer. Wearing these with spd sandals may work quite well, although I may still go for shoes.
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Originally Posted by steel_is_real
Wet shoes shouldn't be a problem if you're able to stuff newspaper inside them so they dry quicker
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Originally Posted by steel_is_real
Believe it or not, customer reviews on the sealskins website claims they are waterproof. Actually I think you are going to get wetter from the sweat so they recommend wearing them over a wicking layer. Wearing these with spd sandals may work quite well, although I may still go for shoes.
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Originally Posted by womble
Nah- wet shoes don't try out over the course of a work day, newspaper or no newspaper (I tried). They might with forced heating, but that's a great way to destroy leather.
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Originally Posted by womble
Nah- wet shoes don't try out over the course of a work day, newspaper or no newspaper (I tried). They might with forced heating, but that's a great way to destroy leather.
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Originally Posted by steel_is_real
Believe it or not, customer reviews on the sealskins website claims they are waterproof. Actually I think you are going to get wetter from the sweat so they recommend wearing them over a wicking layer. Wearing these with spd sandals may work quite well, although I may still go for shoes.
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Been using those slipper shoes that you wear for kayaking etc. Got em for 30 bucks at the sporting good store. Dries in good time, okay for walking around, but not a lot of protection.
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I use GoreTex socks occasionally, mostly for the wind protection in cold weather more than for water resistance. Since they are so thin, they make a great layer and work great. Most recently, I wore them for a ride in the Carolinas that went up the Blue Ridge to the top of Mt Mitchell. The ride started in a downpour and stayed wet for several hours. I discovered something on that ride -- the socks don't go up very high. They go just above the ankle. The socks also held the water in and they filled with water! But they were also a much better alternative than regular cotton or wool socks because, once the rain stopped and I emptied the water, they helped when the altitude and cold temperatures hit.
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Originally Posted by ngateguy
They are waterproof I swear by them and yes wear them over a sock I use smart wool.