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Sealskinz Mid - Waterproof Thermal Merino Socks. |
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Written by Tony Bristow
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 The whole point of having socks like this is that they keep your feet dry. However, I must mention that for them to be successful at this you have to be quite conscious of what you’re doing.
When I first pulled the sealskinz socks from their packaging I did wonder how comfortable they were going to be. Initially the impression was that they were quite neopreney. However, once I got them on my feet I changed my opinion of them. The socks are constructed with three layers. The outside is the tough stretchy layer so that they fit snugly and wear well whilst protecting the middle waterproof breathable layer which is a Porelle membrane. On the inside of the sock is the third layer, made of merino wool - excellent for comfort and high wicking to keep your feet dry from perspiration. The construction of the sock is quite interesting. The seam runs sectionally rather than the traditional around the foot. At first I thought that this might lead to some sore hotspots but in practice it seems to work really well and I had no problems at all. When the socks are on they look as good as any other pair so there is no need for long trousers!
 The whole point of having socks like this is that they keep your feet dry. However, I must mention that for them to be successful at this you have to be quite conscious of what you’re doing. Without thinking I have put my foot down in a stream that has had slightly too deep and the socks have filled with water. Another time I was in just a couple of inches climbing up a gully when I slipped onto my side - this was another opportunity for the sock to take on some water. I was quite surprised at how fast the water could run down the inside of the sock - they give you the false impression that they will guard against this because of the snug fit around the leg, don’t be fooled! There were two things I noticed when the socks were full of water. The first is that they still kept my feet warm and secondly they became quite uncomfortable because they kept rucking up under the arch of my foot. I know that they are not designed to be used full of water so this really is not a problem, but it is something that is good to be aware of.
I often use sandals if I need to wade across some water. If the footing is too unsure for them then I will just get my socks and boots wet and trudge on. This is where the sealskinz are brilliant, you can wear your boots without any socks to cross through the water, empty your boots out on the far side, dry off your feet, put on the sealskinz socks and then put the wet boots back on and continue on your way. I think that just to be able to do this is worth the money.
The breathability of the socks is very good, (especially as it was 29ºc when I had them on). I wore them all day inside a pair of all terrain shoes and when I took them off there was only a little dampness. I did some hill walking in them and they seemed fine, a little warm but on the whole they were very comfortable. I expect that the mid light socks will be cooler and thus even more suited to the hotter weather. In the colder months of which we have many, the mid thermals will be great.
Usually the first thing to wear out in a pair of waterproof boots is the waterproof membrane, there is usually nothing wrong with the rest of the boot but for walking around in the wet they are no longer usable, so it’s time to buy another pair. Hold on. One thing these socks are really great for is extending the life of a pair of boots that are no longer waterproof. A friend of mine has already got 2 extra years use out of his boots due to using waterproof socks which he picked up in a sale for about £10. Worth thinking about.
The instructions that come with the socks say they can be washed in the washing machine and then tumbled dried, as long as the temperature never gets above 40ºC. If you do go above this temperature then the layers of the sock will probably de-laminate and you will end up with lumps of material rucked up inside. If you get these socks wet inside then they can take quite a while to dry. In reasonable weather with a gentle wind blowing they took 36 hours to dry when hung the right way and about 24 hours to dry when hung inside out (these were absolutely saturated) if they are only damp they dry in minutes.
There are some long socks which go over the calf, these will probably be better for wading. They also have a pair called water blockers, these are supposed have a seal that prevents any water getting inside, and could be the answer to a lot of peoples problems! We will let you know more when we get hold of some to test.
Conclusion
The mid-thermal sealskinz socks are great, they have to be used correctly to get the most out of them but they are comfortable and hard wearing and most of all they keep your feet dry. The best use for them seem so be to act as a barrier between your feet and wet footwear. They can also prolong the life of your once waterproof boots and shoes. For cold weather they are especially useful and that is when I will make sure I’ve packed them.
Ratings
Quality 8/10
Suitability 8/10
Usability 9/10
Value 7/10 (£24.99)
Total 8/10
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