[Songs2]

For keeping feet dry, my simple solution is to don plastic bags over dry wool sox, then insert feet into wet boots. For feet of my size, the free bags various parks provide for dog poop are perfect. Carrying a small tube of antifungal cream and applying it after drying the feet at night could also help podiatric health.

[Schroder]

[Damian]

[joker]

[Randito]

[joker]

Yeah, what I've done for cold overnighters is a thin liner sock against skin, then the VBL, then the warmer insulating sock layer. In cold weather, the liner sock has never been more than damp, and my feet sweat like crazy in general. So I think Stephenson's notions about vapor pressure etc have some validity (I.e. that once a certain vapor pressure is reached, the sweat rate slows or stops). And unlike thick wool socks, a thin synthetic liner sock dries relatively quickly - such as in an inside torso pocket under some warm layers while hanging out and having dinner.

[Cyclopath]

I've been a wool guy for more than a decade, but this summer I tried coolmax socks and turned been working well for me. I'm sure they aren't a 100% solution or even close, but a step in the right direction is better than not.

[HikerJohn]

I'm with you: I'm tired of the Goretex "waterproof" adverts and spending a lot of money on boots that shortly after you buy them, will leave you with wet feet. It's not wicking down my socks, or running down my legs-- I can feel it creeping in from the seams. Most recent attempt was a set of pretty Mammut Ayako boots that have hiked well for a year, but recently are leaking like a sieve. Thinking about going back to all-leather uppers and SnoSeal.. Any recommendations??

[Ski]

[Chief Joseph]

Many times I wear trail runners, and many of them have a mesh foot box. It is annoying when on a dusty trail the dust goes through the mesh and onto my socks. Also a bit of wet vegetation will get your foot wet in the toe box. I know a couple advantages to TRunners is that they vent well and also dry quickly, but I was wondering if anyone has tried waterproofing just the toe box and if so how did it work out? As to the original question, I used to do a lot of trail riding on my motorcycle and my feet would typically get wet. My solution was some thick wool foot pads (maybe even doubled up if boots large enough) and thick wool socks. I found that I could get quite a lot of water in my boots and wool pads would soak it up and my feet would remain dry and warm.

[RumiDude]

I have found that there is no magic bullet of any one or two pieces of gear that matche all the various scenarios that one encounters out in the backcountry. The best solution is to get something that matches YOU and YOUR preferences for comfort and performance and just accept the other circumstances when they are less than optimal. Either that or prop your feet up on the couch and stay home. Rumi

[Chief Joseph]

I sprayed them twice with camp dry, might keep some of the dust out.

[RumiDude]

Wear your Wellies. Rumi

[electrichiking]

Hello everyone. I plan to go hiking in wet/slightly snowy conditions in the wasatch/Uinta range in mid October. I expect the temperature to be 25 at night to below 40 in the day. I plan on walking through rivers and maybe even walk through fresh snow. At these temperatures I am planning on wearing a thin silk liner sock or a thin merino wool liner sock, with sealskinz waterproof socks over the liner socks. And then on top of the waterproof socks my shoes are NON-waterproof trail runners that can dry quickly. I also have pretty long GORE-TEX gaiters from OR to prevent water from coming in from the top and entering my waterproof socks from the top. I understand that my feet will take a long time to dry once wet, but is this strategy a good one? If you do not recommend sealskinz waterproof socks, I don't mind wearing a plastic bag over the thin liner sock. What do you guys think is the best strategy for this temperature range? Any recommendations are helpful!