Goretex shoes or Goretex Socks

MrCubeLtd

Think its time for some waterproof MTB shoes.

Went for another blast along the river today and my feet got soaked again on the muddy path. I am currently using Merrell hiking shoes. 3rd night in a row where the shoes are stuffed with newspaper to dry out.

Do I buy a set of goretex Merrell hiking shoes ( I will use them for walking as well) or stick with existing shoes and just get some goretex socks.

What would everyone advise? (Bearing in mind I don't want SPD shoes).

mcnultycop

Sealskinz socks and Teva Links with Ion Mask. Double the protection.

brindlescoops

I bought some gore tex north face shoes from go outdoors for exacly the same reasons. I paid £45, think they may be 49 now. Perfect and stick like jam to my MG1's. Light, stiff soled and most importantly waterproof.

cooldad

Sealskinz

Clank

Is this a non-stop kind of ride? Or a gentle amble, stopping every so often to soak up the scenery (in a manner of speaking)?

If it's the former, then I wouldn't use anything waterproof on my feet. I accept the fact they're going to get wet, but make sure I use quick drying socks, preferabley with fast draining, quick drying shoes (for which 5:10s are an epic, epic fail!).

I learnt a lot from doing long distance walks, the key thing of which was once water gets past the waterproof membrane (or the leather, for the traditonalists) your feet get wet and stay wet. Lighter, quick drying materials let the water out, so you're not working your feet in pooled water - much more comfortable. Take a spare pair of lightweight socks to change into at half time, if you like, they don't weigh a lot, but feel soooo nice to slip into.

If your cycling option is more the later (where chilling off becomes an issue), then I'd work on trying to keep the water out. Gortex shoes allow the water in over the top (feet in pools), but the socks will prevent a lot of that from happening. Anywater that does get in is trapped next to the skin and warms up, a bit like a wetsock.

Another thing is with any waterproof material is that once it's soaked either inside of out, it ceases to be breathable regardless of what the advertsing tries to tell us.

MrCubeLtd

A bit of soaking up the scenery to catch my breathe But also looking for an option to carry on for lomg rides. Thanks for the thorough info, makes a lot of sense.

Those SealSkinz socks look the go and it will save me the money of having to buy a new pair of shoes.

Thanks everyone

Stu Coops

Clank wrote:

Is this a non-stop kind of ride? Or a gentle amble, stopping every so often to soak up the scenery (in a manner of speaking)?

If it's the former, then I wouldn't use anything waterproof on my feet. I accept the fact they're going to get wet, but make sure I use quick drying socks, preferabley with fast draining, quick drying shoes (for which 5:10s are an epic, epic fail!).

I learnt a lot from doing long distance walks, the key thing of which was once water gets past the waterproof membrane (or the leather, for the traditonalists) your feet get wet and stay wet. Lighter, quick drying materials let the water out, so you're not working your feet in pooled water - much more comfortable. Take a spare pair of lightweight socks to change into at half time, if you like, they don't weigh a lot, but feel soooo nice to slip into.

If your cycling option is more the later (where chilling off becomes an issue), then I'd work on trying to keep the water out. Gortex shoes allow the water in over the top (feet in pools), but the socks will prevent a lot of that from happening. Anywater that does get in is trapped next to the skin and warms up, a bit like a wetsock.

Another thing is with any waterproof material is that once it's soaked either inside of out, it ceases to be breathable regardless of what the advertsing tries to tell us.

Spot on

njee20

Never have cold feet with my waterproof Northwind shoes. Yes the water gets in eventually, but you still get a wetsuit type thing happening and ones feet stay warm. I tend to always wear Woollie Boolie socks as well. Hated the Sealskinz I had, but admittedly it was a long time ago, assume they've improved since.

YeehaaMcgee

cooldad wrote:

Sealskinz

+ Potato farm.
WEaterproof shoes are kind of useless in deep water, since they just fill up, and leave you with your feet in a paddling pool.
This can happen with sealskinz socks too, but far less often.

cooldad

YeehaaMcgee wrote:

cooldad wrote:

Sealskinz

+ Potato farm.
WEaterproof shoes are kind of useless in deep water, since they just fill up, and leave you with your feet in a paddling pool.
This can happen with sealskinz socks too, but far less often.

Agreed, I just wear old trainers that get wet straight away, but the feet stay dry unless I stand in deep water, or on a really long very wet ride when everything is saturated water runs down into the sock. The thermal ones (with merino inside I think) still keep your feet warm even when wet like wetsuit booties.

MrCubeLtd

Funds elsewhere at the moment so become a tight a*se budgie Went for the Endura Coolmax socks for now and see how it goes. I know it appears the SealSkinz are worth it but I couldn't justify the cost for one pair of socks.

cooldad

Just trim your toenails and they'll last for ages.

YeehaaMcgee

Shame. The Sealskins really are the business.
I use them for riding to work in the winter months (and change to normal socks and shoes when I get here), and, becuase of their Merino wool innards, they can be used all week without getting pongy.
Merino really is magical stuff!

cloudynights

be a man and put up with wet and cold feet

MrCubeLtd

I've already stripped the carpets, sofa and curtains for the log fire. But I draw a line at wet feet

stubs

If you want some fuel for your fire you can have my sealskins. Hate the bloody things just couldnt get on with them I now wear a pair of proper wooly socks accept the fact that I will get wet and forget about it. With top quality wool you dont get cold feet and the water can drain away through the shoe mesh especially if its windy.

In the little group of four I ride with 2 of us tried Sealskins and didnt like them. 1 tried and loves them and 1 tried them and l;iked them at first till the way water eventually trickled down his leg and filled the socks so went the way of Specialized waterproof boots and Altura waterproof full length trousers.

cloudynights

ah yes yet to find a waterproof sock that stops water trickling down your leg and filling them up

YeehaaMcgee

stubs wrote:

If you want some fuel for your fire you can have my sealskins. Hate the bloody things just couldnt get on with them I now wear a pair of proper wooly socks accept the fact that I will get wet and forget about it. With top quality wool you dont get cold feet and the water can drain away through the shoe mesh especially if its windy.

In the little group of four I ride with 2 of us tried Sealskins and didnt like them. 1 tried and loves them and 1 tried them and l;iked them at first till the way water eventually trickled down his leg and filled the socks so went the way of Specialized waterproof boots and Altura waterproof full length trousers.

Well the answer to that is waterproof leggings. They go over the socks, stopping the water coming in.
Do you do anything else outdoors in the rain apart from ride? Why in god's name would you expect your feet to stay dry when you're wearing shorts?

stubs

I dont expect to keep my feet dry when I am riding when did I say I expected to keep my feet dry. I wear summer shoes and quality wooly socks.