Sealskin socks!?

[MM-on-POINT]

I have notice in a few of the other threads comments on these socks from " left them behind this weekend" to "great idea for wearing in the evening when shoe was wet"
My big almighty question is how many of you have used these and how do you rate and think of them?

I ask as on a few ocassions my pair still realatiy new have got wet inside! once as I went through a deep icy puddle & another time when my foot sunk crossing a stream.
To my knowledge water did not get in from the top either time, it would seems once my shoes are soaked the sock are too and they did not seem to hold any heat compared to a few weeks ago when I went knee deep in to a puddle whilst wearin light weight smart wool socks and the same riding shoes as the on the previous plunges.
my sealskin gloves that have a HOLE in both hands seem to be more waterproof... Have I got a bad pair or is this normal?

[adjustablewench]

At the moment i have 3 pairs of seal skin socks, the light weight short and mid length ones and a pair of longer winter ones that have thick merino wool inside. I wore the short ones over normal cycling socks on WRT and they did get wet inside - not sure from which direction the water came in as it seemed to be everywhere!

Really the only ones i currently rate are the winter ones, they seem more waterproof very rarely do i have any wet patches on my liner socks when i take them off, and they are so much warmer that i don't think a bit of water would matter that much anyway. I wont be buying any more lightweight seal skins socks.

I still have some of the old porelle socks - they are much thicker and still waterproof after many years. They are quite stiff though - although once that helped when i sprained my ankle badly on a 7 day ride they were very supportive when doubled over!

I think wool generally is a good material, and opt for merino gear where possible - warm (even when damp) lightweight and doesn't smell!

[Cheeky Monkey]

I have the mid length merino ones (2 pairs). They seem fine at keeping water out, so long as it doesn't go over the top and quite comfy (temp' wise). No complaints.

[chris n]

I bought the thin mid length ones, but I've only used then for this year's WRT so far. They kept my feet dry when walking arond in wet shoes in the evenings, but I've not ridden in them. They felt cold when wet, so I put a pair of dry merino socks on underneath.

Like waterprof boots - if it doesn't leak through the fabric, if it's wet enough they'll eventually fill up from the top.

[Anthony]

I've got 3 pairs up to 15yrs old resigned to the 'almost never' box. Once water does get in, I always find them too cold.

Woolie Boolie's have been the go-to wet weather sock for years now, with a winter boot in colder months.

As for evening wear in wet shoes, plastic freezer bags are considerably easier to pack!

[pedalhead]

I find my mid length Sealskinz to be 100% waterproof...unless the water comes in from the top, which it usually eventually does. Another vote for Woolie Boolies, although sadly I burnt a hole in one at the weekend whilst drying it out over a campfire

[Brothersmith]

I never really got on with them. Found that once they wet out your feet got cold and if water got in from the top they stayed wet. Mine also started to give up the ghost after half-a-dozen washes and weren't at all waterproof after that.

Now use gore-tex socks which are ace. Pack up small and fit over your regular riding socks. Plus they act as good campsite footwear. You can literally walk through rivers and still have dry feet. I also love the fact that you can ware them between your nice dry socks and soaking wet shoes to avoid that next day damp shoe experience :D They still suffer from water coming in from the top, particular on long rides in heavy rain where it runs down your legs, but there easy to take off and fast to dry.