SealSkinz Mid Weight Mid Length Socks

Sealskinz Mid Weight Mid Length Socks are a good thing to have in the drawer once the cold and wet weather draws in. There are some UK conditions that will breach any foot fortifications, but these socks are a great last line of defence.

SealSkinz use a waterproof membrane in between inner and outer layers. In these socks the inner is a Merino mix, and the outer synthetic. They're totally waterproof, as SealSkinz are wont to demonstrate at trade shows by having an unlucky employee stand in a giant petri dish for the amusement of onlookers. They work though. Water doesn't get through. You can go out in the rain in these socks and trudge about on the lawn and your feet will stay toasty and dry.

The membrane stops the socks being anywhere near stretchy as normal socks, and there are two layers of fabric. That means two things. Firstly, it's important to get the right size. Specifically, make sure they're big enough because they can feel very constrictive if they're too small. Sizing information is available on the SealSkinz website. Secondly, there's more bulk than a normal sock. If your shoes are tight with your summer socks on, you may struggle to get them on wearing these.

Assuming that's all good, go out and ride in the rain and your feet will be dry even if your shoes are sopping wet. Well, up to a point. These socks suffer from the same Achilles heel that all fully waterproof footwear does: once water gets in – and there's a hole at the top – it doesn't have anywhere to go, so it stays in there. The trick is to make sure no water gets down the neck of the sock if you want your feet to stay dry.

My favoured approach is to pair them up with overshoes and make sure they're tucked right inside with the overshoes as tight as possible at the cuff. If you're wearing longs you can pull them over the top of the socks, then the overshoes up over the longs, creating a sort of labrynthine seal which is normally good for a few hours even in heavy rain.

The two layers of fabric mean they're warm, and even when they do inevitably get damp inside on the wettest rides the Merino mix inner remains comfortable and cosy. They're completely windproof, too, which is often as much of a boon on really cold days as the extra insulation. Thinner and thicker versions are available to suit your particular needs. They're certainly a useful thing to have around for bad conditions. £30 isn't cheap, but they'll definitely get some use.

Verdict

Useful extra weaponry in the fight for warm, dry feet this winter