Has anyone used neoprene socks (with or without a thin liner sock) as a cushioned vapor barrier sock for winter conditions? Change to a wool sock while resting and invert the neoprene sock to dry.

Ted

Edited by trosen8231 on 03/18/2011 17:12:25 MDT.

I started using SealSkinz this year and I've been very happy with them. I wear a thin Smartwool sock underneath.

I've used a variety of VB socks in the winter with mixed success. I have to really hold back the exertion level or I can literally pour sweat out of the sock at the end of the day. The big problem for me with VB socks is that they are impossible to vent. Easily vented VB mitts and jackets, on the other hand, are a core part of my winter layer system.

Also, neoprene in particular would not be my first choice for a VB sock -- it swells with moisture and can create a tight fit in your boot, reducing blood circulation.

One climate's shoulder conditions are another's winter: I like neoprene socks for fall and spring when there's snow and water.

Neoprene socks were popular on winter-like Denali climbs in the 1980s, inside double climbing boots.

When I hike in neoprene socks I am using them with the intention that they will get wet. I also ski across summer icefields in AK with them; however, I have never used them near 0F temps. The are, for me, a near 0C foot system.

Thermo ski boot liners are made of various sorts of closed cell foam with a light fabric liner. They are thus, to a certain extent, vapor barriers. The liner gets wet, but the foam cannot.

Not all liner fabrics in thermo liners are created equal. My Scarpa liners have a much thicker, softer liner fabric, which soaks up a fair bit of sweat. My Intuition liners have a very thin, insubstantial liner fabric, which soaks up very little sweat. I prefer the later for overnights, as they can be left out overnight and don't really freeze up much.

Beautiful photos and video, wish I could do that.

Re the sleeping bag - I think you could lose at least 100 grams and be warmer by switching to a WM bag or something of similar quality - their 10F bags are actually lighter than the REI bag.

Wonderful photos. Now I'll guess I will go back and read your text!

...fantastic report! There is nothing like racing to focus on kit and technique and this one is classic! Very interesting reading for a warm weather endurance racer - that level of cold is so alien and so intriguing!

Regarding boots and VB socks...

I think we move too fast, produce too much sweat, for VB socks to work. We wore VB socks in leather boots the first year and all got horrible blisters and minor trenchfoot. None of us has touched VB socks since. I like being able to wring out water and dry my socks a bit sleeping with them at night.

I peeled the fabric off of one thermofit liner to compare water absorption. After a long day trip with no gaiter, the bare liner was 80 g lighter, ~50 g due to the removed fabric, and ~30 g due to water weight. I really like the idea of not carrying that water!

Intuition makes a bare mtneering liner, but can't make a bare ski liner. I'm not ready to take scissors to my new liners, but as soon as they lose that 'new shoe' smell, I'll strip them down.

-Luc

Luc, I'll be interested to hear if removing the lining fabric results in more friction, and possible problems. Might be able to deal with that (if it happens) with two thin socks.

Friction hasn't been a problem for me, wearing a single pair of ski socks. I peeled the fabric layer off the top of my insoles and that has been fine too. I just want to get as much moisture out of the boot as possible.

Incredible trip; well written, enticing photos.
Congratulations.

Looks interesting, but the link is broken. I guess an updated one would be:
http://bedrockandparadox.com/2010/10/31/ski-gear-for-backcountry-traverses/