Socks
From CanyonWiki
Your feet are the part of your body in the water the most. It is important to protect them from the cold canyon water as much as possible. Adequate socks will go a long ways to keeping your feet from freezing.
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[edit] Cotton Socks
These should not be used in a wet canyon. Cotton retains no warmth when wet. Although you might be able to play a mean basketball game in them, you will not appreciate them when you drop into a canyon wearing them.
[edit] Neoprene Socks
Neoprene socks are made out of wetsuit materials. They are designed to keep your feet dry and to keep them warm. There are several commercial manufacturers of Neoprene socks. SealSkinz makes waterproof socks that are available in many retail stores. These socks are not meant for prolonged cold-water exposure, and although acceptable for mild romps in cold water, they will generally not keep your feet very warm.
A neoprene sock that has a good track record in canyons is the NRS Expedition sock. This sock is 3mm neoprene and provides adequate warmth when in cold water. It is available directly from NRS at http://www.nrsweb.com/ at a good price.
When buying neoprene socks, be aware of how you will be using them. If you will be completely submerging your legs (as you do in many swimmer canyons) you will want to have ones that have some kind of collar at the top to keep water from seeping in over the top. If you will be using them with a drysuit or wetsuit, this kind of collar will not be necessary.
[edit] Wool Socks
Wool socks are good for general purpose use. They are cheaper than the Neoprene socks, and will provide you with cushioning and warmth. Wool socks are far superior to cotton socks for applications where your feet will get wet. When wool gets wet, it will still keep you warm. When cotton gets wet, it will lose its ability to keep you warm and will basically be dead weight. Many people wear liners under their wool socks.
[edit] External Links
- NRS Website Makers of the NRS Expedition sock.
