See all my socks in 2020

First look

I’ve worn trail runners for ages which are hardly waterproof in any case, but when I heard about the Sealskinz waterproof socks I had to give them a try on the Pacific Crest Trail.

Why Sealkinz?

While was on the PCT I got to Julian and checked the conditions in the San Jacinto Mountains. Heavy snow and ice had covered most of the trail and I decided I wanted to keep my feet as warm and dry for that section as possible. At the gear shop in Julian, I took a look at the Sealskinz and they looked way comfier than I’d imagined. I thought they were going to be really stiff and rubbery but discovered they were 3-layered with a membrane in between two layers of knit and fabric.

How well do they work?

I hiked about 20 miles in these on the PCT in really wet, cold and icy conditions and while my Altra Lone Peak 4.5s were soaking wet and the outside of the socks were saturated, my feet felt really warm and dry inside. I definitely have more miles to put on them for further testing.

Value for money

At around the £20 these are very expensive for socks, but the technology and quality are enough to warrant the price. Let’s see how they do over my hike of the West Highland Way and the Cape Wrath Trail in Scotland.

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