Re: [Paddlewise] Drysuit socks/booties

From: <SeaKayakNH_at_aol.com>
Date: Wed, 17 Jan 2001 16:28:07 EST
Hi Bill,
    I received my GTX sock equiped Kokotat suit last spring, just in time for 
the summer.  Since I haven't had the suit all that long, you'll need to frame 
my experience in that perspective. I went through the same kind of research 
before I got my suit and the GTX won.   They are thin, flexible, easy to get 
on and off and (so far,) absolutely water-proof. Since they are light enough 
of a fabric I don't need to buy any additional footwear. I always wear some 
kind of fabric sock beneath mine to protect the GTX from bodily oils, but I 
doubt it is required. The socks come oversized and in a tube-style cut, so 
your foot just slids right in. Pull up the excess while you put on your 
footwear and Ta Da,  Done.
    Any kind of sewn-in sock or booty is subject to puncture or tears but 
there are enough ways to repair if a problem like that surfaces.  The best 
part about any one of these solutions is the ability to keep your feet truely 
dry. I often take a quick swim before the paddle to expell air from inside 
the suit. Much to the chagrin of my non water-proof socked mates, who would 
never do such a thing since they would then have to endure cold/wet feet for 
the rest of the day.
    Best of luck with your choice. Either way it will be hard not to exceed 
the performance of ankle gasketed suits.  Good Luck!

Jed


In a message dated 1/17/01 12:38:02 PM, WJLeonhardt_at_bnl.gov writes:

<< 1. I understand latex socks since I believe them to be just sock shaped 
devices made of the same material as the conventional wrist and ankle 
gaskets.  I would expect that using these socks would involve getting 
them oversized and wearing polypro and wool or pile socks underneath and
a conventional (perhaps oversized) kayaking bootie over.  Is this  
right? 

3. I have a pair of SealSkinz socks which I think are probably similar 
to Gore-Tex.  Is this true?  If so, I would expect to use the Gore-Tex 
socks in the same way as the latex.  True?  >>

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Received on Wed Jan 17 2001 - 13:28:31 PST

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