VBL Socks

[sean salach]

My really warm winter shoes are a little too warm over 5 degrees or so, and I'm finding them getting saturated by the water vapor my feet are putting off. So I'm interested in trying a VBL sock. A thin e-vent trail running shoe has kept my feet warm down into the negative teens while riding, so I know that a system that really holds everything in should work for me. Unfortunately, I ended up with immersion foot using those shoes. I've only been able to locate the RBH, Sealskinz and Gore waterproof socks, and the Gore and Sealskinz are listed as breathable.

What do you guys/gals use?

How long have you used it?

What are the downsides?

How do you avoid your feet getting saturated while wearing them?

Thanks!

[Damnitman]

-  RBH bonded liner socks
-  1+ yrs
-  due for replacement after 1 yr
-  My boots have enough wiggle room I can pull up while clipped in and do kind of a bellows thing that helps circulate fresh air (and blood flow)

[Eric]

The integral designs ones are really simple and work well, The down side is they can slip down or sock layers can bunch up.
The RBH ones are nice but I've heard mixed reviews for long trips.

[Damnitman]

I take mine off when I climb into the fart sack...helps keep the prune toes away...be it noted however, I spend considerably more time in my sack than those chicken-headed race geeks...

[bmike-vt]

I have the Sealskinz. Not sure how breathable they are - I've been wearing (maybe incorrectly) a thin liner with them - and I usually end up with very wet feet, which then get cold. They are great when its wet - keep the feet dry even when the shoes are soaked through.

I'm just getting into more and more winter riding in snow - so my experiences are pretty limited. I've used them on and off for icy single track and road riding. Mixed success.

If it went really cold they might just work... or perhaps with a different shoe / sock combination on my end I wouldn't overheat in them, sweating and then freezing.

[sean salach]

The integral designs ones look good, but my ankles seem to be a magnet for the top of my socks. I've had socks pull completely off my feet walking in pac boots. If they have a habit of slipping down, they WILL slip down on my feet. Unless I add some kind of secondary retention, like velcro or a strip of rubberized elastic....

[J-No]

My system:

Spray antiperspirant on bare feet
Smartwool liner sock
RBH vapor barrier sock
Smartwool mountaineering sock
Cabela's 1200gm Thinsulate boots

I get cold feet easily.  This will handle below zero temps for 24+ hours.

[JulieM]

I started using Integral Designs VB socks this year between a thin liner and good wool socks, and so far good, they have proven to be awesome.  My only issue with them is that my particular pair is a bit too large and they bunch up and can be uncomfortable if you have to push your bike for a long time.

[MikeC]

I've used the RBH and the Integral.  Honestly wanted to like both.  Ended up taking both out on the Idita--one in 08, the other in 09.  Ended up hating both--the Integrals because they always slipped down, the RBH's because they ripped my ankles to shreds.

I'm back to a basic wool liner sock with a plastic throwaway VBL.  Cheap, light, easy to carry spares.

 

[Eric]

I've just taped the integrals up before on longer trips. The stupid bulky cord lock could use refinement.

[sean salach]

Just back from a casual tour that ended early due to frost bitten toes. For the first '300' miles I wore: thin liner sock, Integral Designs vb sock, fleece sock, Cabela's Snow Runners. When my feet were dry, they were warm. Bot they consistently, ever so slowly, became sopping wet. I'm talking puddles in the vb sock. Once that happened, within a few hours my feet were cold. I used antiperspirant on my foot bottoms during one leg of the race, and it seemed to help. Unfortunately I brought roll on antipers., and it froze solid... The frostbite occurred at temps of at least -40, and walking for some reason didn't help.

The warmest my feet were during the trip was during the last 9 hrs or so where I rode without the vb socks. Temps during this stretch dropped to -30 or so and my feet only got a little chilly, but I was riding the entire time. I'm sure getting off and running a little would have warmed them right up.

So I've got a lot more testing to do. It seemed like most of the folks in the race were running some kind of vbl sock, but those who weren't didn't seem to have much trouble keeping their feet warm.

[sean salach]

One other important thing to note. Layering order of the top of the vb sock, the insulation sock, your tights, your gaiters and your shell pants is important. I made the mistake of having my tights on top of the insulation sock, but under the gaiter and shell pants. This resulted in the sweat caused by the gaiter running down into the insulation sock via my tights.

[denver_whitest185]

I have a pair of integral design socks. i like them, but they seem to be sized a bit on the big size, so i wish i would have gone down a size. i got rid of the big plastic lock tie on the elastic band, which was my only real complaint.

I think from now on, im going to be using my warmers 2mm neoprene socks instead of my vapor barrier socks. i have used them with a light wool layer underneath, and i think they work better than my VB socks since they insulate too. they don't slide around either. i originally bought them for early season rafting, but they work for everything when my feet might get cold, like fishing or biking.

http://www.rei.com/product/707391/warmers-2mm-sandal-socks-with-fleece-lining

[dbclimb]

The best all around socks are the Gor-Tex brand socks. I have used them for touring and ice climbing and have never been wet.
I also have the VB. socks, but they do not allow your feet to breath. So end result is you sweat and get cold. But they will keep the water out!
 Trust me, these Gor-Tex  socks will not let you down. I have worn a thin layer of smart wool socks for the spring & summer. Then a thicker pair for the winter.
In the pouring rain, I do not even wear shoe covers. If touring in the back woods, just bring some of these socks to change into at night. See the links below for both pairs. I have been stuck on big walls with little movement in the pouring rain, belaying friends and freezing! But my feet were always dry! Just my two cents.
http://www.integraldesigns.com/product_detail.cfm?id=681
http://www.gorebikewear.com/remote/Satellite/PROD_FGTSOS?landingid=1208436871979A
I hope this helps and stay dry not wet