What am I missing? I have walked numerous caminos in cold, rainy weathers in the 20 -30s degrees for hours! With only non gortex hiking shoes, ..., a wicker sock and on really cold day an additional wool sock. Sometimes we were in snow up to our mid calves for an hour or so. After deep snow, I changed socks, when the occasion presented itself. My feet may have felt wet, but not cold?
What you are experiencing is common in non frigid temps with wet feet, such as spring and fall. Wool and synthetic socks, but wool especially, will hold body temperature in wet, soggy socks so well that the water saturating the socks actually warms up, especially with walking.
If I were in frigid temperatures of winter, I would use something as Sara and linkster suggested above: a three layer system involving a thin sock against the skin, a vapor barrier (premade of a plastic bag), and another thin wool sock.. This will not keep feet from getting wet, it will keep the moisture next to the skin warm.
Perhaps this post I have previously written may also help:
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Wet Weather Walking
Water is indomitable and will enter trail runner shoes, hiking shoes, or backpacking boots through any opening during a rainstorm, when walking through wet grass and brush, or flood into them if you walk through puddles or other standing water along the Camino.
There are two potential remedies to this problem, neither of which is effective.
1. Use rain pants to extend over the tops of shoes, trying to redirect the water running down the pant legs from making its way into the shoe. This can create other potential issues: uncomfortable and hot when it is warm outside during soggy conditions. It cannot deal with standing water, like puddles or having to step through water running on the path.
2. You can try waterproof gaiters, or a home remedy like thick plastic bags over footwear. I have yet to see the gaiter or home remedy that would keep out water PLUS keep feet dry.
“Waterproof” shoes are a sort of marketing ‘half-truth’ at best.
The waterproof/breathable materials layered inside a boot or shoe simply do not work over the near and long term because it is hard for manufacturers to cover all areas of the footwear sufficiently.
Neither the waterproof coatings, or the W/B laminates in the shoes last very long. Some makers of trail shoes, which use both fabrics and leathers, treated them with a coating that wears off. These coatings also will trap heat and sweat inside the shoe which can soak feet in sweat. When coatings break down, they are no longer waterproof.
Footwear which relies on a “Gore-Tex” style of waterproof/breathable laminate will break down through both wear and tear
and dirt buildup which makes it useless.
When I have tested waterproof / breathable fabrics in shoes for various manufacturers, their actual performance never matched what was claimed. My reports to their QA departments have always reflected these weaknesses as found during testing.
Waterproof/breathable membranes, like Gore-Tex, are only marginally breathable—water vapor from perspiration does not pass through the fabric as efficiently as is claimed. So, on warm days the experience of having sweat being trapped in the shoe is common. Combined with the fact that the fabric waterproofing is quickly damaged by dirt, sweat, grime, and abrasion and it’s only a matter of time before exterior moisture begins penetrating the fabric and allowing feet to get wet.
That is why most experienced trekkers and backpackers no longer go to great lengths to keep feet dry. They accept that when the weather is wet, feet will also get wet. Even the US military uses footwear for wet conditions which is not waterproof. The strategy is how to minimize any problems when feet are wet.
In working with folks new to backpacking who ask about waterproof footwear recommendations, I have asked why they wanted waterproof shoes. Sometimes, they will look at me as if I had spaghetti sticking out of my nose. Most will answer that they think their feet will stay dry, and that having wet feet is akin to getting into horrible trouble.
This post is meant to help inform, reassure, and give a different line of thought and reasoning to this issue.
I like to have dry feet. I always try to avoid wet feet. I have tried many ways to keep my feet dry:
“Waterproof” shoes, which have not been an effective solution.
“Waterproof” socks, which have similar issues: shoes still get wet, and feet can be soaked with sweat.
However – In cold weather these soaks can be the basis for using vapor barrier warmth conservation of the feet.
Wearing multiple pairs of socks, frequently changing from wet to dry, which eventually all get wet.
Carrying multiple pairs of shoes, which eventually all get wet, too.
When I first started backpacking decades ago, I fretted at getting wet feet when it was raining on the trail. No matter what I tried, feet would get wet if the weather were wet and soggy. Several things converged, causing me to investigate what, if any, successful strategies are used to keep feet comfortable and healthy in sopping wet weather. My reasoning was that
IF I cannot keep my feet dry, then how do I keep feet happy and healthy. . . or at least reduce risks of bad things happening to my wet feet when walking.
Some of these lessons I learned while in Vietnam…. Like the fact that our boots had fabric tops, and that there were numerous, eyeleted holes in the thin, leather at the footbed level, which allowed water to quickly drain out so that it did not remain trapped in the boots while soaking our feet.
What are the bad things?
Maceration is the medical term for pruning, where the skin’s outer layer absorbs a lot of moisture and gets “soggy” from that moisture. The skin gets sore and extremely soft which makes it more prone to blistering and developing other problems.
Cracking of the skin when the macerated feet dry. The natural moisture and oiliness of the skin is gone. The severity depends on how much stress the skin is exposed to after it is dried out.
What works for me, and many others, when walking or backpacking in wet weather:
Apply a good, thick coating of a goop (a thick and long lasting ointment or salve) to feet and between toes before putting on socks and shoes in the morning. Repeat this a few times throughout a wet day.
This helps protect skin from external moisture. A goop which has a high content of wax – either bee or paraffin – is most ideal, especially if it also has a high lanolin content. There are a few silicon based products, like 2Toms, which are also effective at creating a moisture barrier.
Wear non-waterproof shoes which can drain, and then dry out quickly. This minimizes the amount of water puddling in the shoe which bathes the feet in moisture. Modern trail running shoes, and trail shoes often have nice open mesh fabric which is terrific for draining water.
Non-waterproof shoes will also help eliminate moisture from sweaty feet. Remember, it does not matter the source of the moisture feet are exposed to, be it rain or sweat, each can cause the same problems.
Wear thin, light-cushioned merino wool socks. Thinner padding will not absorb as much water as thicker socks. Merino wool will also keep wet feet warm and comfortable in most seasons and temperature ranges, unless the weather is frigid winter-cold.
While I prefer merino wool socks, there are some decent synthetic-blend socks, specifically designed for hiking, which can also work well.
Take off shoes and socks to let feet air dry during rest stops which will last longer than 20 minutes. During that time, I will wring out any excess moisture from the socks,
but I will not put on either of my dry pairs (I take three). I will also wipe off moisture on my feet and then reapply a goodly amount of goop to my feet to help keep them from becoming macerated.
When stopping for the day, apply goop to the bottoms of feet, both before and after showering.
Carry an extra pair of insoles. These insoles do not have to be your preferred “walking” insoles that you may have purchased separately. These can be the same lightweight pair which came with your shoes. These will be the barrier between your wet footwear and your dry socks when you are done for the day and if your shoes are a bit damp come morning.
I find that at days end, I can remove the wet insoles and use absorbent paper or toweling to sop up as much moisture as is possible while I am showering and dealing with end of the day chores. When I get ready to go to dinner or to wander around town, I insert the extra pair of dry insoles into my shoes, put on a pair of
dry Merino wool socks, and put my shoes back on. This accelerates drying out the shoes. Depending on the shoe’s material, within a couple of hours the shoes are mostly dry.
At bedtime, I remove the insoles and stuff absorbent material into the shoes to continue the drying out process, if need be, during the night. Most of the time the stuffing is not needed, even if the shoes are still a bit damp. They will finish drying by morning.
Apply more salve or ointment and wear dry and warm socks at night; this gives feet 8-9 hours of recovery.