Dry feet are important for those who spend time outdoors, but regular socks can lead to dampness and blisters. Waterproof socks use a three-layer construction to draw moisture away from the foot and repel water from the outside environment, while allowing sweat to escape naturally. They work best with shoes that allow for natural evaporation.
Before delving into the world of waterproof sock technology, it might help to understand the question behind the question: how important is dry feet? For those who like to walk, hike, garden, exercise or work outdoors, dry feet are very important.
The human foot contains an abundance of sweat glands. Many times the sweat produced turns into water vapor and evaporates into the air, creating a cooling effect for the feet. The problem is that most people don’t spend their entire days barefoot, so this natural evaporative cooling process is compromised. Socks made of breathable material like cotton act like a wick, drawing most of the moisture away from the foot. However, this moisture buildup has nowhere to go within the confines of most shoes, so the result is a damp foot surrounded by a damp sock.
As a person walks, the wet sock fabric rubs against the surface of the foot, causing minor abrasions. These abrasions sometimes intensify into the dreaded formations called blisters. Spreading absorbent foot powder on socks and shoes or changing to drier socks can temporarily keep the area dry. But the cumulative effect of too much moisture and not enough evaporation will continue with the use of regular socks. Socks can also wrinkle during wear, causing even more irritation and friction.
A better way to keep your feet dry is by wearing waterproof socks. Waterproof socks generally use a three-layer construction to draw excess moisture away from the foot and repel water from the outside environment. The innermost layer of a waterproof sock is typically made of a breathable yet absorbent material, such as natural wool or a proprietary acrylic blend. The second layer of a waterproof sock is where technology comes into play. A plastic laminate with extremely small pores is bonded to the inner and outer layers. These pores are large enough to allow the relatively small water vapor molecules of sweat to seep out, but small enough to prevent larger molecules of rain and other water from entering. The result is a unidirectional vapor barrier between the foot and the outside environment.
The outer layer of most waterproof socks is usually a watertight synthetic material like Spandex or Lycra. This tightly woven, stretchy material repels water but allows the skin to breathe. A material like rubber or plastic also repels water, but does not allow accumulated sweat to escape into the air. Waterproof socks must perform a balancing act to wick sweat and other moisture away while allowing natural evaporation. If sweat doesn’t break through the laminated membrane at a consistent rate, the result could be a damp foot and an increased risk of blistering. Waterproof socks work best with shoes that allow sweat and moisture to escape naturally, such as athletic shoes and hiking boots.
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