Sealskinz is an endurance accessory brand that has over thirty years of experience. Working in partnership with some fantastic athletes, on their website, they say their “passion (some might say obsession actually) is to craft the finest waterproof accessories in the world. And while waterproof will always be our #1, we also want to protect you from snow, sand, mud, dirt and anything else that can get in the way of doing your thing outdoors.”
I tried the Sealskinz Morston Quickdry Ankle Length Socks during a forty-mile race in early November. The route is famous for being wet and muddy, and I was excited to try out a waterproof sock.
The Sealskinz Morston socks are single-layer socks designed with maximum breathability and moisture management. The socks I had in green were lightweight and thinner, making them comfortable in my trail shoes.
I intended to try my best to avoid going through vast pools of water; however, I learned pretty quickly that it wouldn’t be possible. Crossing muddy potato fields, I was impressed at how I was around 12 miles in, and despite the mud all over my shoes and travelling up my shins, my feet felt dry and comfortable.
“Using hydrophobic yarn, these quick drying socks don’t absorb moisture, but rather allows moisture vapour from perspiration to exit through channels in the yarn.”
I was super impressed with how my foot health fared compared to other races. They were extra cushioned around the toes and heel, and I received no blisters during the event.
Around 15 miles in, I was forced to run through ankle-deep water, immediately flushing my feet with ice-cold water. Usually, my feet would feel heavy, and I would begin to feel the pressure points where I was most likely to get blisters. However, after the initial shock, within 10 minutes, my feet had resumed their average temperature.
Waterproof socks intend to channel the water away from your feet through the material called ‘wicking’, and these socks did their best after being submerged; however, I think there’s only so much water they can take on! After this, I did begin to feel some pressure and rubbing on my arches, which I became very aware of. However, this may have other causes combined with the wetness of my feet.
Nevertheless, until they were submerged, I was truly confident in these sock’s abilities. I changed socks at the halfway point, as I didn’t want to test out how they would work now completely saturated mid-race. However, I definitely would use these again in less intense races.
My feet feel relatively good despite the average aches and pains following the race! I have no blisters or sore spots, and my toenails don’t feel as sore! It was a relief that it was one less thing to think about during the race.
These socks are an excellent choice for an everyday waterproof sock, suitable for every type of outdoor sport, especially ultra running.
Sealskinz
Morston
£12.50
