
Orders of $50 or more ship for free.
Learn more
Imported.
Item 722203
| Specification |
| ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best use |
| ||||||
| Fabric type | |||||||
| Fabric | |||||||
| Waterproof | |||||||
| Outsole | |||||||
| Gender |
Reviewed by 6 customers
Sort by
Displaying reviews 1-6
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about NRS Hydroskin Socks:
Bought these for an early spring trek to the boundry waters. Didn't wear anything else with them; just the wetsocks and some portage-appropriate sandals.
The first few days it was actually really warm out, even though the water was still chilly - stepping into/out of the water they worked well and my feet didn't get very cold. However the last day dropped down to the 60's and was rainy. Outside of the water my feet were freezing. Wearing my quick-dry wool socks over them might have helped, but then at that point the wetsocks themselves would have been redundant.
Fair review because they did mostly do their job, just let down by their effectiveness out of water.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about NRS Hydroskin Socks:
I fear that some folks have incorrect expectations for these socks. They are .5 mm neoprene, which is quite thin. For really cold water and/or stationary pursuits, 3mm sock with welded seams (or a drysuit with attached socks) would be more appropriate.
What they excell at is providing unobtrusive warmth for active wading and hiking in cold water. Unlike thicker neo sock, they do not require a larger than normal shoe. Also unlike thicker neoprene, they are very flexible. Both of these mean they can be worn all day with no measures for blister prevention beyond the norm.
I use them for cool water packrafting, wading while flyfishing (on hike in trips where waders are too heavy), summer canyon hiking, and most especially shoulder season backpacking in the northern rockies where rain and snowmelt makes dry feet an impossibility. I had these with thin liner socks and trail runners for a spring ski and hike traverse of the Thorofare in Yellowstone, and they delt with the many knee to waist deep stream crossings, as well as rotten snow postholing, very well.
They're a great tool for certain jobs.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about NRS Hydroskin Socks:
I bought these specifically for fishing in my sit-on-top kayak, so I can dangle my feet over the side of the yak in the cold mountain lakes. My feet were just as cold in these hydroskin socks as they were in my regular liner socks. They are going back to the store tomorrow.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about NRS Hydroskin Socks:
I too bought these socks to hike the Narrows and the socks did not live up to my expectations. We went in late September and the water temp was around 50-55 degrees. I gave the socks a true test because I accidently left one of the socks back in my car. Hence, I had one foot with a liner and wool sock and the other with a liner and the NRS sock. Both of my feet were cold and "soggy", but the foot with the NRS sock was considerably more uncomfortable than the foot without the NRS sock. My feet do not get cold easily, but both were cold. I do not feel that the NRS sock helped keep my feet warm at all. The foot with the NRS sock was worse off. For day two, I ended up taking off the sock and just hiked in my wool socks on both feet. Perhaps these socks aren't made for hiking in waste deep water, but rather other water activities or casual wear around the house. If you are buying them to hike in a river, I would not recommend them. Of note, I would have taken them back, but I never could find the second sock(and I didn't by them at REI, another big mistake!). Most gear sold at REI lives up to its description, not these socks!
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about NRS Hydroskin Socks:
I went through the toes of a new pair of Hydroskin socks after just four wearings. No, my toe nails are not overly long.
It's back to using wool socks in my kayaking shoes. They are cheaper and wear much better. Regrettably wool is not quite as comfy and it does take longer to dry out.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about NRS Hydroskin Socks:
I actually bought these to hike the Zion Narrows in September. A friend had recommended wearing a neoprene sock to help your feet stay warmer in the river. I picked these up and wore them for both days of our 17 mile hike through the Narrows. The water wasn't super cold, but it was about 55 to 60 degrees. I couldn't tell at all. It only felt like a difference of a few degrees to me when I was hiking in the water. My feet stayed perfectly warm. The only thing I did not like is that they do have seams, but they are in such a way that the seams are on the sides of your foot, not the bottom or on the toes. I could feel the seams, which I didn't care for, but even after 17 miles of hiking in wet boots I didn't get a single blister from them.
Displaying reviews 1-6
* Intermediate markdowns may have been taken.
How are we doing? Give us feedback on this page.
REI Anniversary Sale May 17–27. Plus, members SAVE 20% on 1 full-price item with coupon code ANNV13. Details