Footwear and foot care

[tom]

The thread seems to have moved on without anyone responding to my question.

Has anyone tried using plastic bags next to the skin and no other waterproof membrane? If so, how did you find it?

I have both with socks and without. Its not been too bad as an "emergency" solution for a badly leaking motorcycle boot but I hated walking with plastic bags in boots or shoes. The foot slipping around in shoe sensation wasn't great and moisture builds up quite quickly when moving. Also beware, not all plastic bags are actually waterproof...

Goretex boot liners are much better (for motorbikes anyway) but unless your foot happens to fit really well into one of the available sizes, they are not that great for walking either. And they do spring leaks. I've got an old pair somewhere (not sure if still fully waterproof) if you want to try - size 9...

 

[Mole]

James. I tried it once years ago when experimenting with various trail shie combos. ( Bag next to skin). In around freezing temps wet underfoot on Dartmoor. With Inov8s.

Whilst it definitely kept my feet warmer than no bag, I found strangely that after about 5 miles fast hiking, the warm moistness of my skin inside polybag made my pads soft and sore and feeling more likely to blister. Much more so than having wet socks directly on skin. I think for slower mooching in even colder temps it would probably be fine.

I've sometimes use bags outside my socks for a few miles ( usually longer Scottish late spring trips where I've not taken wpb socks but have a cold start and wet shoes to put on). They are slippy , and gets clammy as Tom says, but its warmer and drier than no bags if a sclhep through bog is needed to get to drier ground.

 

[EM-Chiseller]

@Jamess I occasionally use bags in between a pair of socks. Keeps my feet comfortable for a while when it's sub zero and I'm splashing through frozen bog puddles.
I also find the combination good for slow pace.
If I'm going at a good pace, I wear them over my dry socks in wet trainers for an hour, until I feel mentally warm and optermistic about the day.
All depends on how I've packed, how long I'm out for and how I'm feeling.
I've a pair of heavy duty sealskins that keep the worst at bay if I want to make some real progress.
If its a really cold wet camp, like wet snow, I'll have my pile bibs on. I can sleep in these and dry wet socks out inside my thighs.

 

[Heltrekker]

The thread seems to have moved on without anyone responding to my question.

Has anyone tried using plastic bags next to the skin and no other waterproof membrane? If so, how did you find it?

Tried it as a student, but only the once - makes your feet slide around and get sweaty, after a full day, the skin on your feet gets just as soggy and wrinkly as if you hadn't bothered.

 

[Jamess]

Thanks for the above.

That reflects my expectations. A lot more sliding around inside the shoe and feet sweating up.

I suspect that if you're climbing 8000m peaks it's a 'less bad than the alternative (frost bitten toes) option' rather than a decent alternative to 'waterproof and unpleasant but less so' socks.

 

[EM-Chiseller]

I don't suffer sliding about if they're between two socks.
I'd sooner have damp sweaty feet than cold, wet feet on a long push.

 

[Teepee]

By wearing plastic bags next to his skin, Andy's attempting to stop the liners of his boots from slowly wetting out from sweat and insensible perspiration. This reduces the insulative value of footwear quite quickly and turns a warm boot into a cold one. This is the ethos and problem of anyone who spends time in extended cold temps, and is compounded by the style of climbing. Andy not only has to avoid frostbite, but needs to keep his socks dry as he's hauling them up a crazy multi mile high ice cliff
Keeping that moisture out of the liner is life and death stuff (for toes at least)

In hiking, the water ingress is from the outside and we can often dry our socks out at night, in the day too. We can wash them in rivers, whereas Andy is in an environment where liquid water doesn't exist unless it's made.
We don't have to worry about sweating either.
Sweat into a VB sock system and you very quickly learn why it's a bad idea. The smell from copper impregnated VB socks that haven't been taken off for a week would take the eyebrows off of a Skunk.