Why These Waterproof Socks Are A Must-Have For Trekkers

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Why These Waterproof Socks Are A Must-Have For Trekkers

Category Gear Related Tip Accessories Expert Opinion

By Swathi Chatrapathy

2020-10-26

Back in 2020 when we first launched waterproof socks, they became an instant hit!

At that time we had introduced a very limited stock of these socks. They were sold-out within hours. Unfortunately, that's when the pandemic hit, and we could not import these socks again. 

Till date, we still receive requests from trekkers for these socks.

Now, these Randy Sun waterproof socks are back in stock! They are available on pre-order at our online store. 

They start shipping only from November 25. Shipping takes 2-3 days for metro cities and 5-6 days for other cities.

And if you are scheduled to trek soon, I would strongly recommend you to make these as part of your trekking accessory. I’ll tell you why I am insisting on it.

Why these waterproof socks are nothing less than miraculous

We all know that trekking in the snow is fun. The not-so-fun part is when the snow gets into your shoes. In 3-4 hours of walking on snow, the water starts to seep in through the fabric of the shoe to its inner layer, wetting your socks and eventually your feet. That’s when the misery starts. 

Even though modern trekking shoes are water resistant, they do not prevent water from seeping in.

During peak winters, water starts seeping into your shoes within 3-4 hours of trekking in deep snow. Picture by Sachin Kohli.

Very soon, your feet get painfully cold and numb. What’s worse, thanks to your cold feet, even without your realisation, your core body temperature drops. When that happens, all through the night, cocooned in a warm sleeping bag you shiver. The next day you are tired, unable to trek much, your body does not cope. You wonder why. But this is the reality of trekking in snow.

Enter these magical socks

With no exaggeration, these socks are revolutionary. They keep your feet totally dry. You can wear these socks and walk around in a tub of water. You can walk around in wet snow without shoes. They will still remain dry. Your feet won’t feel a thing.

Yet, these socks are breathable. They feel as good as regular socks, they don’t stink and what’s more, they keep you warm as well. 

In fact many of us use these socks for warmth as well. They are many times warmer than our woollen socks. In fact, the Randy Sun brand is globally acclaimed for their quality to keep the feet warm and dry.

How do these socks work?

These waterproof socks are made of a 3-membrane fabric. The outer shell is 61% Nylon, 32% polyester and 7% Elastane. It is the nylon that gives it a rich smooth texture. 

But the miracle is in the inbetween layer. It is a 100% polyurethane waterproof and breathable membrane that keeps the wetness out. 

In addition, the inner lining layer is 66% coolmax, 30% polyester and 4% Elastane. Coolmax is a modern miracle fabric that is known for its moisture wicking and breathability qualities.

How to use them on a trek

Put on these socks the day you touch the snow line. Keep them on until you leave the snowline. Wear these socks whenever you are on snow.

The socks will keep your feet from getting damp. This dramatically changes the way you trek. Even if your shoes are soaked, your feet will stay dry (and also remain warmer).

Effectively, these socks remove most chances of chilblains, frost nips or frostbites. 

Maintenance of the waterproof socks

Trekkers ask us if these socks require any special maintenance. They also ask us if the inner waterproof membrane will lose its potency over time. The answer to both is ‘NO’. 

These socks are like any regular socks. Wash them just like you wash any of your other socks. The waterproof membrane stays until the life of the socks, which, if you are using only on treks, will last you a lifetime. 

They do take longer to dry, so keep turning them in and out as you dry them. Dry them for 2-3 days instead of the regular single day for any other socks. 

It is cheaper to buy these waterproof socks than a costly trekking shoe

These Randy Sun waterproof socks are slightly on the expensive side at Rs 2,300 (inclusive of shipping) per pair. But they’re infinitely cheaper and more effective than water-resistant shoes. 

Even the best trekking shoes that cost Rs 5-6 thousand seep water in winter. There are two ways how trekking shoes get wet. One is through the seams, and two even ankle length trekking shoes allow snow to get in from the ankles. In deep snow (as you will experience on treks), snow invariably gets into your shoes. 

No matter how much you try to dry your shoes, it is practically impossible to dry your shoes on a winter trek (or on most treks). 

An interesting backstory — How we stumbled upon waterproof socks

In late November 2019, when we were on the verge of ordering new gaiters, our Co-Founder Sandhya UC had an epiphany. She asked, “Why are we looking at gaiters or water resistant shoes to prevent water/snow from getting into our shoes or socks? Why can’t we look at a different way to prevent our feet from getting wet? Like socks, perhaps?”

“The question hit me like a light bulb,” says Arjun Majumdar, founder and CEO of Indiahikes. It changed the entire course of our action. “The solution lay in preventing our feet from getting wet. It didn’t matter if our shoes got wet.”

And these waterproof socks are what our trekkers and Trek Leaders have been using throughout this snowy winter. They absolutely vouch for it.

So after 2020, we have again put these socks up for sale in our store. 

You can use these socks on all treks, but they are especially useful in summer snow treks (like the Pangarchulla, Goechala, Rupin Pass, Buran Ghati) and treks that are in the monsoon season (like our Kashmir treks, the Hampta Pass, the Valley of Flowers and so on). 

They’ll be especially useful for your summit climb days, or pass-crossing days. And on rainy treks, they keep your feet clean and dry even with water sloshing about everywhere.

Those who trek in the monsoon in the Sahyadris will understand their values. 

Also, these are Randy Sun socks, which is one of the leading brands in waterproof socks. 

Click here to place an order

We have only limited stock available for sale. We are going to order the next lot of waterproof socks only in June next year. 

Place your order immediately. We do not think the stock will last longer than a few days. 

Swathi Chatrapathy

Chief Editor

About the author

Swathi Chatrapathy heads the digital content team at Indiahikes. She is also the face behind India's popular trekking video channel, Trek With Swathi. Unknown to many, Swathi also writes a weekly column at Indiahikes which has more than 100,000 followers.

A TEDx speaker and a frequent guest at other events, Swathi is a much sought after resource for her expertise in digital content.

Before joining Indiahikes, Swathi worked as a reporter and sub-editor at a daily newspaper. She holds a Masters's in Digital Journalism and continues to contribute to publications. Trekking, to her, is a sport that liberates the mind more than anything else. Through trekking, Swathi hopes to bring about a profound impact on a person's mind, body and spirit.