Gore Bike Wear Gore Tex Socks

I'm not a fan or Gore Tex lined trainer's or shoes for off trail use for a variety of reasons, 1st is that they're only waterproof as long as you don't don't step in water deeper than the top of the shoe and once wet they stay wet as the water obviously can't get back out. I much prefer an unlined trainer and if needed I wear a Gore Tex sock.

Probably the most popular Gore Tex socks were the ones branded as 'Rocky' but they appear to be unavailable now, in fact from what I've read they're no longer made. I didn't have Rocky's myself but I did have a pair of Trekmates Amphibian socks which although looking quite loose/baggy were fine once on and everything was straightened out. I wore them year round with a very light Karrimor branded trail running shoe (Pro Run) but eventually due to wear at the toe one of them started to leak. I tried to get another pair but it seems that Trekmates no longer make them.

I read on Outdoors Magic about Gore Bike Wear Gore Tex socks, in fact when I saw tham mentioned I remembered about them from my cycling days. I decided to give them a try and ended up getting them from Evans Cycles. I'd used Evans Cycles in the past, both my wife and daughter's mtb's came from Evans Cycles so I placed an order for a pair in size Large (42-44) but they were a bit tight. Although they're quite stretchy I didn't want to risk too much stress especially at the toe so I re-ordered a pair size X Large (45-47) and they fitted perfectly so I think they are small fitting as 43-44 in footwear is my normal size.




They're quite different to the Trekmates socks, the Trekmates ones only have a stretch panel on the top of the foot and up the shin with the remaining fabric being regular fabric. This makes the Trekmates one's slightly more bulky and prone to creasing although a little care when putting your shoes means it isn't a problem. The Gore Bike Wear socks are completely made from stretch fabric so they're a much neater fit, whether they're any less durable I can't say at this stage. The Gore Bike Wear socks are a bit longer and have a nice wide cuff which helps keep them from falling down. They're comfortable enough, in I had to check the size of a particular brand of trainer last week and wore the Gore Bike Wear socks as I needed to be sure the trainers would fit while wearing the Gore Tex socks, in the end I completely forgot I was wearing them until later that night.





Subject to actually trying them, I think they're definitely worth a look for anyone who prefers an unlined trainer but still wants the option of some wet weather prtection, at £19 from Evans Cycles they're not outrageously expensive.