Waterproof socks

What are waterproof accessories good for?

Waterproof socks or gloves come in handy wherever you're at risk of getting wet, dealing with bad weather, tackling tough terrain, or facing cold feet. Because the membrane keeps water out and blocks the wind, they’re way warmer than regular socks. Personally, we often use socks for trail running shoes for mountain crossings in chilly weather and winter, which you wouldn’t usually dare to do in regular socks. They work great in wet terrain, in the rain, or in the snow. During long hikes, you’ll avoid blisters from walking around with wet feet. Despite their waterproofing, the socks still have good breathability.

Materials and three-layer construction

DexShell products use a three-layer sandwich construction:

• Outer layer: it has to be primarily abrasion-resistant, so it's usually made from a knit fabric with a majority share of polyamide (nylon).
• Mid-layer – membrane: the waterproof membrane is inserted (laminated) between the outer layer and the inner layer, which protect it from both sides. It’s a branded hydrophilic membrane Porelle® with a water column of over 10 000 mm and breathability over 15 000 g/m2/24 h.
• Inner layer: the inner layer takes care of absorption, moisture wicking, and the user's comfort. Here, the material already differs from model to model. DexShell products use merino wool, Coolmax with added silver ions, bamboo, or drirelease material as a combination of merino wool and synthetic fibers.

Thanks to the micro-dot lamination of the outer and inner layers on the waterproof membrane, DexShell products provide users like you with great freedom. They’re flexible, comfortable, and don’t restrict you at all when you’re on the move in the terrain.

How to choose waterproof socks

Even though at first glance some models of DexShell waterproof socks only differ in color, the reality is different. Although all the socks have the same three-layer construction, they vary in sock length, materials used, and the thickness of the inner layer.

Length: Waterproof socks DexShell come in five different lengths. The shortest ones are about the same length as the regular socks we're used to. In certain situations, ankle socks could allow water to seep in from above, making the waterproof socks almost pointless, which is why even the shortest ones are relatively high.

Thickness of the inner layer: You should choose the thickness of socks not just based on the season, but also the activity. There's a big difference whether you're getting socks for a physically demanding activity (hiking, running) or something static (photography, really slow walks). To evaluate how warm the socks are, DexShell created the Thermal Guideline scale. Each model is rated with a number from one to five (5/5 – the warmest). Don't forget that even the thinnest socks (1/5) are thicker and warmer than regular socks. After all, they have 3 layers.

You can read more about the use and selection of waterproof socks in in this article on our blog.

How to take care of DexShell products

Washing: You can wash the socks in the washing machine with regular detergent on a gentle cycle at a maximum temperature of 40 °C or by hand.

Drying: You shouldn’t dry your socks on a direct heat source like a fireplace or radiator, but only close to it. Dry your socks by hanging them. First, let them dry from the inside, then turn them inside out and dry them from the outside. Don’t wring out your socks.