VBL Socks

[Jim D.]

I know using VBL socks is not liked by everyone, but I am a big fan. The moisture in my thin liner sock does not bother me, the VBL seems to cut down on friction/blisters, and my boot and insulating sock stay bone dry for days.  However, usually my trips are no longer than 5 days or so, and I would bring a fresh liner sock for each day. We are now planning a winter trip that may last three weeks, and so bringing a liner sock for each day is out of the question.

So, for other VBL users out there, what is the best way to dry the liner socks for the next day? I’m nervous about putting them inside my down sleeping bag at night, thinking that moisture will slowly accumulate over time in the sleeping bag insulation.

Thanks in advance!

Jim

[Ivo Vanmontfort]

For me: Use thin liner socks.

it’s not necessary to dry the liner.

They will always stay moist.

Put them inside a plastic bag into the sleeping bag.

They dry quickly due to body heat if you wear them for a short time  once in the tent (but not into the sleeping bag)

[Eric Blumensaadt]

The best VBL socks are 3 mm closed cell neoprene divers’ socks over thin poly liner socks. 3 mm because they permit you to wear your normal size boots.

The VERY best VBL divers socks are made by Aqua Lung because they are factory seam sealed and made in Left and Right shapes for no bunching of material at the toes.

Believe me I’ve tried every VBL from plastic bread bags to “shaped” plastic VBLs to coated nylon ripstop VBLs and nothing comes close to neoprene divers’ socks

In camp at night remove divers’ socks & turn inside-out to dry in tent for 15 minutes or so.

Put wet poly liner socks in quart ZipLoc freezer bag and don clean sock liners and heavy wool “sleep socks”. Then place the divers’ socks in the foot of your sleeping bag along with your removable insulating boot liners. (Your boots DO have removable insulation, right?) Warm liners in the morning mean no painfully cold toes while making breakfast and breaking camp.

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