Wales & England: Cambrian Way, Offa’s Dyke Path, Cotswold Way and more

Hi Amy

Thanks.

‘Wales is wet’ – how true! It was in Wales that we were introduced to waterproof pack covers and foam sit-mats. They helped.

Cheers

Hi Amy,

What footwear and socks did you use especially with daily wet conditions? I want to head to Scotland and hike the West HIghland Way and maybe continue to do another path. My concern is wet feet. Did you ever use waterproof socks? I wear trail runners.

Thanks!

Donna,

On all trips I wear Darn Tough 1/4 Sock Light Merino. This is the Darn Tough model that has no looping/padding – just a thin comfortable durable sock. These thin Darn Tough dry faster than the thicker models and to my feet they are more comfortable when wet than thicker socks. More info about shoes in our Clothing article.

Waterproof socks seem as disastrous as waterproof shoes to me. Unless using a plastic bag, the waterproofing doesn’t really work over the long haul, and then you just get stagnant rotting gross moldy interiors.

When we walked the West Highland Way we never had wet feet. That trail has a solid tread and we were never walking in muck or peat. Hopefully you’ll have the same experience as we had!

Amy

“we were introduced to waterproof pack covers and foam sit-mats”

Sit pads are a useful 2ozs in constant wet.  From breaks, to cooking , to tent entry, to under the sleeping pad where you put your butt when sitting to lessen psi on the tent floor.  I cover chocolate and sensitive foods from the sun by covering the outside of my pack with my sit pad using the bungees over the mesh pocket.  When  I do that, I can lay my pack down on the muddy ground with the harness up, and little mud getting on the pack.  … ironically a pack cover would keep it clean, but I historically have hated them, but I’ve been thinking about giving it another go.

Amy, I use Darn tough socks as well and when I was in the Alps, my feet, while wet, were quite warm. I also wore Balega socks and loved them as well. I don’t wear anything Gortex, so I just wondered if the waterproof socks were of any value on the WHW and Scotland in general. It’s always good to get info from more experienced hikers.

Small sit pads have numerous uses. Broken ankle or leg wrapped up with one to keep stable until help arrives.

Seems like everyone in Europe had a pack cover. Except those with a Hyperlight or Gorilla pack.

Darn Tough Vermont Boot socks – the bees’ knees.

Waterproof shoes and socks: the gorillas’ armpits. Ultimate prune.

We were doing Offas Dyke in Wales (1998?), and were tired of always sitting on wet stuff. We bought some sit mats in a town one morning. For lunch that day we sat on a large damp log – on our new sit mats. As one, we turned to each other and said “I’ve got a warm bum!” We still have those mats.

Cheers