SPECIFICATIONS

The Rocky Gore-Tex Oversocks are manufactured by Rocky Boots

Web: http://www.rockyboots.com

Year of Manufacture: 2004
MSRP: U.S. $51.95 (Model 8011) or $57.95 (Model 8013)

LISTED WEIGHT:   None Listed
LISTED SIZE:          Varies.  Available in men's sizes 5-14 regular width.  Model 8011 is 11 inches (28 cm) tall and model 8013 is 13 inches (33 cm) tall.  (Model 8011 is reflected in this report.)

TESTED WEIGHT:  1.4 oz (39.7 g) each sock.  2.8 oz (79.4 g) per pair.
TESTED SIZE:         My shoe size is 10 1/2 EEEE.  At first I tried a size 10, but had to exchange for a size 11.  

FIELD USE

FIELD USE CONDITIONS

I wore the Rocky Gore-Tex Socks under several conditions in all sorts of weather.  Terrain was variable, and included river sandbars, stream beds, the Mississippi river batture, swamps, bottomland hardwoods, and rolling hills.  I used the Rocky Gore-Tex Socks in weather conditions ranging from clear and cool to hot and stormy.

I have worn the Rocky Gore-Tex Socks on several occasions, and I have about 30 miles in them now.  The Rocky Gore-Tex Socks are oversocks, and so require some other sock to be worn under them.  I tried various kinds of socks, including wool, cotton, and polyester.  All the socks I used were medium or heavyweight socks and provided satisfactory results.   

I wore the Rocky Gore-Tex Socks in various kinds of footwear as well.  These included Redwing 2156 hiking boots that I dearly love, Teva Hurricanes, Chaco Z1s, and Keen Newports.  I was most interested in wearing the Rocky Socks with my boots.  I've had these boots for nearly ten years, and they are still serviceable but the Cambrelle® lining is long gone and is no longer waterproof.  The original sole has been replaced with a Vibram Lug 100 sole, and the original insoles replaced with Spenco Hiker insoles.  I love these boots, but they're nearly ready for replacement.  I've never had a blister in them, despite many, many, many (yes, many!) miles in them.  I don't normally wear socks of any kind with sandals, but having a way to keep my feet dry on wet days is attractive to me.  The Rocky Socks proved up to the task in most ways.

My initial fears, elucidated in the Initial Report about the rough seams proved unfounded, and at no time did the seams cause me any discomfort.  I wore the Rocky Gore-Tex Socks in my Redwing 2156 hiking boots with plain cotton tube socks for a few days.  Sometimes I wore both socks, sometimes I wore just one sock on either foot.  I did this to get a 'feel' for the socks and to see if my feet stayed as dry with them as without them since I was concerned that the Rocky Socks might make my feet sweat more.  To the contrary, my feet stayed every bit as dry with the Rocky Socks as without them.  No extra sweating was observed.  It occurs to me that I could have weighed my cotton socks and provided detailed data, but I will just say that there was no detectible difference to me.  

Taking the Rocky Socks into the field, I wore them in my boots and in various sandals.  They were always comfortable, and at no time did I get a blister or a hot spot.  I was very pleased in all respects with the Rocky Socks' performance in wet conditions.  When walking muddy trails, stepping in shallow puddles and streams, and tracking through soggy bogs, my feet always stayed dry and clean.  I can't say the same for any of my footwear.  To this extent, the Rocky Socks were waterproof, and fulfilled all claims made by the packaging.

Outside of these parameters, however, the Rocky Socks did not perform as well.  In heavy rain, water would run down my leg and into the sock.  The cuffs are not water proof.  Wearing a pair of OR Rocky Mountain Low Gaiters eliminated this problem for the most part.  If stepping into water that is deeper than the cuff is high, then water will flood the socks.  I am unsure, to be honest, if this is a fault of the cuff, or of my hairy legs.  Perhaps a test with shaved legs will be in order.

I don't actually consider this a problem.  The Rocky Gore-Tex Socks aren't designed to go swimming in, after all.  If I were going to enter an aqueous environment I would wear something else.  Of course, an accidental slip into water or mud deeper than the sock is tall will require stopping to drain them out.  For walking around in the perpetually wet conditions of the Gulf South, I have found the Rocky Gore-Tex Socks to be a valuable addition to my gear.  I predict that I will like them even more once I experience some cold weather, but the Long-Term Test period will verify this prediction.

Washing the socks proved to be a little tedious.  They have to be washed by hand.  My wife, being a Liberated Woman, will not wash my socks by hand, no matter how special they are.  I was, therefore, forced to do so myself.  It isn't so bad really.  Knocking the big stuff off with a hose and then wearing them like mitts and pretending to wash my hands proved to work quite nicely.  The Rocky Gore-Tex Socks dry over night and seem none the worse for the several washings I have put them through.  The bottom line is that I am satisfied with their performance.

TESTING STRATEGY

I will wear the Rocky Gore-Tex Socks at every opportunity.  I will be especially keen on seeing how they keep my feet warm in cold weather.  They don't seem to make my feet any warmer in the heat.

SUMMARY

THINGS I LIKE

1.  Guaranteed waterproof, and they are waterproof within certain parameters.
2.  Good fit once I got the right size.
3.  Quality construction.

THINGS I DON'T LIKE

1.  Heavy, rough interior seams - but they never caused me any trouble.
2.  Cuffs do not prevent rain from seeping down my leg and into the sock.  (I will admit that my hairy legs may be at fault...)

***

Thank you for your time.

Shane Steinkamp
shane@theplacewithnoname.com 
www.theplacewithnoname.com/hiking