Vapor Barrier Socks
The first popular use of Vapor Barrier protection was socks to keep feet warm and dry, and boots dry and unfrozen. Without Vapor Barrier socks, water evaporates from your feet, condenses in your boots and soaks your socks and feet. That distilled fresh water softens the skin and promotes fungus and bacterial infections.
Vapor Barrier socks keep humidity high at your feet, stops evaporative cooling, keeps boots and socks DRY. If feet get hot and sweat, boots and socks still stay dry and still insulate. Sweat is salty so doesn’t promote infection as bad as fresh water.
In 1955 we kept our feet warm and dry with plastic wrap over thin nylon socks. Later we used bread bags (cheap, last 2-3 days), even tried scuba wetsuit socks which worked but were uncomfortable. Over the years various coated and laminated fabrics were tried, but were not stretchy or durable enough. When tough stretchy FUZZY STUFF was developed in 1983, we tried it on socks, were amazed with durability and comfort!
Our Vapor Barrier socks are made from a double layer of Fuzzy Stuff, so the tough urethane film is captive between soft nylon layers for comfort and durability. Sizing is based on your shoe size, so order by the largest shoe size you wear. If too big, pin off excess then sew along pin lines or send to us to sew. If too small exchange them. Put Vapor Barrier socks on first, then any kind of insulating socks you like over them. When you remove boots and socks, dry your feet to prevent chill.
The liner socks blocks the skin from wind chill, reduces loss of humidity, and thus reduces evaporative cooling at your skin. This is particularly important in extreme cold climates and conditions. In those conditions breathability and wickability can actually be deadly, you need to keep moisture from being absorbed by your insulating layers. These socks keep the sweat and moisture loss at your feet from getting to your insulating layers, they also work as a wind breaker to keep wind chill off your feet and toes. As heat is lost through your feet and also prevents against frostbite. You can wear insulating socks over your vapor barrier socks to keep your feet warmer. These liner socks will keep your boots dry as well. As our feet sweat the moisture can end up trapped in our boots or make them wet so that our feet become cold.
