[at-l] Drying Boots & Socks (& Waterproofing)

[athiker@pa.net (Bob Wardecker)]

The only way I found to dry my socks on the trail was as you found out
either hanging off the pack or sun. I tried to dry them over a fire but that
was more trouble than it was worth. If all my stuff was wet then it was fine
but to just dry one pair of socks no way. I carried 3 pairs of socks, wore 1
pair, 1 pair drying, one pair in my pack nice and dry. As for my boots never
tried to warm them just applied the water proofing and hiked till the next
town where they received another waterproofing treatment. When they got wet
I just hiked them dry. Hope this is of some help.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jack James" <jackjames@boone.net>
To: <at-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Sunday, August 19, 2001 4:03 PM
Subject: [at-l] Drying Boots & Socks (& Waterproofing)


> Any good tips on drying boots and socks while out on the trail?
>
> I usually rinse socks at the end of the day, wring them out, and roll them
> in my backpackers towel.  If it's humid (as much of the AT is in the
> woods), they don't get any dryer overnight or from hanging outside my
> backpack on the next day's hike.  Laid out in the sunshine at a stop is
the
> only thing that seems effective.
>
> As for boots, nothing seems to help once they're wet inside.  And for me
> that wetness comes from sweat, rain, and undergrowth dew running down my
> legs (if I don't have my gaiters on), not from water seeping through the
> leather.
>
> I recently heard about warming leather boots with a hair dryer or in an
> oven "to open pores" before applying my waterproofing (Nikwax).  Does this
> work and is it safe for leather boots?  Nikwax suggests applying a second
> coat, but that coat hardly takes after the first because of the
> waterproofing of the first coat.
>
> Jackrabbit
>
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