My take on it is that none of them are waterproof in the long term (or even medium term) and that my feet will still get wet in winter, but they will be a fair bit warmer than if I was using normal socks. mm neoprene, NRS socks are generally watertight for a while, but after several uses the seams begin to leak. I've always had a problem with gaiters, and have never liked them, so I have been trying to think differently about how to keep my below knees and feet dry.

For example, my Dexshell Running Lite socks are very much cooler (and more comfortable) than my boot length Bridgedale Stormsocks. Stupid I know, but I got the second pair because I just couldn't believe how bad the first pair were! The ONE time I stupidly decided to not bother with wetsocks and go caving in winter in walking socks my feet turned to stumps and it was awful - never, ever did it again! You have to put the sock on carefully so it doesn't wipe off the hydropel, but, with one application per day, your feet stay pretty nice and dry, and it gives you a nice slick feeling even as your socks start to get a bit funky over a few days.More importantly, they stay warm, even if slightly damp, whereas the next cold puddle would make them cold again with normal socks.

The main downside is you need to keep moving somewhat rapidly otherwise you get very cold feet with all the wetness but that isn't usually a problem.The socks feel like a wetsuit when you slip them on, not gripping your feet as tightly as you may be used to from cotton socks. After walking through brush and around abandoned irrigation canals for two hours, I was just about to get back on the main trail when I came up to the edge of a beaver pond. The socks stretched like a normal pair of socks, which I had heard is an issue with some other brands of waterproof goretex socks. For rain, then over trousers and boots normally do, but if the going is rough or muddy the gaiters too. I like winter sailing; not just the shoulder seasons, but also the wash-the-frost-off-the-deck cold of January and February.