EDZ Waterproof Socks with Merino Lining review: warm, watertight and well-built

EDZ Waterproof Socks with Merino Lining: first impressions 

If you’ve got leaky boots, hiking shoes with mesh panels or often find yourself wading through the wetlands on a hike, the EDZ Waterproof Socks are here to save the day. Wet feet can be uncomfortable and cause rubbing and blisters, but with these waterproof hiking socks, you no longer have to worry. These thick, mid-calf socks pair well with your best hiking boots and have a merino wool lining which wicks away sweat as well as keeping your toes toasty on frigid days.

Though these socks are too thick and warm for most summer escapades, you’ll be glad for them when you’re hiking and biking once the weather turns cold. With these, even if you’re wearing waterproof footwear, you don’t have to worry about wet socks leaking into your boots and causing havoc. For longer walks, you might want to pair them with liner socks for increased comfort, but if keeping water out is your main priority, you won’t find a better sock solution than this pair.

EDZ Waterproof Socks with Merino Lining: in the field 

This is my first pair of waterproof socks and after my waterproof hiking shoes still managed to get waterlogged during a downpour last summer up on Pen-y-ghent thanks to my socks, I was curious to see how they worked.

They’re definitely not as comfortable as my regular wool hiking socks. In fact, they feel a bit like a neoprene sock that you’d wear with a wetsuit, sort of a plasticky feel, which is understandable, but takes a bit of getting used to. They’re also not as stretchy as regular socks, despite a high Lycra content, so not quite as form fitting, but they do stay up just fine. EDZ has added a merino/acrylic lining which does help with comfort – they’re not exactly super soft and cozy, but comfortable enough against my skin and I do appreciate the sweat-wicking qualities of the lining.

These are really quite thick, robust socks, so I’m not able to wear them with my best rail running shoes, which is actually when I most often get wet feet. I have had them out on a few boggy hikes around Scotland, however, with my hiking boots, and I’m glad of the mid-calf length for that. 

The main selling point of these socks is that they really are completely waterproof. I’ve walked through bogs and small streams and even held them under a running tap at home for a few minutes and not a drop gets through, so for really wet days they’re a great choice, though for comfort I prefer a pair of liner socks with them. Because they are so thick and a bit stiff, I wouldn’t wear them for long treks but they’re definitely good for short, wet adventures. And due to their thickness and warmth, I’d save them for cold weather.

On the trail, they’re lightweight, stretchy and breathable so they were great on a long walk in mild summer weather. What I like more about them is how water resistant they really are. I have another pair of similar trousers that soak through easily in a shower but dry quickly – these hiking pants kept me dry during several pretty decent downpours and dried quickly. I also appreciate the reinforced knees and seat for sitting on a rock for lunch, though if I was doing any serious scrambling on abrasive rock I’d probably look for something made with tougher material.

The main thing I didn’t like about them is the lack of thigh pockets. There are two small zipped hip pockets but it’s not very comfortable to walk with anything bulky in them and I prefer to keep my map and phone in my thigh pockets so they're easy to reach without taking my backpack off. That said, with their comfort and waterproofing, I’ll be wearing these on rainy hikes where I can carry gear in the pockets of my waterproof jacket.

Here’s how they performed:

Sizing

True to size. 

Fit

Not as stretchy or contoured as other hiking socks, but reasonably form-fitting and come up to mid-calf. 

Comfort 

They’re not amazingly comfortable, meaning I definitely notice them on my feet due to the slightly stiffer feel, but the lining is pretty soft and they don’t rub anywhere. They’re more comfortable than I thought they would be when I first felt them. 

Breathability 

The lining does wick away sweat, which is helpful because they are quite warm.

Durability 

Sturdy socks, these should definitely last years if you don’t put them in the washing machine. 

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