SOCKS ! SOCKS! SOCKS
Why I am so brave to make recommendations about gears for endure races?
I am a big fun of winter adventures.
I am original from Belarus. Since 2002 I spent my winter in different king of adventures (hiking, ski backpacking trips, bike tours, camping, adventure races ...... and last 5 years mostly endure and ultra bike races). I know how to keep warm yourself in different kind of temperature. I had experience stay in mountain with - 40 C temperatures.
I am original from Belarus. Since 2002 I spent my winter in different king of adventures (hiking, ski backpacking trips, bike tours, camping, adventure races ...... and last 5 years mostly endure and ultra bike races). I know how to keep warm yourself in different kind of temperature. I had experience stay in mountain with - 40 C temperatures.
Of course, I made mistakes with not perfect results. So I want to share my experience to avoid some of you from my mistakes.
My race experience in USA:
Tuscobia 150 (3 times (1 DNF))
Tuscobia 150 (3 times (1 DNF))
Arrowhead 135 (4 times (1 DNF))
Actif Epica (3 times)
and lots of short distance race . I did a lot of solo trips.
and lots of short distance race . I did a lot of solo trips.
Some photos from my past
OK now I want to say that you have to remember
WOOL and FLEECE this is only what I use for winter.
WOOL and FLEECE this is only what I use for winter.
Socks is one of the very important gear for your winter adventure. If you choose wrong SOCKS, it will be SUCKS!
At the 1st picture mostly of my thick version of socks Fleece and Wool
It could be expensive and cheap. Honestly not big different.
Why wool ?
"Unlike cotton, wool is an great insulator. When it's cold out your feet will be toasty and warm in your wool socks. ... Wool can actually hold a third of its weight in moisture before it even starts to feel "wet." Wool keeps its insulating properties while wet, which is perfect for sweaty feet".
"Unlike cotton, wool is an great insulator. When it's cold out your feet will be toasty and warm in your wool socks. ... Wool can actually hold a third of its weight in moisture before it even starts to feel "wet." Wool keeps its insulating properties while wet, which is perfect for sweaty feet".
This picture represent tiny version of wool socks (wool, merino wool, smart wool.....)
In winter I use combination wool + fleece
thick + thin wool socks.
thick + thin wool socks.
As you see most of the socks TALL - because winter boots high and have to be avoid connection with skin.
I want to represent to different kind of another material socks
Lorpen socks. Only one expensive socks (about 45$) and I use it only for city rides.No as perfect as it said: Handsewn and anatomically designed by ski instructors, Lorpen T3+ Polartec® Light ski socks are technically advanced for top performance on the slopes. They feature a double layer of Polartec® Power Stretch® fabric under the foot and at the shins for warmth and protection, and Lycra® in the cuff to ensure a snug fit.
Hi-Rise sock works by blocking evaportive heat-loss keeping heat and moisture from moving into the insulation of the 200 weight Polartec fleece as well as the inner boot. The technology has performed beautifully (for close to two decades) in the coldest and highest places on earth
PLEASE! Do not use neopren , plastic bags, cotton socks .... for the long distance race. This is way to the frostbite.
Some tips.
- you have to have EXTRA pair of wool socks for some reason
-if you have to have make emergency stop for night - you have to wear new socks and put your wet socks on your belly and trust me in the morning the socks will be dry.
- put hand warmers on the top of yours toes between 1st and 2nd pair of you socks and it will give you extra warm
- you have to have EXTRA pair of wool socks for some reason
-if you have to have make emergency stop for night - you have to wear new socks and put your wet socks on your belly and trust me in the morning the socks will be dry.
- put hand warmers on the top of yours toes between 1st and 2nd pair of you socks and it will give you extra warm
- if you biker do not forgot to make stop and walk or run with your bike. This bring more blood to your toes and keep them from frostbite. Especially if temperature is more than - 20 C
REMEMBER wrong choice of the socks and boots will have bad results I got
Hope this is help some of you.
In the next post I will talking about boots and over boots.
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