Like many others here, I just use wool socks. 2 pair if temps are cool.

I found a boot I liked around 95. Small light comfortable and quick drying with ankle protection. GoreTex and smartwool in spring and a just liner sock in summer work well with them. When that first pair blew out it was available as new and improved from a spunoff company. So I bought another pair, maybe even another at some point I forget. When they were discontinued there I bought the last two pair in my size on sale from I forget where. I've been taking two pair so I always have a dry pair for camp. I have 2-1/2 pair left. I'm gonna miss those once they blow out.

Point is, if you find something you really like that works for you, stock up. That place eats comfortable boots.

i used to use just a pair of smart wool socks for warmth/dry days and for the portage days i would go barefoot inside my tevas with duct tape around the back of my heel and big toe(the method i used for my football cleats). since then, ive upgrated to a midcalf neoprene sock that has a semi fleecy inside. my feet get damp from perspiration, but the are always warm. they keep the mud and grungy swamp off my feet and protect my feet from blisters. i second the comment about the silicone on the soles, i use that method too

its nearly impossible to find any product that lasts anymore

before you use the new abyss boots, I suggest you mix up a bit of epoxy and coat the threads that are exposed - that will stretch the time before they will begin to wear - you would eventually need to do that anyways, so prevention is better than repair   

I have done that on my boots after the threads started wearing - better to do before (I have two pair - bought the secon because I liked the first so well) - I don't think I have bought any boots of any kind in the last 15 years or so that don't start falling apart sooner than I'd expect, especially for glued on soles - epoxy fixes most of that

the OTB abyss are good boots -

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Maybe I'm mis-reading this, but it sounds like those boots are pretty snug if you can feel potential trouble spots barefooted?
If you bought them snug to wear little or no liner sock, then blisters have to be a concern.
Wet feet translates into soft "rubbery" skin which can lead to blisters.
At the bare minimum you want a synthetic liner sock that will rub/disburses heat instead of your bare skin.
Another little trick with liner socks to avoid blisters, is to rub your heels/soles of feet and toe areas with unscented underarm deodorant. This will cut the friction down to nothing.
They make a version they sell at running stores, but the deodorant will do the same thing, much cheaper.
Also remember that under a load especially, your feet will swell at least one full size or better.
You can custom lace your shoe to keep it snug, but allow for your foot swelling.
Any running site online would have detailed directions on how to lace for this.
I work 12 hrs on a concrete floor and use the deodorant , a thin liner sock and the lace technique every work day and my feet thank me for it

Thanks, All.

I tried them on again last night bare footed, and they feel like there is a firm spot right on the back of my heel.  Also, the insoles are very firm.  I think I will like the boots, but concern over blisters is what has me thinking about a boot liner.  I'm headed to REI this afternoon, and if I pick something up I'll post everybody on how it works out. 

On the OTB Storms, I liked how they were lined with neoprene.  I always felt snug in them, and was never concerned with blisters.  With the Abyss, I just feel like they need a little tweak before they can be perfect.  I do think they can be perfect, too.  I'll let you know what I discover.

Good comments.  I've used the same pair of Abyss for about 80 Quetico nights total ranging from early-June to mid-August.  Expect to get a few more weeks of use this summer before needing to look for a new pair.  I usually wear mid-weight merino wool socks with a coolmax liner sock.  I tried using a mid-calf gore-tex sock one time, but found my feet got really hot and ended up with wet feet anyway. 

The best feature of the Abyss is that they drain really fast so they are still comfortable to wear on the trail and in the canoe for most of the day spent traveling.  Wet footing the portage is a lot simpler than trying to hop skip and jump over wet spots on portages.  Once at camp, the boots will pretty much dry with a couple hours of sun and air.

I've used my OTB's with SealSkin w/waterblockers, neoprene, and just wool socks. I never tried Gore Tex socks. My feet got wet in all cases. The evaporative cooling of the wet boot/socks kept my feet cool to cold. But it's my favorite option for creek travel in the spring, summer tripping too. Very solid support and decent grip on wet rocks.

Fall tripping the creeks are mostly too low to travel so I opt for Muck boots and try to avoid long sections of creeks. They're too hot for summer tripping though.

Generally agree with what's been said. My OTB's are older and show no wear problems. Maybe they changed production some since??

I don't think you'll ever find a set-up that doesn't have its limitations.
I like Brookie Knee Highs. There Neoprene with a light fleece lining. Cinch strap at knee.
I wear them with a ankle height watershoe something akin to Teva or similar.
I size the shoe a couple of sized big to accommodate the Brookie.
Cold water you stay dry and warm. As day heats up, the neoprene soaks up sun and they get warm.
I roll them down like Fireman's boots in the canoe if it gets unseasonably hot and that seems to help a bit, but in hot weather they'd be too much.
I think your choice of liner sock/oversock plays a role too as well as the type of material your pants are made of.
I wear a thin wicking liner sock with a light Merino wool oversock. I wear synthetic pants and tuck them into wool oversock.
This seems to help with excess moisture as the nylon blend acts as a chimney of sorts and helps wick excess moisture up and out.
At night in camp I turn Brookies inside out and hang under tarp, there dry in the morning.
Everyone is different and you'll probably have to experiment with different set-ups to get the one that suits your style the best.

I've been using the same pair of Abyss boots for the last 3 seasons including three 3 week trips in Quetico, Wabakimi and WCPP.  They've held up well, in fact good as new.  However, I have mixed feelings about them.  First, my big trips are in the summer so I generally wear them without socks of any kind.  I've never had a blister problem.  The boots do afford some ankle support and they're pretty much guaranteed to stay on your feet even when you're thigh deep in boot sucking ooze.  That being said, I find them hot, they gather a lot of ooze and crap in the boot (they can really get a stink on) and, once they're wet, they're a pain in the butt to take off and put on.  I have this notion to go back to what I used to use, which are Keen H2O sandals (now my camp shoe.)  My biggest concern is that at some point they'd get sucked off my feet so, so far, I've remained true to the Abyss.  As for wearing dry socks.  I'm not sure I see the point.  Abyss are designed for wet footing - late spring to early fall.  If you want to keep your feet dry then I'd find a boot that is water proof or, at least, water "resistant."  For example, Kokatat Nomad Paddling Boots will definitely keep your feet dry in the shoulder seasons but I think you'd boil in the summer.