So, thanks to jdrocks (see Portage Boot thread), I've scored a pair of extremely rare "Orb Boots" (better known to the uninitiated as OTB Odhins) at a VERY good price.  Unlike my old Storm Boots, these do NOT come with a built-in neoprene booty.  That's probably a good thing; pulling my feet into those Storms was getting harder & harder every year due to those booties.  I think Old Salt once mentioned that he improvised by adding "O" rings to his pull tabs to better enable him to yank the danged things on.  It ain't an easy exercise, I tell you.

Anyway, there is plenty of room inside of my new Odhins to wear neoprene socks... if I care to.  I'm just not sure that I care to.  I'm a wet-footer and even neoprenes will get wet inside when fully submerged.  In my experience, they don't dry as easily as wool.   The smell seems to come out of wool better than neoprene after a good washing in the woods, too.  

The trade-off seems to be: clammy, wet, smelly & warmer neoprene socks versus wet & somewhat cooler wool socks.

Anybody have any good arguments as to why they favor one type of wet-footing sock over the other?

More likely than not, I'll probably purchase at least one good pair of neoprene socks just in case I encounter really cold water.  Nevertheless, I'd be interested in hearing what others do & why.

Jimbo    

I prefer a good pair of wool socks with a wicking liner sock for my wetfoot portaging.  The system works for me for the late May - August season, but I don't know about the extreme cold water temps of iceout.  I'd recommend the thickest wool socks you can find that will still allow your toes to wriggle in your boots.  Once soaked, it should loosen up a bit.

I'm a big fan of the Brookie Knee-highs cold water paddling. The ability to unload/load canoe on less than ideal rocky landings is a big plus in my book. I like them on the mud holes as well. I've gone over the top a few times and had some water penetrate, but that was mostly my fault for not having the top cinch strap secure.

In days that start cool but heat up, I roll the tops down like fireman's boots to deal with the heat. There fleece lined, I turn them inside out at night and air dry or hang near fire. I wear a thin wool liner sock for wicking/blisters most days, maybe a mid-weigh wool sock over them if water is really cold.

I also seam seal all exposed seams on socks, like I do on portage shoes.
I see they sell a ankle height neoprene sock for warm weather in the Piragis catalog. Has built in gator to keep crap out of shoe. Might worth a look?

jdrocks wrote on Jan 27^th, 2010 at 3:27am:

That would be my take too.

I have a pair of 3mm(?) neoprene socks somewhere but gave up on them after a few years inside various footwear in favor of GoreTex socks.

I try to keep whatever I can dry so I'm a wet-booter but not a wet-footer unless air if not water is warm or I know I can dry/warm my feet sooner rather than later.

As far as insulation value goes, Smartwool drains and breaths. Neoprene does not and so does not make for happy feet after a few hours and the discomfort gets worse every day. Personally I never thought neoprene insulated very well for the weight and especially the bulk - not when it comes to canoeing fsocks at least. It's fine for the usual civilized water sports when you can change into whatever when you get tired but wrong for BW/Q type canoeing footwear IMO.

My mid-wieight Capilene socks have all been replaced by smartwool for trips. The lightweight is still great for warm water and hot days. Easy to rinse and quick to completely dry. The heavyweight still has a place when things are frigid yet I still bring a pair or two of white cotton for when true comfort calls.

marlin - All my capilene socks have held up fine (great actually) but the mid weights get crusty in a day and the only way to make them comfortable again is with a washer and drier. If I wear them a second day they make my feet hurt/burn. A third is out of the question.

They're comfy enough for a day when clean and fluffed but extended trips isn't the right application for them IMO.