If you're planning to keep swimming throughout the winter months, you'll probably want to invest in some neoprene swimming socks (also called wetsuit socks or water socks). Here, we round up some of the options available to you.
Should I get wetsuit swim socks or wetsuit booties?
First off, if you're looking to actually swim then go for neoprene swim socks as opposed to booties.
Wetsuit boots are great for when you need to clamber across rocks but are also good at creating extra drag in the water and generally weighing you down.
Swim socks are more flexible and will allow more freedom to kick, useful if you need to get going sharpish.
Best neoprene swimming socks for cold water
Below is our list of beat neoprene swim socks that won't break the bank but should keep you swimming for longer in that cold water over winter.
Orca Hydro Booties
- £39 / $59
Like the Huub booties below, these from Orca feature a split-toe design (nicknamed ‘goat feet’ by my friend’s teenage daughter).
Also like the Huubs, this means these boots stay in place much better with no twisting of the foot in the boot.
They also don’t include any hard seams or Velcro adjusters – just a wider fluted top which fits very easily under my wetsuit legs.
The boots are also the softest and most comfortable on test, helped by the same thermal lining used across Orca’s winter swimming range.
Toasty warm and easy to get on and off? Yes, huge plus points, but they’re not seam-sealed so they don’t offer the same level of waterproofing or warmth as the Zone3s.
Still, they're a great shout for swimmers who find other boots hard to remove. They also come in seven sizes, from XXS to XXL.
Verdict: Like the gloves these are warm and comfortable with easy-to-use design features.
Score: 88%
Zone3 Heat-Tech Swimming Socks
- £39 / $49.99
The Heat-Tech socks from Zone3 stole our ‘best on test’ last year by virtue of being the only pair on test with liquid seams and a design that allowed virtually zero water ingress.
This year they have somewhat stiffer competition, though, with 2XU and Lomo entering the fold with similar stitched and bonded then sealed designs.
So what’s the verdict? Well, once again these do the job admirably.
My feet were barely wet after swimming, to the point where one swimmer I know described it as ‘almost cheating’, while the Velcro band allows you to adjust them and wear them over your wetsuit.
The grippy sole is welcome on slippy water entries, while overall the sock felt good quality.
My only issue is how difficult they are to remove, but that will be a trade-off against all that warmth.
Verdict: You can’t argue with the warmth and waterproofing on offer in these top-notch swim socks!
Score: 90%
Huub Swim Socks
- £34.99
I have to admit to having a soft spot for the Huub neoprene swim socks – this will be my third pair of these socks and I've worn the previous two until they were at end of life (this tester does a lot of winter swimming!).
So what’s so good? First up, it may look weird but I like the separated toe design.
Not only does it help the socks stay in place better as you swim, but it also means you can wear the booties with flip-flops, which I will usually try to do as it prevents wear (and keeps feet warmer).
The 3mm neoprene is warm and graphics on the soles also help with grip.
I love the Velcro tab at the top, too, which is easily adjusted with cold hands and creates a snug fit without making the socks difficult to get off again.
Three size options are available: XS/S, M/L and XL/XXL.
Verdict: Clever design that stays in place well and the Velcro tab makes a snug fit easy to get off.
Score: 86%
2XU Propel Booties
- £45 / $59.99
The booties on offer here from 2XU shares many design features with the gloves, so you’ll notice a longer length on the boot than some others on test.
Meanwhile, the top of the boot is weld-seamed and also features a Velcro wrap-around strap.
These are all great additions to prevent water getting inside the boot and causing it to balloon.
The booties come in size S, M and L and, although this worked on the foot, this chunky-calved tester did find them a bit snug at the top and difficult to get off again after my swim (help was needed from the crew!).
You don’t get a split separation on the big toe here like some others on test but they stayed on well enough without it.
The rubberised ‘x’ print on the soles was also welcome when walking across slippy, frosty gravel to my swim entrance point.
Verdict: Another quality design like the rest in this range, but again expensive and hard to remove.
Score: 85%
Lomo Neoprene Open Water Swimming Socks
- £21 (UK only)
These are the top of the Lomo range in swim socks (a less technical set will set you back £11) but they still come in under the price of all the others on test here.
Don’t let that fool you into thinking they don’t offer the same warmth and protection though.
The 3mm neoprene, stitched and glued liquid seams and a gasket at the top did a great job of keeping water and cold out – albeit these were a bit tricky to get off again post-swim.
Sizing (they come in XS to XXL which will serve UK sizes 1-12) is designed to be snug, though, to give a good swimming experience and to prevent them ballooning with water, so it’s about weighing up time in water versus time of kit removal!
Finally, a grippy sole was welcome to avoid slips when getting in or out of the water.
Verdict: Seam sealed and a really great range of sizing make these a no-brainer for chillier swims.
Score: 84%
Alpkit Swimming Socks
- £37.99 / $49.99
Feeling soft and supple, the swim socks from premium outdoor brand Alpkit had a similar construction to the Orcas, pulling on easily and staying in place well thanks to that split-toe design (‘goat feet’, according to one child that saw them at our lake!).
The hexaganol grippy surface on the soles did a good job on slippy surfaces, but Alpkit has discontinued the adjustable Velcro strap on these, so like the Orca boots when worn without a wetsuit on top I did see a little water ingress.
The 3mm neoprene did a good job of keeping my feet warm otherwise.
Verdict: Comfy and warm, but seams aren't as refined as the Orcas.
Score: 83%
Also consider...
ZCCO Premium 3mm Swimming Socks
- £16.99 / $21.68
These ZCCO cold-water swimming socks have the standard 3mm thickness, which should keep you adequately warm year-round during open water swim adventures.
Designed with a quick-removal cuff along the top of the sock, these should be easy to pull on and off after use.
ZCCO claims that the technology used for the stitching means they are extra durable, strong and long-lasting.
The outer sole has non-slip coating, which should help you avid any mishaps getting into the water. They also have a choice of black, grey or pink!
Dhb Hydron Thermal Swim Booties 2.0
- £30 (UK only)
They may be slightly above £25, but if you’re after a tried and tested favourite, look no further than dhb’s swim booties 2.0.
Made from 3mm neoprene (80% neoprene/20% nylon), these should keep you toasty in cold waters, while the non-slip panel should keep you safe when clambering back out to the comfort of your swim robe post-swim.
Dhb recommends that you pair these with their Hydron 2.0 wetsuit and swim cap, have a browse on Wiggle for the full dhb range.
PAWHITS 3mm Neoprene Socks
- £12.49 / $15.94
Tested by 220 Triathlon's Kate Milsom, these PAWHITS neoprene socks impressed by their snug fit and grippy soles.
The non-slip design along the sole and heel worked wonders in keeping us upright when clambering along rocks and river banks.
The size small fit our size UK 5 tester well, with extra stretch for those with feet a size or two larger.
The blind stitches and glued seams have endured five months of wear with no noticeable affect, so we're confident these will be fairly long-lasting.
We also liked the quick drying capabilities and found them handy at folding away small into our swim bag.
Blueseventy Thermal Swim Socks
- £40 / $50
These Blueseventy thermal swim socks aim to be form fitting and help to prevent injury thanks to reinforced soles protecting you from sharp stones and slippy patches.
The thermal lining of the 2mm Yamamoto neoprene material is designed to keep you warm yet remain light-weight and quick-drying after use.
Unlike some others in the round up, these socks are made from 100% neoprene.
How we tested
To test these neoprene swimming socks, our gear reviewers (220 Triathlon editor Helen Webster and former staff writer Kate Milsom) braved winter temperatures and took on multiple swims in cold water at a former quarry.
The products were tested in water temperatures as low as 5°C, while they were also shared among other staff members to ensure the reviewer's experiences were reflected by different people.
What makes good swim socks?
A decent thickness of neoprene will keep your toes toasty, we'd recommend at least 3mm.
It pays to find neoprene swim socks that fit snugly as these will insulate better, look for tight closures or socks that have a secure band above the ankle.
Another handy feature is if the wetsuit socks have grippy soles, so you're not a complete slippy seal sliding over rocks to your wild swim spot.
Neoprene swim socks help to keep your extremities warm in harsh conditions. If you're looking for more coverage against the elements, have a read of our list of the best cold water swimming gloves.
How can I warm up after cold-water swimming
Top image credit: Remy Whiting
