Hello Paul,
The answer to whether you need a neoprene sock or not, is most likely no and for the most part the reasons have already been covered here. Personally I prefer wearing capilene socks, but as you can see by the responses, opinions vary on the material.
As to your questions: How do you use the neoprene socks? Do they go over or under the stocking foot waders? What is the purpose of neoprene socks as opposed to wool or cotton?
Here are a couple of applications. In this area we have relatively cold in-stream flows during the summer months, yet the outside air temps could hit 100 degrees plus. So wet wading ( wading without wearing waders ) is very common during those periods, yet we still wear wading boots for traction. Here's the rub, when we bought our wading boots, it was with the intention of wearing them with our waders. So we sized up our boots to make a room allowance for the neoprene stocking feet on our waders. When we wet wade, without something to take up that extra space vacated by the absence of the neoprene stocking foot, our feet would slosh around in the boots and since most all sock fabrics compress ( even high density neoprene to a lesser degree) when we stand or walk on them, wearing a woven fabric sock by itself isn't enough. Eventually every little speck of sand and gravel that sifts it's way into the boot will start washing about unchecked in the cavernous void of the boot. Inevitably this debris will end up feeling like it's the only thing between you and the boots inner sole and rubbing our feet raw.
So a common practice is to fill in the void. By using a neoprene wading sock of an equal thickness to the one used on our waders, we once again take up much of the slack in our boots, to the mix some will wear a wool or fairly dense synthetic sock to supply the rest of space filling component and to act as a buffer. During the day sand and fine gravel will find it's way into the open neoprene sock and filter down, the loose weave and thick fabric of an additional sock allows much of the sand to take up residence in the fabric as opposed to being trapped right against the skin. This layered system also acts a bit like a wet suit. While there is a mild flushing of water into and out of the neoprene sock during the day, if the system is well fitted to the individual, the water laden sock will retain a base of water that will tend to be warmer than the water outside the boot.
Another area where they get worn occasionally is in concert with a flats / tuber bootie, again sometimes as gap filler and buffer where the booties may have been bought with the intent of wearing them with waders that incorporate a neoprene stocking foot and / or to help act as a barrier to abrasion or reduce the affects of walking on sharp bottom features. Those are just a couple of the applications for neoprene socks, there are many, many more.
Best, Dave
All typos and omissions are gratis.
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