Not many features to write about with socks. The all have a hole in one end and a foot shaped bit of fabric at the other. Waterproof socks follow the same premise just with a waterproof fabric. I initially tried tracking down a pair of the highly regarded Rocky Gore-Tex socks but failed. Then someone (I can't remember who, but it might have been Martin) wrote about Trekmates Amphibian Gore-Tex socks which proved to be far easier to get hold of on this side of the Atlantic. Usually costing around £30 they are currently on offer at £9.99. They weigh 81g a pair (size Large 10-11) and are made with 3-layer Gore-Tex, taped seams and a stretchy Gore-Tex centre panel to aid getting them on and off. The shape isn't particularly fitted and looks like it could cause some bunching when worn inside shoes all day but that's not a problem for me. I don't try and keep my feet totally dry when out on the trail. 'Waterproof' socks and shoes, like gloves, suffer from one major design flaw: they all have bloody big holes in them where your hand/feet go in. Sooner or later water will find it's way in and inside waterproof/breathable membranes it's going to stay wet for a very long time. So how do I use the Amphibians...
I wear unlined, highly breathable, mesh trail running shoes with good wool based socks and totally expect my feet to get wet at some point in the day, either from dew, rain, snow or river crossings. It's not a problem this time of year, you're not going to die just because your feet got a little damp and if anything mesh trail runners allow you shoes to dry out a lot quicker. If I get to camp with wet feet I slip off my shoes and whip out the insoles (to speed up drying and create extra volume). Then I'll carefully wash and dry my feet, slip on my dry, fluffy, wooly sleep socks that have been cocooned in my dry bag, put the Amphibians over the top of those and slip my feet back into my wet shoes to go and gather firewood, make dinner and sit around camp toasting marshmallows. This way I don't have to carry separate camp footwear and when it's time to snuggle under my quilt I take off the Amphibians and my feet are warm and dry. My hiking socks often get dried next to the fire and finished off in one of my pockets overnight so they're dry by the morning. Unlike a pair of plastic bags which can, at a pinch, do the same job, the Amphibians can also be worn as traditional waterproof socks in unexpected very cold, wet weather, without so much of the sweatiness of plastic bags and are far more durable.
So far the Trekmates Amphibians have been perfect. They're coming with me on my trip to Sweden and I'm guessing they'll really be put through their paces again there with all the water we'll encounter along the way. Lined footwear still has it's place, in the Scandinavian winter, but for the rest of the year I'll take trail runners, 2 pairs of wool socks and my Trekmates Amphibians every time.
