Welcome to Gear Talk: The Löw Tide Böyz and Swimrun Labs review show!

In this episode, we do a deep dive into the Seavenger SeaSnugs sock and give our impressions on Brooke’s favorite socks. Not to be confused with the Seavenger Zephyr which she mistakenly mentioned in the budget swimrun gear show, the SeaSnugs are the socks that Brooke swears by for training and racing. 

Before we get into that, we have some first impressions and our newest segment, Guest First Impressions.

First Impressions

Ark Sports Kangaroo Review

Chris recently started testing the Kangaroo top and although he was previously anti-undergarments, he’s been convinced at the virtues of having extra storage capacity on-board. The top fits really well under a Swimrun wetsuit and the storage capacity is perfect. It has now become part of his race kit. If you are looking for more information about things to wear under your swimrun wetsuit be sure to check out our Swimrun Undergarments episode!

SurfEars 3.0 Earplugs Review

Some swimmers (including Chris) need to wear earplugs in order to keep cold water out and keep from getting disoriented. Chris recently purchased the SurfEars 3.0 because they claimed to keep water out but allow sound in. It has been an issue in the past where Chris couldn’t hear Chipper during a Swimrun unless he was right next to him and even then if he was zoning out, we couldn’t hear his partner. SurfEars are pricey ($59.95) but they worked as advertised. The fit was customizable and they kept water out well. The best part was that Chris could still hear Chipper yapping away. They even come with a lanyard so that they are less likely to get lost. If you need to wear earplugs to swim, you might want to give these a shot. 

Guest First Impressions

Friend of the show, G Flo, recently sent us a note after our swimrun paddles episode that he had started testing the carbon fiber Frank Paddles. He had been using the Ark Sports Blades and noticed that Frank Paddles were much stiffer and that over his test the lack of flex helped his fingers not get as fatigued as they did with the Ark Sports Blades.

Lindy from the UK reached out about the Seavenger socks after our Budget Swimrun Kit episode. She had found a sock by Inov8 called the Extreme Thermo sock High that looked similar. We’re curious to hear what she thinks about these.

SeaSnugs Details from Seavenger

According to the Seavenger website, the SeaSnugs are the perfect socks for beach sports. (Note that there is no direct mention for the application of Swimrun) 

They have the following features:

• ADJUSTABLE FIT — Adjustable strap ensures a snug fit and stretchy material is great for wide feet.
• PERFECT FOR ALL WATER SPORTS — Wear alone to protect from hot sands or layer underneath fins.
• COMFORTABLE CONSTRUCTION — Flat-lock stitching prevents chafing and minimizes flushing.
• DURABILITY THAT LASTS — Heel and toe caps leave extra room for your toes and add extra strength.
• QUICK-DRY TECHNOLOGY — Moisture evaporates rapidly for convenient comfort.

The SeaSnugs have neoprene on the sole, heel, and toe with Lycra on the rest of the sock. There are plenty of color and design options and come in two lengths: ankle and tall.

Swimming Impressions

Brooke swears by these socks and thinks that they feel snug and keep her feet warm. They are easy to swim with and were a non-issue…as hopefully, all things should be while swimming.

Chris thought that the socks were also a non-issue for the swim and definitely provided some extra warmth.

Annie has been injured but still tested the socks for just open water swimming and they kept her feet warm and were great for walking in and out of the water without worrying about stepping on anything sharp. She also noted that they were easier to take off than full neoprene socks when her hands are super cold after a swim.

Chipper didn’t get a chance to test them while swimming but still did science…

Transition and Running Impressions

Chipper did a science experiment to test out the SeaSnugs. He went for a two-mile out-and-back run with the socks and shoes, then immediately stepped in a kiddy pool filled with water and hung out for two minutes, and finally went for the same two-mile run that he did with dry socks/shoes. He noted that the socks were “boggy” and felt “squishy” while running once they were wet. His feet also got noticeably toasty. He also noticed some pilling on the lycra upper.

Brooke didn’t experience the bogginess that Chipper felt and in her studies, she thought that the SeaSnugs retained less water than socks like the Swiftwick Aspire. The socks are so snug in her shoes that she doesn’t get any debris in her socks and shoes during transitions. 

Chris was not a fan of running in the socks. Transitions weren’t an issue at all with a sandy beach entrance and exit. They felt squishy and the seams felt like they were generating hot spots on the run. It got to the point where during his last run leg of his test he ran to the car to see if he had a spare set of socks to change into. 

Annie wasn’t able to run in the SeaSnugs but she commutes to work on a bike and used the socks under her cycling shoes and they worked amazingly! Also, they are way cheaper than cycling-specific options.

Chris’s Pull Buoy Ranking

Chris gave the SeaSnugs 2 pull buoys. They were fine in the swim but they weren’t fun on the run and they weren’t for him.

Annie’s Pull Buoy Ranking

While Annie wasn’t able to test the SeaSnugs in a Swimrun and abstained from giving it a pull buoy ranking on that front. She did have two categorical rankings for the socks.

She gave them 4 pull buoys for non-Swimrun applications such as cycling in the Pacific Northwest.

She also gave them 5 pull buoys if your Swimrun partner uses them and swears by them.

Chipper’s Pull Buoy Ranking

Chipper gave the SeaSnugs 2.5 pull buoys. They weren’t for him. He does see an application for them but he wasn’t a fan of how hot his feet got and the seams were problematic. Side note: these socks are a great hack for cycling in cold and/or rainy weather.

Brooke’s Pull Buoy Ranking

Maybe not surprisingly, Brooke gave the SeaSnugs 4.5 pull buoys. She loves them on the run and the swim and has had zero issues using them. She took away ½ a pull buoy acknowledging that the seams could cause issues for folks.

Overall Impressions

It’s one of the best qualities of Swimrun that there’s no one way to do anything. This even includes the choice of socks. While these socks might not be for everyone, it was fun trying out the SeaSnugs to try to understand why Brooke was so into them. 

That’s it for this week’s Gear Talk show. If you are enjoying the Löw Tide Böyz, please be sure to subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast player. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, and Google Podcast. You can also follow our meme page on Instagram and on Twitter. Email us at [email protected] with any feedback, suggestions, and/or meme suggestions. Finally, you can also support us on Patreon…if you feel so inclined.