Leech socks - help ! (1 Viewer)

[Tony Knight]

Hi

We are off to Sri Lanka in 2 weeks including a long awaited trip to Sinharaja forest. I've been looking to purchase 2 pairs of leech socks but every site I've googled and checked (>10 inc Nomad, amazon, purple turtle, oriental bird club etc) has sold out. Can anyone suggest somewhere with Leech socks in stock now ? Alternatively does anyone have 2 pairs spare to lend (happy to pay a fee, postage etc and return them thoroughly washed!) - I'm in Hertfordshire, UK.
No way i want to risk leaving it til we reach Sinharaja in case they don't have any. I'm not walking round that forest without leech socks after reading the reports !

Thanks
Tony

 

[John Eaton]

Tony they are dead easy to make at home. Took my missus 20 minutes with her sewing machine.
Bit of a sexist message I guess, so I should say she made them as it would have taken me a tad longer

 

[Tony Knight]

Tony they are dead easy to make at home. Took my missus 20 minutes with her sewing machine.
Bit of a sexist message I guess, so I should say she made them as it would have taken me a tad longer

Thanks John but I wouldn't know where to start and the chance of me making a pair without a leech sized hole in them would be negligible !

Tony

 

[Gordon]

You could try the Oriental Bird Club. Ooops - sorry, just checked with them and they are out of stock until end of January.
Is there something going on in the leech socks market?

If you're not squeamish you could just do without. They don't bite and just fall off when they're finished although it can be a bit messy. When I was there despite wearing them to start with some always seemed to penetrate the barrier (it was the same for everyone) so I just gave up and let them go about their business.

cheers
Gordon

 

[Tony Knight]

You could try the Oriental Bird Club. Ooops - sorry, just checked with them and they are out of stock until end of January.
Is there something going on in the leech socks market?

If you're not squeamish you could just do without. They don't bite and just fall off when they're finished although it can be a bit messy. When I was there despite wearing them to start with some always seemed to penetrate the barrier (it was the same for everyone) so I just gave up and let them go about their business.

cheers
Gordon

Thanks Gordon

I'm prepared for the odd bite but want to keep them to the bare minimum, having done all i can to stop them. My wife is already dreading this part of the trip so the prospect of doing it without any leech socks doesn't bear thinking about !

Tony

 

[John Eaton]

I just found this on ebay. Don't know anything about the company or quality of their socks though.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_fln=1&_nkw=leech+socks&_sacat=0

Also here - cheaper and good cause.

http://www.orangutan-appeal.org.uk/shop

 

[Jeanie]

Are you staying at Martins Lodge?
They sell them there.

 

[Tony Knight]

I just found this on ebay. Don't know anything about the company or quality of their socks though.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_fln=1&_nkw=leech+socks&_sacat=0

Also here - cheaper and good cause.

http://www.orangutan-appeal.org.uk/shop

Thanks again John.

Strangely the Orangutan site seems fine but after a few seconds the page names changes to include the word "UNAVAILABLE" in capitals. They also look a little short, certainly shorter than the Nomad socks ?

I don't have a paypal account, don't like ebay, and the picture gives very little idea of what the socks look like so i will probably leave those.

I see on trip advisor that they do have socks for hire/sale at Sinharaja reserve itself. Does anyone know if they are any good ?

Checked with Nomad again today and they are not expecting to get new stock in within the next 2 weeks.

Tony

 

[Tony Knight]

Are you staying at Martins Lodge?
They sell them there.

thanks - no we are staying at the Blue Magpie. I have emailed them to see if they sell and can reserve me 2 pairs ... no idea what quality they might be.

 

[halftwo]

I've just done a very leechy time in Thailand. I've never used leech socks but instead apply 100% deet (avail online) at regular intervals to my sandalled feet. This keeps the little blighters at bay, except when near to renewal.
The beauty of this method is that you tend to feel any that do get on your feet & you can get rid straight away.
People who were wearing leech socks tended to find leeches in higher (& less pleasant)areas as the leeches simply kept going to where access could be gained. Also wearing socks in 35 degrees aint nice.

 

[viator]

I've never used leech socks but instead apply 100% deet (avail online) at regular intervals to my sandalled feet. This keeps the little blighters at bay, except when near to renewal.

Doubt 100% deet washing into streams etc is great for the environment! I just let them bite me and as a national parks staff member in Thailand told me once the fact they have lots of leeches just shows how healthy the forest is!

BTW I did try leech socks once and found them more uncomfortable than the effects of the bites!

 

[Tony Knight]

I've just done a very leechy time in Thailand. I've never used leech socks but instead apply 100% deet (avail online) at regular intervals to my sandalled feet. This keeps the little blighters at bay, except when near to renewal.
The beauty of this method is that you tend to feel any that do get on your feet & you can get rid straight away.
People who were wearing leech socks tended to find leeches in higher (& less pleasant)areas as the leeches simply kept going to where access could be gained. Also wearing socks in 35 degrees aint nice.

Think we'll be going with leech socks (if we can get some) doused in 100% deet (which has already been ordered) ! Just got to keep it away from camera lenses and binoculars !!

 

[Tony Knight]

I've just done a very leechy time in Thailand. I've never used leech socks but instead apply 100% deet (avail online) at regular intervals to my sandalled feet. This keeps the little blighters at bay, except when near to renewal.
The beauty of this method is that you tend to feel any that do get on your feet & you can get rid straight away.
People who were wearing leech socks tended to find leeches in higher (& less pleasant)areas as the leeches simply kept going to where access could be gained. Also wearing socks in 35 degrees aint nice.

Doubt 100% deet washing into streams etc is great for the environment! I just let them bite me and as a national parks staff member in Thailand told me once the fact they have lots of leeches just shows how healthy the forest is!

BTW I did try leech socks once and found them more uncomfortable than the effects of the bites!

I'd be up for this but my wife would not leave the hotel room without the leech socks + deet !

 

[dandsblair]

Leech socks

Tony
I would certainly recommend using the socks at Sinharaja, although I was bitten just above the waist once, Sarah avoided any bites during the whole time at Martin's and she felt a lot better with them on, also Leeches were much more numerous than any place I've ever been.

I have two pairs that I can put in the post to you but probably can't get them posted until Saturday, when do you leave?
PM me with an address if you think I can get them to you in time.

David

 

[dalat]

Hi,

if you don't manage to get leech socks, you can also take normal socks of strong material and that are long (e.g. hiking socks). Pull them all the way up over your trousers, that generally works as good as leech socks. Adding plenty of DEED helps addtionally.

If it's very leechy, its also good to wear a long sleeve shirt and stuff the shirt into the trousers, so that leeches can't get to your belly or nearby...

Best, Florian

 

[jurek]

In Sinharaja I used normal socks and stuck trousers inside.

The secret is to spray socks, especially edges and holes where the buggers can get inside but NOT shoes and trousers. Leave them completely unsprayed.

Leeches and other parasites follow chemical gradient. If you do as above, they will crawl ineffectively on shoes and avoid places where they can bite you. If you spray yourself completely, they will quickly get to the most vulnerable places. OK, some mega-leeches can inspect all your unsprayed shoes and then reluctantly go to the sprayed area.

Based on biological theory and practiced on real leeches in real Sri Lanka

 

[dalat]

About spraying: I usually spray something like a ring around the leg towards the upper end of the leech socks, so that the leeches do not move up the legs. Works well, normally the leeches stay down to search around the smelly shoes...
Of course there are always a few that seem to come from above, nothing but paying attention helps for those...

I just let them bite me and as a national parks staff member in Thailand told me once the fact they have lots of leeches just shows how healthy the forest is!

Yes, I think lots of leeches indicate the presence of larger mamals (including birders ).

 

[Tony Knight]

Tony
I would certainly recommend using the socks at Sinharaja, although I was bitten just above the waist once, Sarah avoided any bites during the whole time at Martin's and she felt a lot better with them on, also Leeches were much more numerous than any place I've ever been.

I have two pairs that I can put in the post to you but probably can't get them posted until Saturday, when do you leave?
PM me with an address if you think I can get them to you in time.

David

Hi David

That sound great ! Nomad called me back today to say they ARE getting new stock in ....the day after i depart (19th)!

I'll PM you my address and perhaps you could let me know whether you'd prefer to sell or "rent" ! Are they the blue nomad ones everyone seems to recommend ? They should reach me if they are posted 1st class (which i would of course reimburse)

cheers
Tony

 

[John Eaton]

Spraying DEET is not a good idea as it gets onto optics, eyes etc and into the environment more easily. Boots sell a roll-on which is excellent and easy to apply, even to socks.

I have also done Sinharaja in just shorts and sandals and applying DEET liberally to feet and ankles. Got no bites, was very surprised as first time I had tried the method.

 

[dandsblair]

grey travelproof

Tony

They are Grey Travelproof brand. They worked Ok for us in Sri Lanka and then in Papua New Guinea earlier this year.
Just send them back after the trip.

David