It is narrated from Shurayh bin Hani that he said: I asked Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) about wiping over leather socks, and she said: Ask Ali bin Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him), for he used to go on military expeditions with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). I asked him, and he said: In the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) we used to wipe for three days and three nights on a journey, and for a day and a night when resident. (b) In the hadith of Abu Mu'awiyah it says that Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: Go to Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), for he knows this matter better than I do.
Hadith Referenceالسنن الكبرى للبيهقي / كتاب الطهارة / 1305