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From boots to helmet, by the time you get on the mountain, it could seem like you&#;re swimming in gear. You might be wondering; do I need ski socks? Or maybe, what are the best ski socks?
At Darn Tough, we hear you, the gear struggle is real, from layering and goggle choices to what socks to wear skiing. But like Product Design and Development guru Owen Rachampbell likes to say, there&#;s a larger system at play&#;the best footwear is only as good as the socks in them.
We couldn&#;t agree more when it comes to skiing and snowboarding, and the boots that you wear to take part in these activities. The difference between cold, damp, and bunched up socks, and ones that you can wear all day in comfort, can make your day on the mountain.
Designed with input from pros like Michelle Parker and Jake Blauvelt, and tested in Vermont&#;s harshest conditions, Darn Tough Ski & Snowboard socks are purpose-built to enjoy winter, run after run, season after season. And they&#;re available in versions that suit pretty much every foot and cushioning (or not) preference.
So, how to choose the right ski and snowboard socks? Let&#;s dive into it.
Starting with the most expensive, top-of-the-line ski and snowboard boots might be a decent jump-off. What if top-notch boots aren't in the budget?
And even if you&#;ve got the best boots, do you need ski and snowboard socks? If yes, do they need to be Merino Wool socks?
In our experience, if you're wearing ill-fitting cotton socks, the whole effort goes out the window &#; so we&#;d answer with a definitive yes and yes.
&#;Doesn&#;t matter how gnarly you are, if your feet are wet and cold atop the mountain, they&#;ll send you running for the truck heater in no time while your buds mop up all the pow,&#; says pro snowboarder Jake Blauvelt, whose input helped create the Edge and Backwoods socks, which might be our best socks for snowboarding.
Owen and our design team developed our ski and snowboard socks specifically for skiing and snowboarding, and the boots you wear. Their goal is to offer a seamless transition to playing outdoors all day, all season, without needing to stop and think about what&#;s on your feet.
Designed for all skiers and riders, the socks in Darn Tough&#;s snow collection are built with features that go beyond these sports alone, and make for socks you can count on for any winter activity:
On the journey to figuring out which ski or snowboard sock is the best for you, let&#;s consider Merino Wool as our base camp. The sheep that Merino Wool comes from have been hiking around for over 10,000 years, logging some major vertical in seriously adverse conditions. What&#;s their secret?
We&#;ve covered this amazing natural fiber in depth elsewhere, but it&#;s worth mentioning the natural softness, warmth, durability, thermoregulation, moisture wicking, and odor resistance; all properties that turn our ski and snowboard socks into the perfect partner for long days on the hill.
Maybe wool reminds you of a grandparent&#;s itchy sweater? We see you and aren&#;t here to scratch that itch. Merino Wool&#;s ultra-fine micron (fancy talk for the thinness of wool fiber) means we knit with the softest next-to-skin feel.
Whichever style you choose &#; from ultralight ski socks to the warmest ski socks we make &#; Merino Wool ski socks tap these performance advantages, letting you ski, snowboard, or just cruise the winter carnival in superior comfort.
Skiing and riding a 100-day season is nothing to sneeze at, even if there might be plenty of snot-rockets on the way to clocking that sort of statistic. Everything from your board(s) to your outerwear is put through the wringer, and we expect your socks to get their tickets punched too.
All that Merino comfort and performance will be left hanging in the breeze if your socks blow a hole or the fit becomes sloppy overnight. That&#;s why we still make all our socks right here in Vermont, where we can keep a close eye on quality.
Starting from the ground up, key wear areas from the Achilles through the footbeds are bolstered for repeat use, day after day, season after season (bonus: the extended Achilles cushioning helps lock in your heels).
We use only the highest-grade Merino and high-quality spandex and nylon for reinforcement, then put it all together with high-density knitting and fine-gauge needles for a better fit and increased toughness.
&#;Working with Darn Tough on the development of the ski socks made me realize how much care goes into every single sock that leaves the building,&#; says pro skier Michelle Parker, whose input can be seen in the Traverse sock. &#;The quality of these socks goes further than longevity; it's the fit, comfort, and functionality too.&#;
If our socks don&#;t make it through that 100-day winter, we&#;ll replace them for you, no questions asked. Our Lifetime Guarantee is our way of holding ourselves accountable to knitting the best ski socks possible.
Ski and snowboard boots have a different function, but if you noticed that ampersand in &#;Ski & Snowboard,&#; we don&#;t separate the two in our socks. That&#;s because any of these socks could work in either boot. Skiers and snowboarders alike want a smooth fit that won&#;t slip and integrates seamlessly with their boots.
We start with the True Seamless&#; Toe &#; our socks have no seams, for an ultra-smooth feel. Strategically added elastic provides leg and arch support, resulting in socks that don&#;t bunch, do stay put to squash blisters, and reduce foot fatigue, lap after lap.
On the top of the foot, our snow socks feature multi-zone mesh panels &#; improving venting and flexibility, while reducing overall bulk and pressure points. Select socks feature shin padding, a feature designed to eliminate pressure points from boot cuffs.
Merino&#;s thermoregulation performance, the Terry loop cushioning in Lightweight and Midweight socks, and added mesh zones combine to wick moisture and sweat away from your feet, keeping them dryer, and more comfortable for longer.
Cotton socks, on the other hand, will sponge up sweat, becoming heavy, saggy, and worst of all trapping moisture &#; a major spoiler to avoid on the path to staying warm outside in the winter
Less sweat equals less odor, so Merino naturally keeps odor at bay by keeping you drier. But since our feet are home to the largest number of sweat glands on our body, it&#;s nice to know that Merino Wool&#;s complex fiber structure naturally traps the bacteria that cause odors. So go ahead, catch that first chair, and stay out till the last chair, without worrying about the fallout in the lodge afterwards.
With all the above snow-focused features dialed, the next step in choosing the right sock for your winter activities is matching your sock to your footwear and personal preferences by selecting a height, yarn weight, and cushion.
We&#;ve done everything we can to set you up for an optimal fit, but when it comes to skiing and snowboarding in particular, the boot itself can dictate a good deal of your comfort. Depending on your level of experience and familiarity with these sports, ski and snowboard boots can be either totally familiar, horribly awkward, or somewhere in between.
Thinking of these as a specific piece of equipment suited for the task could help. They&#;re not like hiking or running shoes you can wear from the trail to the store and back home again. Taking the time to assess what kind of skiing and riding you&#;ll be doing, and find a boot that suits that (softer flexing for beginner and easier-going folks, stiffer flexing for more advanced or just harder-charging individuals) is a great starting place.
Trying them out in the shop, asking questions, and realizing that, for alpine ski boots in particular, they will flex stiffer on the hill (it&#;s a lot colder out there!) is recommended.
Ski boot fitters remove a lot of the guesswork and headache on the way to dial in your fit, offering solutions to address pinch points or pad loose areas to get you skiing happily. As we&#;ve been told by a local ski patroller, don&#;t be afraid to ask for help, and don&#;t settle for being uncomfortable.
It&#;s an easy choice here. For outdoor activities, you generally want your sock to rise as high as or higher than your footwear. For that reason, we only knit these winter socks in two heights: Over-the-Calf and Nordic Boot.
We design most of our Ski & Snowboard socks to go over the calf, landing just below the knee. This added height offers a buffer all the way up and provides added warmth for the lower leg. If you&#;re snowboarding, alpine skiing, or simply want those Merino Wool benefits as high up as possible, the Over-the-Calf height is for you.
Wide calves have no fear. This author has fairly meaty calves, and Darn Tough Ski & Snowboard socks fit perfect. The performance fit keeps things close to skin, so if you haven&#;t worn Darn Tough socks before, it helps to know the experience can be akin to putting on a stocking.
Though most of our snow socks are Over-the-Calf, we do knit a unique height specifically dialed in for nordic skiers. Our Nordic Boot socks land lower, closer to mid-calf, to accommodate the lower height of cross-country ski boots.
These cross-country ski socks feature all the same Merino Wool function, durability, and performance features of our taller winter socks in a lower, ultralight profile. If you&#;re looking for ice skating or snowshoeing socks, this height is a great pick.
We&#;ve covered yarn weight elsewhere, but for the purposes of Darn Tough Ski & Snowboard socks, the choices boil down to three distinct weights: Ultralight, Lightweight, and Midweight. Here&#;s the breakdown on each, and who might prefer which.
Ultralight: As-advertised, this weight optimizes next-to-skin, no-slip fit for maximum foot to boot feel. Ultralight socks are preferred by racers, folks doing high-intensity, self-powered touring in the backcountry, and those with feet that run warm. A prime example of this is our RFL socks, which keep things Real Fast and Light.
Lightweight: This slightly denser knit ups versatility and warmth while maintaining a thin sock. About half of our Lightweight ski socks have the option of Terry Loop cushioning underfoot, and some have light cushioning on shin, a welcome buffer between a stiff boot and your lower leg as you lean into turns. These socks are preferred by all-mountain, all-day skiers and riders.
Midweight: The warmest, softest in the collection (Midweight socks all feature cushioning), Midweights are slightly thicker socks preferred by those whose toes run a little cold, or for the days when the weather is a more than a little cold. And let&#;s be real, just for the extra comfort of it. No shade for wanting more of that.
Now that we understand the heights and weights that Ski & Snowboard socks come in, let&#;s get into the three flavors of cushioning on offer &#; no cushion, underfoot cushion that wraps around the toe, and shin cushioning like the segmented padding in the Edge that Blauvelt helped us develop.
Cushioning is created by knitting Terry Loops, boosting impact protection, a buffer against pinch points, and of course more Merino Wool to keep your feet happy run after run with thermoregulation, sweat wicking properties, and extra comfort.
All our Ultralight ski socks feature no cushioning, for the closest foot to boot experience. If you prefer a cushion sock, look for it in our Lightweight and Midweight socks.
In our Lightweight socks, you can choose between cushion and no cushion. This largely comes down to preference. Cushion adds a bit of extra warmth and protection. The contoured cushion in our snow socks wraps the toes and extends up the Achilles, reducing heel lift.
Specific styles including the Men&#;s Backwoods and Women&#;s Traverse also have cushion knit into the shin; this padded shin helps protect your legs from boot pressure, adding comfort to your turns.
Built for warmth, every one of our Midweight winter socks has cushion underfoot, while select styles like the Edge and Function X (two of our best rated ski socks) also add in a shin pad.
From the sleek and nearly-not-there feel of no cushioning, to underfoot cushioning for absorbing chatter, and shin padding for railing into turns, each of these options have their benefits. Combine them with our different weights, and none are a bad choice.
Even among professionals, from Jake Blauvelt and Michelle Parker to the ski patrollers at your local hill, there&#;s a spectrum of preferences for the perfect pair of ski socks. For you, it could come down to how your boot fits, your skiing and riding style, the weather, how hot (or cold) your feet get, and more.
When we get into the question of how to wear ski socks themselves, advice becomes a bit more nuanced, and subjective.
Doubling up on socks might seem like a go-to for when it&#;s colder, but squeezing into two pairs, and stuffing the whole setup into a boot that usually fits one pair might be cutting off circulation, making the problem worse. The Performance Fit of our socks is designed so you only need one pair; it's a snug fit engineered to stay put, preventing slippage, blisters and other fit problems that you might reach for a sock liner to solve.
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For more warmth, level up to our Midweight Ski & Snowboard socks, or if there&#;s enough room in your boots, our Mountaineering socks, the top of the list in toastiness. Another approach would be boot heaters. Bottom line, if you&#;ve got fit on lock, don&#;t mess with doubling up.
Layering can be a question, too. Lately, fashion has seen pant cuffs do a time-warp back to the era of James Dean and even earlier, when newsboys tucked their &#;trousers&#; into their socks. What to do with your ski and snowboard socks? Ours are designed for a sleek, next-to-skin fit, so we&#;d recommend running them under your baselayer to get the best performance.
As for the baselayer pant itself, some tuck it into the boots, some cut their baselayer pants off, capri-style, right at the top of the ski boot (like our ski patroller friend likes to do). Either way seems to be a matter of personal preference. The main point is, how does it feel in your ski boot?
Some folks wear multiple pant base layers over their socks, then try and cram it all into the top of their boots. We&#;ve seen it done, and hear that and it didn&#;t fit or feel great. But as long as the socks sit next to your skin, the rest is an experiment you&#;ll have to try and see what works best for you.
What do aesthetics have to do with building a better ski and snowboard sock? Some might say nothing, some might say everything. That&#;s why you&#;ll find a range of looks, from colorful mountain-scapes, to sleek, single-color stealth and everything in between.
Full transparency, the Design Department tends toward fun, so more often than not, our socks are playful. We know they&#;re going to disappear under base layers, outerwear, and boots for most of their service life. But in that moment that you need to get kitted up and out the door in the cold, having a skiing penguin on your shin, or a subtle encouragement like &#;Send it&#; knit into your cuff, might be the decisive magic that jump-starts your day.
There&#;s nothing like getting the whole family out there, and we&#;re backing the strategy of keeping the kids warm and stoked. Our range of Kids' Ski & Snowboard socks brings all the fit, function, warmth, and cushioning of adult socks, and adds an even more playful range of colors and animals to up the interest. Parents can&#;t have all the fun, right?
Pro Tip: these socks aren&#;t just for the mountain. They&#;ll keep your kids&#; toes happy for snowman building, sledding parties, and snowball fights, too.
We don&#;t have a &#;sled&#; product category, or ice skating, snowshoeing, skijoring, ice sailing, fat-tire biking, curling, snowskating, or ice fishing. But we do have a lot of respect for any sort of activity that gets you outside when the mercury dips. And we&#;re happy to report that these socks play just as well in Sorels as they do in ski or snowboard boots.
Between the tall height, choice of cushioning, non-slip-fit, and Merino Wool performance, you&#;ll find a trusty companion for pretty much any wintertime footwear&#;whether that&#;s around the rink, or just down to town to tuck into a hot meal or a frosty beverage.
Like the choice of where to ski or ride on (or off) the mountain, picking which socks to wear is a personal choice that comes down to preferences on sock weight and cushioning.
Hopefully this post has solved the mystery around what are the best ski socks. Like a multiple-choice quiz, it&#;s all the above: A) a sock designed for skiing and snowboarding, B) made out of Merino Wool, and C) a cushioning and weight that works for you.
Now that you know the ins and outs of all the different styles in this category, you can try a few and choose based on your foot, your boots, and your adventure.
Whether you are a long time skier or snowboarder or perhaps you are thinking of taking this adventure sport up as a beginner; one thing to always keep in mind are the essentials which are needed to ensure you are well prepared for the slopes.
As a beginner it may be easy to overlook the importance of a pair of ski or snowboarding socks but this article will outline not only the importance thereof but the functions and differences between ski and snowboard socks. From understanding the differences, the materials and various designs; you will find yourself quickly adding your pair of socks to the essentials packing list for your trip. So let&#;s get into everything you need to know about ski and snowboarding socks.
FIRST THINGS FIRST
Another major and essential item for your skiing and snowboarding packing list or gear is a comfortable boot but what many often overlook is that finding the right boot is quite dependant on ensuring you have the right socks to fit too. So it is recommended and a good idea to buy your skiing socks first, make sure they feel good (merino wool toe socks feel great) - that they accommodate your needs and fit and once you have that in the bag; you can use the socks when trying on and fitting for your pair of boots. This will not only ensure you have the right gear but will give you the most out of your skiing or snowboarding rides without having to feel uncomfortable or being put off your game. So socks first, boots after.
Depending on whether you are a skier or a snowboarder, the type of socks you opt for will ultimately differ from one another, just as the type of boots and ride differ. There are variations of socks which cater for the specific features of skiing or snowboarding such as the fact that skiing socks would usually have a lot of padding around the shin areas as well as provide cushioning between the shins and the ski boots. However, with your boarding socks, you will find that features such as thickness, compression and cushioning matter especially due to the fact that sufficient blood flow is required to remain warm in icy or colder weather conditions.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT SOCKS
Choosing the right socks for skiing or snowboarding will ultimately rely on certain factors such as:
Thickness
Personal Fit, Length and Size ( see our size chart
Material Preferences
So let&#;s get into each of these factors to understand the importance thereof as well as to gain clarity on why skiing or snowboarding socks are important and how to decide on the right pair for your adventures.
THICKNESS
Often you will find that when researching or shopping for skiing or snowboarding socks, the factor of compression and thickness is commonly the first thing to look at. At first thought, one would assume going for the thickest socks would be most ideal due to the nature of the sport as well as the weather conditions experienced; however this is not always the case. As you ride, you want to ensure your feet and calves have sufficient blood flow and circulation and with incredibly thick or tight socks, you kill off that blood flow which ultimately affects the warmth you want to experience when out in the cold or snow.
Another reason to ensure your socks aren&#;t too thick is due to the snug and comfortable fit of your boots. If you opt for socks which are too thick, you not only limit the comfort and fit of your boots but once again you cut off valuable circulation and blood flow, which can result in a rather uncomfortable experience. However, there are different thickness levels to choose from depending on what type of skier or snowboarder you are and your personal preferences.
For the more professional and experienced skiers and snowboarders, having socks with almost no cushioning is preferred. This allows for the type of boots to have a better fit as well as having the need to experience the terrain and slopes, whilst in the boot, underneath their feet. It all forms part of the skier and snowboarders riding personality.
If you do prefer a little bit of thickness or cushioning, try purchasing a pair of socks with cushioning on the shin areas, to aid in any impact or rubbing of the boot against the shin. This can become rather unpleasant so if you are sensitive around the shin areas, make sure you have sufficient thickness but again, trying to ensure not too thick at the same time.
For snowboarders specifically, a more medium thickness and cushioning is often preferred due to the type of boots used when snowboarding. The skiing boots do differ in a way that they are a bit snugger fitting than snowboarding boots; so the slightly more thicker socks work better for snowboarders to add that cushioning for the looser fitting boots.
Lastly, when it comes to compression socks &#; these are typically worn after a competition out on the slopes or race. High performance skiers and snowboarders require some post-ride recovery and in doing so, the compression socks assist with swelling, blood flow and facilitate any fatigue experienced in the calves, shins and muscles.
PERSONAL FIT, LENGTH AND SIZE
The absolute last thing any skier wants out on the slopes is a pair of bunched socks inside the boot. There is nothing more uncomfortable and frustrating than as you get out there, you need to readjust your boot and socks.
Choosing a pair of mens or women's ski socks is crucial in understanding that the fit plays a vital role in your performance and experience. Always try to ensure your socks fit comfortably enough that your toes can have some wiggle room and you are able to flex your foot, however remember that too loose will bunch up and potentially cause blisters and too tight will cut off your circulation.
Keep in mind that if you do struggle with cold feet quite easily, don&#;t try to wear two pairs of socks. This will only provide the opposite of the desired affects you are after on the slopes or on your board. Wearing two pairs of socks limits your range of motion and comfort inside the boot as well as potentially cause blisters. Our recommendation would be to rather spend a little more money on one pair of perfectly suited, sized and designed socks to accommodate not only your comfort in performance but to provide your feet the warmth they need. When it comes to the length, you will find that most skiing and snowboarding socks usually go up until the knees. This allows the socks to not only protect and comfort your feet but your shins and calves too. Once again, it will depend on what type of skier or snowboarder you are and what type of performance boots you wear.
Ski Sock Material Preferences
Wondering still what kind of ski socks? Both skiing and snowboarding socks can be manufactured and designed with various materials. The materials most commonly used are: Synthetics, Wool, Merino Wool as well as Blended Materials.
Synthetics: These are usually polyester, nylon, acrylic, lycra or spandex. Each of these synthetics offer their own set of features and advantages within durability, comfort, odour-control, weight and maintain the fit after moisture has been absorbed.
Wool: This of course is used for warmth as well as being able to maintain dryness throughout your ride. However, as wool does not possess the same properties as synthetics, you may find that your wool socks will lose their shape after a few runs; so be sure to keep this in mind if you plan on investing in a long-lasting fit.
Merina Wool: Similar to wool socks in the fact that they are able to provide a soft, comfortable and dry experience; they function better than ordinary wool socks when it comes to retaining the shape and fit for longer. Merina wool is of a higher quality and a good investment if you are looking for snug and comfy.
Blended Materials: This is more than likely the most common materials combination when it comes to the ideal pair of skiing or snowboarding socks. The combination of durable and comfortable materials such as nylon and polyester as well as wool additions; you might just find your perfect fit with a sock range made from blended materials.
With so many features already discussion, it is hard to believe that the process of buying skiing or snowboarding socks could get even more detailed, but it can. It simply outlines the importance of getting the right socks for your sporting activities. Some features to keep in mind when buying socks for skiing or snowboarding is:
Ventilation and Breathability: Although much of what has been mentioned above takes these elements into consideration, isolating them within their own importance can greatly benefit you and your experience. When selecting the right materials and the design, it is important to keep your own preferences in mind. Are you someone who gets cold easily? Do you perhaps sweat a lot and find your feet resembling something of a heater? If this is the case, choosing the right material to suit your needs is vital. Make sure your feet feel comfortable enough, that there is sufficient padding (if needed) between your shins and the boot but in this case; ensure you have adequate ventilation and breathing room while you are out on the slopes.
Odour Control or Anti-Microbial: This is specifically targeted at those who might experience odours while sweating. If you find yourself more prone to sweat and therefore odours in your shoes, then it could be in your favour to find a pair of socks which have anti-microbial properties. This will assist in controlling any unwanted odours coming from inside your boots &#; especially when they day is done and you are ready to kick those boots off. Sometimes this odour can set inside the boot so it is best to ensure not only that you have anti-microbial socks but also that you take care of your socks and your boots properly.
HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR SOCKS
When investing and spending good money on a quality pair of socks for skiing or snowboarding, you might want to consult the proper care guide to ensure your socks remain intact, are long-lasting within their design and shape and provide optimal comfort for every ride.
On a normal setting with your washer, make sure your socks are inside out before adding them to the load. Read the instructions on your pair of socks to make sure you use the right temperature setting when washing. The temperature setting from cool or warm water will depend on the materials used for your socks.
Of course, it is important to retain the shape and fit of your socks and in order to do that; it is recommended to let your socks either dry out naturally laid flat on surface or if you prefer using a tumble dryer; take them out before they are completely dry. By leaving them flat on a surface while damp and avoiding any rolling up or folding &#; you can maintain and retain the shape and integrity of your socks design.
Again, consult the washing and care guide instructions which your socks should come with. Take a look at the tag or the packaging for the right ways in caring and washing your socks and be sure not to lend your socks to anyone especially if they are not the exact same fit as you. This will prevent your socks from taking shape of another foot or perhaps stretching your socks out if the other person&#;s foot is bigger than yours.
So Are Ski or Snowboard Socks Really Different?
Here are some care guide tips which may useful:
Skiing and snowboarding socks differ in their own ways but are commonly found to be quite similar in other ways. At the end of the day, it is all about comfort and fit and then of course personal preferences which come into play. Deciding on what socks to buy should hopefully be a little easier and more fun now that we have given you the full breakdown of features and key aspects to keep in mind while you shop.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Olivia Poglianich
Content Strategist
Olivia Poglianich is a nomadic brand strategist and copywriter in the ski and snowboard space who has worked with brands such as Visa, Disney and Grey Goose. Her writing has taken her all over the world, from a Serbian music festival to a Malaysian art and culture event. Olivia is a graduate of Cornell University and is often writing or reading about travel, hospitality, the start-up ecosystem or career coaching. Her latest interests are at the intersection of web3 and communal living, both on and offline.
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