Do I Pit a Sock Over a Compression Sock
The research
- Why you should trust us
- Who this is for
- Fit guide
- How we picked
- How we tested
- Where we tested
- Our pick: Smartwool PhD Ski Light
- Runner-up: Darn Tough Over-the-Calf Padded Light
- Budget pick: Wigwam Snow Sirocco
- The competition
- Care and maintenance
- Sources
Why you should trust us
I spent 15 hours reading outdoor-gear reviews and industry blogs about ski socks from sources such as OutdoorGearLab, Switchback Travel, and Outside. I also combed through ski sock reviews from Backcountry and Amazon customers to get firsthand reports before testing the gear myself. Throughout the research process, we interviewed many industry experts about the pros and cons of a good ski sock. We also talked shop with our skier friends and people we met on the mountain while testing. The experts we spoke with included:
Dana Ham: Ham grew up skiing in New England and has a ski-racing background, so he knows what it's like to ski in bitterly cold conditions. He has worked over the years as a pro ski patroller and as a gear representative for Look bindings and Kästle skis. He was also an expert bootfitter at the Mountain Shop in Portland, Oregon at the time.
Jeremy Rooper: Rooper is a passionate telemark skier who has been working at the Mountain Shop in Portland, Oregon, for nearly 25 years. When he's not attending trade shows or working at the shop, he's on his skis—he has explored more backcountry terrain on skis than nearly anyone I know.
Bob Gleason: Gleason is the owner and operator of several BootDoctors and Paragon Outdoors ski and snowboard shops in Telluride, Colorado, and Taos, New Mexico. He is a senior faculty member at Masterfit University and has taught bootfitting in the US, Canada, Europe, and Australia. Gleason is a former ski instructor and racer with over 30 years of experience training skiers and developing boot products.
Zach Pollock: Pollock is a pro ski patroller at the Mt. Hood Meadows ski resort. He has been working for three years on Mount Hood and has seen every imaginable weather system on the mountain.
My ski expertise is lifelong: I've literally been skiing since I could walk. My dad used to hold me up between his legs and guide me down the slopes of the Eastern Sierra. After spending over a decade learning to ski at Mammoth Mountain in California, I've spent the past seven years skiing in the Pacific Northwest, where I live. Whether I'm skiing in the deepest snow or skiing in the rain, skiing in frigid winter storms or skiing in a T-shirt at the height of summertime, riding lifts or climbing and skiing volcanoes, I very much appreciate the value of taking care of my feet on the mountain.
In addition to my personal ski experience, I also spent two winters working at the Mountain Shop in Portland, Oregon. I've worked both in the rental equipment department and out on the floor, selling ski boots and apparel to hundreds of skiers and helping them find the right sock-and-boot combination for their unique feet. Finally, I've written several other Wirecutter outdoors guides, on topics ranging from telescopes to portable hammocks.
Who this is for
If you're preparing to spend four to eight hours in the snow and you need to keep your feet warm, this guide is for you. We looked for light and midweight ski socks for people who plan to spend a long day outside skiing the slopes. These socks will also work for you if you're snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, snow hiking, snowboarding, or just playing outside in frozen weather. Personally, I've worn ski socks for hiking trips in cold weather because they extend over the calf, offering more coverage than a traditional hiking sock.
The base layers that rest against your skin are crucial to regulating your body's temperature: I've met many people on the slopes who decided to wear a big puffy jacket but keep their cotton street socks on. However, one of the most common complaints on the slopes is cold feet—often caused by non-performance socks. That's why wool or synthetic socks are essential for anyone who plans to spend a day skiing. High-performance socks will wick sweat and moisture to keep your feet as dry and comfortable as possible.
This guide offers sock options for both male and female feet. While anatomical foot and calf differences between males and females can result in different ski boot designs, a good ski sock is designed to fit snugly around a variety of foot sizes. As Ebony Roberts notes in our guide to the best hiking socks, "When feet get longer, they also get wider—and we found that most quality hiking socks reflected that dimensional increase for both genders. In the end, the women's hiking socks we tested were simply smaller versions of the men's socks, usually offered in different colors." The same is true for ski socks.
Fit guide
For this review, we focused primarily on light and midweight over-the-calf ski socks because they're the best socks for people who plan to ski in moderately cold temperatures. Midweight socks are best for those days when you can clearly see your breath and the air feels crisp against your face, or when the wind is whipping and you're skiing in a snowstorm. Lightweight socks are the most versatile option for average-to-warm days on the mountain. However, each of our picks comes in other padding and thickness configurations as well. Choosing the best sock for you depends on many factors, including foot shape, boot fit, exertion level, and weather. Here are some things you should consider:
Sock height: Most ski-specific socks are designed to extend over the calf and below the knee joint. A few models we tested extended all the way over the knee, but that design is uncommon. As a rule, your ski sock should extend past the cuff of your ski boot so as to reduce any cuff chafing. The sock should stop below the knee joint so as not to interfere with the leg's mobility.
Sock thickness: When I was a kid, I made one of the most memorable mistakes when dressing myself for a cold day skiing. My logic went, "It's cold—wear more socks." So I put on two pairs of socks and went out skiing. By midday my feet were colder than they had ever been. Only after I took off my boots and the second sock did I feel all of the blood rush back into my feet. I realized then that I had been cutting off circulation to my feet. The lesson: Rule number one is to wear just one pair of socks, preferably of mid- or lightweight thickness. Avoid heavy socks, which take up extra room in boots and tend to bunch.
As Ebony Roberts notes in Wirecutter's guide to hiking socks, the extra fabric of a midweight sock might help your boots fit a little better if you have extra space in them. Lightweight socks, on the other hand, are the best option for breathability, and we found that they fit best in a performance-fitted boot, something that a more expert skier might seek out. The heavier the sock, the more cushioning you get—but the less feel you have against the front of the boot. (Most people drive their skis through the front of the boot.) In fact, most of the expert skiers I spoke with said they fit their boots so specifically and technically to their feet that they wanted a super-thin sock with no extra padding. But most people don't need ultralight socks, which tend to wear out much faster than thicker models.
This guide does not cover sock liners. As Bob Gleason of BootDoctors noted, "Old timers still use liners and socks. [However], multiple layers trap moisture and can bunch, causing discomfort. One smooth layer is optimal."
Sock fit: Your feet will not lie to you. Feet are sensitive, and you'll notice if a sock feels constricting or if the seams are bulky and uncomfortable. Luckily, the vast majority of ski socks do an excellent job of reducing unneeded bulk and not fitting too tight. That said, you should try on socks with your ski boots before you head out to the slopes.
Boot fit: Socks are only part of the equation when it comes to happy feet while skiing. As any experienced skier will tell you, your boots are where it really counts. That being said, you'd have no reason to invest so much time and effort into getting perfectly fitting boots without pairing them with equally suitable ski socks. Your ski socks can affect the fit and feel of your boots. If you're renting ski boots, they'll have liners that have been packed out by excessive wear day in and day out. That might call for a slightly thicker sock. But a performance-fitting boot is usually meant to conform to your foot, ankle, and calf, calling for a thinner sock. The ski boot liner, not the sock, will be doing most of the work to keep your feet warm, which is why our top sock picks for most people land in the lightweight category.
How we picked
After extensive research, we developed a list of 25 top-rated ski socks. From that list, we pulled 12 models to test in the field based on the following criteria:
Materials: Cotton holds on to moisture and sweat, so it can bring your body temperature down fast during cold days. On hot days, your feet might feel swampy with sweat in cotton socks due to their awful wicking capabilities. That's why we nixed cotton socks for this guide, relying instead on merino wool, the industry-standard material. Wool is naturally able to respond to your body temperature, cooling and warming your feet as needed. Wool is also odor resistant, so it'll keep your feet stink-free if they do sweat.
Bob Gleason of BootDoctors told us, "Socks are a key element in the fit and comfort of a ski boot. The best socks for skiing are high in merino wool content blended with elastic for a smooth, close fit. The merino wicks moisture and insulated even when damp. The good socks are thin and shaped for the heel, instep, and calf. Socks that are optimal for skiing have no ribs. They have smooth surfaces."
The type of knit and the thread count play a part in determining the strength and durability of a merino wool ski sock. The highest-quality wool socks we tested had between 55 and 70 percent merino wool (in most of the socks we looked at, the second most prevalent material was nylon). However, we found that our favorite socks were not necessarily those with higher wool content. Once a sock passed the threshold of 50 percent wool, the presence of more wool didn't seem to matter. Rather, at that point we found that we cared more about the support and the articulated feel the socks offered.
Breathability and wicking: Due to the nature of the sport, ski socks will get a bit wet, from snow and sweat. A sock's wicking capabilities are determined by how well the sock pulls moisture away from the skin. Any sock that traps heat and moisture against your foot is setting you up to be miserable, so we looked for brands that used high-quality merino wool and had an associated reputation for breathability. We also scanned Amazon reviews for mentions of overly sweaty feet or poor ventilation.
Durability: A good ski sock should be worth its weight in gold, holding up to regular use season after season. I generally expect to get at least three to five seasons out of my ski socks—they're more likely to get lost in the laundry than to wear through. We looked for socks with reviews that mentioned solid durability. Then, to test this aspect, we wore all of the ski socks in our test group around the house and the ski lodge before using them on the slopes. We also threw them in the wash several times to see if they would hold up to a little abuse. Some of the socks started pilling, leading us to question their durability. Others looked almost brand-new after weeks of wear and tear.
Drying time: A good ski sock should dry out quickly, whether it's full of sweat or snow. I often put my socks near (but not too near) the fire to dry. We looked for socks that promised quick drying times.
Odor control: It isn't uncommon for skiers to wear wool socks for several days without washing them. That might not be ideal, but you should definitely be able to get several days of wear out of a pair of wool socks without their smelling horrid. Therefore, we looked for socks that promised some sort of odor control. Wool naturally reduces odors because of its sweat-wicking properties. Many of the synthetic socks we tested boasted specific odor-controlling technologies to make up for their lack of wool.
Price: We found that $25 or under is the current sweet spot—you don't need to pay more than that for a good pair of ski socks. Apart from our budget pick, we found that a sock that's less than $15 isn't worth buying because it probably isn't high performance, which means you lose specially designed padding, the proper height, and wool construction.
Warranty: Some of these socks come from brands, like Darn Tough, that offer a lifetime warranty. While that kind of coverage isn't necessary for a sock, it is a nice perk. We did test a few socks without great warranties, but most of the socks on our list come with solid warranty programs; depending on the brand, you can have most socks easily replaced at little to no cost to you when they get worn out or damaged.
How we tested
First, I removed all the socks from their packaging and assessed them for materials, weight, length, and fit, recording all my initial impressions of the socks. Then I wanted to see how well the socks handled moisture, so I took a spray bottle and sprayed each pair until they felt soaked through; I recorded how many sprays it took to soak the socks. To test which socks had the fastest drying times, I put them all in the wash together and laid them out to dry in a line in the sunshine. I came back at two-hour intervals to see which socks felt dry enough to wear.
After this indoor testing, my partner Matisse and I skied for four days straight, racking up over 25 hours on the slopes. In order to test all 12 models, we created a bracket system to pit similar models against one another to see which ones would advance to the next round. This process allowed us to see how each sock differed from the next in real time. We tested four sock models each day, and on the final day we put our two favorite models up against one another to determine our top pick.
After a few runs, we rated each pair of socks on a number of criteria, including:
- Overall comfort
- Support
- Breathability
- Odor control
We took notes at the bottom of the mountain to document each sock's performance. After wearing each pair at least a few times (each set of socks got a full day of everyday, non-skiing activity and a full day of use on the mountain), we did the sniff test to check for odor, then we washed them all together to test durability.
Where we tested
We mostly tested the socks while skiing Mammoth Mountain in California in December 2017. We then finished up our testing in January 2018 in the Pacific Northwest at Mount Hood and Mount Bachelor.
Our pick: Smartwool PhD Ski Light
Our pick
After we tested a dozen ski socks, the Smartwool PhD Ski Light, which comes in both men's and women's models, rose to the top of our list as the best ski sock for most people. This Smartwool lightweight sock offers the best mix of fit, warmth, support, and breathability of any sock in our test group.
The Smartwool PhD Ski Light sock is made up of 56 percent merino wool, 42 percent nylon, and 2 percent elastane. It fits comfortably, snugging up to both the instep and the forefoot better than any other model we tested. And while these socks were snug around our feet, they weren't too tight; instead they offered added arch support across the foot compared with the other models we tried. This extra support is likely to keep your instep and forefoot happy whether you're a beginning or advanced skier.
Compared with our runner-up sock, the Darn Tough Over-the-Calf Padded Light sock, we preferred the Smartwool model's lightly cushioned padding on the shin. The PhD Ski Light offers cushion around the shin, heel, and bottom of the foot, but it doesn't feel too thick once your boot is on. The ribbing around the ankle and shin gives you a very subtle yet noticeable buffer between your ski boot and your skin, too. And even with that cushion, this Smartwool sock remains breathable, likely due to specific mesh ventilation zones that promote good moisture management.
We were glad to see the PhD Ski Light socks pass our odor-control test, smelling reasonably good after one day of around-town use and two days on the slopes. As for drying times, these Smartwool socks were among the best: We hung them to dry in a warm place after a day of skiing and found that they were dry enough to wear the very next morning.
After we tested the PhD Ski Light socks in a variety of settings and threw them in the wash a few times, they still looked as good as new, which is more than we could say for some other models we tried. Smartwool socks come with a two-year 100 percent satisfaction guarantee, so you can send the socks back for a replacement pair anytime within the first two years should they get a snag or a hole. While that coverage doesn't match up to the unbelievable lifetime guarantee for our runner-up from Darn Tough, we found that, given the option between the two socks, we'd go with the Smartwool PhD Ski Light sock every time due to its superior fit and anatomical support.
Runner-up: Darn Tough Over-the-Calf Padded Light
Runner-up
If you can't find our top pick, the Darn Tough Over-the-Calf Padded Light ski sock (in women's and men's models) is a great backup option. This model is another great merino wool sock that is formfitting and soft to the touch. Because of the anatomical fit, these socks aren't likely to bunch up in your boots. They kept their shape after several washes in our tests, and they have a reputation of lasting for years.
Like our top-pick socks from Smartwool, these Darn Tough socks appeared pretty much new after we took them on multiple wears throughout the ski lodge. After we washed them, dried them, and wore them again, they maintained their shape and had no visible snags or signs of fabric damage. On the hill, these socks performed well, with no bunching or hot spots forming throughout the day. They passed our odor-control test, too, and were on a par with the Smartwool pair as some of the faster-drying socks of the group.
We chose this Darn Tough model as the runner-up only because our top pick was slightly more supportive and formfitting around the foot. We also preferred the subtle padding of the Smartwool sock over the more robust padding in the Darn Tough sock. Darn Tough is so confident, it promises: "If our socks are not the most comfortable, durable and best fitting socks you have ever owned, return them for another pair. No strings. No conditions. For life." However, we found that this policy wasn't enough to make the Over-the-Calf Padded Light our top pick—you're more likely to lose a sock in the wash than you are to wear it out on the ski hill.
Budget pick: Wigwam Snow Sirocco
Budget pick
Wigwam's Snow Sirocco sock (unisex) is a fully cushioned wool sock that offers a warm and comfortable feel on the ski hill. Unlike our top pick and runner-up, which are both lightweight, the Snow Sirocco is a medium-cushioned sock, so it has a bit of extra bulk all the way around. Unlike our top picks—which are made primarily from finer merino wool—the Snow Sirocco is made of 42 percent non-merino material, which keeps the price down. But despite the "less technical" wool makeup, we found these Wigwam socks to be extremely cozy. They would definitely top our list if we were ranking the best socks to hang out around the house in on a cold winter's day, or the best socks to wear if you ski only a few times per season.
If you're renting ski boots, which might be a little large from repeated use, a medium-cushioned sock like the Snow Sirocco can come in handy to take up that bit of extra wiggle room. However, if you're planning to spend frequent, long days on the ski slopes, we recommend our top pick or runner-up, which offer a more supportive, anatomical fit.
The competition
Eurosock Ski Supreme: Eurosock's Micro-Supreme synthetic sock line is our go-to option for non-wool synthetic ski socks. Of the three models we tested, we liked Eurosock's best seller, the Ski Supreme, best. This lightweight synthetic model is very comfortable without many frills.
Eurosock Ski Zone: This sock, a medium-thickness synthetic model, was really comfortable on its own. We didn't love the Ski Zone once we put on our ski boots, however, and we wouldn't recommend it for most people.
Eurosock Digits Ski: The Eurosock Digits Ski sock offered the best performance fit and the most detailed padding options of the Eurosock models we tested. But at nearly double the cost of the Eurosock Ski Supreme, we did not think it matched up to that model as the best synthetic ski sock for most people.
Pure Compression Ski Socks: This model from SharpeZone is a very snug medical-grade ski sock with compression-style technology designed to improve circulation for people who get particularly cold feet. It's more expensive and specialized than our top picks, though, so we think you should keep this model in mind only if you're trying to address overly cold feet. Most people won't need something this advanced.
Icebreaker Ski+ Light: This high-quality merino wool sock had one of the highest concentrations of wool in our test group. But we found that the Ski+ Light showed more wear and tear after use and washing than any of the other models we tested, causing us to question its long-term durability.
Fox River Wilmot LW: This is another great budget sock, and it offers a bonus: It's made with some merino wool, which is rare for cheaper socks. But our budget pick from Wigwam won over these Fox River socks because the Wilmot LW pair didn't fit snugly, which led to bunching. They also came up too far over the knee.
Smartwool PhD Ski Medium: This model might be a good choice for people who get really bad shin bang in their boots, as it has extra padding at the shin. But we concluded that our top pick, the Smartwool PhD Ski Light, was enough for most people.
Darn Tough Mountain Top Over-the-Calf Light: This sock is more minimalist than our runner-up, the Darn Tough Over-the-Calf Padded Light. While it did offer a snug fit and a seamless design, we preferred the light padding of our runner-up pick, which reduced mild chafing on the shin.
Care and maintenance
How long should ski socks last? It depends on how much you use them, really. Due to the nature of such socks' seasonal wear, I have had most of mine for nearly a decade. This fact makes dishing out $25 for a pair of socks a lot more palatable.
Quoting again from Wirecutter's hiking sock guide, we can list a few things you can do to care for your socks and extend their life:
- Don't ball them up to store them. This stretches them out, and they'll lose their shape more quickly.
- When you wash your socks, flip them inside out and wash them in warm or cold water on a gentle cycle.
- Skip the fabric softener during washing, as it will coat the wool fibers and inhibit their ability to perform. And as a general rule, don't use bleach on any wool garment. If you want to be particularly careful, you can use a hand-washing detergent, such as Soak (see our best detergent for hand washing guide), that doesn't contain anti-protein enzymes. (Regular laundry detergent has proteases, which help break down gravy and meat stains—but they can also break down the protein-based fibers in your wool socks.)
- Avoid the dryer—let your socks air dry, if possible. As Icebreaker's Shane Standing told us, "[Heat] starts to break the moisture down in the fabric. Like hair in general, it will make it brittle and weak." If you do need to dry your socks in a machine, tumble dry on low. The wool in these socks has been treated so that they can tolerate machine washing, but you'll find that a year or two of running your socks through the dryer might cause them to shrink slightly.
Sources
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Dan Ham, expert bootfitter at Mountain Shop, Portland, Oregon , in-person interview , October 1, 2017
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Jeremy Rooper, ski buyer at Mountain Shop, Portland, Oregon , in-person interview , October 15, 2017
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Bob Gleason, owner/bootfitter at BootDoctors, Telluride, Colorado, and Taos, New Mexico , email interview , October 2, 2017
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Zach Pollock, pro ski patrol at Mt. Hood Meadows ski resort, Mount Hood, Oregon , phone interview , September 28, 2017
Do I Pit a Sock Over a Compression Sock
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-ski-socks/
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