Ski Socks Buying Guide
All socks are not the same! Your ski and snowboard socks make a huge difference to boot comfort, warmth and control. if there is one item that can improve your enjoyment of skiing whether in rental boots or your own fitted boots, it is hands down a technical pair of ski socks.
We cannot recommend strongly enough investing in good quality ski socks. Modern technical ski socks are designed to perform inside a ski or snowboard boot under the conditions you will experience, 1 high quality pair of technical ski socks will easily outlast and outperform several pairs of cheap tube socks.
Modern socks have padding in the right places, and then thinner material where it is not required to help transport moisture from the foot and aid a closer fit. Once you have tried a pair of high quality socks you will never want to change back!
Moisture is the key thing to consider - you can sweat up to half a pint of water in a day’s skiing, and that sweat can collect in fabric. On a ski chair, in comes the wind chill to cool the moisture in your socks, chilling your feet. Therefore a technical sock will do a better job of keeping your feet dry and warm. The yarns are knitted and blended to wick sweat away from sensitive or more exposed areas of the foot into the back of the calf area where it can more easily evaporate whilst keeping your foot warm.
Technical ski socks are harder wearing than tube socks so you only need to buy a couple of pairs to treat your feet to the comfort they deserve. In-resort, thanks to high wicking materials, they can be hand washed in the evening and will dry overnight. Merino wool is often used for warmth without the itchy feeling some fear, or we offer wool-free or low wool alternatives for those with a dislike of natural fibres. When wool IS used, the finest Merino and virgin wools are used to avoid the itchiness some people feel with this warm and natural material.
Sock Volume - Surely the thicker the better, right?! (PS The answer is no!)
This is a key is consideration when choosing a pair of socks. We offer several types of sock volume depending on the brand, here are the key types on offer:
High Volume - This is quite a thick sock, but is still helping to wick away sweat and regulate the temperature of your feet. High volume socks should not be used as a 'fix' for a bad ski boot fit, as ultimately this does not work, but for those who want maximum cushioning who are renting boots (For example, diabetics or others who bruise easily) a high volume sock will help. (Examples - Falke SK1 Ski Socks)
Medium Volume - This is our best selling style, there is padding in all areas including light padding on the sole, to ensure all day comfort. Padding is removed from where it is not needed, to give a slightly closer fit to your ski boots, allowing you to feel more of what is going on, and enhance control too. (Example - Falke SK2 ski socks)
Low Volume - These are ideal for those with a precision fitted ski boot, and those wanting great feedback from what is going on underfoot. Classified as 'Race' socks sometimes, these are not just for racers, but for those who want the closest fit, and those with performance orientated ski boots or liners that have been injection moulded, and are wishing to prioritise precision and control and sacrifice a small amount of additional comfort.
Our "fitters favourite" sock is the Falke SK4. It offers a low volume but still has strategic padding in all the key places to give a perfect balance of precision and comfort for those with custom fitted boots.
We have the Light volume Falke SK5, the race volume Falke SK6 and even the new unpadded Falke SK7, the later having no additional padding to offer the most precise fit possible.
If you need any assistance in selecting your next pair of ski socks simply get in touch with us and we can help!
Compression Socks - For reduced fatigue and any skier with circulation issues
Relatively new to skiing are compression ski socks. These use these use the latest compression technology, with fibres in the sock optimised for their elastic properties, which in turn puts slight pressure on the veins in your legs.
This results in faster blood flow, for better muscle performance, reduced fatigue and quicker recovery. The fit is also very close for precise control on the mountain. You should keep the socks on when you have finished skiing, we suggest for around an hour, as it will further aid muscle recovery for the next day of skiing.
I personally wear only compression socks, as I am diabetic, and therefore suffer from poor circulation AND have to ensure my circulation is optimal at all times to avoid blisters or clots. A compression sock helps ensure I have great circulation, and also gives me noticeably less tired feet and calves at the end of a long day's skiing.
Socks for sensitive bruised shins (and souls!)
Sensitive shins don't just effect runners although the reasons are very different. A runner who has "shin splints" will feel some discomfort when skiing, so socks made for sensitive shins may well be ideal. However most shin pain from skiing is either the result of a poor fitting ski boot (the cuff being too large, not small!) or poor skiing technique. Remember, to ski modern carving skis we are encouraged to lean forward into the ski boot, and the lower leg becomes a key lever for enabling a smooth turn. Any space between the shin and the cuff of the boot will result in what we call "Shin Bang" which is exactly what it says it is - you end up banging your shin on the front of the boots every time you turn. As a result, you are then tempted to not put pressure on your shins, which hampers your control.
For those situations we now have the SIDAS PROTECT ski socks, in either a low volume or medium volume, and feature an integrated gel pad in the front of the shin. These are the same pads many skiers use to directly stick to the skin, but being integrated into the sock offer an improved fit, and ensure they are located in the correct position.
For the skier who has everything a pair of technical ski socks are an excellent gift!