12 Best Ski Socks of 2023 | Warm & Dry feet

Smartwool is the most recognizable name in ski socks. Even if you’ve never set foot on a mountain they’re a widely available and trusted manufacturer with a comprehensive line of outdoor products. We’ve chosen to highlight their PhD Light Elite because not only is it the best that their ski line has to offer, but it also stands at the top of the industry. 

The “Elite” occupies the coveted space between performance and padding. It’s perfect for skiers who love the more intuitive feel of a thin sock in the boot, but want a little more protection in high impact areas. In my own personal experience, thin Smartwool socks don’t last nearly as long as you hope them to, but the padding and protection it provides is consolation enough.

The toes and heels, as well as the front of the shin are reinforced with additional padding. Smartwool’s house blend Indestructawool is used to reinforce the toes and heels further and contribute to durability. They fit snugly around the foot, with extra attention given towards shaping the arch support. The ankle joint, by contrast, is built with a multidirectional flex so you can get the most out of your boot when you really need to crank down. 

Finally, the PhD Light Elite socks have a few patches of porous mesh to ventilate perspiration, and have just under 60% antibacterial merino wool. It’s a top-notch sock, offering a great support without compromising your performance.

By outdoor apparel standards, merino wool is a near magical material. It keeps you insulated when it’s cold and cool in the summer, wicks away moisture while staying warm when it’s wet, and has natural antibacterial and odor-blocking properties. 

While nearly all of the best socks on the market include at least a partial blend, Icebreaker takes a “more is more” approach to this philosophy and uses a merino blend much higher than the industry standard. The Ski+ is a great example of a product that fully capitalizes on the benefits that merino has to offer, because of its nearly 80% blend it’s one of the warmest socks per volume, and one of the most comfortable as well.

Icebreaker does their best to make performance gear using natural synthetic alternatives. The Ski+ is padded along the shins and the calves while retaining the sleek and accurate profile you’d expect from a sock oriented towards technical skiers. 

They have seamless toe boxes to mitigate friction, specifically around the achilles, ankle, and instep. The “function junction” at the front of the angle is thinner than the rest of the sock, cutting out the bulk and letting you get the most out of your flex. The top of the foot is covered with a breathable mesh, adding to the merino’s moisture mitigating properties. 

The only drawback of their comfortable construction is a hit on durability, being prone to wear after extended use.

If ski socks were judged by name alone, the Ski Supreme would be at the top of every list. Fortunately Eurosock’s premium ski option is backed by consumer backed results. 

It’s a low-profile sock with targeted features to provide support where support is needed and nowhere else. It’s compatible with a precise and technical skiing style, while providing some protection from the rigidity of aggressive boots. They’re made from Eurosock’s Microsupreme terry fabric, whose specialized design combats moisture and bacterial buildup, a strong synthetic contender in a market dominated by merino wool.

The Ski Supreme is designed to fit as close to your shin as possible, while still including enough padding to offer some protection from impact. The arch and ankle of the sock are supported with strands of elastic webbing woven through the terry material. The shape of the sock is contoured to wrap around the leg without wrinkling, and when paired with their ultra sheer stretch fabric you end up with a product that lies smooth against the leg with no issues of bunching or sliding down over the course of the day. 

Finally, the seams around the toe box are fused together and smoothed out, allowing for the most comfortable fit possible. The Ski Supreme is an excellent ski sock performance option, and is available at a lower price than it’s merino competition.

Falke socks are more often paired with dress slacks than they are with snow pants, but this producer of high-end textiles makes a ski sock that keeps pace with dedicated outdoor brands. The SK4 is a quality sock, targeted towards athletes with a high degree of technical ability. It’s designed to provide as much contact as possible between the shin and the boot, giving the rider seamless interface with their ski. 

The SK4 is built to be compatible with all custom molded boot shells, and goes so far as to make specific adjustments with the padding between the left and the right socks. All this attention to detail adds up quickly, but for the right skier the SK4 is a garment specifically tailored to meet their demands.

Most high-end socks primarily use merino wool reinforced with polyester weave. Falke opts for polypropylene blended with around 20% merino, which allows the SK4 to maximize the benefits of its low profile build, while retaining some of the insulative and antibacterial properties of merino wool. 

Falke’s formal reputation is fully extended to this take on a ski sock, it’s built with the formal- and traditional-style skier in mind, over-engineered to provide a degree of control that lies out of the reach of thicker alternatives. The SK4 is definitely a bit of a specialty piece, but not without its appeal.

Darn Tough socks are regarded by the long distance hiking community as the only things worth putting on your feet. They also make great ski socks, and have one of the best warranty policies of any outdoor brand. Their socks are guaranteed for any kind of natural damage barring being eaten by pets. 

Darn Tough socks’ stout construction lives up to the name. They manufacture everything in-house at their Vermont Mill, where they’ve spent decades honing their merino knit. Through their Rumble and Yeti line, they capitalize on the cushioning properties of their merino wool blend to deliver a practical and comfortable mid-thickness ski sock.

Darn Tough socks have excellent form and fit, contoured around the heel and toe-box and with additional support included under-arch. It’s another attempt to balance the performance benefits of a low-profile sock with a little bit of padding. With their temperature controlling properties, they’re good-to-go from the bone-chillingly cold days on the ski slopes to the warmest of spring days. The Yeti and Rumble are also contoured around the calves to prevent bunching and slipping over the course of the ski day. 

Merino wool is also antibacterial, and its porousness allows moisture to be wicked away from your leg, keeping your gear cleaner, longer. The Rumble and Yeti are respectively a men and a women’s take on the sock, the Yeti being a little narrower around the foot.

Darn Tough socks are wonderfully durable, but some skiers prefer their socks as low-volume as possible. The Alpenglow offers the same nuance of control as other lightweight socks on the market, but at the Darn Tough standard of resilience. They’re not indestructible, but with the lifetime warranty who cares about a couple of holes worn out of the sole, though testing over thousands of vertical feet has proven they hold up under some serious riding. 

When your socks eventually do blow-out, you can feel good about sending them back to the Darn Tough HQ in Vermont with knowledge of their commitment to sustainability and reducing the environmental impact of their manufacturing process. 

The Alpenglow has most of the same features as other offerings from the Darn Tough ski line. Its slim design benefits additionally from merino wool construction- antibacterial and moisture wicking properties mean you can stretch a few days of use out of a single pair of socks if you really need to. It also benefits from the quality grade knit and fused seams that come standard across products from  the Darn Tough mill. The Alpenglow stands out in the ski industry at large as one of the more durable options in a slim and compact sock.

It can be challenging for new outdoor manufacturers to stand out in an already flooded industry. One of the only ways to match the influence and reputation held by the biggest brands is to make a splash in your local market. 

From the Ground Up is a Northwest based brand that got some attention last year through a partnership with the Washington Trails Association.  They are an access-minded company, donating 5% of earnings from every sock back into stewardship and advocacy of local public lands. FTGU makes a quality merino blend sock worthy of merit beyond advocacy, and we’ve decided to include their Front Runner ski sock with picks this year. 

The Front Runner is a medium thickness ski sock that is unique from the competition in the way its padding is distributed. It’s support is centered around the foot, leaving the shins with a sheer, soft layer that provides the best possible engagement with your boot. Graduated compression around the calf has a more aggressive fit as it moves further down the leg, reducing acid buildup and giving more support to the upper ankle. This same elastic compression method is used underfoot to support the rider’s arches. 

The only thing we have to criticize about the Front Runner is the price: it costs as much as the top line name brand socks on the market, but doesn’t quite yet have the presence to be an easy choice purchase.

Newcomers to the sport of skiing probably are not going to have strong preferences on the style so long as the socks fit and keep their feet warm. The Eurosock Ski Zone is made with beginners and casual skiers in mind. It’s comfort-oriented–with a plush and forgiving construction. Those with entry-level boots, or those who are going to spend their season in rentals should look to the Ski Zone as an option that will be accommodating of any boot, and something that will keep your feet warm and comfortable while you learn how to master your skis.

The Ski Zone is made from a thicker fiber than most other socks, this is designed to eat up space inside the boot, and act in a similar way to a custom molded boot liner. The thicker build also offers some protection from shinbang. It’s made from synthetic micro-terry material that reduces friction between the boot and the sock with some added antibacterial properties. 

Finally, Eurosock ski and snowboard products are built with some compression elements, which apply gentle pressure to the calf in an effort to increase blood flow and mitigate the buildup of lactic acid to keep your legs feeling fresh all day long.

Buying budget socks is generally something that most ski experts will advise against. Cheap bulk socks simply don’t have the durability or the support that one specifically tailored for skiing will, and it’s not worth the money you’ll save if it means jeopardizing your day on the slopes. 

The “Snow Pack” two pack from Fox River is one of the few exceptions. They’re a cushioned sock with a fair amount of merino wool blended into the acrylic knit, built specifically for winter sports use. It’s one of the best alternatives for skiers whose budget demands the cheapest passable option.

Despite their affordability, Snow Pack socks offer many of the same features as the top-contenders. Compression along the length of the calf, and subtle padding keep you comfortable and protected throughout the length of the day, and the seam along the toe is flattened to prevent irritation. The ankle is shaped with elastane to prevent the toe from bunching inside the boot, and more elastic blended into the calf helps keep the cuff from sliding down. 

Fox River makes other winter socks, the Arapahoe Lightweight is great for a sleeker, more ski oriented option, also for a bargain. But the Snow Pack is by far the best deal we could find.

Heated ski gear is tricky, particularly when it comes to keeping your feet warm. Disposable toe warmers can very quickly become uncomfortable in your boots, and battery packs never last as long as you want them to when exposed to the cold. Truth be told, most modern ski boots are excellently insulated and should be adequate insulation for the vast majority of skiers on the mountain. 

Problems with cold feet can oftentimes just be as simple as making micro-adjustments on your buckles, or paying a visit to your neighborhood boot-fitter. What’s more, all heated outdoor gear is majorly limited by battery life, particularly at temperatures below freezing. But if you absolutely need the extra help, and are willing to pay for it, then a top-rated heated sock from Lentz is a good place to start your search.

The Lentz heated sock is made mostly out of thick polyester, already contributing to its insulative properties. The heating components themselves are centered around the toes, a focused approach that provides warmth where you need it most. Three heat settings can be changed quickly from an app on your phone, and the three lithium battery packs are USB rechargeable. 

Some consumers are disappointed by the length and quality of the heat they generate, and at over $300 USD, they’re going to be the most expensive pair of socks that you ever buy. However, skiers with blood circulation challenges say that they’re the only solution that lets them spend time on the slopes.

The Snow Sirocco is an incredibly popular consumer-reviewed sock, and it’s one of the other strongest contenders for the best budget sock on the market. 

It’s a bit thicker than most contemporary alternatives, favoring a more plush old-school approach. It has an edge on other budget brands such as Fox River because it’s knit is much more heavily composed of wool, giving it a degree of warmth and comfort that’s very difficult to replicate with synthetics. They’re a great option if you forgot your expensive socks at home, or need something affordable for the occasional trip to the mountains.

Wigwam socks are warm and comfortable enough for any day at the resort, and are built with plenty of volume for padding. It’s tapered with a specifically padded shin, allowing a degree of control that similar unshaped options lack.

 That being said, this isn’t a high performance sock, it fits a little more loosely and lacks the accuracy of engagement that higher end options offer. The super thin Ski Whisper socks also from Wigwam are a cheap alternative for skiers seeking something precise and low-profile. As affordable as it is, the Snow Sirocco is a legitimate ski sock, it comes in assorted colors, so it’s not a purely utilitarian purchase.

There is hardly an opinion more venerated or trusted in the ski industry than that of your local, grizzled boot fitter. A big talking point regarding most premium ski socks is how well they interface with a custom-molded shell and liner, which begs the question of what a sock designed by a boot-fitter would look like. Dissent builds their socks based around direct input from fitters and dedicated ski tourers alike, and have proven their mettle in the community through uncommon accuracy and reliable performance.

The GFX Compression Wool Sock is Dissent’s only merino sock, they claim it’s the only one made thus far that lives up to their performance standards. The sock has graduated compression, arch support, and is shaped to lock itself around your leg with no leeway for rubbing or bunching. Dissent’s socks are also strategically padded to offer the most protection while minimizing bulk. 

They’re expensive, but skiers who frequently find themselves struggling with hotspots on the skintrack, or those whose aggressive style requires the most dynamic range possible have found their solution.