Rate your Socks

[panzieman]

Exactly as it reads. At up to 30$ a pop ski socks are expensive. Review your socks.


1. Foxriver SkiingFox Medium Ski socks - I bought these 4 years ago and used them just about everyday since then. They're fairly thin for medium ski socks which is something I like because I find that thicker shin pads irritate/rip out my leg hair. They're also quite stretchy so they really hold my foot without being to tight. They've lasted 4 years and have probably been washed twice but despite the biohazard problem they're still perfectly functional. The only thing I have against them is that they're kinda cold because of their thinness. Great for warmer weather. I highly recommend these for any foot shape.

2. Smartwool Medium Ski Socks - I bought these last year so I could wash my Foxriver socks and alternate. I used them for about a month and the heal completely wore out. They also got very thin around my toes and I'd imagive if I kept using them they would wear out too. I also didn't find them stretchy enough so they fit too tight around the balls of my feet. They were warmer than my other socks though.... I don't recommend these.

Your turn.

[LightRanger]

I have the opposite experience with Smartwools. I also picked them up inexpensively from SAC(!).

Eurosocks are cool too.

Off-brand thick wool socks don't work very well, IMO.

[Ccard257]

I usually use smartwool ultra thin? or ultra lite? (whatever their thinnest ski sock is). If its really cold i'll use a pair of mediums. I am a huge fan of smartwool socks. They wick very well, are plenty warm (even the really thin ones), and are quite durable.

I agree with SCUTSKI about the off-brand stuff. Like anything else, you get what you pay for.

[Hugh Conway]

Old Smartwool - dig them

Smartwool Ultralight Racer - very thin, nice sock, but $$$

Calfheight Boot Liner Sock from hiking store - same as above, but costs $

Calfheight Boot Liner Sock from hiking store, thicker than above, costs $, still cheaper than ski sock

Smartwool Medium Cushion Ski Sock. Too thick, Too Expensive, Not so nice

Thorlo Euro model. Nice, $$$

[pechelman]

smartwool mediums - too thick, but the price was right at 6$ a pair

whatever thinnest liner sock REI currently has - super thin and i love it, again like 6$. wish they were taller.

[Rasputin]

I have three different types of Fox River socks. Medium weight ski socks, which are something like 69% polyester, 19% Merino wool, 10% nylon, 2% lycra IIRC, these are just fine and go up to about my mid calf I have six pair of them, the oldest are five years old and are becoming a bit threadbare under the heels. $5 a pair.

Fox River medium-weight ski socks, these are over 90% polyester with lycra and go over the calf. They are ideal for winter skiing. I got a couple pair for $5 each.

Fox River light-weight ski socks, same fibers as the mediums but thinner, better for touring, but still pretty warm. I got two pair for $5 a pair.

I don't know why anyone would pay $20 or more for socks, maybe they want to think they are buying some great advantage, or they have crappy liners in their boots, or maybe they have bad circulation and their poor little tootsies get cold (mine rarely do because I have Thermoflex liners which I dry out with a fan after every day skiing, and my boots don't cut off my circulation because they fit well).

Not washing your socks is not just disgusting, and lazy, and the socks don't keep you as warm, as well as being bad for your feet. If you have a brain and shop sales you can acquire a sizable collection of ski socks and you won't have to wash them more than once every week or so, you know, when you wash your base layers, IF you wash your base layers I guess, which would be wise for the same reasons as washing your socks. Duh.

[BCR]

A couple years back I was a sock buyer and I was down in North Carolina doing meet and greets with some of the remaining family run mills down there. We were buying some middle of the road brand that they made when I spotted some boxes of Smartwool socks going by on a conveyer. Turns out they were one of the 3 mills (and the only US one at the time) producing Smartwool socks.

Let's just say that I bought a sh*tload of whatever brand it was that I needed for my store and they sent me home with over 100 pairs of ski, bike, and hiking socks. There are pairs I still haven't even tried yet.

Anyway, Smartwool medium or thin (depending on your personal preference) are amazing and durable. I have tried the Fox River ones with a higher polyester content and they don't wear out so much as some of the yarn ends break (or the cheap lycra they use as well) and they start looking shoddy and I get uncomfortable itching or tickling inside my ski boots. Look for a higher merino content - you can't beat a fine soft yarn like merino for durability, breathability, insulation when wet, and the anti-stink factor is an added bonus. Smartwool controls 2/3's of the merino wool coming out of New Zealand, so many other manufacturers have to buy the wool from them to make socks and base layers, so they are able to put more into their product and maintain the same margin as some of the other performance merino brands. Hopefully that does not change with Timberland's purchase of them.

[philippeR]

I never got cold feet, so what I don't really care for warmth. I need socks that stay comfy when wet with sweat, mostly...

X-Socks are really top notch but ridiculously expensive. Very durable too. Worth it on the long run IMO.
Falke are average, but not too pricey.
Sidas makes some good socks at an acceptable price. Good value for money.
Smartwools are ok but not outstanding IMO.

[sar13]

I've been using Smartwool ultra-lights for my alpine boots and mediums for AT and Tele boots since my thermo liners seem to fit a little looser. I've been very happy with their warmth, moisture wicking and durability.

However, I picked up a pair of Icebreaker mediums late this season and so far they seem awesome. Fit great and only time will tell on durability. So far I highly recommend them. I will probably grab a pair of their ultra lights next fall.

[Ville]

I have X-Socks and really like them. They are really expensive, but lasts long, like said before. Best skisocks I have used.

Also have one pair on Bridgedales, which have been also durable, byt they don't fit as good as X-Socks.

[Daywalker]

Three pairs of Ultralight Smartwool socks have lasted me over the last three years. Only serious impacts have put holes in them, but they are starting to get thin. Seem to be durable enough for me.

[bfree]

Best ones I have are Eurosocks. Smartwool have just been average-ish to me, but I haven't tried their ultra light ones yet.

[LightRanger]

BTW, my experience with Teko merino socks (not their ski socks, but for running and other purposes) is very favorable.

[iscariot]

bridgedale.

$10-$15 per pair. thin like a second skin. grippy in the boot liner.

[Sphinx15]

FoxRiver thin (light/whatever) have been great for me, I use these whenever I can
Smartwool thin have worked out great as well (also a SAC deal) which I use when the FoxRiver are in need of washing
Ultimax (I think by Wigwam) haven't been so great, they are thin but the ridges are thickish and i've been left with what amounts to be one giant hotspot around my whole calves/shins during hot/sweaty days.

[leroy jenkins]

I liked the super thin smartwools I had, but they got threadbare pretty quickly.

Lorpen makes some merino socks that are thin, warm, wick well, and are durable. Fucking sweet, although they are pricy.

[funkendrenchman]

I only Smartwool Ultralight and I have a few pairs that I have used a a couple hundred days.

[gaijin]

silk rules.

that is all.

[Steven S. Dallas]

Smartwool Ultralight. I got nine pair off SAC back in the fall, my sock needs are met for the next couple decades.

[slim]

X-socks are worth the money.

[schwerty]

I stick with Smartwool. Nothing else seems to last.

[pointedem]

At up to 30$ a pop ski socks are expensive.

You pay 30 bucks for ski socks? PM me, let me help you.

[DIGGS]

Smartwool ultralight. No bunching and they wear well.

[AdironRider]

Uhh socks are socks to this guy. Are they something other than cotton and tall enough to go over the top of my boots. Good. After the first day in em they all smell and dont feel as nice.

My splurge if I ever strike it rich is to wear a new pair of socks everyday. Now thats luxury!

[DoWork]

I have some fox mediums and they're great for when it's a bit colder.

I also have some of the lightest thorlos I could find, and they are the shit. I love them. I'd pay the $25 again and will when these are FUBAR.