How To Choose Socks for Skiing and Snowboarding

Have you ever been skiing or snowboarding and realized mid-trip that your feet were absolutely freezing? Even when you’re bundled up, hands and feet tend to get cold more quickly than other parts of the body. It’s important to keep your feet warm, so here’s a guide on how to choose socks for skiing and snowboarding.

Material

When choosing a pair of skiing or snowboarding socks, you’ll first want to consider the material of the socks. Some popular options include socks made of wool, synthetic fabrics, or a blend of materials. The qualities of each are explained below.

Wool

Wool socks are generally made of merino wool. This material is known for being warm, odor-resistant, moisture-wicking, and very durable, making for an excellent sock for skiing and snowboarding. Wool socks are more durable and odor-resistant than synthetic ones.

Synthetic

Synthetic socks are non-wool socks made from materials such as nylon, polyester, and acrylic. These materials are known for their thermal and moisture-wicking qualities.

Blend

Many socks for snowboarding and skiing are made from a mixture of wool and synthetic materials. These socks combine the best qualities of wool and synthetic socks, including warmth, durability, and comfort.

Thickness

Socks for skiing and snowboarding come in a variety of thicknesses. Despite popular belief, a sock’s thickness does not correspond to its warmth, and thin ski or snowboarding socks can actually be quite warm. When choosing the thickness of your socks, consider the boots that you will be wearing. If your boots are already fairly tight, you’ll want to choose a thinner pair of socks for a better fit. If your boots are loose, it’s okay to wear a thicker pair of socks, but make sure they aren’t so thick that they restrict blood flow to your feet. Ski and snowboarding socks are available in several thicknesses, including lightweight, midweight, and heavyweight. You’ll also want to consider the amount of cushioning your socks have, as well as the location of that cushioning on your foot.

Fit

Finally, it’s important to consider the fit of your ski or snowboarding socks. The socks should fit on your foot tightly enough that they don’t move and bunch up inside your boots, but not so tightly that they restrict movement of the foot or circulation. For the best fit, purchase socks according to your shoe size and gender.

Next time you need to choose socks for a skiing or snowboarding adventure, be sure to reference this guide on how to choose socks for skiing and snowboarding to choose socks that fit well and are the right material and thickness. As you’re considering socks, check out Hot Chillys’ men’s, children’s, and women's thermal base layer options. We will supply you with a selection of quality socks in a variety of thicknesses and designs.