 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi guys, we're a middle aged couple going skiing this yr, first time for my girlfriend, we've been busy kitting her out, costly job! but my question is about socks, I think that she'll love skiing but I think that the two potential danger areas are boots and cold feet. She's going to hire boots, so yes we need to make sure that she buys decent socks for the week that won't cost a fortune! Any recommendations please?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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From someone who gets cold feet and has been testing socks for a couple of years to see what the ideal solution is... thin merino ski socks. My very favourite socks to ski in at the moment are by a Czech company called Lasting. They don't have any padding or extras - just firmly tight, slimline merino long socks. They cost around £20 I think, but I bought them in Romania so not sure they are available in the UK. Plenty of other brands are however.
I'd avoid anything with a double layer or padding as this tends to get a bit scrunched up as the sock gets older/loosens after a bit of wear, and for some reason this kind of discomfort makes my feet feel colder/numb-er. I have now ditched all my old socks of this type!
There are other threads on here about cold feet, and a sock will only take you so far - some people use tea-bag style foot/hand warmers. If it's your gf's first time, make sure there are plenty of breaks in warm cosy places, will also help the cold feet! 
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Thank you for your reply. To clarify, she doesn't suffer from cold feet particularly its just that I know sock choice is important
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You don't need 6 pairs – 2 or 3 and some detergent will do. Sport Pursuit often have Smartwool or Icebreaker wool socks for around £12 – look for ones labelled as “light”. If between sizes, or on the edge of the range, size down not up – they always stretch. Otherwise, sales start soon, so you might get a bargain somewhere.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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2 pairs fine. Merino is very unsmelly. Spend the money saved on the best possible lessons!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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The key point for a beginner is to not be fooled into thinking that thicker socks are warmer, or even worse that two pairs of socks will be better than one. Most of the insulation on the foot is provided by the thickness of the boot inner, by comparison with which even a thick sock won't add much, and will comes with the increased likelihood of pressure points restricting circulation and causing discomfort.
Yes, Merino are the best in my experience also; one of their main USPs is that they help wick any moisture away from the skin, although within the boot it won't really have anywhere to go, but another key point is that they can be used for several days without going yacky, even potentially for a whole week, so may actually save money over several pairs of cheaper socks unless you're prepared to wash them out every night.
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Brilliant info, Thank you all!
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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IMO. In correctly fitted custom boots - always thin socks.
In hired boots - when you get measured use thin socks for the try on....but it can be worth having slightly thicker socks as well, which can be used if necessary, as hired boots seldom fit as snugly as custom fitted boots - so this can take up a bit of extra space.
As a Beginner - she will have no idea what the fit of ski boots should feel like, how tight they should feel, how tight the various buckles should be and how to put them on to avoid unnecessary problems.....so I assume you can help with that.
In the past, I have got great value socks from TK Maxx - but this year they have had little to nothing. As said above, I'd look at Sport Pursuit, or possibly an Outlet store for Dare2B or Trespass etc. Avoid Tubes.
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My son, who is a very good skier, doesn't see the point of specialist ski socks, regarding them simply as a marketting exercise to extract more money off skiers. He just wears his ordinary socks. My ordinary socks are actually midweight hiking socks so no use in ski boots. I wear the thinest socks I have. One or two pairs lasts a full week.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Quote: |
My son, who is a very good skier, doesn't see the point of specialist ski socks
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I'm sure the same is probably true of my son - very good skier but I've no idea how he thinks about socks. I once skied with none, when I'd driven to Val Thorens without any. It wasn't exactly cosy but it upset me less than the cost of a miserable bowl of French onion soup with about 2 small bits of onion per euro.
I use the same socks for hiking and skiing, but they are very thin ones.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| pam w wrote: |
| Quote: |
My son, who is a very good skier, doesn't see the point of specialist ski socks
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I'm sure the same is probably true of my son - very good skier but I've no idea how he thinks about socks. I once skied with none, when I'd driven to Val Thorens without any. It wasn't exactly cosy but it upset me less than the cost of a miserable bowl of French onion soup with about 2 small bits of onion per euro.
I use the same socks for hiking and skiing, but they are very thin ones. |
 No socks is extreme!
My husband swears by a multi pack of carrefour stripey cotton socks that he bought last year - he swears down that the feel is better and hus feet stay warmer. Who bloody knows.
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Laughing No socks is extreme!
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How did you manage to get the boots on without socks. I tried very hard once and the feet just would't go in without the lubricating effect of socks.
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You know it makes sense.
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good question, @johnE. It was 50% determination and 50% the cold having made my feet small and dry. And they were boots I'd had for yonks.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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I swear by the Smartwool zero cushioning socks. My feet are so much warmer in these than the thick ski socks.
| johnE wrote: |
| My son, who is a very good skier, doesn't see the point of specialist ski socks, regarding them simply as a marketting exercise to extract more money off skiers. He just wears his ordinary socks. My ordinary socks are actually midweight hiking socks so no use in ski boots. I wear the thinest socks I have. One or two pairs lasts a full week. |
He must be quite unusual and wear pretty long socks normally? Mine normal day to day socks would be too short. It would leave a gaping hole between end of socks and start of base layers..
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Poster: A snowHead
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@Legend., yeah and normal socks tend to come with seams in the wrong places. Not at all comfy.
I have skied in my ordinary socks and have not liked it.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I'm taking great delight in nigh on skiing every day, admittedly for only 2-3hrs, plus the occasional longer ski-tour, in the same pair of socks, just to annoy Mrs WC
I just wash them at night and they're dry in the morning, they are smart-wool socks and were given to me when we visited Steam Boat in Colorado five years ago as that is where they're from and they are damn good, and I've just looked at pricing and they're not too expensive, cheaper than some of the premium Merino brands that I have bought, though off SportPursuit.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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The tea bag warmers work pretty well just taped to outside of boots over toes. As proved to me last week in -10C and below.
Decathlon box of quite a few for not much.
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/feet-warmers-x-30/_/R-p-161193?mc=8373956
Also in France and Switzerland.
I've had Icebreaker merino till worn away and now on Lidls. All just work as socks!!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Falke socks.
Excellent.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Any compression sock is also a good shout.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Smartwool. The best.
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