Ski socks may seem simple, but getting the just-right pair for your feet is paramount. Too thick and they can interfere with the feel of your boots and cause your feet to sweat. Too tall and they might overlap with your base layer. I鈥檝e tested dozens of ski socks聽over the years and picked five standouts for this review. Never have I had as hard of a time choosing a favorite as I did here.
The Test
I spent at least one full day at my local resort and took at least one backcountry touring lap in each pair of socks using the same setup: paired with Sego Bighorn 96 skis. I assessed the socks鈥 breathability and moisture-wicking abilities, how well it stayed put, whether it bunched up in my boots, and overall next-to-skin comfort.
The Results
Winner: Dissent Labs Ski Pro Fit Compression Nano Tour ($50)
Fit: 5/5
Comfort: 4.5/5
Moisture Wicking/Breathability: 5/5
My first note on says it all: 鈥淎bsolutely the best touring socks I鈥檝e used.鈥 I struggled a bit to pull it on, and it was by far the tightest-fitting around my calf. But my doubts disappeared when the Nano Tour kept my feet moisture-free and didn鈥檛 cause any hot spots. The sock didn鈥檛 slip at all, thanks to the smooth Teflon yarn at high-wear points like the heels and ankles. Coupled with just the right amount of compression, this made my feet feel good enough that I didn鈥檛 stop skiing on a powder day until my quads gave out.
#2. Le Bent Le Sock Snow Ultra Light ($25)
Fit: 4/5
Comfort: 5/5
Moisture Wicking/Breathability: 4.5/5
If comfort is your priority in ski socks, is your best bet. I was blown away at how silky it felt and more than a little embarrassed by number of times I used the term 鈥渟ilky鈥 to describe it to friends. Blame the rayon-bamboo material with merino wool, nylon, and elastane woven in. Le Sock didn鈥檛 constrict yet was tight enough to not slip around as I bootpacked to backcountry pow stashes. It got nudged out by the Nano Tour in the end because I had some friction on my heel when I turned up the speed while skinning up a slope in the backcountry. Not a deal-breaker, but I had to split hairs in this stacked field.
#3. Farm to Feet Jackson ($20)
Fit: 3/5
Comfort: 4/5
Moisture Wicking/Breathability: 5/5
and the Film (below) were exceptionally close in performance. I decided to give Farm to Feet the edge for its slightly lower price point. It also tied with the Nano Tour for most breathable sock in this test鈥攖he nylon-spandex construction is thin enough to be see-through in spots like the top of the foot. The Jackson鈥檚 only minor weakness was fit鈥攊t didn鈥檛 conform quite as well to my heel as the others here.
#4. Fits Film OTC Ski Sock ($24)
Fit: 5/5
Comfort: 4/5
Moisture Wicking/Breathability: 3/5
The long held the top spot in my drawer. At the start of the test, I expected it to retain the championship belt. The extremely deep heel cup and stellar fit along both the arch of my foot and toes hugged my foot like an old friend. Even when I was side-stepping up a steep climb to a backcountry stash, my feet were snug. However, they got knocked a few pegs from the top spot here because they didn鈥檛 breathe or move moisture as efficiently as the above three socks. While my feet never got full-on clammy, the tops did get sweaty.
#5. Darn Tough Paradise Over-the-Calf Light ($24)
Fit: 3.5/5
Comfort: 4/5
Moisture Wicking/Breathability: 2.5/5
would have worked its way up this list if I were skiing only at a resort and wanted a little more insulation that didn鈥檛 constrict blood flow. It had just the right amount of padding for ski touring and held onto warmth well, which I appreciated while riding lifts and drinking apr猫s beers in the parking lot. The biggest reason the Paradise landed in last place was that it didn鈥檛 vent as well the other socks, leaving my feet feeling clammy at the end of a 23-degree powder day.