The best ski socks for men and women in the winter 2024-25 season, reviewed by a ski expert

It always surprises me when I see people skiing in everyday casual socks or generic sports socks, clearly not realising how important it is to find the best ski socks before setting out on the slopes. If you find yourself complaining about uncomfortable ski boots, it might be worth considering the all-important layer that sits between your skin and the boot.

A technical ski sock, as made by brands like Salomon, Smartwool, Falke and Stance, can make an incredible difference to how much you enjoy your time in the mountains. Socks for skiing should fit well, add cushioning where needed and can ensure you have warm, hassle-free feet right throughout your holiday.

Whatever you do, don’t think that thicker means warmer. If you go thick, in a tight boot, blood flow will be restricted and you’ll risk not only your comfort but the health of your toes. If you are worried about the cold, then it’s worth investing in a pair of heated socks. (These are expensive.)

I’ve tried all of the latest and best-selling ski socks on and off the piste. You’ll find my full reviews further down this feature, followed by an FAQ section where I explain the difference between ski and snowboard socks, how to choose sock thickness and which materials and features to look for in a sock. If you’re in a hurry, here’s a quick look at my top five:

Which are the best ski socks in 2024? At a glance

• Best overall – Falke SK2 Intermediate Wool Women Skiing Knee-high
• Best budget ski socks – Lorpen Men’s T1 2 Pack Merino Mid Eco
• Best men’s ski socks – Smartwool Ski Targeted Cushion OTC
• Best women’s ski socks – Darn Tough Women’s Function X Over-the-Calf Midweight
• Best heated ski socks – Therm-Ic Ultra Warm Comfort Sock S.E.T. and S-Pack 1400B Battery set

How to choose the right ski socks for you

It’s not always possible to try socks on in a store but if they allow it, definitely do so. Fit is really important. If you can’t try them on, staff in the store can advise on which socks will work for your needs. Always try the socks with your own boots before you go skiing. The difference in thicknesses between models of socks may sound insignificant, but it can make an astounding difference to how well your ski boots fit.

How I tested the best ski socks

With the help of ski coach and freeride athlete Ffion Townsend, I’ve skied in dozens of new socks this year. I’ve also tried a further assortment in-store, spoken with shop staff and chatted with consumers, as well as getting advice from some of the best boot fitters out there. There is a huge variety of socks out there for skiing and snowboarding. Keep reading to see which socks will work best for your requirements.

If you’re gearing up for a ski holiday, you may want to read my guides to the best ski helmets, best ski boots, best ski jackets, best ski goggles and best ski gloves after this.

Best ski socks

1. Falke SK2 Intermediate Wool Women Skiing Knee-high

£38, Falke

Best overall ski socks, 10/10

We like: thoughtfully placed cushioning

We don’t like: the thicker cushioning doesn’t suit a snug performance boot

• Material: 75 per cent Merino wool blend
• Cushioning: toe, heel, Achilles, shin, ankle & calf
• Left/right foot specific
• Other colours available

Falke may be a fashion house, but they’re also one of the mainstays of the ski sock world. The naming indicates the activity the sock is designed for and the level of cushioning. SK means ski and the higher the number, the thinner the cushioning. You can think of a higher number relating to a higher skiing performance level. For example, racers’ boots are fitted very tightly, so they need the thinnest socks possible.

Beginner skiers often use roomy rental boots, so a thicker sock with more padding can be beneficial. The SK7 Race is their top-end sock for skiers who only need the thinnest layer between skin and boot. The SK1 Comfort is the thickest sock, with the greatest amount of padding. 

More interested in snowboarding? Try the superb Falke SB2, with snowboard-specific padding, including under the ankle strap. The SK2 sock I’ve been testing for this season works fantastically well in a broad range of ski boots. With padding for most problem areas, including the calf, shin, ankle bones, Achilles, heel and toes. There’s also loop pile along the base of the foot, wrapping part way around the sides.

The padded areas are very similar to the SK4, but the cushioning is thicker, so if you find the SK2 a little too bulky for your boots the SK4 could work for you. The socks are left and right specific, with anatomically placed cushioning, so they do work better if you get them on the correct foot. The upper broadband keeps the sock from falling down and sits nicely above the top of the boot. 

The SK2 is a fantastic technical ski sock and the specific areas of medium cushioning can make a big difference to how comfortable your feet, ankles and legs are at the end of a hard day’s skiing. The high Merino wool content makes sure your feet stay warm, that the socks stay fresher for longer and the multi-layer wicking design makes for happy feet.

2. Lorpen Men’s T1 2 Pack Merino Mid Eco

£15.95, Outdooraction

Best value ski socks, 9/10

We like: superb value

We don’t like: the lack of shin padding

• Material: 78 per cent Merino wool blend
• Cushioning: toe, sole, heel & Achilles
• Not left/right foot specific
• Other colours available

Lorpen is a Spanish brand, making their socks in the Pyrenees. The brand is not so well known in the UK, but their products are impressive and deserve to be featured here. They make some mega technical socks, such as the T3 Ski Light Eco, which is fab. The T1, available for women and men, is aimed at comfort and convenience, offering excellent value considering you get two pairs of Merino socks for the same price as many single pairs from other brands.

All of Lorpen’s socks are made using sustainable materials and when testing they’ve proven to be very durable. The T1 sock has a high Merino content delivering good warmth, with loop pile padding running along the foot and up the Achilles. They also use Red-cycled nylon, a material manufactured entirely from old fishing nets. To ensure the sock maintains its fit and shape a stretch nylon is utilised, with added Lycra.

Even though the T1 twin-pack is considerably cheaper, per pair, than the others featured in this test, the comfort was excellent and they maintain the shape well over repeated uses. Not as padded in the leg as many others, but they offer other models with more areas of cushioning.

3. Smartwool Ski Targeted Cushion OTC

£29, Snow+Rock

Best men’s ski sock, 9/10

We like: the soft feel and cushioned shin

We don’t like: there’s no padding for ankle bones

• Material: 57 per cent Merino wool blend
• Cushioning: toe, heel & shin
• Not left/right foot specific
• Other colours available

Smartwool was one of, if not the, first brands to use Merino wool in socks and this experience shines through in the socks they design for various sports. They offer a mind-boggling array of Merino-based layers and socks but I’ve been using the ski-targeted cushion socks for many seasons when testing boots and they’re superb. This sock sits comfortably just below the knee, with a broad top band securing the cuff in place.

The sock has a plush layer of cushioning in front of the shin. Cushioning around the toes and heel further improves comfort, but the rest of the sock has a slim profile, so it works in snug, performance-fit boots, as well as general recreational level boots. The hold around the arch, instep and ankle is excellent, with areas of mesh-like fabric aiding breathability.

The Indestructrawool tech they use significantly extends the life of the socks, in our experience, while maintaining that beautiful comfort. The nylon in the skin-targeted cushion uses recycled material and this model is available in a range of colours and patterns for women and men. The women’s model is shaped differently to the men’s, with a narrower heel and an overall slimmer fit.

4. Darn Tough Women’s Function X Over-the-Calf Midweight

£36.95, Absolute Snow

Best women’s ski sock, 9/10

We like: the abundant cushioning

We don’t like: it’s too thick for some boots

• Material: 57 per cent Merino wool blend
• Cushioning : toe, sole, heel, Achilles, ankle & shin
• Not left/right foot specific
• No other colours available

Darn Tough makes all their socks in their own factory in Vermont. They believe so strongly in their construction techniques that they offer an unconditional lifetime guarantee. You don’t even need a receipt. We’ve been using various models from their ski sock range over the last couple of seasons and we’re big fans.

The Function-X, which may be renamed the Function 5 soon, is a fabulous choice if you like to use a well-fitted boot but still want a decent amount of cushioning. The light pink panel on the back of the sock, seen in the image above, reduces pressure on the calf, which can be an issue. (Typically, a woman’s calf is lower down and that can be an area of pressure in ski boots.)

The other, deeper pink areas benefit from loop pile cushioning. This gives increased padding for the toes, along the bottom of the foot, around the heel, ankle bones and Achilles. The pile around the narrow part of the ankle can help keep your leg held in an area of the boot that can feel a little loose for some. The padded shin area is extensive, a blessing for those that suffer with shin bangs or discomfort in this area.

While I wouldn’t choose this sock for our tightest fitting boots, it has been a pleasure skiing in them for general resort skiing and missions in the back country. The Merino wool content gives excellent warmth and of course helps with odour control. A good amount of elastic material holds the sock snugly in place around the instep and they’ve tweaked the fit here for this winter, making it even more comfortable. They’ve also improved the flex window to further prevent bunching.

5. Therm-Ic Ultra Warm Comfort Sock S.E.T. and S-Pack 1400B Battery set

£299.99, Therm-ic

Best heated ski socks, 10/10

We like: never having cold toes

We don’t like: the hefty price tag

• Material: 40 per cent Merino wool blend
• Cushioning: toe, heel & shin
• Left/right foot specific
• No other colours available

Norwegian big-mountain skiing legend, Stian Hagen, was the first person that I came across using heated ski socks, when testing gear on glaciers above Chamonix a few years ago. I’ve since worked with many professionals that say they’re an essential part of their skiing arsenal. 

A few brands offer electronically heated footbeds or boot liners, but heated socks arguably offer the greatest versatility, readily swapping to different boots and activities. The Ultra Warm S.E.T. socks are the next step from the Powersocks we’ve featured previously. Those are cheaper and still available, but the Smart Elastic heating Technology (S.E.T.) in the Ultra Warm socks is designed to be less obtrusive and it provides comforting warmth right around your toes. 

You can get the Ultra Warm sock in a lower profile Performance design, for skiers that wear very snug boots. The Ultra Warm Comfort model, which I’ve been testing, has more padding and a higher Merino content and will be the better choice for most skiers and snowboarders. Either sock thickness can be purchased, without the battery, for £99.99. The rechargeable battery connects to the cuff of the sock using two metal poppers and the battery is secured under a second elastic strap.

There are various batteries to choose from, but the best, in both run time and features, is the S-Pack 1400B, with a run time of up to 16 hours and you can control it from your phone, via Bluetooth and the Therm-Ic HC app, to hone the required heat level. The battery set alone costs £190, so you could save a little money by going for a cheaper battery, although I think it’s worth the extra £45 for the top-of-the-range batteries. 

Whichever battery you choose, the subtle warmth from these socks is incredible and an absolute blessing on bitter days in the mountains. The padding is just like other mid-weight padded socks, with a cushioning pile for the shin and around the foot.They also knit a channel structure to improve moisture management. 

The sock exudes a quality feel and the S.E.T. cable runs up the outside of the sock to be out of the way of high-pressure areas. You can feel where it runs, but it’s minimal. The main downside I noticed was when not wearing ski boots, when the weight of the battery means the sock cuff does eventually work its way down your leg a little. 

6. Stance Rising Snow Over The Calf

£22.39, LD Mountain Centre

Best socks for snowboarding, 10/10

We like: the slim design

We don’t like: only really suited to snugly fitted boots

• Material: 26 per cent Merino wool blend
• Cushioning: minimal
• Left/right foot specific
• No other colours available

This sock was designed in collaboration with Jimmy Chin, an incredible snowboarder who’s also involved in a lot of other mountain sports. The Rising Snow sock has something they refer to as Ultralight Cushioning, giving it a slim profile, perfect for snug-fitting snowboard boots. I tested it in different snowboard boots as well as some performance ski boots and this sock proved as suitable for skiing as it is for snowboarding.

It has a left and right foot specific design and the stretch zone under the arch provides a sag-free fit around the foot. The fine knit ensures all-day comfort and the Merino blend keeps odours down with great moisture management. It comes with Stance’s Infiknit lifetime guarantee, so if they do develop a hole Stance will send you a new pair. 

Although we’ve stated this as not being available in other colours, this is a technicality as the Rising Snow design is unique to this sock. However, Stance makes a bonkers array of designs, so you’re sure to find something to match your style or the padding levels you want.

7. Icebreaker Women’s Merino Ski+ Medium Over The Calf

£27, Icebreaker

Best ski sock for resort cruising, 8/10

We like: the (almost) full coverage cushioning

We don’t like: it’s not great for snug boots

• Material: 54 per cent Merino wool blend
• Cushioning: toe, sole, heel, Achilles, instep, calf & shin
• Left/right foot specific
• Other colours available

Icebreaker has been making Merino ski socks for a long time. I first tested them a couple of decades ago and I still use some of those socks now, which is impressive. The Merino Ski+ Medium has been updated and this season’s version is rather ace. With over 50 per cent Merino wool content, your feet stay comfortable all day long. You can use these socks over multiple days without worrying about foot-scented whiffs.

They’re about as thick as you can go in an Icebreaker ski sock, with padding for most of the foot, ankle and leg, although the cushioning is strategically placed, rather than just one complete covering. The wide elasticated band around the top of the sock prevents the sock from falling down and you don’t feel like it’s digging in. They’re also anatomically shaped, so are left and right foot specific. Even though this sock has good coverage of added cushioning, it’s not as thickly padded as some, so still works for a broad range of skiers.

This isn’t the sock you’d choose for a race boot, but for less precisely fitted boots it works very well. It’s also a great choice if you’re renting boots, as they can sometimes feel looser than you may wish. These are soft, comforting ski socks for cruising about the resort.

8. Imbrace Knee High Compression

£34, Imbrace

Best compression ski socks, 8/10

We like: the supportive compression

We don’t like: the length

• Material: synthetic fibre
• Cushioning: toe, sole & heel
• Left/right foot specific
• No other colours available

Alpine racer Chemmy Alcott uses compression leggings from the British firm Imbrace. I’ve had a few chats with her about them and she’s been mightily impressed with the benefit she feels they deliver. These compression socks from the same company are thin, making them a perfect partner for performance skiing, where boots are typically tighter fitting and the muscles are being worked hard.

They have a luxurious feel, with loop padding for the toes, along the base of the foot and around the heel, although it doesn’t reach up around the Achilles. There is some light padding across the top of the foot but this may be a result of the elasticated sections here, wrapping the sock around the foot. Either way, these socks give a comfortingly snug hold right around your foot, ankle and leg, without any bunching at all.

The only fit issue is that they come higher up the leg than the other socks I tested, so I had to fold the top down. It’s always interesting testing compression wear in the field, as we don’t use lab machines to test efficiency to the Nth degree. Did they allow me to ski for longer or with less fatigue? I couldn’t really say. Did they feel as though they reduced muscle oscillation in the lower leg (muscle bounce), as the Imbrace info claims? A calf doesn’t have space to bounce in a ski boot, so I think it’s a moot point.

Do they feel great against your skin and are they comfortable ski in? Absolutely. I have had the odd run in them, when fitness training over the summer and the compression is arguably of greater benefit here, when your leg’s not already snugged into a ski boot. This also means you get good value in these Imbrace socks, as you can use them for various sports, year-round.

9. Le Bent Core Targeted Cushion

$30 (£23.73), Le Brent

Best ski sock for technical skiers, 8/10

We like: the luxuriously soft feel against your skin

We don’t like: they can be harder to find than others

• Material: 24 per cent Merino wool blend
• Cushioning: shin only
• Not left/right foot specific
• No other colours available

Le Bent is an Australian brand, although the coordinates written down the side of the Core sock are for a ski line on Bellevarde, in Val d’Isere, a favourite route of the pair that started the company. 

They use a combination of 24 per cent Merino wool and 34 per cent Rayon, which is derived from bamboo. The other materials are nylon and elastane. As with many other brands, I’ve been fortunate to test several models from Le Bent and the Rayon-merino mix they use is satisfyingly soft against the skin. All their socks are a delight to ski in, so it’s really a case of picking your style and padding preferences, then off you go. 

I love this Core Targeted Cushion model, as I’m often in boots with a snug hold and the lack of pile around the toes creates more room, reducing any chill-inducing pressure. There’s a broad elasticated web around the middle of the foot, guaranteeing a cracking fit. The shin gets a loop pile cushioned section, but the rest of the sock is slim, making this the prime candidate for technical skiers that want a little added comfort in the shin area.

There is a narrow doubled-over section at the cuff, complimented by a wide elasticated band around the top of the sock, which does a great job of holding the sock up without squashing your leg. The Core proved to be warm, well fitted and kept our legs and feet happy, with excellent moisture and odour management. The Core model is black, but they do a lot of socks with just shin padding in other colours. They just won’t be called Core.

10. UYN Natyon 3.0

£34.90, Ski Exchange

Best ski socks for performance boots, 10/10

We like: the technical fit

We don’t like: it lacks the odour control of Merino

• Material: biofibre
• Cushioning: toe, heel, Achilles, shin, ankle & calf
• Left/right foot specific
• Other colours available

UYN develops some superbly technical base layers and socks for skiing. The Natyon 3.0 is a perfect example of their attention to detail and a desire to make products that enable us to perform better. They make it in a range of colourways, specific to different national race teams, but they share the same design. Unlike most of the socks in this feature, the Natyon 3.0 doesn’t incorporate Merino wool, preferring to use bio-based solutions, making it a fabulous choice for those that need to avoid wool.

This is a snug sock, that, despite the numerous areas of padding, works very well in tighter performance boots. That shouldn’t be a huge surprise, as many racers use these socks. They don’t just knit a standard panel of cushioning either, preferring to add structure and shaping to the padding, to better protect each vulnerable area. They also want to promote enhanced breathability, so your feet stay dry and warm throughout the day.

I’ve used the Natyon a lot and it’s a truly brilliant sock. The fit and hold around the foot, ankle and leg is excellent and the varied structure and elastic nature means the sock remains as well fitted after a few days of skiing as the first runs you do in it. The cuff is also thinner than many alternatives, due the special construction, avoiding the need for multiple layers to keep the welt from sliding down your leg.

The cushioned areas work superbly well in reducing any rubbing or discomfort without adding unnecessary pressure. This has been one of our favourite socks of the last couple of seasons and could have won the Best Overall award, but it got pipped on odour control by the Falke sock.

Ski socks FAQs

Do ski or snowboard socks make a difference?

Ski and snowboard boots are highly technical footwear which limit the ability of our feet, ankles and legs to move naturally. If you wear a regular everyday sock with them, this can lead to poor circulation, cold feet, discomfort, blisters and a rather unhappy holiday.

A technical ski or snowboard sock compliments the boot, improving blood flow, moving moisture away from the skin and adding cushioning to vulnerable areas of the foot, ankle and leg, helping you to have a better time in the mountains.

Not all ski socks are created equal though. Avoid tube socks. These may have been popular in the 80’s but they don’t match the shape of your lower leg and foot, and therefore are not great for use in ski or snowboard boots.

Buy two or three pairs of good quality socks for your chosen sport. You can wear them for more than one day, so three pairs will see you out a full week of skiing. Some like to wash them between uses, using a hotel bath or sink to handwash the socks. If you have a couple of pairs then one pair can be drying while you’re wearing the other pair.

When well cared for, a good quality ski sock will last many years of holiday use (and they’re great to wear in walking boots in colder months too), so though they may seem expensive you’ll be pleased you invested in them when your cruising about the slopes in blissful comfort.

What is the difference between ski and snowboard socks?

Ski and snowboard boots and bindings are markedly different and therefore the layer between you and the boot can be distinctly different.

The easiest thing to recognise is the location of the straps on a snowboard binding: as the straps tighten down to lock your boot into the binding, this can cause significant pressure on top of the foot. This is why many snowboard socks have padding where the ankle strap sits over your foot.

Also, you lean into the rear of the boot a lot more when snowboarding compared to skiing, so the protection around parts of your foot and leg can also be different. You’ll often find snowboard socks have more overall thickness than a ski sock because the boots are constructed in significantly different ways and give their own compression around the foot, ankle and lower leg.

None of this means that snowboard socks can’t be used in ski boots and vice versa. One of my favourite socks for skiing was designed for snowboarding.

Is there a difference between women’s and men’s socks?

Many socks are unisex, but some do come in women’s and men’s specific versions. Sometimes this can just be about the colour, but some are built differently with a slimmer fit for women. Fit and function are still the more important considerations though, so if the sock works for you then ignore the gender label.

Should I buy thick socks for skiing?

If you get cold feet it may seem logical to just buy a thicker sock. While this makes sense in everyday life, it’s a bit more complicated with ski and snowboard boots.

Blood flow is what helps to keep our feet warm. If your boots fit well, then they’ll be quite snug. If you put a thick sock on your foot too, this can take up too much volume in the boot, essentially constricting your circulation and leading to cold toes.

Conversely, we could all just run super-thin socks in our boots and have excellent blood flow. The issue here is that a really thin sock may mean your feet have too much room inside the boots, so performance is therefore compromised.

It is therefore crucial that the socks you use for skiing and boarding work in harmony with your boots. If you are getting new boots then take your socks with you when being fitted. You may then find that after a few trips you need to move to a slightly thicker sock, as the boots will have packed out a little. We’re only talking very small differences here, but when it comes to ski boot fitting, fractions of a millimetre make a big difference.

If you’re hiring boots, buy socks that offer protection in problem areas for you, such as padding in the shin if you suffer with pain here. Then you can wear your socks when being fitted for the hire boots and you’ll know they work well together.

If you are worried about cold feet or toes, then getting a sock with a high content of merino wool can help add to the warmth of the sock. If you really do suffer with the cold, then look at electronically heated socks: they’re expensive, but worth it for not having painful feet.

Why is merino wool used in socks?

Not all socks use merino wool but most technical ski socks do. Merino wool is far finer than traditional sheep’s wool and works incredibly well when used next to the skin. It is excellent at helping us maintain an optimal body temperature and it’s great at handling perspiration. It also does not typically get as smelly as synthetic fibres, so it can be great in a snow sports sock since these tend to be used for more than one day between washes.

Merino wool is not as durable as synthetic fibres though, and this is why you’ll see all of the socks featured here have a blend of wool and synthetics. The synthetic fibres are better at ensuring a snug, fitted hold around the foot and leg to prevent bunching. Bunching is a bad thing for a ski or snowboard sock because it will lead to discomfort and potential blisters as well as the possibility of further restricting blood flow.

How should you wash ski socks?

The short answer here is to follow the manufacturers instructions. If you haven’t got those to hand, you can often find washing instructions on the manufacturer’s website.

If in doubt, a cool wash is better, especially if the socks contain wool. It can be even better if you hand wash them and this can help to prolong the life of many merino wool products. It can be a bit of a faff though, I know.

Since many of the socks contain wool, natural air-drying works best and the socks can last longer. It also uses less electricity and is better for the environment. If you do need to use a tumble dryer, then use one of the cooler settings.

Concerning detergents, using a mild detergent or soap is best. Many brands advise not using fabric softener because it can limit the merino wool’s natural ability to deal with perspiration. Avoid harsh chemicals like bleach.

View the latest Decathlon deals