The Best Ski Socks of 2022-2023

Smartwool built its PhD series for performance. These socks have garnered multiple reviews from customers touting them as the “best ski socks ever.” The Ski Medium socks ($27) have body-mapped mesh zones for added breathability, a seamless toe for enhanced comfort, and men’s- and women’s-specific fits.

What customers said: These socks are awesome for both comfort and warmth. Customers love them for skiing, and lots of customers commented on having multiple pairs. Other features reviewers liked about this sock were its durability even after washes, performance in the backcountry, and comfort in ski boots.

“I am 55, been skiing most of my life. Ski 50 days plus a year. The most critical part of boot fit besides properly fitting boots is how well socks fit. These socks fit perfectly, and besides that, it takes a couple of hundred days of skiing before they wear out.” — Avid skier from Kirkwood, CA, reviewer

Don’t let the long list of fabric materials fool you — this sock still delivers. The Wigwam Snow Sirocco sock ($16-24) has a seamless toe and is fully cushioned to offer as much warmth as possible. The sock also has a reinforced shin panel with extra cushion. If you’re looking for a sock that will deliver on warmth and not break the bank, this is it.

What customers said: A huge number of customers raved about the comfort and warmth of the Snow Sirocco socks, despite the sock not being too thick. And most customers were very pleased with these socks’ performance in cold winter climates, although a few thought they weren’t warm enough. Regarding quality, most customers were happy, though a few mentioned the sock will suffer in the wash.

“I tried these on a recent ski trip. They worked great. I had old socks that always slid down in my boots. These stayed up all day. Very comfortable and warm.” — J. Rice, reviewer

Darn Tough’s over-the-calf, cushioned ski sock (specifically the men’s Captain Stripe and women’s Yeti) is a great sock recommended by lots of skiers across the board. The cushioned sock ($29) has a performance fit with natural microbial properties thanks to the sock’s large percentage of merino wool.

What customers said: Customers loved these over-the-calf socks’ support and performance while skiing, especially the warmth in colder conditions. Almost all the reviews mentioned that with these socks you get both awesome quality and fun style. Note: A few customers commented that the socks have a tighter fit.

“[My] first pair of Darn Toughs and first foray into a slightly thicker ski sock. I won’t go back. These socks are warm, durable and look great.” — Sully, reviewer

Recently updated is Darn Tough’s merino-forward, cross-country-skiing-specific ski sock. The Darn Tough Oslo Nordic ($27) is made with a 52% nylon, 45% merino wool, 3% spandex blend — fairly standard compared to other ski socks on this list.

We appreciate the near 50/50 split of synthetic with merino wool (to help wick away sweat and fight odor). But the feature of this sock that really shines is the crew height and style. The sock is comfortable in the toebox, but not too plush/cushioned, and it retains a stay-in-place, athletic fit.

We’ve only been testing for 3 weeks this season but already love the look, height, and feel. We also tried it on with two different nordic boots. If the majority of your winter is spent on the XC trails, we’re confident this is the best ski sock for you.

CEP’s expansion of the Ski Collection and ski touring sock ($55) has been a blessing to our hardworking feet. Constructed with a honey-pot of graduated compression that’s not too tight (a moderate 20-30 mmHg), these backcountry-centric socks stay put no matter how many vertical feet we’re climbing and descending each day in ski or snowboard boots.

We’ve experienced no blisters, fabric clumping, odors, or shifting underfoot, even on sunny, calm days that reach 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

This sock is a good choice for backcountry travelers that prefer nice padding on the shin and around the ankle bones but an otherwise light, quick-drying sock that hugs like a hero. Sock sizes are also tailored to the calf circumference.

What customers said: “There are great padding points on the socks. The shin padding on the front of the sock is the greatest, not to mention the sock compression.” — Douglas W., reviewer