The Best Ski Socks of 2023

For all-mountain skiing and snowboarding at the resort, Smartwool delivers one of the best socks we’ve ever had our toes in. The Women’s Ski Full Cushion Over The Calf Socks, which is also made for men ($29), has a wrap-around cushioned shin, heel, underfoot, and toe box that helps protect the lower extremities from getting banged up while adding warmth. The extra height helps with coziness, too.

Despite the density, the breathability is on point thanks to body-mapped mesh zones. The threads are also strategically woven to prevent slippage and bunching up. Simultaneously, the interior seams of the toe box are smooth, so you don’t get any weird flossing going on.

The women’s specific sock is shaped for female anatomy with a narrower heel and overall leaner profile. We’re also super impressed to see this sock continuously transitioned, season after season, toward being made from 100% recycled nylon: the makeup currently sits at one-quarter.

For guys and gals, these socks are at the top of our list for comfort, security, and insulation.

The Wigwam Sirocco ($17) has a slightly compressed, wide cuff that helps the sock stay put 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 design that will deliver on warmth and is a few bucks less than its neighbors, the Sirocco is it.

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

Built with a performance silhouette, the socks are meant to stay put: no bunching, no slippage.

To help dump heat, there are multiple zones with mesh panels that are integrated throughout. For longterm durability, the achilles and footbed is reinforced, which we need for athletic pursuits. This is one of our favorite choices for guys and gals.

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 and made for women or men.

If you’re looking for a performance sock with ultimate breathability and an as-close-as-it-gets fit inside your boots, look no further. The Dissent GFX Compression Hybrid ($60) is thin with low-profile padding, and the Polygiene material treatment does a good job masking odors.

The addition of NanoGlide fibers helps to prevent friction, despite being thin, while also enhancing hydrophobic (quick-drying) ability: We’ve never experienced blisters or hot spots with these socks. We like the slight cushion over the shin and around the ankle and the tight-fitting seamless toe. After testing for several seasons, there’s only a bit of pilling but no holes, either.

Customers celebrated the anatomical design of the Dissent GFX Compression Hybrid, the excellent breathability (especially for sweaty, hot feet), and the lack of slippage.

We’ve never had a ski sock be so buttery smooth against our feet. This Le Bent Core Light Snow Sock ($29) is an athletic luxury. The fibers cover odors well and the fit doesn’t slide around but isn’t restrictive.

The caveat for ultimate comfort — we’ve noticed that Le Bent socks tend to wear down a tad faster, especially in the heel, compared to other blends. But being below the priciest ski sock on our list, we still think it’s worth having these lightweight Le Bent in our drawer.

STOX Sports Socks ($50) are made in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and recently launched in the United States, to which we approve. For a little extra therapeutic support on the slopes or in the backcountry, it’s nice to pull on these to-the-calf socks for low-grade compression.

We definitely wouldn’t sleep in this tight pair or wear them when our feet are trending too cold, but they deliver 23-32 mmHg of graduated compression, which is just enough to help enhance blood flow.

Aside from the compression, the Sports Socks for women and men are lean but include a padded, seamless toe box plus moisture-wicking fibers to keep rubbing, blisters, or chills away.

Bridgedale’s Lightweight Merino Endurance Over Calf ($28) is a men’s-specific-fit ski sock that’s lightweight with medium cushioning on the footbed and shin.

We like this sock‘s nylon and wool blend as well as the comfort it provides. Bridgedale recommends these socks for all-mountain and freeskiing pursuits.

These Farm to Feet ski socks ($24-26) tick a lot of boxes for us: They’re made from U.S.-sourced merino wool, have a seamless toe construction and, according to lots of customers, work for different types of skiers. They also come in men’s- and women’s-specific styles.

These midweight socks are some of Farm to Feet’s most popular. The Park City Midweights offer excellent performance during rigorous ski days and provide a good level of warmth.

Norrøna probably doesn’t make the top of your winter sock list, but here’s why it should. We like the consistent fit and the combination of both style and quality. They hold their shape and are functional, even on colder days. Norrøna also uses uber-soft, traceable, mulesing-free wool in this sock.

Most users liked these midweight socks‘ ($45) comfort and look. People who have used them for a season or more commented on the great-lasting quality and perfect mix of warmth and fit. However, a few noted that they are too hot for ski touring and better for skiing in front- or side-country terrain.

They’re a bit of an investment, but they’re some of the best ski socks on the market.