When focusing on finding the right ski outfit that will make you feel cool and perform well on the slopes (just like James Bond did in the many skiing scenes included in the Bond movies), the socks you’ll be wearing may seem like the least of your concerns. However, if you fail to pay attention to the socks when you should, you’ll definitely be regretting it after a long day at the slopes, when you end up in one of the various lounges that most ski resorts have, but not with the intention to hang out with pretty ladies, but to defrost your cold and wet feet – not cool. Well, you certainly won’t have to deal with this if you pick decent men’s ski socks and what sets these apart is their design and choice of materials.
No matter how cold the weather outside, when skiing, your feet are bound to get sweaty. Wearing regular socks (most of which are made of cotton) will trap and hold moisture and lead to cold feet and bad circulation. That is why the current top trend in ski socks materials is the merino wool and bamboo combo that can be commonly seen in many leading models. Merino wool and bamboo socks can wick moisture, dry quickly and manage odor so you don’t feel embarrassed anytime you take your ski boots off. These are soft, (bamboo is known for being softer than silk) don’t scratch and therefore the wearer can feel comfortable while wearing merino and bamboo socks. The rest of the fabric usually contains small percentages of materials such as elastane, polyester, and spandex that makes them stretchy.
Bamboo, in particular, has anti-bacterial properties that prevent the growth of these pesky problems. This means that bamboo socks are actively working to stay clean rather than collecting germs and unlike regular cotton socks and can be worn a few times before washing. Furthermore, in the past few years wearing bamboo socks and clothes has become something that many people turned to not only for the benefits bamboo has to offer, but also because it’s a renewable material and therefore the perfect choice for all environmentally-conscious people.
Merino wool is also a sustainable material (the shearing process causes no pain to the animal that will automatically grow a new coat after the wool is being removed), it’s very lightweight and easy to wear with winter ski boots, but most importantly, it can keep your feet warm by insulating, not trapping heat.
Maybe because this blend of materials makes for very light socks, there are many people who feel that they need an extra pair of socks to be warmer. But wearing two pairs of socks can worsen your circulation. A good rule of thumb is to only wear one pair of socks at a time as otherwise, you won’t get the insulating effect of the air circulating around your foot.
When it comes to the way these socks are designed what you will notice is that they usually don’t feature seams and therefore don’t cause rubbing against the inner part of your ski boots, which makes the whole skiing experience more comfortable. Another feature that you will notice is that they have a snug fit and gently squeeze your legs, so once they are on you don’t have to adjust them to fit properly. Also, due to their graduated nature, these compression socks improve the blood flow. Again, it’s all about you feeling comfortable, warmer and making the most from your skiing experience.
Next, they are tall enough to match the length of your ski boots (go up to the knees) thus preventing your boots from rubbing against your shins. They also have padding that can be found at the right places to better manage the pressure that it’s being placed on the foot while skiing and for providing support for your vulnerable areas such as ankles, toes, and shins.
If you want to up your game style-wise, you will be able to choose from so many fancy graphics. You can jazz it up by opting for bold colours and prints which look great with rolled-up trousers for an après-ski dancing-on-the table, if that’s your thing after a hard day of skiing.
Last but not least, perhaps one of the most unique ski socks out there are the heated ones that feature a lithium-ion battery for an extra blast of heat when needed and for even greater comfort. These are usually controlled by a Bluetooth technology via your smartphone or tablet – a unique gadget that resembles the ones Bond has.
