Snow Skills

If there’s one piece of clothing which can turn a cold winter day into a fine day of skiing, it’s a good pair of socks. With the close fit of today’s alpine ski boot, one light to moderate-thickness sock layer is the right amount of heft. A bulkier sock or more than one pair of socks will tend to close off the circulation in the foot and decrease the foot’s inherent ability to warm itself. It’s the fit of the sock as much as its material that’s important. Keep the blood flowing through your foot with a quality pair of socks and the ski boot’s insulation should be equal to the task of keeping your toes warm.

From my experience, the best fitting socks for use in an alpine ski boot are Patagonia Capilene Lightweight Alpine Hiking Socks. These socks are made with a blend of natural and synthetic materials to give them excellent warmth and superior moisture wicking. This blend also produces a relatively thin sock for its warmth and results in a snug fit without potential for bunching. They have a long cut that allows you to pull them well up on your calf to overlay with your leg layers and also avoid bunching in the boot’s instep and cuff areas. These socks are my “gold-standard” for skiing: I have great confidence in them and always wear one pair regardless of the weather conditions.