Ski socks with warmth are the cure for cold feet, so you should buy a pair of ski socks with warm elements or make sure you buy merino wool ski socks. If you're cold, freezing your feet can ruin your ski holidays.
Especially in the north of Norway, Sweden and Finland, where it's extra cold during the ski season, ski socks with warmth can do wonders. Temperatures here are typically down to minus 10 to 15 degrees on cold days, and if there's wind, it can feel even colder.
In this article on heated ski socks, we will discuss the advantages and the few disadvantages of heated ski socks.
What are camel socks?
Socks with warmth work in that they have built-in heating elements woven into the socks. You can choose from all different types of fabric such as merino wool, wool, synthetic and cotton. We always recommend going for merino wool when buying a pair of ski socks with heating, as the price is at least 5 times higher. So you might as well go for the best to keep your feet warm on the slopes.
How to use ski socks with heat?
Since they are powered, they need to be recharged every day or every other day, depending on how long the heating elements have been on. You can either turn your heaters on and off at the touch of a button or, with the latest models, you can control them via an app on your phone. Where you can adjust the heat up and down or set timers.
They are set up so that you have several different heat levels, you can see the charge level on the app. Lenz, the leaders in the field of ski socks with heat, have created an app that works for both Android and iOS.
How to choose the right ski socks with heat?
- You need to make sure they fit perfectly, neither too big nor too small.
- You only need to wear a pair of ski socks, no tennis socks or your running socks underneath. Doing so will cut off the blood flow to your feet.
- Look at several different ones, consider whether you want them to be controllable from your phone or if you'd rather pay a little less and turn them on and off yourself.
- Be sure to carry more than 1 battery if they cannot be recharged.
- Look for merino wool models that help retain heat but are breathable.
- Stable warmth in your feet for more comfort and better skiing
Why not invest in a pair of ski socks with warmth?
As I said, it's the north that's coldest. This means that if you go to Saalbach, Hintertux, Canazei, Sierra Nevada, Tignes, Les Sybelles, Val Thorens or these destinations in the Alps - in late February, March or April. The sun is typically high and many people will hit the slopes without their ski jacket or with their ski jacket open and get so much sun that they get half-burnt because they forgot their sunscreen.
If you're heading to Norway or Sweden at the end of the ski season, you don't need a pair of ski socks with heating elements. It's enough to invest in a good pair of merino wool or wool ski socks.
But you can never rely on the weather or weather reports and if you're a gear person who loves gear, it's good to have a warm pair and a good pair of nice warm wool ski socks.
How much does a pair of heated ski socks cost?
An extra pair of ski socks with heating costs between 600 - 2,500 DKK depending on which brands you choose. We recommend LENZ and Therm-IC, the two largest manufacturers of ski related products with heating elements.
Is a pair of warming socks worth the money?
Like so much other ski equipment, it's easy to buy a lot of ski gear before you've even set off on your ski vacation. But if there's one thing that can really ruin a ski holiday, it's cold feet or cold hands. So if you have a tendency to freeze to death, you can be sure you'll feel they've paid for themselves after the first few weeks of skiing. You'll have longer days on the slopes, a better experience, more focus on skiing and less focus on cold feet.
How do you wash a pair of ski socks with heating elements?
Read the washing instructions carefully and or find the washing instructions on the website of the ski brand where your socks are from. It will be a shame if you've thrown them in the dryer and you ruin them before you've even worn them. Since the washing instructions differ from brand to brand and how you might need to remove the battery and charger from the sock, we won't give you a guide here on how to wash your ski socks.
However, we can say that you should probably not throw them in the dryer, nor should you hang them on a very hot radiator.
What material should my ski socks be made of?
If we look at a pair of Lenz ski socks with heat, they are 50% polyester, 25% nylon, 15% merino wool, 5% silk, 3% polypropylene and 2% spandex. It varies from model to model, but as long as you stick to the Lenz or Therm-IC brands, you'll get some of the best ski socks on the market.
How long can the battery typically last?
Lenz lithium batteries can last up to 14 hours
Therm-IC batteries can last up to 16 hours
What size to choose?
It's important to buy ski socks that fit you, follow the size guides and if you fluctuate between two sizes, make sure you try on the ski socks before you go on your ski vacation. If they're too big, you'll slide around in your ski boots or make chafing marks that can irritate you throughout your ski vacation. If they are too small and too tight, they can ruin the experience. So make sure you test them before your ski vacation, preferably in your ski boot or snowboard boot.
Which ski brand to choose?
In the local ski shops you will find Lenz or Therm-IC on the shelves, the Danish ski shops aim to have the best products in stock. Danes are looking for quality products, which is why we only recommend these 2 brands. If it's not a smart color and has some red on it, but your skiwear is blue or purple, remember that no one but those in your ski lodge will see them, but you get the same experience whether they are blue, yellow, green, red or black. Remember that colors apply to all your skiwear, it's features and comfort that play a role in your performance and development on the slopes.
What else do you use socks with heating elements for?
If you're an outdoor person who loves hiking, walking the dog in the woods, mountain biking in the snow, hunting early in the morning, sleeping in the woods under the stars, working outdoors in the winter months, cutting Christmas trees, being the local Santa or fishing while there's ice on the local lake - then you know about cold feet in the winter months early in the morning. Then a pair of ski socks with warmth quickly became a good investment.
Can you get heated ski socks for kids?
You can get heating socks with heating elements for children, but the lowest size is 35-38. They are available from 500 and upwards. You can get them from brands such as Lenz, BootDoc and Therm-IC.
Can ski socks burn you?
In our experience, no, they can't. It's not something we've heard of or read about anywhere. It must be something they have tested with strict restrictions before putting such a product on the market.
Where can I buy ski socks with warmth?
You can find them in almost every ski shop here in Denmark, or you can find them online or at your ski destination. You won't find them in the big sports stores like Sport24, Intersport, Sport24 or Sportigan. Remember, we need to support the local ski shops and not the giants.
Does it matter if you buy ski socks for men or ski socks for women?
It all depends on the shape of your foot, if you have a wide foot you can choose a men's ski sock, but if you have a small foot you can wear women's ski socks. We always recommend testing the ski socks
Where can I buy cheap heated socks?
Ski socks on offer should be bought just before a season or just after a season, when there are typically sales and replacements from old items that didn't sell last season with new items that have been ordered in for the new season. As it's an electronic product, you'll be very lucky to find ski socks with heating on sale for more than 30-40% off. There are usually new models or colors, but there is a time lag between upgrades to stronger technology like battery life or app features.
Alternative to ski socks with heat?
We've mentioned before that merino wool or wool ski socks are our favorite. Brands to look for include Falke SK models, Helly Hansen, Seger, Salomon, Peak Performance, Head, Cap, which all make good and warm ski socks.
Another hack to keep your ski boots dry?
You can buy heated soles, that could be an alternative. They work the same way with an on/off function. The last tip you get from here is to get a ski boot dryer that can dry your skis or snowboard boots overnight so they're not wet and uncomfortable the next day.
Who makes the best ski socks with warmth?
