Once upon a time, there were perhaps three types of socks: Everyday socks, trainer socks and walking socks. I remember wearing this “limited” range of socks for pretty much anything that life threw at me, including going to school, working, going to the pub, running, playing badminton and tennis, dog walking, hiking in the hills and skiing.
Today, in contrast, there is a choice of socks to suit every activity. It can be bewildering trying to choose the right pair of socks to perfectly suit your life, work and sport but sometimes you find a gem of a pair, or two.
I have been testing Soxsmith Ski Socks and Soxsmith Running Socks.
On test: Soxsmith Ski Socks
During my ski trip to Ischgl in Austria I tested Soxsmith Performance Ski Socks. They are relatively cheap at £16 (I have paid more than £30 for ski socks before). They are sold in three sizes, UK3 to 5.5; UK6 to 8; and UK 8.5 to 11.5.
The knee-high socks are made of “Drytex” Thermical yarn, including 20% Drytex and 40% Polycon, as well as 20% polyester, which is breathable, sweat wicking and stretch-resistant.
They have padded areas in all the right places, including the front of the shin where many people suffer bruising from ski boots, as well as at the ankle, heel and toe.
Small stretch panels on the top of the foot allow for a snug but not too tight fit on the foot.
Although the socks are unisex, I found they offered a good fit on my long, narrow feet. The socks rise up to just below the knee and I found them a little long so I simply folded the top over. They still felt very comfortable for several days of skiing.
The socks felt smooth and snug in tight fitting ski boots and I have not been irritated by seams or wrinkles in the socks.
I would normally choose to wear a ski sock with Merino wool, rather than synthetic fibres because natural wools tend to smell less when feet get hot and sweaty (as they usually do in ski boots). I was surprised by how little the Soxsmith ski socks whiffed even after three days of wear (I have worn them day after day as a test!).
Although the weather has been warm and sunning while skiing, which means my feet have ended up hot, it has not felt like a big issue. My feet have not become overly damp or uncomfortable.
In fact, when I take my boots off at the end of the day my feet are surprisingly dry.
I imagined that the Soxsmith Performance ski socks would be a poor comparison to my normal Merino ski socks but I can’t say I have noticed any difference. And since they are a lot cheaper than many Merino ski socks I think I will buy another pair.
The socks also look pretty cool, although you do not see them for long before shoving them inside a ski boot, and because I have new ski socks it means Hubby G has been able to steal one of my usual pairs. (He didn’t realise they have a hole in the toe until we arrived in Austria! Oops.)
On test: Soxsmith Running Socks
If there is one area of the sock world that has grown the fastest and widest, it has to be running socks. I have a large drawer full of running socks and they are all different. Except, I always choose to wear one of only about five pairs.
I like my running socks to be lightweight but not too thin. I am not keen on padded or double skinned socks.
I have been testing the Soxsmith Lightweight Running Socks. They cost £7.50 and also come in three sizes, as above.
They feature Drytex comfort yarn, which is moisture wicking, and they have a seamless toe, as well as reinforced heel and toe. There is a right and left sock for an “anatomic fit”.
The socks have performed really well. They fit well, feel very comfortable at the heel and toe and they do not cause any rubs or irritations.
They are also the perfect thickness, being not too heavy and not too thin.
It is hard to say why my running socks become favoured… I only know which ones I seek out before a run from my big drawer of running socks. The Soxsmith lightweight running socks are now in my top 5.
Where to buy Soxsmith socks
See Soxsmith for details of these socks and to buy direct from the website. They sell lots of different socks for a wide range of activities, including running, cycling, tennis, horse riding, skiing, hiking and even for riding motorbikes. Who ever imagined there could be so many different sock needs?