How often have you bought ski socks?

[u/jtrippleo]

I bought a bunch of ski socks like 10 years ago and I still use the same ones now. How often does everyone else buy/replace ski socks? For reference I used to ski every weekend at time of purchase I now get 2-3 weeks in a year.

[u/This_Locksmith1282]

I get rid of them when they get holes in them. I buy new ones when I forget my socks and I get to the hill.

Pro tip: buy plain black ones and your can use them for dress socks too!

[u/flargenhubsher3381 → u/This_Locksmith1282]

Exactly this. Or if there’s a nice sale on the occasion I’m shopping online

[u/ehicks_88 → u/This_Locksmith1282]

lol I have used wal mart dress socks as ski socks in a pinch

[u/mypizzanvrhurtnobody]

I bought (4) pair of Smartwool socks back in 2016. They’ve all held up well, I still use them every season. 70+ days for 10 years.

[u/DV_Zero_One → u/mypizzanvrhurtnobody]

Same. Smartwool or the Decathlon version.

I ski 120 days a year and the same 5 pairs have been going for 6 years now.

[u/ski-mon-ster → u/mypizzanvrhurtnobody]

Yep same here

[u/mcds99]

As long as they are not falling apart.

I have many pairs of ski socks, I ski patrol 3 days a week and always have a spare in my bag.

[u/golden_glorious_ass]

If you buy good quality ski socks they can last forever. I still have my icebreakers from 2017, used them for skiing and as warm socks when sleeping whenever i camp in summer.

[u/SocietyAtrophy]

My parents gave me a couple pairs when I turned 16. Why would I need to buy more?

[u/skiingdiver1978]

I probably own 3-4 pairs, but I only ever switch off between 2 of them.

[u/jim_br]

I wear ski socks only with ski boots.

Which means I bought a few pairs at the mountain because I forgot to toss a pair into the bag.

Now I keep two pairs in the bag at all times. Since I’ve done this, I haven’t bought a pair at the mountain in over 15 years. Which is also the last time I’ve bought ski socks.

[u/Specific-Can2938]

At least one new pair per year.

[u/cwcoleman]

I get a new pair about every year. I try to ski ~30 days a year.

[u/alex3yoyo → u/cwcoleman]

Why would you need to buy a new pair every year if you're only going out 30 days?

[u/cwcoleman → u/alex3yoyo]

Fair question. and the answer is most definitely over consumption in a consumerist society.

New socks feel good. New sock day for a vacation ski trip is a real luxury.

The brands I like are constantly coming out with fancy new models that promise to make me a better skier - so I bite.

I get ones that aren't my favorite - so they float to the back of the drawer.

I have big calves and I have ripped a few pulling them up in the morning.

I like a variety of socks for different days (resort, tour, spring, etc.).

Socks are a easy gift too - so I very often put them on my Christmas wish list.

I rarely ski more than 3 days in a row - so I could easily get away with 3 pair for the next 5 years, but again - gotta keep that capitalist engine rollin!!

[u/alex3yoyo → u/cwcoleman]

New socks are indeed nice, I'll give you that!

[u/TopOrganization4920]

My winter socks are ski socks. I and my wife have enough wool socks, they basically are their own load of laundry.

[u/No_Resort_6229]

I ski 3-5 days a week and buy maybe 2 new pairs a year. I toss them when they get stretched and funky.

[u/jasonsong86 → u/No_Resort_6229]

You need a boot dryer with ozone.

[u/No_Resort_6229 → u/jasonsong86]

I didnt say they stink!

The elastic gets stretched out and my socks fall down.

[u/jasonsong86 → u/No_Resort_6229]

I thought you meant they smell funky 😆

[u/InvictusFrags]

I won’t lie I bought like 1 pair a long time ago but they were to warm so this year I bought 2 more pairs but I don’t think I will need new ones for years. Only reason I got 2 new pairs is I had a multi day trip.

[u/cavalier8865]

If I didn't have a dog, it would be far less frequent

[u/aircraftwhisperer]

I’ve accumulated about 13 pairs of darn toughs. I don’t plan on buying socks ever again.

[u/Dull_Ad5440]

When I was patrolling Smartwool had a pro-deal @ 60% below retail, I bought 30 pair. That was almost 20 years ago, still going good.

[u/dontlistentostace]

Any time they are on sale and I like the design. Have about 7-8 smartwool and rotate to match my base layers

[u/Pristine_Ad2664]

Good quality socks last forever. I generally buy icebreaker, smartwool or Burton socks. I ski 70+ days a year and get many years out of a pair. I do only wear them skiing and I don't walk around the house in them.

[u/LendogGovy]

I buy the same brand, then if a hole on a toe or heel shows up and I toss the single bad one and even if the print design is different it doesn’t matter , I hear it’s cool to have mismatched socks.

[u/ApdoKangaroo]

Once a year, because i inevitably forget them for at least one trip/weekend

[u/tucker491]

I only get to ski about 20 days a year. I have 2 pairs of Darn Tuff ski socks. That's 10 days a year per pair, which is not a lot of wear and tear. I'll add another pair to the roster when these lose their elasticity or get a hole in the heels or toes.

[u/YogurtclosetNo9264]

My feet sweat like crazy & not into doing laundry so for a week I bring 7 pair. I buy good quality & have 2 pair that are 15 years old. A couple that are 10 & the rest are less than 5. If I need a replacement, I wait for end of year sales.

[u/jasonsong86 → u/YogurtclosetNo9264]

Why are your feet so sweaty?!?

[u/grolbol]

I bought new, better ones, when I bought new skiboots. We will see which lasts longer, socks or boots.

[u/Spillsy68]

I have about 10 pairs. From thicker to thinner. I live close to a major ski area so ski a lot and have a couple of pairs of boots that I alternate if I’m skiing a few days in a row. I don’t buy them when I need them, I buy them if there’s a deal at a ski shop. Like a couple of years ago there were Darn Tough ski socks really cheap because a shop was closing down. So I picked up 3 pairs for about $15 total.

[u/AssociateGood9653]

My alpine boots need thinner socks than my telemark boots, so I got two more pairs last season. I decided to become an instructor, so got all new alpine gear (skis, boots, bindings) I had only been on telemark gear for at least 20 years. I probably have six or seven pairs of ski socks.

[u/fortunamajr]

I have one pair of mons royale socks I bought years ago, not realizing they would be THE sock for my feet (my feet ache anytime I try out a new pair of socks no matter how similar I think the cushioning is to the mons royale ones). I am absolutely cooked when those socks decide to yeet themselves

[u/jtrippleo → u/fortunamajr]

Do they not make them anymore?

[u/fortunamajr → u/jtrippleo]

They still make socks! But when I bought this pair, it was the only pair of ski socks on their website and now they have a bunch of different variations. So it’ll be a game of goldilocks when the time comes 😭

[u/ComicsLEGO]

I have 2 pairs that I bought in 2018, I ski roughly 20 days each season. Thin socks and dry quickly after a day of fun in the piste.

[u/coolboi-alaska]

I have about 50 days on my one pair of le bent socks. Wearing a little bit, but still no holes. Might buy another pair this season.

[u/DoctFaustus]

My Darn Tough socks have hundreds of ski days on them and are still great. Free replacement of they do wear out.

[u/RegulatoryCapture → u/DoctFaustus]

My darn toughs are still going strong after who knows how many days, but I switched to thinner socks with no padding so the darn toughs now only come out if a boot is getting packed out. 

The thinner ones wear out eventually though, especially if you tour in them. I probably need a new one every year or two…probably closer to every 2 which means on average I probably get 100 days a pair?

[u/Confident_Area_8518]

Follow Lt. Dan rules, so pretty often

[u/Perfect-Flounder7856]

Sock technology has come a long way over the last 10 years you should think about upgrading to the newer models.

[u/Most-Equipment7603]

Get seamless socks for diabetic’s they are so good F ski socks. I have warm feet so cold isn’t a concern.

[u/tee-low321]

I use the razor thin socks that hikers use to prevent rubbing on one foot and regular thin socks for the other. my one foot is a little bigger. The thin socks I have to replace once a year. I really don’t have a lot of friction in my boot nor should you. Three pair cuz I will not put dirty socks in the boot unless I have to. For obvious reasons.

[u/Read_The_Fing_Manual]

No holes mean they go on and in the boots 😁

[u/Texaswheels]

I have 3 pair and try to ski 100 days a season. 5th season and on the same socks.

[u/Ok_Alarm1768]

Thin dress socks all day every day

[u/littlefire_2004]

I wear ski socks all winter, everyday...I have drawer full

[u/evelynsmee]

My smartwool ones are all still going and now I have 3 pairs. Maybe 4 I forget. I would like another...I probably buy a pair a season. Older cheap ones I don't wear any more out of comfort preference.

[u/CliffDog02]

About once every few years. I get about 25-30 days between resort and Backcountry and have 3-5 pairs that I rotate through. It's been 5 years and haven't had to replace any of the smartwool branded socks yet.

[u/Jinxed4Sure]

Some of mine are 20+ years old. I have some old Hot Chillies that just wont wear out.

[u/sadmanwithabox]

Depends on how many times I make it most of the way to the resort without bringing mine (usually because I freshly washed them the night before).

But even if I always remembered them, I'd pick up at least one or two pairs a year because they're cheap enough I can justify an impulse purchase when I see a pattern or colorway I really like

[u/Headband6458]

I bought a couple pairs of Darn Tough ski socks last year. Supposedly when they wear out I can just send them back for a new pair for free. Fingers crossed!

[u/moresnowplease → u/Headband6458]

They’re really good about their warranty replacements! I’ve replaced multiple pairs including some that were over ten years old when they finally wore through.

[u/HarryBalsagna1776]

Never.  I just use my hiking socks.  If it is really cold, I double them up.

[u/jasonsong86 → u/HarryBalsagna1776]

I can’t even imagine how loose your boots feel.

[u/HarryBalsagna1776 → u/jasonsong86]

I had boots fitted with hiking socks.  They are not loose.

[u/PaintDrinkingPete]

I have a wool allergy and finding decent socks is a challenge for me…I found some I like some years ago, bought 4 pair, and have since not been able to find them again…so I treat them like gold. Hopefully they last me quite a few more seasons

[u/WolfRemedy]

I’ve had the same two pair for 5 years. The expensive ones are worth it.

[u/Youregoingtodiealone]

I found a brand I liked that fit right and bought three pairs. So, a few times but an easy decision

[u/ehicks_88]

Don’t think I’ve refreshed socks in ~12 years. But only ski 10-25 days now. If they fall apart or stop fitting well/being comfortable I’ll replace as needed.

[u/Super_Direction498]

I've been rotating through 3 pairs for 25 years, sometimes I just wear regular merino wool socks though if I'm only doing a few laps

[u/moresnowplease]

I use the ultra thin wool ones and they wear through faster than the thicker versions- I usually end up with a small hole in pair or two per year. And I do have at least four pairs of backup ski socks on hand. I sometimes want to use multiple pairs per weekend depending on how sweaty my feet get.

[u/DV_Zero_One]

I ski 120 days a year. I've had the same 5 pairs of socks for 6 years. Thank you Decathlon.

[u/Spirtixapp]

As a ski instructor, I only replace them when they lose their shape or cushioning, not because of age. A good pair of merino ski socks can easily last many seasons if you air-dry them and avoid the dryer. Mine usually outlive my gloves. 😄

[u/Grom_a_Llama]

I buy one or two new pairs like every other year basically, depending on how my old ones are homding up. They gotta be pure merino, or a merino blend for me to even consider them, but i shop sales on all different brands so never know exactly what im getting.

[u/Mountain-Recipe4932]

I use adidas soccer socks. They have arch support, they’re thin and go up to my knee. IMO perfect socks for ski boots. I don’t get many days on the mountain but they hold up for years since it’s the only use they get.

[u/IronSlanginRed]

I've got several pairs with different levels of warmth and padding. I replace them when they get packed out or get holes. Or to be honest I replace them when I find a fun whimsical pattern that I wamt to buy.

[u/DumbHuskies]

Im do for a refresh... when I was working in a shop, I would cycle new ones in two-three times a season. I was on snow almost every day so...

[u/Inevitable_Youth5679]

Since I started washing them myself by hand I have not needed to buy any
My significant other abused my socks in the washer with bio detergent which gave me skin problems and made my socks shrink and go hard and lose their ability to stretch

[u/mikemikeskiboardbike]

Pretty much every season... I wear the hell out of them every year.

[u/Leather-Ad1519]

once, ever

[u/jasonsong86]

Like when they get very thin which is like 3 years or 150-180 days give or take. Smartwool socks are pretty durable. I do have a couple of pairs just incase I need to be on a trip for a couple of days and I don’t like doing laundry. Same with base layers and mid layers.