BAM Bamboo Ski Socks review: these breathable socks utilize compression – not bulk – to fight cold

BAM Bamboo Ski Socks: first impressions 

BAM Bamboo have capitalized on the most desirable qualities of bamboo here to create a ski sock that is breathable, comfortable and doesn’t get smelly easily. These socks are thin and unpadded, so best for ski touring and not-too-cold ski days, however they do have a little compression, which helps to improve circulation and keep you warmer when it’s cold. A cosy terry lining and invisible toe seam means they’re comfortable against your skiing with no annoying bunching or rubbing.

Bamboo is already known for its moisture-wicking properties and they’ve added mesh panels to improve breathability which keeps your feet dry on spring days and uphill adventures. These socks aren’t quite as long as other ski socks, so if you’re longer in the leg they might not quite come up above your calf, however they do stay up well. Though bamboo is not as durable as synthetic or merino wool, these are made with 12% merino and the heel and toe of these socks is reinforced with recycled polyamide. A leading fabric in sustainability, bamboo makes a viable – and more affordable – option for ski socks and you can wear these for several days in a row without having to throw them in the washing machine. 

BAM Bamboo Ski Socks: on the slopes 

This is my first time trying ski socks that aren’t primarily made using merino wool and they definitely boast the comfort I’ve come to expect from bamboo thanks to a soft terry lining that was a nice surprise since they’re not particularly thick socks. These thinner, streamlined ski socks are best suited for ski touring, snowshoeing or spring skiing, but of course if you tend to get sweaty feet in cold temperatures then you’ll like these too.

Naturally, bamboo is great for moisture wicking which is important for me when I’m ski touring and I like that these have mesh panels to increase their breathability. I have some pairs of ski socks that have a sort of barely-there feel but these ones have a little compression which is what I prefer. The theory is that compression socks increase your circulation which helps keep you warmer in cold weather. I don’t know if that’s really trye, but I do prefer compression over bulk because then I end up with bunching socks in my ski boots so I’ll take it.

One thing that I noticed with these socks is that they don’t come up quite as high as my other socks. In fact, when I measured them, they are about two inches shorter than my favorite ski socks. What’s nice about longer socks is that the tops easily gather around the natural indent between my calf and knee, whereas these ones come in just below the top of my calf. This means there’s ever so slight slippage once I start moving in them, however they do have lots of stretch and stay up well.

I’m used to bamboo not being as durable as other fabrics, but these ones do have a decent merino wool content too, which should keep them performing longer, and they are considerably more affordable than merino wool ski socks. While I find that wool socks are the winner when it comes to odor protection, I can definitely get away with wearing these quite a few times before they need a wash, and in terms of pure comfort against the skin, bamboo always wins.

Here’s how they performed:

Sizing

True to size.

Fit

These are articulated around the heel and arch and fit for performance, but not as long as other knee high ski socks and might be too short if you’re long in the leg or bulky in the calf. 

Comfort 

Very soft terry lining and no rubbing seams or bunching in the boots. 

Temperature regulation 

Light compression and bamboo helps to keep your feet warm, while breathability cools you down on spring days. 

Breathability 

Bamboo is already breathable and they’ve added merino wool and mesh panels so you can wear these for skinning as well as skiing. 

Durability 

Addition of recycled polyamide and merino plus reinforced heel and toe makes these more durable than other bamboo products.