Darn Tough Yeti Over-the-Calf Lightweight Ski & Snowboard Sock review: unstoppable comfort from the chairlift to the backcountry

Darn Tough Women's Yeti Over-the-Calf Lightweight Ski & Snowboard Sock: first impressions 

The Yeti OTC Ski socks are made by and for folks who love winter. These lightweight socks don’t have any cushioning and are instead fit for performance. There’s no annoying bunching and they’re slim enough you can wear them with any of your ski boots.

Don’t be fooled by how lightweight these socks are, however. Merino wool provides plenty of warmth on cold ski days, and its moisture wicking capacities means that you won’t get sweaty feet, or blisters, if you wear these for backcountry touring. You can wear these for many, many outings without them getting stinky too, which means less washing and more durability.

These snug socks have just enough stretch that they’re easy to pull on, they stay up without cutting in, and once they’re on you forget they’re there. Just what you want from a ski sock.

These high performing socks are priced on the higher end of the ski sock spectrum, but they offer the ultimate in quality and comfort. And don’t forget, Darn Tough offers a lifetime guarantee on their socks!

Darn Tough Women's Yeti Over-the-Calf Lightweight Ski & Snowboard Sock: on the slopes 

The Darn Tough Yeti OTC socks tick all my boxes when it comes to lightweight, versatility ski socks for touring and spring skiing.

Unlike with hiking, for skiing I don't have loads of gear; rather, a reliable, good quality kit that I can depend on to keep me warm and comfortable. In that kit there are two pairs of ski socks – a thick, cushioned pair for sub zero temps on the resort, and a lightweight pair for backcountry touring and spring skiing. For me, these socks are top contenders that latter pair, which is no surprise; the folks at Darn Tough know exactly what they’re doing when they make socks for cold weather adventures.

These socks are lightweight enough to fit under both my alpine and touring boots with no bunching or rubbing. They’re not cushioned, focussing instead on a really snug performance fit. They’re comfortable to the point that I don’t even notice they’re there, and they stay up just below my knee without digging in.

These wool socks provide great warmth, but I tend to run cold, so I might wear a thicker pair of socks in really cold temperatures. However, if you are more comfortable in cold temperatures, you could easily wear these for all skiing. And of course, wick away sweat for vigorous work like uphill skiing which is essential.

If you don’t know, you can wear Darn Tough socks for months and months without having to wash them. They just never seem to get stinky. This really ups their value since they’ll last much longer. They do come at a premium price, but they last you for years. My oldest pair of Darn Tough socks is about 12 years old and one of them has only just started to lose its elasticity. Plus, Darn Tough offers a lifetime guarantee so you can basically make a one-time purchase.

Here’s how they performed:

Sizing

True to size.  

Fit

Snug performance fit rising to just below the knee. 

Comfort 

Barely there feeling made from soft, non-scratchy wool, no bunching or digging in around the cuff. 

Temperature regulation 

Natural wool will keep you warm on cold days and cool if you work up a sweat. 

Breathability 

Wool is naturally breathable, so you can get sweaty in these and you won’t even notice. 

Durability 

My personal experience with Darn Tough socks is that they can last at least 12 years. These are well made, don’t require much washing, and come with a lifetime guarantee so basically they last forever.