Advnture Verdict
Comfier than your average ski sock, these soft, breathable, padded socks perform well under the stress of cold days and stiff ski boots
Pros
- +
Superior comfort with a soft, cosy feel
- +
Warm and breathable
- +
Extra padding in high stress zones of your foot and ankle
- +
Articulated fit for performance and circulation
Cons
- -
Not for frigid days
- -
A little pricey
You can trust Advnture Our expert reviewers spend days testing and comparing gear so you know how it will perform out in the real world. Find out more about how we test and compare products.
Falke SK2 Skiing Knee High Socks: first impressions
German company Falke rate their ski socks according to usage – casual, recreational, sporty and competitive, each with a different level of padding. The SK2s are designed for recreational skiers and described as “all-rounders”. With medium padding, these socks offer enough warmth for most resort days but aren’t too thick or warm to make a good companion during a day of ski touring.
Made using a blend of synthetic fibers and merino wool, these ski socks provide the stretch and breathability you need when you’re working up a sweat lapping groomers and the durability you want from a pricier pair of ski socks.
These socks come all the way up to the knee with a nice, thick band at the top to keep them up without cutting in. The last thing you want is ski socks that bunch up and these are tailored for a snug performance fit with right/left cushioning and toe box and an articulated heel and arch which reduces the opportunity for blisters to form. They’re padded in the areas that come under the most stress in your ski boot, such as the front of your shin and ankle and your ankle bones.
If comfort is a priority for you on the slopes and you’re looking for a versatile sock for everyday conditions, this is the ski sock for you.
• RRP: £31 (UK) / $39.95 (US)
• Unisex: Men’s and women’s specific fit available
• Sizes available: Women’s EU 35-42, Men’s EU 39-48
• Materials: Polypropylene (45%), acrylic (25%), wool (20%), polyamide (10%)
• Colors: Off white, Black, Wave, Blue note, Thyme, Grape royal, Rose, Lime punch, Gray, Marine, Blue pond, Olympic, Lipstick, Flash orange
• Best use: Skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing
Falke SK2 Skiing Knee High Socks: on the slopes
This is my first time trying Falke ski socks and apparently I’ve been living – or at least skiing – under a rock because the German company has been in operation since 1895. That’s given them a fair few decades to refine the art and science of ski sock design and I think they’ve put that time to good use.
For the last 10 years, I’ve used the same two pairs of ski socks: a thin pair for ski touring and a thick pair for resort skiing and really cold days. Both are breathable and, while not particularly soft, get the job done. These socks are considerably more luxurious than either of those pairs of socks and the first thing I noticed is how incredibly comfortable they are. They are extremely soft and rely more on design than high (or any) spandex content for fit, so even though they don’t feel tight, they have a really snug fit that doesn't cut off my circulation leaving me with cold feet.
They’re articulated around the heel and arch for fit, which works great with my higher arches and come in right/left cushioning with toe boxes so they fit really well with no restriction to my circulation. They come all the way up to my knee with even a little extra fabric to spare, but thanks to a wide band at the top, they stay up and don’t bunch or wrinkle.
These are designed for medium warmth on Falke’s warmth scale and I’ve had these out ski touring and found they were breathable enough for working up a sweat in. They’re warm enough for your typical cold or mild day of alpine skiing, though you might want to look at more padding for really cold conditions. In addition to comfort, something I really love is the placement of padding on the fronts of my shins and ankles, where I often get a bit of rub from my ski boots.
I generally look for a higher wool content than these socks have, for optimal breathability and low stink factor, but I can still wear these a few times in a row without needing to wash them and like that they’re really durable thanks to the higher synthetic content and likely to hold up for lots of seasons to come. I’d say these are priced on the higher end of ski socks, but since I expect mine to last a decade, I’m not complaining about the price for a really good pair of socks.
Here’s how they performed:
Sizing
True to size.
Fit
Knee high and fit for performance, with sculpting around the heel and arch. Also left/right fit.
Comfort
Very comfortable thanks to soft fabric, performance fit and not too tight so no difficulties with circulation.
Temperature regulation
These will definitely keep your feet warm on cold days, in part because they're not so tight they cut off the blood flow, but are breathable and thin enough you can wear them for uphill skiing too.
Breathability
The blend of wool and synthetic material is great for wicking away moisture from my feet.
Durability
More durable than similar socks that have a higher wool content and solid construction.
