Slipping a pair of cozy socks over bare feet gives them instant comfort and warmth. Adversely, socks can also make your feet feel hot and sweaty. Selecting the right sock for a particular climate, activity and comfort level is an important step in keeping feet dry, comfortable and free of blisters. Athletic pursuits such as running, walking, backpacking, mountaineering, skiing and hiking have specialty socks that are designed and recommended for each sporting activity.
Sock Fit
Any casual, leisure or sport sock must fit the foot properly in order for the sock to accomplish what it was designed for. A sock's thickness is an important facet of a well-fitted sock --- it must accommodate a shoe or boot without making the footwear feel overly tight. Also, the correct length of a sock is vital to a good fit. The heel and toe should encompass those areas without sagging or bunching up in the footwear as a result of being too long.
Comparison
Hiking and skiing are both active sports requiring significant pressure on the feet for extended periods. Both sports require your feet to be comfortable, which means keeping them dry, warm and blister-free. This is where the similarities between hiking and skiing foot needs end and where the need for specialized socks for each sport begins. The type and construction of boots, foot movements and climatic conditions vary greatly between hiking and skiing and require accommodating socks to avoid foot discomfort.
Ski Socks
Ski boots are equipped with a lightweight, heavy liner to provide warmth, eliminating the need for a thick sock. Each foot contains more than 250,000 eccrine sweat glands, making them one of the sweatiest places on your body, according to REI. Covering your foot in a thick hiking sock for skiing may make your feet sweaty. A thin ski sock made of merino wool will wick moisture away from your feet, keeping them dry and comfy. Knee-length ski socks typically have extra padding for the heel and ball of your foot as well as the shins.
Hiking Socks
Hiking socks rarely go beyond the middle portion of your calf and often can be worn with a liner for added warmth. More rugged hiking conditions, such as backpacking and mountaineering, require thicker hiking socks with extra cushioning on the ball, heel and top of the foot. They are designed to protect feet from the cold, harsh weather and repeated impact from hiking on rough terrain. Hiking socks are created to wick moisture away from your feet, keeping them dry and warm.
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