Smartwool PhD Ski Medium Sock Review

by Guest Writers · Published March 21, 2012 , 1:51 pm · Updated March 18, 2023 , 9:23 am

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Socks are not exactly the sexiest piece of gear in your wardrobe (at least I hope they are not), but our friends over at Smartwool have made it their mission to at least keep our feet comfortable and healthy. The Smartwool team is comprised of experts in the science of foot protection, and their engineers and designers do a great job ensuring Smartwool remains an industry leader. With corporate headquarters based in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, their employees live in an amazing playground, and are able to test and push the limits of their own products everyday.

I tested the medium cushion, over-the-calf Smartwool PhD Ski Sock on a recent weekend trip to Monarch Ski Area in Central Colorado. I wore them for a full day of snowboarding, and was very pleased with their performance. Like many of its counterparts in the high-performance sock space, the PhD line does a nice job of providing compression through the arch of the foot, while also providing a little extra cushion in areas where your foot and shin might encounter increased abrasion and impact. Unlike some others, though, this sock also has open mesh knitting on the top of the foot to help with ventilation.

The compression components are part of what Smartwool calls this their 4-Degree Fit System. This is a four-point, sport-supportive system that provides a custom fit around the heel, arch, and instep. The extra cushioning in the shin and foot is part of Smartwool’s WOW Technology, which stands for Wool-on-Wool. The WOW zones replace some of the nylon blend with additional Merino wool, to get as much wool next to your skin as possible, where you need it. When snowboarding, the main areas of extra pressure are typically the lower to mid-shin and the lower- to mid-calf areas, and this sock held up well and kept my feet and lower legs comfortable and warm.

Smartwool has a custom blend of super comfy Merino wool…a staple across all their product lines. The fabric blend for the Smartwool PhD Ski Sock is knit in the USA, and is made up of 70% Merino Wool, 28% Nylon, 2% Elastane. These socks are available in four color combinations: Lime/Black/Gray, Graphite/Royal, Black/Gray, and Clay/Gray (Reddish-Orange). This is an excellent sock for your snowsport-specific outings. Enjoy! For more information on the PhD Ski Medium Sock and other Smartwool products, visit www.smartwool.com or www.amazon.com/smartwool.

MSRP $23.95