Helly Hansen Warm Alpine Ski Socks Review
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Helly Hansen Warm Alpine Ski Socks
Lets take a look at the Helly Hansen Warm Alpine Ski Socks
I love the color scheme on the stock photo above! My charcoal colored ones are great of course, but if you want something cool and different make sure to check out the entire line. Sometimes when reviewing a piece of apparel or gear, I like to go back a generation to see how far we’ve come. These are not your dad’s wool socks! Thick, musty, scratchy but warm was high tech and all that back in the 1960’s.
The Helly Hansen Warm Alpine Ski Socks sport today’s technology, warmth, compression, breathability, and durability, all in a nice thin sock. It’ll make you forget about your feet, and help you enjoy the beauty of nature. If you are skiing, hiking, or snowshoeing this is a very nice addition for braving the elements.
Technical Features for the Helly Hansen Warm Alpine Ski Socks
These socks are made for the all day endurance athlete or skier. Hence, I was dying to find out how comfortable these would be after a long day on two sticks. The Helly Hansen Warm Alpine Ski Socks are comprised of a Merino Wool and Lifa ® fiber technology which combined are supposed to provide for the best possible performance. 40% merino wool, 40% acrylic, 18% nylon, and 2% lycra.
The socks have several areas of “strategically placed padding.” I thought that would simply mean extra cushioning at the heel and forefoot landing pad. Upon further inspection, there was also additional padding right at the top of the foot to aid in softening the effect of the ski boot. Additionally, there was a strip of padding right at the front of the foot right above the ankle. Again, to aid in the cushioning and comfort of the ski boot fit.
Snug elastic fit at the top, and a stretch material around the calves
The tighter graduated compression at the feet, ankles, and calves helped fight the effects of gravity and swelling. The compression provided was great throughout the day. The socks are actually quite thin which is super nice in preventing any hotspots with your boot. The focus is on hitting that next mogul, and not that uncomfortable rubbing on your shin or ankle.
Fit and Performance
I have a 10.5 – 11 shoe size. Their sizing chart on the side of the package for Mens has a Medium as 7-10, and a Large as 11-14. Caught in the middle, but I went with the large. I think either would have been fine, but the large fits me quite well. The sock comes advertised as being a high ski cut. They pulled up just below the knee and right above the Ski Boot. Perfect!
When I’m not making my way into the mountains to enjoy the thrill of skiing, I run and bike quite a bit. For that reason, my calves are a bit larger than your average gastrocnemius muscle. I really was curious how comfortable or stretchy the socks would be especially around the calves. No issues whatsoever! Nice fit and I was able to wear them for the entire day with great comfort.
Additional and thicker padding where it counts.
Early season skiing is in full swing here in Colorado with up 5 ft. of snow in November. Plenty of base, so I headed to Keystone Resort just West of the Continental Divide. My ski boots can be considered vintage in certain ski circles, but I have great affinity for my 12 year old boots. Having said that, they do take their toll on my lower legs, and these ski socks were up to the task. I appreciate how thin they are, since it’s just less material to cause friction in hot spot areas. It wasn’t a super cold day, but an overcast morning did bring a bit of chill to the body as I flew down the mountain, and sat idle on the lift. My Alpine Ski Socks kept my toes and feet warm. That’s what you ask for in a sock, and all that really matters. Period, enough said!
Final Thoughts on the Helly Hansen Warm Alpine Ski Socks
These socks are truly the latest and greatest. Warmth, compression, breathability, and durability all in thin sock. A great piece of critical gear for skiing, boarding, snow shoeing, or hiking. The Helly Hansen Warm Alpine Ski socks will perform for your winter adventure to help you get out there without having to worry about your feet getting cold.
For more info on the Warm Alpine Ski Socks and other Helly Hansen gear, visit www.hellyhansen.com
