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Skiing without socks?

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Gstrong
Posts: 4776 - Karma: 511
so, i went skiing last weekend and the first day my ski socks (thicker) gave me a blister on my shin, and the second day my thin ski socks both the front of them have big holes. so since i dont want to spend $20 on another pair of socks im just going to have problems with.
so has anyone skiied barefoot?
Nov 15 2011 4:01AM
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TijmenDal
Posts: 4849 - Karma: 1,295
Are you out of your fucking mind?

Unless you're a skiracer and wear a 26.5 boot even when you should be wearing a 29 you should ALWAYS be wearing socks.

Just buy some generic, thin, ski socks. You could buy a 2-pack for 15$.
Nov 15 2011 4:10AM
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6534 - Karma: 9,627
You will be colder. A sock's job is to move the moisture away from your foot. If you don't wear a wicking sock, then the moisture will stay on your foot and make you cold.

Get some Smart Wool PhD Ultra Lights or Darn Tough Ultra Lights. But multiple pairs and rotate their usage. If you wear one pair every day of course it will die. You wouldn't wear one pair of socks in your everyday street shoes (I would hope), don't do it in your ski boots. Be nice to your feet. You only get one pair.
Nov 15 2011 6:33AM
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rudager
Posts: 11312 - Karma: 4,063
It's worth the $20 man. I've never heard of anyone getting blisters from their socks before either. I remember last season I got to the park and forgot to change my socks. Cotton socks were just the worse thing the ski in. My legs were cold, damp and very uncomfortable. Never want to do that again
Nov 15 2011 9:07AM
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IWishICouldSki.
Posts: 1123 - Karma: 110
hahaha have fun with that
Nov 15 2011 10:04AM
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hokkanee
Posts: 1800 - Karma: 435
at the very least just buy some thin cheap wool dress socks. That's what i usually use and i prefer them to ski socks. and they like 3 pairs for 10 bucks
Nov 15 2011 10:04AM
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Casey
Posts: 7661 - Karma: 22,154
I've skied in low cut socks before just cuz I spaced out and forgot to wear ski socks its not that fun man. Plus your boots are going to stink to high hell in a short period of time.
Nov 15 2011 1:35PM
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OldDirtyPete
Posts: 453 - Karma: 299
don't give up on socks buddy you just had a rough couple of days. A thin ski sock will learn to treat you well; your feet will build character and handle it.
Nov 15 2011 5:03PM
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Session
Posts: 5191 - Karma: 19,945
"Can't buy socks, saving for steez!"

Seriously get some socks you cheap bastard
Nov 15 2011 5:15PM
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BerGNARdo
Posts: 406 - Karma: 44
were the socks you were using pretty thick? when i first started skiing all the gaper adults buying my gear for me said thick socks would keep me warm, but in my experience they just create pressure points, especially if your boots fit properly. I really like the smartwool phd ultralights. barely feels like you're wearing socks but my feet are always warm and dry. I think i wanna try out a pair of the ultralight graduated compression socks this year. lets hope i can get a smartwool proform this year... i dont know if i can swing $45 for socks haha.
Nov 15 2011 5:15PM
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rudager
Posts: 11312 - Karma: 4,063
You don't really need a super thick sock unless it's incredibly cold out there.
If your boots fit properly, you're going to have proper blood flow, keeping your foot warm. You liner is plenty insulated enough, a ski sock helps by drawing moisture off of your foot, along with putting padding on possibly pressure points to reduce pain in a boot.
Nov 15 2011 5:17PM
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Laurent.
Posts: 10054 - Karma: 25,263
Socks help draw moisture away keeping your feet dry, if your feet get wet they can get cold very quickly and you can easily get frostbite.
Saving 20 bucks could end up making your feet look like this, before they have to be amputated:

Click for larger image

Click for larger image

Click for larger image

And as you guessed it it's incredibly painful,
Nov 15 2011 6:51PM
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.RYAN66
Posts: 5381 - Karma: 235
That is disgusting^^^. I used to only ski in euro sock ultra lights. Couldn't find them this yet so I went with smart wool. I miss my euro sock
Nov 15 2011 8:08PM
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NOpoleon
Posts: 263 - Karma: 44
come on now don't be dumb...just where thinner socks. your feet will freeze.
Nov 16 2011 12:12AM
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mozzy
Posts: 1034 - Karma: 60
Sounds like your boots don't quite fit right, actually. I would guess that going with no socks would make your feet swim around in the boot.

In general, you only need one pair of thin socks, provided that your boots fit right, the liners should keep you plenty warm.

That said, I'm a barefoot kind of guy, and go without socks unless it's one of those frigid CO days. And yeah, my boots are perma-stinky.

Nov 16 2011 7:55PM
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Mykel
Posts: 1560 - Karma: 84
I did the no socks/low cut socks and shaved legs thing for a while to fight shin bang.  Then I bought some Smart Wool Mediums on whim and would never go back.  Got them super cheap of Steep and Cheap or backcountry.  Totally worth it.
Nov 16 2011 8:09PM
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drumbumocdp
Posts: 3208 - Karma: 916
i ski with the thinnest ankle socks i can find. Havent gotten blisters or shin bang since i started doing so, but like said before, i would imagine your foot would sweat a lot in your boot without one. try a generic ankle sock and see how it feels
Nov 16 2011 8:16PM
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mozzy
Posts: 1034 - Karma: 60
Bumpity.

Who's rocking no socks this season?


Oct 26 2012 2:40PM
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steve0
Posts: 1080 - Karma: 741
I've skied without socks a few times and I actually did okay with it. I used to play hockey without socks which is farily common I think, and figured I'd try it...
Oct 26 2012 2:49PM
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louie.mirags
Posts: 6015 - Karma: 5,029
The boot fitter I went to said he did not wear socks and that the liners do the job of keeping your foot warm. I tried it my first day at killi and my toes were frozen. It is early season! Buying myself some Darn Tough Ultralight..
Nov 22 2013 8:51AM
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Huck_Norris
Posts: 11487 - Karma: 18,626
dress socks even work in a pinch. The thinner the better, wool is better too but just roll with it my man. Marshall's etc probably has all kind of shit that will work for like $6.
Nov 22 2013 9:29AM
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Faction
Posts: 336 - Karma: 15,584
Click for larger image

Had to ski barefoot once - trust me it's a bad idea.
Nov 22 2013 9:46AM
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Huck_Norris
Posts: 11487 - Karma: 18,626
Not to mention that skiing repetitively without socks will turn your liners into a festering pile of filth and create a stench this world has not seen since the dark ages of the black plague when rotting corpses lined the streets by the thousands.



Nov 22 2013 10:09AM
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OregonDead
Posts: 6586 - Karma: 20,877
I just got a pair of Euro Lights at Big 5 for like 7$. They probably still have some.
Nov 22 2013 3:24PM
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mozzy
Posts: 1034 - Karma: 60
Interesting, which shop was this?

If your feet are cold, put your hat / scarf on, most of your body heat goes out through your head and neck. Maybe also check that your buckles are not so tight that it's cutting off circulation to your feet.


Nov 23 2013 9:44PM
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