Your kids are about to hit the slopes for the first time? Yay! Especially at the beginning, it’s all about keeping the little ones’ motivation up. And what’s one of the top motivation killers for children as well as adults? Exactly: cold feet.
One way to make sure that your kids’ feet stay dry and toasty is to kit them out with high-quality ski socks. Sounds like a plan? Then it’s time to find out more about ski socks for kids – in our exclusive buyers guide in collaboration with FALKE!
What should you look for in ski socks for children?
Shopping for children’s ski socks is not much different from buying ski socks for adults. To do their job well – which is to keep your kids’ feet warm – good children’s ski socks need to be functional as well as comfortable.
Your key considerations when buying children’s ski socks should be:
- Fit: Make sure that your children’s ski socks fit properly. If they are too big, they tend to bunch in the ski boot, which can lead to painful blistering.
- Breathability: If you really want to make sure that your little ones’ feet stay toasty, you should get them socks with excellent moisture-wicking properties! If the socks have poor moisture management, your kids’ sweat will be trapped, causing their little toes to get wet and cold.
- Thickness: Thicker socks are not necessarily warmer – quite the contrary! The thicker they are, the more likely they are to trap moisture. Thinner socks are often much more breathable, allowing the sweat to escape and leaving your kids’ feet dry and warm.
- Padding: Padding can help to reduce the pressure placed on the foot during skiing. For instance, beginners often go for additional padding around the shin area. High-quality children’s ski socks, like the SK2 Kids or SK4 Kids by FALKE, are padded in all areas with potential pressure points: the sole, the shin, the ankle and the heel. What’s more, they are thin and lightweight to ensure optimum power transmission.
Which materials are ideal for children's ski socks?
Ski socks are usually made from merino wool, synthetic fibres, or a blend of the two.
Both materials have their advantages:
Merino wool socks …
… are odour-resistant.
… are soft and comfortable.
… offer superior temperature regulation.
Synthetic socks …
… offer a special performance fit.
… are less expensive than Merino wool socks.
… have excellent moisture-wicking properties.
Important!
Avoid cotton socks when skiing! Cotton has much poorer moisture-wicking properties than wool or synthetic fabrics – leading to wet and cold feet.
Did you know? FALKE uses a combination of moisture-wicking polypropylene and moisture-absorbing, soft merino wool in their children’s ski socks.
What other tips are there to keep your kids’ feet dry and warm?
Apart from getting high-quality ski socks for your little ones, there are some other tips you should keep in mind if you want to spare your kids the unpleasant experience of freezing toes.
Tip #1
Make sure your kids wear the right size ski boots!
Ski boots that are too big create lots of negative space inside the boot. This leads to poor insulation and cold feet. Likewise, boots that are too small can cut off circulation and lead to weakened, cold feet.
Tip #2
Don’t overtighten the lower buckles!
Overtightening the lower buckles of your children’s ski boots can restrict their blood flow, which in turns leads to cold feet.
Tip #3
Unbuckle during breaks!
Make sure to unbuckle your kids’ ski boots during breaks. This allows trapped moisture to escape and reduces the pressure exerted on the feet.
Tip #4
Keep the rest of the body warm!
If you keep your children’s core warm, their feet will benefit too. Make sure that your little ones wear high-quality ski clothing with excellent breathability and high waterproofing. Remember that the best way to keep warm during skiing is to dress in layers!
INTERSPORT Rent tip
Kids grow quickly – and kitting them out with a brand-new ski outfit every season can be quite pricy. The solution: Simply rent your children’s ski gear from INTERSPORT Rent!
At our rental shops in many of the world’s most popular family ski resorts, you can find a huge selection of rental equipment for kids – ranging from skis to snowboards, helmets, poles and high-quality clothing. Our RENTertainers on site will be happy to help you find the best product for your snow-loving offspring!
