Updated November 10, 2022
One of the newest (and, in our opinion, best) inventions in the snow sports gear world is heated ski socks. Yup, they’re exactly what they sound like – socks that have internal, electricity-run heating systems that keep your feet nice and warm while you’re out in the snow. While these socks are more expensive than traditional wool ski socks, they’re well worth the investment for those who get cold feet while spending hours out on the slopes. Whether you’re a skier or a snowboarder, a good pair of heated socks will help you stay comfortable, warm, and dry while spending time in the snow. We created this guide to the best heated ski socks on the market to help you choose the best pair for your winter adventures!
Want more warm ski gear for the slopes?
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- Best Neck Gaiters & Warmers for Skiing and Snowboarding
- Best Ski Gloves for Warm Hands at Any Budget
- Best Women’s Ski Pants & Bibs for Every Budget
- Best Women’s Ski Jackets for Warmth & Performance
What to Look For When Buying Heated Ski Socks
Warmth
Of all of the different attributes you could look for in heated socks, the most important is warmth. Because everyone has a different body temperature and different abilities to retain heat in their extremities, the amount of warmth needed differs from person to person. The best heated ski socks have a few different heat settings so you can adjust the temperature as needed. Remember that when you’re out on the slopes, your body will also generate more heat than when you are stationary, so don’t buy socks that are too warm or you may get sweaty!
You’ll also want to make sure that the heated ski socks stay warm even if the batteries die. Of course, they’ll cool down without a charge no matter what, but socks made of a thick, warm material will retain heat better than flimsy ones. If you’re going to make an investment in a heated pair of socks, you’ll also want to look into the material they’re made of and ensure they’ll keep you warm with or without the heaters.
Thickness
What’s the use of buying a pair of socks if they don’t fit your boots? You’ll want to make sure that the pair of heated ski socks that you buy are thick enough to retain heat and keep you warm, but thin enough to fit into your shoes comfortably and snugly. Different sock brands come in different weights and thickness, so we’d recommend investigating how thick they are and trying them on with your ski/snowboard boots before committing to a pair.
Battery Life & Battery Size
As with anything run on batteries, you’ll want to make sure that your electrical supply will last as long as you need it to! Choosing a pair of heated ski socks that has a long battery life is critical if you’re planning on spending hours out on the slopes. On the other hand, some of the socks with the longest battery lives also have the bulkiest, most uncomfortable battery packs. It’s often a fine line you’ll need to balance between having a long enough charge for your needs while also ensuring that the battery itself isn’t too large or heavy or uncomfortable. Again, you’ll want to research how reliable the battery connection is and read reviews on the comfort and size of the batteries before you buy.
Comfort
Lastly, you should always keep comfort in mind when you are choosing a pair of heated socks. Just because we deem a pair as “the best” doesn’t mean they will be the best heated ski socks for you! We always recommend trying on a few different pairs before committing, especially because finding the best pair of socks will require a time and financial investment.
Want to keep you fingers toasty while skiing too? Check out our guide to the best ski mittens:
Best Heated Ski Socks Review
If you’re looking for the best heated ski socks, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve investigated, tested, and sifted through hundreds of reviews for over 20 pairs of heated ski socks. After lots and lots of research, we narrowed our selection down to 7 pairs of the best heated ski socks that you should consider if you want to have toasty warm feet on the slopes this year.
You can expect to spend anywhere between $50-$400 for a pair of heated socks. The differences in pricing can be attributed to differences in materials and construction, battery life and quality, and the number of different “bells and whistles” each product offers. We’ve included a variety of products at different price ranges so you can compare each and choose the best one for you.
Here are 7 of the best heated ski socks for winter adventures (or, scroll down to the very bottom for our top recommendations):
Lenz Products Heat Socks
Lenz Products makes some of the most popular and high-end heated ski socks on the market today.
With all of the bells and whistles you could want – including heat settings that you can control from a phone app – the Lenz Products Heat Socks are the top of the line offering for heated socks. Their socks are a mixture of synthetic materials and merino wool, which will keep your feet warm and dry even when the socks are turned off.
With up to 14 hours of heating, this sock will easily last for hours out on the ski slopes. Paired with a good pair of boots, you won’t need to worry about keeping your feet warm, even on the coldest days. However, note that the battery capacity does depend on which setting you have the socks on (naturally, higher heat settings burn the battery faster).
The downside? They’re very expensive. You’ll be paying a high premium for a pair of these babies, plus more if you need additional battery packs. Many people felt that these socks were too expensive for the price, and some complained of inconsistent battery quality when used on higher settings. They also only heat the toe of the foot, which may not be worth the price for some.
- Pros: High-end option on the market, heat settings controlled via phone app, high quality merino wool blend for optimal heat retention and moisture wicking.
- Cons: Very expensive, short battery life on high settings
Hotronic XLP Heated Socks
Hotronic is one of the premier brands in heated footwear, and is one of the few brands promoted by large outdoor retailers like Backcountry & REI.
Their XLP Heated Socks are, in our opinion, the best high-end heated ski socks on the market today. While many of the socks on our list are designed for general use (including snow sports), Hotronic socks were designed specifically with skiers and snowboarders in mind. This means you’ll get a durable, performance-oriented product that will keep your feet warm and dry while wicking sweat and providing comfort out on the slopes.
Made of nylon and spandex, the socks are designed for athletic wear and are great for spending hours on the slopes. Additionally, they’re double-cuffed to keep the battery pack firm and snug while you’re skiing or snowboarding.
For a premium brand like Hotronic, you can expect to pay a premium price. At REI, the socks and battery packs are sold separately, which is, well, kind of annoying and impractical. And, while the socks are designed of premium synthetic materials, they won’t wick sweat quite as well as something made out of Merino wool.
- Pros: Made of premium synthetic materials, specific ski/snowboard construction with extra durable build, reputable brand with solid return policy
- Cons: Expensive, battery and socks sold separately
AutoCastle Electric Battery Heated Socks
AutoCastle makes yet another affordable and durable option for cold weather heated socks that provide a solid warmth profile for a reasonable price.
These long heated ski socks are some of the best out there for skiers and snowboarders looking for affordability and comfort while out on the slopes. They also come in a bunch of fun colors, which doesn’t affect their performance at all, but adds a nice aesthetic quality to them.
A blessing and a curse about these socks is that they don’t heat the bottom of your foot, only the top. Some people love this, some hate it, but we found that the lack of bottom-of-the-foot heating made our midsole and heel quite cold, especially since heat rises. They’re also made out of a cotton blend, so they won’t wick moisture (read: sweat and snow) as well as the synthetic and Merino wool options.
- Pros: Affordable, come in multiple colors, top of foot heating capability
- Cons: Cotton in socks means that sweat wicking & moisture control is limited, weaker battery life than others on our list, does not heat the bottom of the foot.
Looking for some good places to go skiing? Check out the best ski resorts in your city here.
Therm-ic V2 Heat Socks
Therm-ic is another great outdoor brand that makes high-end heated ski socks for long days in the snow.
Sold by retailers like Backcountry, these socks are some of the top of the line offerings in the market today, made of premium quality synthetic materials and designed specifically for snow sports. The thin construction is perfect for wearing in boots or during apres-ski, with optimal comfort and warmth while also offering sweat-wicking capabilities.
Again, because this is a premium sock, you’ll be paying a premium price for it. Also, because there’s no Merino wool, you’ll get decent sweat-wicking capabilities but not top-of-the-line ones. And, with a battery rating of up to 8 hours, this sock may not last quite as long as some of the others if you’re using it on higher settings.
- Pros: High-quality and durable, made of synthetic sweat-wicking materials, designed specifically for snow sports, comes with manufacturer warranty
- Cons: Expensive, shorter battery life, no Merino wool
Best Ski Socks: Our Final Recommendations
If you’re willing to spend the money, we’d definitely recommend the Hotronic XLP Heated Socks. These are the absolute best products on the market, providing warmth for hours in the snow without sacrificing comfort. The Hotronic Heated Socks are the top-of-the-line heated ski socks and, if you take good care of them, they will last you for years to come. (Just make sure you pick up both the socks and the separate battery/charger set if you buy from REI!)
For those on a bit more of a budget, we’d suggest going with the AutoCastle Heated Socks. They’re still absolutely fantastic heated ski socks, and if you’re trying to save some money, the only downside is that they’re made of cotton, and not something more breathable. In our opinion, it’s a small sacrifice to keep your toes toasty warm in sub-freezing temperatures.
Let us know what heated ski socks end up going with (and how you like them!) in the comments below. 🙂
