Warmest thin sock?

Friends, I have a pair of old Technica XT17 plugs that I am going to put back in service. Have been in Dal Krypton Pro for past two years with Intuition liner. Nice boot but just OK fit even with lots of liner work. On the other hand, the Tecnica has a wonderful blood pressure cuff fit with the Dobie leather lace up liner. Problem is that it is a cold boot - especially here in Maine. Got duct tape to keep the snow out of the shell....So what have y'all found to be the warmest and thinnest sock around - or combination of liner/sock. Have used the Chilis superthin with good results. Just looking for others to try.
Obliged.
David

I am impressed with the new style Smartwool Ultralite Racer Socks. Really nice fit without adding bulk. The sock choice can only go so far in adding warmth. You really should consider adding Hotronic Boot Heaters. Expensive but very much worth the investment. You will forget the cost the first cold day wearing heated boots..

JMD. All good. I think a pair of his and hers boot heaters may be in order.
Obliged.
David

Ski socks do not keep you warm. There exist to allow you foot to move inside your boot and wick out some of the the moisture and smell. Several ways to keep you feet warm  (01) Hottronic foot warmers (wife swears by them). (02) Keep your boots (liner) dry - boot dryers overnite. The  commerical models works best - $$$) or take them apart at nite and place BY heater (no contact). (03) Get to know you boot fitter - plug boots means BAD initial fit. Plug boots probably have a lots of blood stopping pinch points off the shelf. Work with your boot fitter to eliminate them. Most plug boots needs to be grinded and blown out to fit properly - that's why they come with such thick shells. (04) Goof othropedic foot bed - better positioned and relaxed foot means better blood flow and lighter forefoot buckle pressure - even more blood flow. (05) Replace the original power strap with Booster straps to allow less tension on the boot cuff buckles - promotes blood flow. (06) Heated boot bags - keeps the boot from getting ice cold on the way to the slope. I split 60 days between VT and western areas - Items #2 thru #5 are good enough to keep me happy. My wife adds #1 for VT only.                 
Remember a good fitting boot is a warm boot.

KingGrump. Sensible stuff. I have to think that the Tecnica folks stole into my house one night and took a mold of my foot. The XT17 is the best fitting boot I ever bought. Got them for $50 (used) but have to replace the blown out liner - and did with the leather Dobie lace up - looks like a boxing boot. Perfect fit. No hot spots, pressure points or pinching. I already replaced the stock strap with a Booster and have custom footbeds. Only reason I moved a away from them a few years ago is because I found them too stiff (esp in sub zero temps) and pitched a bit too foward. But that just reflected problems with my technique which I have since cleaned up with some intensive coaching this summer. And snow would blow into the shell making them rather uncomfortable for a typical Maine day in Feb.
Bought the Kryptons two years ago. Great flex and upright postion. But I could never get them to fit right even with three or four reheatings of an intuition liner. If I could only get the great flex and stance of the Krypton with the glove-like fit of the Tecnica, I would be a happy man.

If the Hotronics are "wife-approved" they are on my holiday shopping list. Suggest the 3 or 4 model?
Tx
David

I agree that socks can only do do much but I do notice a disinct difference in warmth between my Smartwool light cushion socks and my Underarmour ski socks (which are synthetic material).  Smartwool wins hands down.

While I like Smartwool Ultra-thins, I think that they are no better than Thorlo Ultra-thins or the equivalent sold by Defeet. The warmest ski socks are made by the German firm Ergee.

 I have not used these, but have you considered boot gloves?

http://cozywinters.com/shop/bga.html

X-Socks Carving Ultralight!   http://www.x-socks.com/#/en/site/products/x-socks/winter-sports/ski-carving-ultra-light/135415

 

 

 

Edited by Atomicman - 10/22/09 at 9:32am

dup?

Edited by Atomicman - 10/19/09 at 4:20pm

My wife also gave up a pair of Krypton after 2 months - shin bang, went back to a 4-buckle overlap. The Hotronic M3 or M4 are both good battery foot warmer - usually the shops will comp the install. I also travel with a Hotronic snapdry blower to keep the boots dry - over 100 days so far. Dry boots = happy feet. The moisture in the liner conducts a lot of heat thru the shell. In VT, I use a wall mounted Air-dry rack - $$$ but works wonders. Hope you have a warm feet winter.    

dup

 Been buying Eurosock's from Starthaus for a couple of years. Great socks

http://shop.starthaus.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=76&idproduct=1784#details

I agree with lowphat. I got a pair of the Eurosock's that he linked last year. The are ultra thin and wicked away sweat to keep me very dry which kept my feet warmer. I had suffered from cold feet for years even using Eurosock's thicker sock for 3 years before this.

lowfat and NYskier 55, I will order up some of those socks. And KingGrump, local shop has the Hotronic 3 on sale for $150 - will get that for my honey. And if I can figure out a better gasket for my boots than duct tape, that would problay help my situation as well.
 Appreciate the help.
David

You probably know better than I do that first everything must be dry and you've got to start the day warm, but not hot or your foot will sweat.
The next step is to keep the snow out. Boot Gloves do a good job of that and probably add a little insulation too. At least they keep a layer of snow from direct contact with the outside of the boot. I use them. I think they help. Probably not as macho as a few strips of Duct Tape but maybe more functional.
Hotronics work too. Three family members love them. I wish I'd bought them for two teenagers earlier since it would have increased their enjoyment of the sport. They kept telling me their feet were too cold to ski and I thought it was just an excuse to stop skiing early. Now with the Hotronics they ski all day. In my next life I'll listen to them!

 I use a really thin sock.  My current favorite is a smartwool.  I also use the M4 Hotronic and on really cold days add the bootglove.  It's all about dry feet and a good fitting boot that doesn't have to be buckled real tight.  If the boots are too tight there is no blood flow and your feet get cold.

Used to ski in Head plug boot (lots of grinding & stretching. now on a pair of Head Raptor, 1-1/2 sizes smaller than my street shoe size - performance rules - really tight fit.  One thing most racer will do at the lift corral is bend over and unbuckle their boot. I find unbuckling (not unlatch) the boot will alow a extreme tight fit and performance and still allow good circulation. Been doing it for years and can buckle and unbuckle my boot while rolling.
Eurosocks are great (good feel & comfort) but half of 10 pairs has holes in them after 60 days - wears out at the heels. Both wife and kid have the same issue with them. Switch to Smartwool light racer sock and things are looking much better. Not one hole in 10 pairs after 80 days.      

David,

I skied in XT17s for two years, and then moved to Dobie Aggressors (you may find those interesting to try... a bit more modern design than the venerable XTs). I use very thin socks (wicking), and like the Columbia's with UltraMAX. The moisture in your boots is very likely not from snow, but from your own body's moisture being trapped and then going into a freeze/thaw cycle against the shell. This is where a pair of boot gloves will come in very handy (I've worn them since I got the XTs. I don't care how they look... they work). Also, make sure that the shell is warm when you put them on and put the boot gloves over them. I do this with a HotGear bag on my way to the mountain.

In short, the thinnest pair of socks made from wicking fabric, plus boot gloves and a warm shell.

ssh, appreciate your reply. I know from your vintage posts that you are an XT alum.
I think that a combination of all the suggestions may do the trick - better socks, bone dry liners, Boot Glove and fresh duct tape. And then heaters if need be.
Read your review of the Dobie Aggressors with interest. Frankly the idea of a 150 flex makes my previously bloodied shins cringe. As I mature in my approach to our passion, I have come the conclusion that softer (at least in very limitied respects) is better. It is one thing I like about the Krypts, which are no where near 150. And I have a theory that a boot's stiffnes increases considerably here in Maine where we often ski in the -10 to 10 F range. So how would you compare the stiffnes of the Aggressors 150 to the XT's? And is the XT last closer to the 94/95mm of the Aggressor or 99mm for the Pro - if you have any idea? Like I said in my original post, the XT's are a perfect fit - snug heel and ankle and blossom up beautiful in the forefoot with zero toe crunch (unlike the Krypts).
I went over Ski-Depot, out local race Mecca. No Aggressors listed for 2010. Only a Doberman WC EDT boot. Same you think?
Regards,
David

Edited by deliberate1 - 10/20/09 at 10:03am

Hey, d1!

Now sure about the new Nordicas, but I'd be surprised if they adjusted the last very much.

I think the XTs were a bit wider in the forefoot than the Dobermans, so  you may like the fit of the Pro better. I'm 48, and didn't expect to ski the 150s without softening them, but I have, and without concern (or bloody shins!). The flex is progressive (like the XT) but more responsive both laterally and fore/aft. Jeff (Bergeron, genius boot specialist in Breck) spent quite a bit of time dialing them in for me, although the basic alignment was good out of the box (I even skied them for a few hours before he started working on them!).

What size XT do you wear? I have an extra pair that have never been worn!

Nordica WC EDT, available in 150 or 130 flex. Not identical, however very similar last to the 95mm Aggressor. Either model can be modified to decrease the flex by 10 to 15% by lowering the saddle cuts on the lower shell.

jim

Edited by deliberate1 - 10/21/09 at 2:49pm

Jim, any idea what the last width is in the XT 17's? I am wondering which current Tecnica model would be closest.
Obliged.
David

A good option might be the Tecnica Alto H-13 or H-17. Lace up flow liner, much narrower heel than the Diablo series but sightly wider forefoot than the Nordie Agressor.

SJ........(TOJ)

Ill Chime in on a few points here.

Hotronics M4s I got them and love them. I have them on my Nordica Superchargers the blowers. Careful installing them.

I have the tecnica plug h13s and I would not install hottronics on those boots. For me I must take out the liner and put my foot into the liner then put them both in the boot. This will bind/wear out the hotronics heating element connections. You can order replacement parts but they are not cheap.

As for socks....I have had good luck with Lorpens and smart wools. Xbionic has a good pair of socks rumor has it. Ski racing development has those....I may order a pair and let you know how they go.

Ole703, really appreciate your observations. The XT's have the lace-up liner that you put on and then "slip" into the shell. I now get that this system would be incompatible with the Hotronic install. Re socks, I like the Smartwool ultrathins as well and will check out SRD's socks. They do sell major ski candy....

SJ, Googled these but found nothing. And zip on the Tecnica site as well. Are they known by another name?
 

D1

Might sometimes be called the Diablo Race although lots of things have been called that. I'll take a pic or two when I get to the shop.

SJ

FWIW, Hotronics install on lace up liners can be done differently to prevent the cord from breaking or wearing. We do this everday at the Start Haus.

Also the Alto H13, 17, and 24 have always been a race department only product, so it does not show up in consumer information. From the outside it looks just like a Diablo Race Pro 130/110/90. Inside it has dimensions closer to 95mm race boots and comes with the same cork/oil lace up as the Dobe except that it is orange instead of black. As a bootfitter, the Alto Race H has fairly short sole length by size. I believe that the 26 shell or 7Uk is a 302, the 27 or 8UK is 311, etc. and as SJ said the toe box is roomier in height and width.

jim

jim