The last thing you want when you're spending hours on the slopes is to have cold, wet or uncomfortable feet. Your ski socks are so important as they can make or break your trip on the slopes, and it's one of those ski wear accessories that people overlook. We've created this guide to go through all the different styles, features and materials you want to think about when looking for your next favourite pair of ski socks.

When looking at ski socks, there is one material to avoid - cotton. Cotton holds onto the moisture and can lose its warmth when wet. Look out for a Merino wool sock, either Merino wool or a wool blend. This type of wool is excellent at keeping the temperature regulated, as well as helping to keep your feet feeling dry. When blended with other fabrics like nylon and spandex, you get all the benefits of the wool, with the stretch and durability of those other materials.

When it comes to the thickness of ski socks, you'll be forgiven for thinking that the thicker the socks the better. But that's not always the best way. Sometimes when socks are too thick they can actually make your feet feel colder as they can cut off the circulation. When snow boots are created, they don't allow extra room for thick socks, so when you do wear thick socks it can make your feet feel restricted and tight which in turn can reduce the amount of blood flow down to the feet. Thin socks, made with the right material ensures that it fits correctly, allows the boot liner to insulate and helps to wick any sweat away from your skin.

If you find that your boot feels like a better fit with thick socks then it more than likely is too big and needs looking at.

Once you've found the right pair, it's important that you wear them correctly. You only need one pair of socks, don't be tempted to double them up in the thought that it's going to be warmer for your feet. Make sure that they're pulled up high, there should be no wrinkles, especially not on the heel or instep as that can start to cause some discomfort the more you're on your feet. Base layers and thermals shouldn't be tucked into your boots, keep them above the cuff so your socks are the only thing that sits on the inside of the shell.

A handy tip to rememeber is to put your boots on whilst they're at room temperature. This makes sure that the plastic is slightly flexible and can buckle easier. If they're cold, it can make the boot feel brittle and harder to wear.

Socks often get forgotten about, but when you're planning on spending hours on your feet in the snow it's something you can't underestimate. Here at Dare 2b, we live and breathe anything ski and snow sports. When we develop our ski wear, we try to take into account what feature you may need to have the most successful skiing trip. That includes our ski socks and thats why they have features like padded zones for extra warmth, comfort and durability, seamless construction at the toe box and an antibacterial odour control treatment.

Across the rest of our ski wear collection, we use our ARED fabric technology which provides industry high levels of both waterproofing and breathability. You can check out the rest of our ski blogs if you're looking for more apres inspiration.