ProView – Wigwam Moarri Ski Socks
Can we just be honest for a minute? Feet are weird and smelly, and people who ski lots often have especially weird and smelly feet. At least that’s how my clodhoppers are. However strange your feet may or may not be, taking care of them is one of the most important things you can do when skiing in the front or backcountry.
Wigwam Moarri Ski Socks
Product Description: Patented Ultimax® moisture control from the bottom-up, Zone cushioned over the calf, U.S.A. knit inside cuff, Elasticized arch and ankle, Seamless toe closure
Offer price: $22.00 MSRP
-
Durability
(4.5)
-
Fit
(4.5)
-
Features
(5)
-
Quality
(5)
Summary
Wigwam has outdone themselves with their Moarri line of socks. With three different weights, they have you covered over a broad range of uses and environments.
Overall
4.8Pros
- Cozy
- No bunching in the boot
- Breathable
- Odor-free on usually stinky feet
Cons
- Easily caught on Velcro
- Can become “frizzy”
- Slightly tighter fit on the ultralights
It has always been a bit of a struggle to take care of my noticeably flat feet. I’ve lost toenails from running, gotten blisters from backpacking, and plenty of frostnip from standing in snow for hours while running ski lifts. Having Raynaud’s syndrome, often turning my toes white in the cold, adds another hurdle in foot upkeep. So when I got the chance to test out three pairs of Wigwam’s Moarri ski socks, ultralight, lightweight, and midweight, I was excited to see how they performed. I am stoked to say they have proven their worth by helping me keep my feet happy in my boots this season.
As a ski instructor and lift operator from the Pacific Northwest, spending the winter season in Phoenix for school left me feeling a little out of my winter element. Lucky for me, testing these out gave me a great excuse to put off those lab reports and get out in the mountains to ski (Yes, you actually CAN ski in Arizona!) any time I had the chance. Throughout the season I was excited to test the Moarri socks on resort runs, backcountry basins, and in constantly changing conditions. Let’s see how they did!
Fit/Comfort
Overall, I was impressed with how well all of the socks fit and felt. The Ultralights seemed slightly tighter around the cuff than the other two. However, I did not find them to be overly tight and thought it helped keep them from sliding down during long approaches and days in the backcountry. The zone cushion was appreciated on all three pairs of the socks. The midweight and lightweight provided a more luxurious riding experience, due to thicker cushioning, and excelled at resort skiing and some light skinning. The Ultralights, while still comfortable for a more minimalistic sock, did have significantly less cushion which allowed for superior breathability and backcountry skinning performance. The seamless toe closure was a dream come true on each of the socks. I had zero issues with rubbing on my toes, an issue that you can often get with some other ski socks. Nicely done Wigwam.
Features
Wigwam’s Moarri socks are available in midweight, lightweight, and ultralight versions. They all feature Wigwam’s patented ULTIMAX® moisture control, a Zone cushion over the calf, a seamless toe closure (one of my favorite features!), and an elasticized arch and ankle. They also have USA knit inside the cuff, which I actually think is really cool. The ultralight version also boasts a smooth fiber sole made from recycled plastic bottles.
For the Ultralight, my favorite feature ended up being the Repreve® smooth fiber sole. For me, this was the greatest difference between the three weights of the sock. I was curious to see how well it worked having never used a thin sock with this type of material. The more I used it, the more I grew to like it. Right off the bat, sliding into stiff ski boots was a breeze. I normally struggle for a few minutes to slide on my boots, but with the ultralights my foot slid right in. The Repreve® sole made the ultralights my favorite sock for skinning and backcountry use.
Function/Performance
Across the board, all weights of the Moarri held up well over testing. However, each sock excelled in its own area of use. The ultralights worked great for backcountry use. Even on multi-hour approaches, I never got any blisters or hot spots and they allowed my feet to breath really nicely. While they can handle resort skiing, their lack of insulation and cushion can lead to chilly feet on the lifts. This can also lead to sore shins when hitting big kickers and spending time in the park. This being said, the ultralights are the best sock I have ever skinned in!
The lightweight sock is the jack of all trades for skiing. Having some more cushion, it holds up nicely for longer days at the resort while still being breathable enough for skinning. If you are looking for one sock to do it all, the lightweight is the way to go.
The midweight sock is the tank of the three. Being the thickest and most insulated, it really crushes shredding the gnar. The cushioning kept my shins from getting sore (which they normally do) when hitting the big drops and riding steep and deep. On top of that, it is a nice cozy sock to wear around the lodge while taking a lunch break or enjoying an IPA. While it doesn’t have any big issues for skinning, it is not as breathable as the lighter weight socks and can sometimes become a little bunched up in your boot. For a more burly sock, it still gets the job done when you need it to in the backcountry. I would choose the light or ultralightweight socks if you are planning on a full day, or more, of skinning.
Durability/Construction
The Moarri socks have held up great over the past few months. While they do show signs of normal wear and tear, this has not affected their performance. What I have noticed the most is that they can get caught on Velcro and become “frizzy”. I don’t think I have ever seen a sock that doesn’t do this, but it is something to be aware of if you want to get the most life out of your socks.
Room for Improvement
All in all, these socks leave little room for improvement. While the collar on the ultralight could potentially be a little looser, the trade-off might be the sock sliding down and bunching in the boot. Personally, I’d rather have a slightly tighter fit and avoid having to readjust my socks every few minutes. Thanks, Wigwam. These are some stellar socks!
The Final Word
I have been constantly impressed with the breathability and fit of all three socks. Throughout numerous testing environments, I had no issues with blistering and the socks have stayed relatively odor free.
Shop the Wigwam Moarri Ski Socks on Outdoor Prolink. Not a member? Apply today!
About the Gear Tester
Daniel Conrad
Daniel currently works as a student manager for Grand Canyon Universities Outdoor Recreation Department as well as working at the school's climbing wall. Over the past two summers, He has guided with Peak 7 Adventures in Washington leading a 50-day outdoor expedition leadership course called the Bower Adventure Course (BAC). Daniel is a member of the Mountain Rescue Association and Inland Northwest Search and Rescue volunteer. You can connect with him on Instagram @conrad_daniel.
