Ladies’ socks, revisited

Rick likes “sassy” gloves. Dug is the Imelda Marcos of Telluride-look après ski jackets. Kris has such fear that shaving his legs is a form of emasculation that I don’t even want to explore what’s going on in his head. Jared wears women's underwear. I like ladies’ socks.

In reality, I think it’s more that I like really thin socks than I actually prefer to wear socks targeted for female consumers, but I’m not sure. My wife bought a pair of Pearl Izumi socks in some rather feminine colors, and I was jealous. Not for the thinness of the socks, which was also appealing, but because the argyle pattern and colors looked good.

Recently, I decided that I needed another pair or two of ski socks. If Zach from Smartwool is reading this, I will confess that I’ve been using Ultimax ski socks for the simple reason that they’re really, really thin. Given that I have in the past skied in knee-high nylons, I’m obviously biased towards thin. But since Zach was so cool about hooking me up with Smartwool socks, I decided to give their PhD Ultra Light ski socks a try.

Only problem is that when I went to REI to buy some, they were out. They had some of the thicker varieties, but none of the ultra lights I wanted. As I wandered around the store, however, I stumbled upon what Smartwool calls “Lifestyle” socks in the women’s section. They were over the calf and really thin, just like the PhD ski socks, so I bought a pair.

I wore them skiing last Friday and was in love. So I went back and bought another pair. I wore them to my brother’s wedding on Saturday, ostensibly so I didn’t have to change before skiing with my son afterwards, but really because I just wanted to. I have to restrain myself to not wear them all the time, they’re that comfortable.

I’m sure the skiing-specific socks are great, but I may never find out. Maybe we should ask Dug—I hear he now keeps an extra pair in his glove box. As for me, I’ll be wearing lifestyle socks, perhaps every day.