Rohner Carving Women L/R Sock

Stella Selden reviews the Rohner Carving Women Sock, Blister Gear Review
Rohner Carving Sock

Rohner Carving Women L/R Sock

Size: Women’s Small (36-38, M 3-5.5, W 4.5-6.5)

Foot size: 7-7.5

Color: White

Material:

  • 42% Polyacrylic (Outlast)
  • 19% Polyamide
  • 17% New wool
  • 16% Polyacrylic
  • 5% Polyamide (Silver)
  • 1% Elastane (Lycra)

Test Locations: Solitude Ski Area, Utah; Wasatch backcountry & hiking trails, Utah

Days Tested: 30

MSRP: $35

When choosing a ski sock, I want one that is warm, durable, and comfortable. Rohner, a Swiss sock company, has been around since 1930 and has a reputation for making well-constructed socks. I’ve had durability issues with other socks in the past, and I was curious to see how well Rohner socks could hold up to a season of skiing and hiking.

Fit

I usually wear a size 7 or 7.5 street shoe, so according to the Rohner sizing chart, I should wear size Small, which equates to women’s sizes 6-8, and men’s sizes 3-5). Even though most of my ski socks are Medium, I ended up with the recommended size Small.

In terms of fit, the Rohner Carving sock is most similar to my Medium Icebreaker Ski Lite Women’s sock. Freshly washed, the Carving sock and the Ski Lite sock are both the perfect length from heel to toe. After wearing the Carving sock a few times, though, it stretches out enough that the heel seam rises up a little and sits higher on my Achilles tendon when I pull the socks all the way up.

Both the Carving and Ski Lite socks have long cuffs compared to my other ski socks. The Ski Lite’s cuffs sit 2-3 inches higher than my other socks, reaching the top of my kneecap, and the Carving is almost half an inch longer than the Ski Lite. At first, I thought the longer cuff length might bother me, by either bunching up on my calf or constantly sliding off my knee. However, I never usually pulled the socks all the way up, wearing them just below my knee, and didn’t experience any problems with the extra length or material.

Stella Selden reviews the Rohner Carving Women Sock, Blister Gear Review
Stella Selden in the Rohner Carving Women L/R Sock.

The Carving sock has a pretty similar width to the Ski Lite, as well as most of my other ski socks. It actually feels a little less restricting and more comfortable than my thinner, lightweight SmartWool PhD Ski Lite socks.

If Rohner made an Extra Small, I would probably size down, which is surprising to me since I usually wear Medium socks. The Small fits well initially, but is a little big once it stretches out. Since I only air dry my socks, it’s possible that putting them in a dryer could shrink the Carving sock, but the heel-to-toe length does feel longer than I’d expect from a Small. If you are between sizes, I would definitely recommend sizing down.

Function

The Carving sock is made with several synthetic and natural materials, is very soft, lightweight, and doesn’t itch at all. There is light padding on the shin, ankle, and foot, which is a little thicker than the padding on my Ski Lite socks. I’ve appreciated the sock’s padding, which helps take up a little extra room in my packed-out ski boots. I’d say the Carving sock is medium in terms of thickness; not super thick, but not as thin as the Icebreaker Ski Lite or the SmartWool PhD Ski Lite.

Over the last few years, I’ve continued to wear holes in the heels of the majority of my ski socks. Upon closer inspection, I’ve discovered that the holes in my socks line up with the blisters on my heels, which also line up with the holes in my ski liners. After a season wearing the Carving sock while skiing and touring (when I tend to wear holes in my socks most often), I haven’t experienced any major problems with the sock’s durability, except for some minor pilling in the heels. I’ve been really impressed with my Ski Lite socks’ durability; even though I can usually get holes in my socks after one season, I have yet to develop any holes in my Ski Lite socks after wearing them for three seasons. Since I had a relatively short season this winter, I plan to keep an eye on the Carving’s heels as I put more time in them and will be sure to update this review if anything changes.

Outside of skiing, I often wear the Carving sock around the house and have hiked in them a few times. In every situation, I’ve noticed how warm they are. Since I’m always cold, they do an excellent job keeping my feet and lower legs warm. Compared to other socks I own of a comparable thickness, the Carving sock is definitely the warmest. And even though the Carving is warm, I haven’t noticed my feet sweating any more than in my other socks.

Bottom Line

The Rohner Carving has been a great sock for on and off the slopes. I like how lightweight and thin it feels, while still having a little padding in the shins, ankles and feet to increase comfort. I would highly recommend the Carving sock to those who want a warm sock that doesn’t feel too thick or bulky.

 

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