We buy all the products we test — no freebies from companies. If you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission, which helps support our testing.
The Smartwool PhD Medium - Women's is our favorite sock to wear while carving out perfect S-curves in the powder. Its performance is head over shoulders above all the rest, offering a balance of warmth, comfort, and moisture management. The strategically placed areas of cushioning and compression paneling provide a nice balance that will keep your feet warm and dry, whatever your winter endeavor. Wear it while descending thousands of feet or while boot packing up a steep couloir. Your feet and body will thank you. And don't worry about stinky or wet feet. The luxurious merino wool that is integrated into its blended architecture does a great job of transporting moisture from the surface of your foot for ventilation. With natural odor control, you can wear this sock for days on end without building up a stench. While other products might have a leg up on the Smartwool PhD Medium in a specific metric, none provide such a robust and well-rounded level of performance in all the most critical metrics.
REASONS TO BUY
Durable
Comfortable
Warm
REASONS TO AVOID
Lacks lifetime guarantee
Expensive
Our Analysis and Test Results
In our head-to-head review, we looked at major differences between the Smartwool Medium PhD for Men and Women. Here is the break-down:
A look at the differences between the men's and women's sock in the body of the sock. This shows the women's sock on the right, with the men's sock on the left.
Credit: Amber King
Hands-On Review
This Editors' Choice offers reliable protection in the form of amazing warmth and thermoregulation throughout all months of winter. Its plush underfoot enhances comfort while balancing moisture management. If you're going to choose any sock this winter to pull on under a pair of ski or snowboard boots, this is our top recommendation.
Performance Comparison
Skinning up the trees in the Pacific Northwest is a great place for this sock.
Credit: Amber King
Comfort
Boasting the best in comfort, the women's Smartwool PhD stands out for its all-day comfortable construction. It features a construction made with 62% merino wool, 36% nylon, and 2% elastane. The merino wool is soft to the touch and provides a plush experience that will have you going from the slopes and into the bed.
The compression paneling is concentrated to the under the arch of the foot, around the ankle, and the calf. This provides a nice, snug fit that aids in thermoregulation. The cushioning underfoot is seriously comfortable, not impeding fit, but providing comfort for skiing or snowboarding all day long. We also appreciate the cushioning around the shin of the sock that offers a little protection from 'shin bang.'
A look at the unique and well-thought-out construction that offers a perfect balance of comfort and ventilation. Its fit is nice and tight, fitting almost like a compression sock.
Credit: Amber King
Warmth
As a super warm sock, you'll be happy to wear it when cold weather hits. We took this sock on many ski adventures from glaciers to Alaska to resort skiing in Colorado. In all cases when the weather was cold to warm, this sock kept our feet warm and comfortable.
This is attributed to the thinner design (even though it's midweight) that allows great thermoregulation. It also features a higher density of merino wool then you'd find in most ski socks. This insulation provides warmth when both wet and dry without compromising boot fit. Overall, if you're seeking a super warm sock that isn't too thick or thin, this is a fantastic option.
The intricate overlay of cushioning that is superficial to the ventilation paneling provides ample warmth with the affinity for effective moisture management.
Credit: Amber King
Drying Speed & Wicking Ability
Seriously, you can wear the Smartwool PhD Medium from the slopes to your bed. Since the material does such a fantastic job thermoregulating, moisture does not get stuck in the material and quickly moves through the numerous panels of compression. These compression panels are strategically located in high sweat areas like under the arch. Also, the area around the calf is quite thin, providing a location for constant ventilation. What's best about this sock and its thermoregulation is the super tight fit that articulates well with every fold and lump of skin underneath it. As a result, it scores high in this metric, providing great drying and wicking ability. Even if you're sweating on the slopes, you can take off your boots and keep these socks on — even in bed.
While we are impressed by the thermoregulation of the Smartwool PhD, the Icebreaker Ski+ Light and Darn Tough Over-The-Calf Padded Light were both notably quicker to dry. This didn't translate into more warmth on the hill, but if you're somebody who has sweaty feet and requires a thinner sock underfoot, both are good options.
Skinning around the Pacific Northwest among other places had us testing wicking and drying ability. This wet climate wasn't a match for the great performance offered by the Smartwool PhD Medium for women.
Credit: Amber King
Fit
It sure does fit like a glove! Utilizing Elastane in its construction, this sock bounces back into shape after being stretched out. While skiing and snowboarding, we didn't deal with any issues like bunching of deforming. The sock stays in place and doesn't slide down. The sock fits tightly which some women love, and others might have to get used to.
In general, the sock fits tight around the calf. If you're a woman who has triumphant calves of steel that are quite large…but with a cinderella sized foot, you might have a little trouble with the sizing of this sock. If you think you might fit into this category, don't fret. The men's version of this sock has a little extra room in the calf and a size that will fit most women's feet. While many online reviews might tell you to simply size up, don't do it! This is because the foot will be too large for your foot size, ultimately taking away from the wicking ability and thermoregulation of the sock.
Offering a precise fit, this sock fits nicely under ski and snowboard boots that are tight or loose. It's not as tall as other competitors but still offers the coverage needed. While the tight does feel somewhat like a compression sock, the mens version is a great alternative.
Credit: Amber King
Durability
Both of our main female testers have owned the women's Smartwool PhD Medium for over five years, and they are still going strong. Yes, the sock will shrink a little in the first wash, and yes, the fabric will pill. Though, in high impact areas, the material has managed to keep its shape and not compact after all these years. In this testing period, we skied almost every weekend, taken them on hut trips, and adventured endlessly through the mountains.
It still holds longevity in its performance and we can say with confidence that this is a durable ski and snowboard sock. If you're feeling unsure, you shouldn't. It's been tried and tested. We just wish it's guarantee lasted a little longer than 2 years, like the lifetime ones offered by Darn Tough.
While the underfoot of the Smartwool does show a bit of pilling, it's still one of the most durable options out there. Tried and tested for over five years, it's kept our feet warm. We stand behind its durability that will last a long long time.
Credit: Amber King
Best Applications
Any ski destination that comes with cold weather is where the Smartwool PhD Medium will thrive. The enhanced padding provides additional insulation and comfort for all-day use. Whether you're a professional in the field or you've just taken your first turns, this sock is suited for anybody and everybody. This women's specific fit provides a thinner fit through the length of the foot, and a little extra compression throughout the leg.
Ski, snowboard, enjoy winter in all climates all winter long. Here we snowboard in Tahoe on a bluebird day.
Credit: Amber King
Value
A great deal for the price. Retailing at $27, this might seem high. However, many ski socks only last a season and this model has proven itself to last for many many rides down the mountain. While it doesn't sport a lifetime guarantee like the Darn Tough brand, it certainly holds it's value in its construction.
Conclusion
The Smartwool PhD Medium - Women's is an industry standard for performance and reliability. The thicker construction offers more in the way of all-day comfort and warmth, and yet, it provides an amazing and almost magical capability for superb thermoregulation. If you've got the money and the option to choose any sock this winter, this is our favorite and most recommended women's specific option.
