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Wigwam Snow Sirocco Review

A durable wool-synthetic ski sock option.
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Price:  $16 List | $11.20 at Amazon
Pros:  Durable, cheap
Cons:  Not very warm, poor wicking ability, scrunching in toe
Manufacturer:   Wigwam
By Amber King ⋅ Senior Review Editor  ⋅  Mar 7, 2019
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58
OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#6 of 7
  • Comfort & Construction - 20% 5
  • Warmth - 20% 6
  • Drying Speed & Wicking Ability - 20% 6
  • Fit - 20% 4
  • Durability - 20% 8

Our Verdict

We appreciate the Wigwam Sirocco for its bomber construction that bounces back after every use. As a wool-synthetic blend, it provides baseline performance that you would expect from any ski or snowboard sock. Its construction is basic, consisting of a long tube of material, and doesn't really tout any outstanding features that you'd find in our Editors choice, the Smartwool PhD Ski Medium. Unfortunately, it's not very warm nor comfortable but does the trick if you're looking for a bare-bones and inexpensive option. There are higher value options out there like the Fox River Telluride that costs less and offers better performance. The Sirocco is ideal if durability is a priority and you're seeking a sock with a thicker construction. It'll perform for most things winter.


Compare to Similar Products

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This Product
Wigwam Snow Sirocco
Awards  Editors' Choice Award Editors' Choice Award Top Pick Award Best Buy Award 
Price $11.20 at Amazon$20.99 at Backcountry
Compare at 2 sellers		$20.99 at Backcountry
Compare at 3 sellers		$24.95 at Backcountry
Compare at 3 sellers		$10.00 at Amazon
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Pros Durable, cheapDurable, comfortable, warmWarm, comfortable, durable, reliableSuper durable, great fit, super wicking ability, lifetime guaranteePriced right, warm when dry, comfortable, lightweight
Cons Not very warm, poor wicking ability, scrunching in toeLacks lifetime guarantee, expensiveNo lifetime guaranteeNot very warm, no additional paddingCold when wet, durability is so-so
Bottom Line A durable wool-synthetic ski sock option.An industry standard that should be part of everybody's winter wardrobe.If you're seeking a ski sock for the season, this is the most reliable with the best overall performance.A lightweight sock that will keep your feet dry even on the warmest days of winter.The best valued sock in this review for skiing or snowboarding.
Rating Categories Wigwam Snow Sirocco PhD Ski Medium Smartwool PhD Ski Medium Over-the-Calf Padded Light Fox River Telluride Medium
Comfort & Construction (20%)
10
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5
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9
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9
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8
Warmth (20%)
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7
Drying Speed & Wicking Ability (20%)
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Fit (20%)
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Durability (20%)
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Specs Wigwam Snow Sirocco PhD Ski Medium Smartwool PhD Ski... Over-the-Calf... Fox River...
Material 42% Wool, 24% Stretch Nylon, 21% Polypropylene, 7% Stretch Polyester, 5% Olefin, 1% Spandex 62% merino wool, 36% nylon, 2% elastane 65% Merino Wool, 33% Nylon, 2% Elastane, Imported Yarn 60% Merino Wool, 36% Nylon, 4% Lycra Spandex 53% acrylic, 27% nylon, 18% Merino/wool blend, 2% spandex
Level of Cushioning Medium Medium (feels lightweight) Medium (feels lightweight) Ultralightweight Lightweight
Weight of both socks 3.40 oz 2.95 oz 3.15 oz 2.85 oz 2.80 oz
Left/Right specific? No No No No No
Overall height 14 inches 13 inches 13 inches 14 inches 13 inches
Padded area No specific cushioning, just cushioned throughout. Shin, underfoot, ankle Shin, underfoot, ankle Shin Shin, heel, ankle
Warranty or Guarantee Lifetime Guarentee Head to Heels Guarentee upon arrival w/ 2 year Guarentee Head to Heels Guarentee upon arrival w/ 2 year Guarentee Unconditional Lifetime Guarentee One year warranty

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Wigwam Sirocco is constructed with 42% wool and a collection of synthetic materials that provides decent performance on the mountain. While it's certainly not our favorite, we do appreciate its great durability and its basic functionality that will have you up and down the mountain comfortably on most days.

Performance Comparison


Somedays are better low-angle in the backcountry! Here Eddy enjoys a cold day of skiing while wearing the Wigwam Sirocco.
Somedays are better low-angle in the backcountry! Here Eddy enjoys a cold day of skiing while wearing the Wigwam Sirocco.

Comfort & Construction


While the Sirocco feels cozy and comfortable when you first slip it on, putting it into a pair of boots is a different story. The toe box is quite boxy and moves around quite a bit in the boot. While the sock feels nice and thick, this thickness compacts quickly under pressure to the point where it feels like there is little to no insulation underfoot. Also, the construction of this sock is sub-optimal, consisting of a long tube of material without any areas of compression or ventilation. Good comfort when worn on its own, but it could use some work to wear on the hill.

As a midweight wool-synthetic blend ski sock (that feels like a heavyweight option) offers decent performance for most winter sports. Unfortunately it is one of the coldest socks tested (despite its thickness) and isn't the most comfortable.
As a midweight wool-synthetic blend ski sock (that feels like a heavyweight option) offers decent performance for most winter sports. Unfortunately, it is one of the coldest socks tested (despite its thickness) and isn't the most comfortable.

Warmth


We wore this sock on a super cold morning while skiing at the Telluride ski resort. We were surprised at the lack of warmth when dry and even more surprised when the sock got a little wet. Overall, while it is thick, it's not very warm. The integrated wool does insulate but not as well as competitors such as the Smartwool PhD Medium or Icebreaker Ski+ Light. If you're seeking a warm sock for super cold days, this is not it…opt for a thinner option that can breathe a little better with wool that doesn't compress under pressure.

Drying Speed & Wicking Ability


With a super heave construction, the synthetic-wool blend still has a really hard time drying and wicking away moisture. While the fibers in the interior of the sock have nice big fibers for wicking capabilities, they don't work when under pressure. In addition, the material that is comprised of primarily wool (we aren't sure what kind) with some wicking elements integrated (42% Wool, 24% Stretch Nylon, 21% Polypropylene, 7% Stretch Polyester, 5% Olefin, 1% Spandex) doesn't really do a great job, according to our testers after many days on the slopes. Therefore, it's not recommended where performance is of supreme importance. If wicking power is what you need, be sure to check out the Darn Tough Over-The-Calf Padded Light sock.

Skinning into our hut meant getting up in the morning when temps dipped just below zero degrees Fahrenheit. It also meant skinning for five hours. On this escapade it got wet (from the sweat of our feet) held the moisture and didn't wick very well.
Skinning into our hut meant getting up in the morning when temps dipped just below zero degrees Fahrenheit. It also meant skinning for five hours. On this escapade, it got wet (from the sweat of our feet), held the moisture, and didn't wick very well.

Fit


With a thicker construction, it's a bit too thick to be worn with a tight-fitting ski boot. Our snowboarders and skiers with a looser fit thought the fit was okay. The toe box is a bit big and the sock did bunch up in the front of the boot for a few of our testers. The length of the sock is just right, offering lots of coverage.

A thicker construction that offers full coverage.
A thicker construction that offers full coverage.

Durability


Tough and durable. After a few months of use, we noticed little to no wear and tear, even after wearing consecutively for several days on end. Only some minor pilling. Overall, a great workhorse that should last for many years to come. We also like the lifetime guarantee they are backed by.

While the bottom of the boot shows a tiny bit of compaction we are happy with the durability of this wool-synthetic blend. Its fibers bounce back and it's a reliable option.
While the bottom of the boot shows a tiny bit of compaction, we are happy with the durability of this wool-synthetic blend. Its fibers bounce back and it's a reliable option.

Best Applications


A great option if you're seeking a sock for dry conditions that aren't too cold. The cushioning is a bit thick for a tight boot and fits those best with a looser ski boot or snowboard boot. Take it out on a blue-bird day at the resort.

Snowboarding on a cloudy day in the Wigwam Sirocco.
Snowboarding on a cloudy day in the Wigwam Sirocco.

Value


Priced at just $16, the Sirocco provides a decent value. With its great level of durability and decent performance, it'll last you for a long time. While it's not the warmest and doesn't perform as well as Fox River Telluride, our Best Buy Award winner (retails for $13), it's still a good deal.

Conclusion


This sock will last you a long time. The Wigwam Sirocco is a wool-synthetic blend that offers great durability at a decent price. While it's not the warmest or most comfortable, it has its place offering decent performance on the resort on dry days.


— Amber King