Reviews You Can Rely On

Fox River Telluride Medium Review

This is one of the least expensive models that still offers reliable performance for skiing or snowboarding
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fox river telluride medium ski socks review
Credit: Fox River
Price:  $15 List
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Manufacturer:   Fox River
By Amber King ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Mar 7, 2019
54
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Comfort & Construction - 25% 6.0
  • Warmth - 25% 5.0
  • Breathability - 25% 5.0
  • Fit - 15% 6.0
  • Durability - 10% 5.0

Our Verdict

If a shoestring budget is what you're on, the Fox River Telluride Medium is an inexpensive option that will perform well all day long. This lightweight sock is outfitted with a synthetic-wool construction that thermoregulates well using a highly precise fit and strategic placement of ventilation. It fits nicely under a pair of ski boots with ample padding along the shin for additional support. We tested it while ski guiding at the Telluride resort and while playing around in the backcountry of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. In moderate temperatures and dry conditions, it provides warmth, but when wet, it gets cold. Unfortunately, it pills after the first or second use, which doesn't affect performance. If a low-priced but technical sock is required, this is our favorite.
REASONS TO BUY
Priced right
Warm when dry
Comfortable
Lightweight
REASONS TO AVOID
Cold when wet
Durability is so-so
Not the most fitted sock

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Fox River Telluride features lightweight construction, providing a comfortable and warm experience when dry. Although it's not the warmest when wet, for such a low price, it performs well for most outdoor adventures.

Performance Comparison


fox river telluride medium ski socks review - we make powder lines in untouched snow on a day exploring in the...
We make powder lines in untouched snow on a day exploring in the backcountry. The Fox River joins us and provides great protection and warmth as the snow is dry and light.
Credit: Amber King

Comfort & Construction


A comfortable ride on the mountain, whether you're skiing at the resort or exploring in the backcountry. Constructed primarily of a synthetic acrylic material (53% acrylic, 27% nylon, 18% merino/wool blend, 2% spandex) it will keep you comfortable on the slopes. If you're simply looking for an option that'll perform for a day at the resort, this is a great option, and this is attributed to its construction.

While the Telluride doesn't feature the best engineering on the market, it certainly has a nice construction that will perform for most winter activities. The sock has a well-padded shin that all of our testers agreed was a nice addition for comfort.

fox river telluride medium ski socks review - a look at the construction. padding on the shin and ankle with...
A look at the construction. Padding on the shin and ankle with thinner areas for better ventilation concentrated to the back of the calf and underfoot.
Credit: Amber King

Underfoot, there is a super-thin layer of insulation that extends to the top of the toes. The heel and ankle are a little thicker around the bones where there might be unwanted pressure points, especially if you're renting a pair of boots. The arch features an area of compression, like most ski socks, to keep it in place while carving out sweet new powder lines.

fox river telluride medium ski socks review - unique in its design, the fox river has a lot of padding in the...
Unique in its design, the Fox River has a lot of padding in the heel, which was also a place that held moisture. The padding provides some comforts...especially with our testers that prefer a little extra cushion on those pressure points.
Credit: Amber King

Warmth


While it provides a great level of warmth when dry, this sock loses a lot of its loft and warmth when wet. Being made of primarily synthetic materials that don't insulate as well as Merino wool, it's not the warmest option out there. If you own a pair of boots that provide great ventilation and don't leak, this sock would work for you. However, many of our testers reported that on the coldest days of winter, when socks got a little sweaty, they did not insulate very well.

When skiing at the Telluride ski resort, where we didn't get too sweaty (as we only worked while skiing downhill), our feet were completely happy all day. Our testers that tried these out for days on end didn't have any trouble at the resort. However, aerobic activities like skinning uphill is a different story. When wearing this sock on a day while backcountry skiing in Aspen, CO, we were met with a flash winter storm.

fox river telluride medium ski socks review - skiing in washington was a great way to test the relative warmth...
Skiing in Washington was a great way to test the relative warmth when wet. While it's not the warmest sock after it gets damp, it sure does a great job when dry.
Credit: Amber King

Wearing it while skinning uphill meant for sweaty feet that couldn't ventilate well with our snowboard boots. As a result, the sock took in some water. While hiking uphill, our feet still stayed warm as the synthetic materials in addition to the minimal merino wool do insulate when wet.

fox river telluride medium ski socks review - the thinner design underfoot provides great areas for ventilation...
The thinner design underfoot provides great areas for ventilation, but the heel, being padded, does hold moisture.
Credit: Amber King

However, when it was time to switch from tour mode to ride mode, we stopped in a cutting wind that was very cold…with temperatures well below freezing. Immediately, our feet began to cool and we felt cold. On our other foot, we wore another high-quality sock and that foot felt just fine. While this sock is quite warm overall, if you're going to have sweaty or wet feet in super cold conditions, we'd recommend a different sock that integrates a larger percentage of Merino wool in its construction instead.

Breathability


With its thinner design, this sock does a decent job wicking and drying when the right kind of ventilation is present. This means that if your boot provides nice ventilation, you won't have to deal with wet or damp socks. However, like all options, we noticed our feet staying a little damp if boots did not vent properly. Since it is made up mainly of synthetic acrylic, with some integrated merino wool, it does wick moisture away from the skin, promoting dry feet, but the moisture can get stuck in the material. It also doesn't dry as quickly as other merino wool competitors. Though, it performs well enough for simple use at the resort or a simple day out in the backcountry.

The areas of ventilation are concentrated to the underside of the foot, specifically the arch, and around the ankle. The body of the sock is thin enough to articulate well with the leg. The areas that we observed moisture build-up are at the heel (where there is additional padding) and some of the material underfoot.

fox river telluride medium ski socks review - we tested its wicking capabilities while skinning around the...
We tested its wicking capabilities while skinning around the mountains of Colorado in various places.
Credit: Amber King

Overall, this sock does wick and dry well enough to be used at the resort or for a moderate day in the backcountry. However, if you're planning on getting sweatier than normal…to hike uphill, or cross-country ski, we'd recommend ensuring that either your boots provide sufficient ventilation, or to get a sock that provides better wicking power.

Fit


Offering a nice fit with thoughtfully placed areas of compression and cushioning, our testers are happy to say that it's thin enough to fit underneath a tight boot, with enough tenacity and elasticity to retain its shape.

With a lower sock height, it doesn't provide the same coverage as taller socks but it provides sufficient coverage for any ski or snowboard boot. Our testers appreciate its well-engineered fit, especially for such a low price.

fox river telluride medium ski socks review - fit is good and tight. feeling like a lightweight sock, it fits...
Fit is good and tight. Feeling like a lightweight sock, it fits nicely inside of ski boots that are super tight.
Credit: Amber King

Durability


While this isn't the most durable sock, it'll surely last you for a season or two. The primarily synthetic construction does bounce back from wear and tear and will be harder to put holes in than socks made primarily of merino wool. In our testing period, we observed some compaction at the foot of the sock, decreasing the warmth of the product to a degree in just a few short months. While this occurred after just one or two cycles of wear and wash, we didn't notice the performance decreasing after that. Overall, it shows regular wear and tears that you'd expect from any ski or snowboard sock.

Fox River offers a one-year guarantee that ensures you are happy with this product. This doesn't compete with an unconditional lifetime guarantee that you'll get with a Darn Tough product or even a lifetime guarantee that you'll get with an Icebreaker product. Overall, we'd expect an average level of durability with this product, retaining performance for a season or two.

fox river telluride medium ski socks review - after a few uses, we see some underfoot cushioning compaction and...
After a few uses, we see some underfoot cushioning compaction and pilling. While this isn't a huge deal, it's important to note as there are more durable options out there.
Credit: Amber King

Value


High value with decent performance! If you're seeking a great value, this Best Buy Award winner is our top recommendation. While it doesn't have a lifetime guarantee it still upholds its value in its performance.

fox river telluride medium ski socks review - this sock will keep your feet happy and healthy as long as they...
This sock will keep your feet happy and healthy as long as they don't get too wet. For the price, it's unbeatable.
Credit: Amber King

Conclusion


The Fox River Telluride has lightweight, synthetic blend construction. It's warm when dry, comfortable, and provides decent all-around performance that will perform well during moderate days on the ski resort and day trips into the backcountry.

Amber King