Performance Warm High merino wool socks

Performance Warm High merino wool socks are knee-high, very warm socks for winter activities. The durable four-layer construction keeps your feet warm, and the thin, lightly compressive leg protects your whole shin from cold and snow.

Dispatched the next working day after you order.

Delivery from €5.90. Free delivery on orders over €120.

100-day satisfaction guarantee.

“Choosing the wrong socks backfired one perch fishing weekend, when I forgot to put liner socks under my merino socks. After a kilometre I had a nasty blister on my heel, and the whole competition was in jeopardy.”

Aino Hynnä and Anna Virolainen-Hynnä, members of the Finnish national fly fishing team

Performance Warm High – socks you forget as soon as you put them on

Performance Warm High merino wool socks solve one of the toughest clothing challenges of cold weather: how to keep your feet and lower legs warm and dry when you spend long periods outdoors in snow and freezing temperatures. Merino wool is nature’s own smart material. It keeps you warm even when slightly damp and evens out temperature changes, so your feet stay comfortable whether you are on the move or standing still. The knee-high design protects your whole lower leg, not just your ankle.

The innermost layer of the sock is moisture-wicking polypropylene. Polypropylene does not absorb moisture but moves it on to the next layers of clothing, so you stay dry for the whole trip.

Merino wool keeps you warm and polypropylene handles the moisture, so your feet do not get wet or cold when you stop for a break. Just a dry, light feeling that lets you focus on what you are doing.

Merino wool is naturally odour-resistant, so you can wash your socks less often and they last longer. When you take them off at the end of the day, you are not greeted by that familiar end-of-day smell. Instead, they feel fresh. On long trips, you can often freshen them up simply by airing them – a big advantage when washing is not an option.

Performance Warm High merino socks come with a 100-day satisfaction guarantee. We want you to have time to try the socks properly: wear them as normal for 100 days. If you are not satisfied with them for any reason, you will get your money back.

Professionally tested Performance Warm High merino wool socks for every situation

The shaped heel fits your foot precisely, and light support at the arch keeps the sock in place. The thin, gently elasticated leg follows the shape of your lower leg without squeezing, so the sock stays up all day without slipping down to your ankle or leaving pressure marks. No more socks that slip off or need a second thought.

The durable four-layer construction is at the heart of these socks. It makes the foot section warm and hard-wearing, while the soft wool sole cushions every step and feels soft underfoot, even on long days. The toe seam is flat and unobtrusive, so you will not feel that familiar pressure point on top of your big toe, even after a long day. It is a small detail you only notice when it is missing.

Performance Warm High socks are designed for winter activities and time outdoors in the cold season, when your feet and lower legs need warmth and protection. These knee-high socks are very warm and made for the moments when cold and snow call for protection all the way up your leg. The innermost polypropylene layer also handles moisture, so sweat cannot chill your feet, even when you stop for a break.

In Svala AIR System™ layering, Performance Warm High belongs to the Accessories range, which complements the main layers. While the Zero Layer and Base Layer manage moisture and warmth around your body, merino wool socks complete the system by keeping your feet warm and dry. A warm body needs warm feet too.

Thoughts from the designer

“When you spend a long time in snow and freezing temperatures, keeping just your feet warm is not enough – your whole lower leg needs protection. I wanted to make a knee-high sock where a warm, durable foot section and a thin, gently elasticated leg work together: the sole cushions and warms, and the leg protects your lower leg without slipping or squeezing. The innermost polypropylene layer keeps your feet dry even when you pick up the pace. A good sock is not one you notice during the day, but one you forget as soon as you put it on.”

Ninni Pohto, designer at Svala

Materials with a purpose

Performance Warm High merino socks are made from a soft merino wool blend: 58% merino wool, 29% polyamide, 10% polypropylene and 3% elastane. Merino wool provides warmth, breathability and natural odour resistance, polypropylene wicks moisture away from the skin, polyamide adds durability, and elastane adds stretch that keeps the sock in place.

The four-layer construction of the foot section combines the best properties of these materials: warmth, moisture wicking and durability. The innermost layer, against your skin, is moisture-wicking polypropylene, which keeps your feet drier even when you sweat, while the soft wool sole cushions every step and feels soft underfoot.

Merino wool is naturally excellent at regulating temperature and moisture: it keeps you warm even when damp, wicks moisture away from the skin and evens out temperature changes. Long-fibre merino wool does not itch like ordinary wool, so the socks feel soft even on sensitive skin.

The merino wool in these socks is NATIVA™-certified, which means it is traceable and responsibly produced on mulesing-free farms. All materials meet the OEKO-TEX 100 standard, which guarantees the product is safe for skin contact.

We recommend washing merino wool socks before you wear them for the first time, so they fit true to size. Please note that merino wool socks may shrink slightly in the wash. Reshape and stretch them firmly while still damp to restore their original size. The socks are made in Finland by Sukkamestarit, using responsibly produced merino wool and decades of experience.

Developed in Finland for Finnish weather

Spending winter days in snow and freezing temperatures? Need a sock that keeps your feet and lower legs warm? Want particularly warm merino socks for winter activities? Performance Warm High is made for these moments.

Svala merino products work for almost any exercise, everyday or leisure activity. Your gear will no longer hold you back from enjoying the outdoors.

Performance Warm High merino wool socks are at their best in these situations:

On a work shift
Winter activities
Walking and hiking
Cross-country skiing
Snowmobiling
Ice fishing and angling
Clearing snow

Svala merino products are developed in Finland and have been tested in professional use for decades. This means they have been put to the test by people who are hard on their clothes: on long work shifts, on week-long wilderness trips and in wet, cold conditions where your gear decides how comfortable your day is. If the socks can survive them, they can survive you too.

Clothing layer	Accessories
Temperature-range	−30 °C to −5 °C, as part of a layering system or on its own
Season	autumn, winter, and spring
Material	58% merino wool, 29% polyamide, 10% polypropylene, 3% elastane
Manufacturing	Sukkamestarit, Finland
Material origin	Uruguay / Italy
Labels & certifications	Key Flag Symbol, NATIVA™, and OEKO-TEX 100
Care instructions	Read the merino wool care instructions here.

100-day satisfaction guarantee

Our products have been developed over many years by leading professionals in collaboration with experts in various activities. We are so confident in the quality and comfort of our products that we can offer a 100-day satisfaction guarantee on all our products.

Use the product as normal for 100 days. If you are dissatisfied with the product for any reason, you will receive a refund.

Frequently asked questions about the product

How does Performance Warm High differ from the Performance Warm sock?

Performance Warm and Performance Warm High belong to the same warm Performance family, but they are designed for different jobs:

Performance Warm is an ankle-length warm sock for the cold season.
Performance Warm High is knee-high and protects the full length of your shin as well. It is very warm and designed especially for winter activities and active outdoor use where your feet spend a long time in snow and frost. The sock's innermost polypropylene layer also wicks moisture to keep your feet dry.

Choose Warm if you want a warm sock for everyday use in the cold season, and Warm High when you need warmth and protection all the way up your shin. For the very coldest conditions and maximum warmth, we recommend our Performance Extra Warm merino wool socks.

Does the knee-high leg or the light compression feel tight?

No. The leg is thin and has only light compression, which holds the sock up and supports your shin without squeezing or leaving red marks on your leg. Light compression means a snug but comfortable fit: enough to keep the sock in place all day without slipping down to your ankle, but not so tight that it feels uncomfortable, even when you wear it for a long time.

The shaped heel and arch support help the sock fit precisely, so it doesn't shift around in your shoe or under your layers.

Is a sock designed to be warm too hot for everyday use?

Performance Warm High is a very warm sock designed specifically for the cold: winter activities and long days in snow and frost. Indoors in the warm or in mild weather, it may feel too warm.

If you are looking for a thin sock for year-round wear, Performance Liner is the one for you, and Performance Warm suits everyday use in the cold season. Warm High really comes into its own when the weather is properly cold and your leg needs protection all the way up. For the very coldest weather, such as long winter hikes in hard frost, the best choice is the warmest sock in our range: Performance Extra Warm.

Do the socks get clean at a low washing temperature?

Yes. The socks get clean even at a low temperature, as long as you use a good-quality detergent and a suitable wash programme. A high temperature is needed less often than people think – dirt and microbes come out well on a delicates cycle too, as long as the detergent does its job.

The recommended washing temperature is based on the merino wool in the socks. Wool fibres shrink, felt and get damaged easily in a hot wash, so a lower temperature isn't just enough – it's also the right way to keep your socks in good condition for longer. Besides merino wool, the socks contain other fibres that could handle a hotter wash, but it's best to care for the whole sock according to its most delicate fibre: the wool.

Merino wool also does its part: it naturally resists odour, and its ability to repel dirt keeps the socks fresher for longer. In practice, this means you need to wash the socks less often, and a low washing temperature is usually more than enough.