Specialist Cycling Socks

spasypaddy

What do they do? Should i get some? Are they worth the expense?

fossyant

The socks tend to be fairly short, and aren't majorly different to any others but do look the part rather than off the shelf sports socks. - Decathlon do a good range at a good price.

Stwutter

Just like tops and base layers, they tend to dry quicker and help with wicking sweat away. You'll notice the difference when you wash them - hang them up and they dry a lot quicker than normal stuff.

john ponting

ASDA do a sock that is very short - just above the ankle bone for me. Per 5 pack for price of a pair in lbs.

spasypaddy

are they thicker and padded in certain areas? If its just to do with drying im not going to bother!

Stwutter

They're just made of materials suitable to cycling, just in the way jerseys and shorts are.

If you use normal socks, I'm sure you'll be fine, but they are more comfortable, particularly in the summer.

spasypaddy

i had some of those ASDA socks with slightly additional lumber support but they all managed to get lost in the wash

Lagavulin

I've recently bought a range of Coolmax cycling socks from Specialized, Endura and Protective.

However, I didn't get them on the experience of using cycling. I bought them having switched to Coolmax hiking socks from traditional walking socks and felt the investment in Coolmax socks for the bike would be worthwhile.

The Specialized and Protective socks were slightly more expensive but I think the Enduras were 3 pairs for £9 on Wiggle or CRC.

peter_andrew

I bought a pair from Lidle during the week they sold cycling stuff. They were right and left . Dont gert much more specialist than that.
Peter

baudman

In addition to above comments about wicking, some are padded differently. I have a few pairs that are almost 'mesh' at the top to allow for airflow/wicking, with padding where you'd want it. Really good. They weren't expensive at all, either, just from LBS.

jswba

Some of them also wear a little tighter around the middle of your foot. Supposed to be for support?

Eurostar

If you get the dreaded 'hot foot' syndrome because you're wearing the wrong socks you'll wish you'd paid £50 for good ones. You get this unbearable itchy hotness on your sole. But unless you're doing long rides in hot weather you'll be fine with cheapo ones. Just be prepared for some derision from those who wear all the right gear.

jonesy124

£50 for a pair of socks!!!!!!???????

my oh my :shock:

mea00csf

I find with cheapo mormal socks i get seams that rub round the toes. More expensive running or cycling ones don't do that otherwise i wouldn't really bother with them.

Eurostar

No jonesy, the £50 remark wasn't to be taken literally. Even though I was once accused of spending £10 grand on a bicycle I haven't yet discovered cycling socks for more than a piffling £23. Or, in our preferred unit of currency, seven of these:

PhilofCas

Defeet Aireator's are cheap (6 or 7 pound ish), they have virtually no seam around the toes, have vented areas on them, are wicking type of material and have a very large band that hold them up (i.e. they don't leave indentation marks round your leg), far better than a 'normal' sock. So yes Spasy, get some !!!

Mark Alexander

Defeet are great. highly recommended. Some makes have L and R on them (just in case)

ricadus

Eurostar wrote:

I haven't yet discovered cycling socks for more than a piffling £23.

I'm sure Rapha will put that right sooner or later.

john ponting

Mark Alexander wrote:

Some makes have L and R on them (just in case)

commented deleted by myself as possibly "inappropriate" for Road Beginners