Insidious C. 

Whilst web searching for "winter socks" I saw some socks with copper oxide yarns intended to abate foot fungus. Has anyone tried these?

Also, who wants recommend their favorite winter socks?

h2oxtc

Don't know anything about copper oxide. As for winter socks, I ride with the same socks as in the summer (just inside my neoprene booties). Warm.

JanMM

Is that along the same lines as magnetic bracelets?

Carbonfiberboy 

Anything by Smartwool, as thick as easily fits in your shoe.

jyl

Booties are more important than socks, but get wool socks if you can.

TriDanny47

2nd the recommendation for Smartwool - great products

BluesDawg

Wool socks of various thicknesses. My favorite brands are Pearl Izumi, Darn Tough and DeFeet.
Never had a problem with foot fungus, so I'm not looking for a solution.

qcpmsame 

Not sure about copper preventing a fungus, never heard that before now. I found some good wool blend socks, from Cannondale (not sure about who makes them for C'Dale to label,) and liked them quite well. I have picked up several pair, so I can have plenty for each laundry cycle for my kit. Not too thick, but still have that great wool feel that makes it nice, especially in the winter. I am looking for a few more pair, just to have some on hand.

If its not Cannondale, then I watch for Woolrich and Wigwam wool goods. I like the Wigwam woolen socks for work, and anytime I wear my work boots. Spending over 30 years, outside on job sites, made me appreciate good wool socks, and shirts as well.

Bill

Wheever

Copper oxide does indeed inhibit fungal and bacterial growth--this is science! (Now, whether having it knit into yarns works is a 'nother story entirely.)

I second the Wigwam recommendation. I've been wearing wigwams for decades, and love them. I wear them most of the year, and any time I wear boots. Wore them as cycling socks last year and they were great--but I don't usually have problems with cold feet.

Rudebob

It works because it is toxic and used as a biocide, more commonly as a fungicide. It has been used for years as bottom coatings of boats to prevent algae growth but has been since been outlawed in many waters due to toxicity of other aquatic life (including fish). You can buy copper based poisons to control fungi at your bigbox home improvement stores. It is potentially toxic to humans in sufficient quantities, although I don't think copper lined socks poses any real health risks. I do find it amusing, however, that several copper products have been marketed to people over the years that are essentially poisoning them in minute quantities. That may be true for several products we consume, however.

Insidious C. 

Neoprene over boots and regular socks & shoes has been my winter routine until now. But over the last few years I have developed both Raynaud's and Chilblains which are a PITA for winter cycling. Plus I need new socks right now anyway. Thanks for the recommendations. If I go copper oxide I will share results.

groth

I recommend Toastie Toes (chemical toe warmers) to go with whatever socks and boots you have.

- Ed

Rick@OCRR

Woolie Boolie's by DeFeet! Have several pair and they get a lot of winter time use!

Rick / OCRR

JanMM

DeFeet makes good socks. I should probably look for a pair of those. (What is this 'winter time' in SoCal that you mention?)

GeneO 

Merino wool mmmm. DeFeet are good. They will keep your feet warm and dry.

Wheever

To humans it's pretty non-toxic unless ingested in sufficient quantities. Yes, it's "toxic," but so are many many things that are not actually dangerous in general, ordinary use. (Alcohol comes to mind, lol, but pretty much any household cleaner, and many many othet things. ) i think copper sulfate when used as a fungicide in vegetable gardens is considered "organic," due to the fact that it is a naturally occuring metal, does not bio-acculmulate, and that even in the quantities used for plants (usually dusted on in quantities that are not toxic if eaten, and unless inhaled in significant amounts, not dangerous at all.)

Rick@OCRR

Well, like this morning, it was 44 Deg.F when I left the house starting my bike-commute to work (yes, wearing Woolie Boolies!) and probably dropped a few more degrees when I got to Los Angeles, i.e. closer to the ocean. "Winter" here in SoCal lasts until approx. March but as noted previously, if we want winter all we have to do is go up into the mountains several thousand feet.

Plenty of winter there! Here's a photo of our cabin in the mountains; this is @ 6,700 feet of elevation and we get plenty of snow there during the winter. 2nd photo is upper Hwy 39, closed to motor vehicles, about 6,000 ft. and the last photo is the climb to Dawson Saddle which tops out at almost 8,000 ft.

Rick / OCRR

berner

I like merino wool and use then exclusively for hiking, summer and winter. Cycling in summer I use light weight socks and the heavier weight in Winter. I've used Wig Wam, Smart Wool, and others and all are good quality. Just a few days ago, I found merino wool socks at Ocean State Job Lot, an overstock retailer, for $4 a pair. I bought one pair for a trial and found then to be a good fit and quality. Now I'll go back and stock up with several pairs.

JanMM

More weather variation than a mid-westerner expected. Have a nice Winter!

osco53

I've ridden, camped and worked all day outside in the worst of conditions. Foot fungus ? really ?

Op,,, how are your toe nails ? maybe see a doctor ?
If your starting out with clean dry feet, socks and shoes you should not be having fungus issues at all,,,