Bike socks?
 

I've seen them at the bike shops. What are they? Anything special over regular socks? Do they really help? Gimmick? What's so special about 'em?

Are you referring to products from Sock Guy or DeFeet? If so, I find them to be much more comfortable when riding. In particular, DeFeet socks are the greatest. They don't bunch up in my skinny cycling shoes and they breath so your feet stay cooler. They are worth the money.

They help wick sweat away from your skin. The socks are worth it, but I'd never pay $10 a pair for them. I look for closeout deals and buy them for cheap. It helps to have breathable shoes too.

I haven't paid attention to what brand (or brands) they carry...have just noticed them on a display in my LBS. I wasn't sure if they were just a gimmick or not. I already wear short socks like them most of the time....they just look a little thinner than the Wal-mart socks I normally wear.

Today both* my socks are AIR-E-ATORS by DeFeet.

They seem to have a bit more ventalation then regular socks, important here in So. Cal. I like the low tops and crazy designs. I'm not sure if they "make a difference". Socks are a personal preference. I used to cycle in high top over the calf socks in High School and did just fine.

*I rarely wear matching socks. This is more attibuted to sloppiness and dressing in the dark than a fashion statement.

I wont do any ride longer than say an hour in normal socks. Cycling socks are MUCH cooler and go a long way to keeping my feet happy. For those on the cheap and that are willing to shop at WalMart, they have a sock that is a pretty good cycling sock in one of their house brands (not Starter the other one with the funny sybol) that are 2 pair for $5. They fit my size 11 foot ok but any smaller and I am not sure they would, package says for shoe sizes 6-12. I also have some D Feet socks which I love but were much more expensive...they do fit much better though.

I too do think they are cooler as far as ventalation goes. But what I like best about cycling socks is that they come in sizes. Most socks you get at the store are one size that fits something like shoe size 6-12. I have a size 81/2 foot so with the regular store socks the heal is always sticking out of the back of my shoe.

With the size M DeFeet the heal is right where it is ment to be.

Also like said above I look for clearance sales. Last time I got 3 pair for $12.

Bill

bike socks are the coolest. All i wear when i go to school or anywhere public are specialized team socks. I only own maybe 3 pairs of white cotton socks. i just wear them becuase they look cool.

http://www.specialized.com/OA_MEDIA/...amRacing_l.jpg

I've been wearing DeFeet Aireators for a number of years now, and LOVE them. I wear them when I ride, I wear them playing hockey, I wear them working out, I wear them around on the weekends. They make a huge difference in wicking and cooling. They tend to run around $8/pair, but they're worth it. Do make sure you get the right size, I blew out the heels in a few pair before I sized up.

I have a couple pair of non-DeFeet, and they work better than regular cotton, but I prefer DeFeet....

I prefer seamless socks. The small, but noticeable, bunching of fabric near my toes annoys me. Here's the best sock I've tried. I used to have a pair of smartwool socks that I got as a gift, but I lost one :( They were really good too and I can't seem to find them again. I guess I need to go to a hiking store (eg. REI) to see if they have 'em.

I use smart wool they are year round socks, very comfortable and affordable. Yes they are available at REI

I started riding in cotton socks and one of the first changes I made was to buy cycling socks. They wick away moisture so when its cold your feet stay warmr and when its hot they stay cooler. Also if you commute, bike socks dry out very well during the day while cotton socks do not. This is especially important on rainy days. You can even wear as liner sock under wool socks on cold days and they do a lot to keep the feet warm.

I would never pay the ridiculous price for bike socks, so after some hunting around I bought 6 pairs for like $19 at Longscycles.com. They have odd and miscellaneous logos and things on them but 3 bucks apiece was much more reasonable.

I bought my first pair of the aireators maybe 8 or 9 years ago and they're still going strong. They don't even look worn nor have lost any elastic. I've added quite a few more since, including other brands, but the ones by defeet are the best. Lin socks have a thick uncomfortable seam which I can't understand how it got past their R&D. Don't know if others have noticed, but the cycling socks don't pick up the dirt like regular cotton socks do. I go out on my mountain bike and get my socks all dirty but one washing later, they look great. Yeah, the aireators are a bit pricey, but when you can get as many years out of them as I do, with no end in sight, then they're worth the money.

Just yesterday I rode in regular socks for the first time in a lont time. Hated it, felt like the socks were collecting all my sweat. I wear the cycling socks because they are thinner. I buy the black ones with or without a design, to camo future grease stains. I helped some older lady change a tire a few years ago. Her chain was filthy, went to wipe the black stuff of my fingers. I used the socks.

I prefer 100% merinol wool dress socks. Never have had any problems. Very thin so I double them up in cold weather. Any sock with cotton in it is going to cause problems.

I find the price of cycling socks to be pretty high all things considered so I normally wait for them to go on sale. I picked up some during a "three pairs for the price of two sale" at $3.50 a pair from REI once. These were LIN socks.

Here's my favourite one of the bunch.

http://www.neebu.net/~khuon/albums/c..._005.sized.jpg

I once picked up a pair of small thin socks that had Halloween printing on them from Fred Meyer (a store that's like Target or K-Mart) because I thought they'd be cool for my Halloween ride but they were very poorly made and ripped easily.

I did buy two pairs of Defeet and a couple of pairs of Peal Izumi socks on sale, but the Walmart cheapies and a couple of pairs of New Balance socks I bought from TJ Maxx are my more common ride choices. They worked out to under $2 per pair. I have nothing against my $5 cycling socks, but the cheapies work just as well.

I do like the black idea. I might look into those in a few years when these are all worn out.

I like the cycling socks. First, I like most of the designs on my socks. Second, they wick the sweat away, and that's an added bonus when riding in the summer heat.

Regular socks give me blisters. I can't wear them.

Koffee

LO-

I have REI branded cycling socks which are made by the foks at Smartwool. They are nice. I got mine at the location down here in the south by County Line and I-25.