Does using actual cycling socks make a difference at all? what are main benefits?

if so what type of cycling socks are best?

thanks

They benefit the retailer that sells them...

Red socks are always faster.

If the difference is between regular cotton socks or a sport wool blend on a 40 mile ride, yes.

I have cycling socks, hiking socks, swimming socks, fall hunting socks, winter fishing socks, dress socks, casual socks, and sock puppets. (just kidding!) The best sock are red camo wool, thick bottom, reinforced toe and heel, just-below-calf length. Not only are red faster, but camo is stealthy, and wool won't give you away with the stink after a couple days walking in swamps.

Wool DeFeet are fabulous in 60 deg cycling, thinner wool better up to about 80 deg, then it's usually cotton or synthetic for me. Thicker is better.

NO cotton socks.

If you ever got caught in an ice-cold mountain rain while wearing cotton socks, you would understand why I only wear wool socks now.

Comfort, comfort, comfort. For the cost of a pair of socks, you can find put for yourself.

They don't need to be cycling specific. They should be a wicking material. For warm/hot weather, a thin synthetic (coolmax is one trade name for this fabric) works really well- I prefer the really short ones that don't show at all, but i do have some cycling ones that are just above the ankle. For cooler or wet weather, wool is the best. It still wicks, but it has some insulating properties that generally do not diminish when wet. Cotton socks are a non-starter. They just get sweaty and smelly.

Swiftwick...best socks you'll ever wear

Reminds me, I have to do laundry today.

Aside from cold weather, it doesn't make any difference. Wool hiking socks are fine in cold weather if they'll fit in your cycling shoes.

In really hot weather, anklets may feel marginally cooler than longer socks.

But the biggest difference is that new cycling socks don't have the holes and thin spots that old socks have!

If it's truly cold, I wear DeFeet wool socks. Any other time, I wear whatever cheap 12 pack of black ankle socks are on sale at Target or the like. I used to spend stupid amounts of money on cycling specific socks, until I realized that any sock will work just fine. I'm not sure why people are so against cotton- I have never had any issues with wet feet from sweat, or stinky shoes- and I live in a warm climate, and I ride a lot.

As an added bonus, when I commute, I don't have to change socks when I get dressed.

I had some cycling socks once. They had more padded on top. I never noticed a difference.
Now I wear Wigwam Wool Blend.

I live in TX and it can get over 100. I used to get hot pressure points with synthetic socks. I wear thin Smartwool all the time and never have a problem anymore.

A thin wool is best all around IMO. Wicks, no pressure points and will retain some heat and dry out quickly if they get wet in the winter.

I like comfortable wool socks from whoever.I wear 100% wool but some people can get itchy from them.As much wool content as you can stand.

My spouse bought me three new jerseys from love2pedal and they all came with a pair of defeet black with flames. Cool little things. But helpful especially on my left foot where a wedge went into the toe to help equalize things at my adjustment. Regular sport socks were just thick enough to cramp my left. Now it's happy. That's my .02.

There is a difference. Cycling socks are normally thinner and have less cushioning in the sole. There are numerous cycling specific brands -- I personally prefer SwiftWick.

Living in a warm climate I like thinner breathable socks. Paired with breathable cycling shoes (Sidi in my case) my feet feel much cooler when sweating like a pig. You can get them at places that sell sports apparel but they tend to be the short ankle socks so they don't look "pro." I usually end up paying $10/pair for the cycling specific ones. Current favorite is the Giro Classic Racer socks.

Pearl Izumi Fly No-Show

My wife and I, both avid cyclists for many years, were surprised at how much more comfortable Smartwool cycling socks were compared to what we'd been using (Pearl Izumi for me, as I recall), regardless of the temperature. So yes, they certainly made a difference to us. Now all of my socks for any use are Smartwool or very similar wool/wool blend.

I wear cycling socks pretty much every day, nearly year round whether cycling, at work or any old time.
I find them much more comfortable than most regular socks and they last much longer.
I wait until the "N" internet store has them on sale for $3.99 and buy half a dozen pair...I much have 30 pair...as they get too old for regular wear, dirty and stretched, they become "work in the yard socks" and last nearly forever.