Why cycling socks?
 

I tried to search, I'm sure this has been answered, but the search is messed up, again (shocking, I know).

Cycling socks seem to be really expensive. My friend will be down at the Big Stampede (swap meet) this weekend and I'm thinking of having him pick up some socks for me since I don't have any. But I've been using regular white socks and not having any problems.

What are the benefits of cycling socks over normal small white socks that you can buy huge packs of for $5?

I guess I understand why wool ones are nice in the winter, but wouldn't normal wool socks work just as well?

they're not 100% cotton. which holds sweat in.

I've tried a cycling specific socks and didn't find them more comfortable than regular athletic socks. I did notice a difference in the thickness of the material in certain areas of the sock in comparison to the regular socks but it didn't make them that much more comfortable.

That is a good point, but the Haines socks I use aren't 100% cotton either so sweat hasn't been a problem. The Sidi shoes I have are really well ventilated so the thin Haines socks I wear in the summer work just fine.

I think its a matter of personal preference and what works for you. Some dedicated cycling socks do have extra thickness, different stitching or different materials in certain places to make them more comfortable or wear better for cycling. If you compare a cycling sock to a running sock to a hiking sock you can sometimes see the differences pretty easily.

That said, just wear what works for you. I have some "cycling" socks that work great. I also have some "running" socks, smart-wool "hiking" socks, and generic athletic socks that work well, too. I do know that I like certain socks for my road shoes and some different ones for my mountain shoes which has to do with the mountain shoes being a bit tighter.

Just don't buy cotton.

you ask me they look silly, half way up the ankle. go for the ankle sock, cheapos, just as good and no daft tan lines! (ok, less daft tan lines)

I get any of the general "athletic" socks (running, cycling, whatever) as long as they aren't cotton. I haven't noticed much difference between regular socks and sport other than cotton tends to get soaked more and thereby make my cycling shoes a bit moister.

I get the 6-packs from Target. They work fine.

I do have some cycling-specific socks; I usually receive a pair or two at Christmas / birthday. But since they're thinner, I actually like them less since I run my shoes a bit large.

Why do I run my shoes a bit large? Old roadie trick... feet swell on long rides.

Oddly enough, when I ride my bike, my feet never sweat. The shoes provide all the ventilation I need, they just suck in the cold.

you must only do short, easy rides.

Actually I find the thinner material works better with the tight fit of my cycling shoes, and they don't bunch up as sometimes happens with normal athletic socks. So I pretty much stick to cycling socks.

I don't have much trouble with my feet swelling but if I do, my old cycling trick is to loosen the straps on my Sidi's a bit....

I use both. On warm days, I use cycling socks, on colder days, athletic or wool socks.

Like lots of other items, they each have their place.

I did pick up some Sugoi cycling socks, and man, they feel sweet. I got them at closeout at $3 a pair so it wasn't bad.

To scream to everyone that you are a cyclist.

Booties and wool socks will help with the cold. As for your feet sweating, they will if you're exerting yourself which is why you want to avoid the 100% cotton socks unless of course you're sporting those cycling sandals I keep hearing about.

That's why I don't wear them. I do not like the length. I ride in under armour, wigwams, wright sock, or adidas. They all work fine, but I prefer a thinner sock...which I suppose is only a function of shoe size.

I like the "Under Armour All Season Gear Low Cut Socks". They come 4 pairs to a pack for $12-15. I used them for road riding, off road, and long distance touring. I run in them too.

Because cotton holds sweat in and in the winter it's gonna get nasty with cotton.

You can wear anything that wicks away moisture like a pair of wool socks. Just don't get cotton. But I don't think they make wool socks in athletic cut but they DO make wool cycling socks. The "cycling" socks thing is simply marketing.

I find that normal wool socks are too thick to wear in my cycling shoes. My toes get crushed from all the extra material. So, for winter/cool weather, I wear wool cycling socks. For everything else, I buy short athletic socks from target (not the white cotton hanes socks that most people wear, socks made for sports) for the moisture wicking, thickness, line on the ankle reason that everyone else gave.

When I fist read the thread I thought it asked Why Cycling Sucks?
Then I read some of the replies you got and thought "That's why cycling sucks"!
Anyway, I went to cycling socks to resolve some "hotspot" issues I was getting while using a low cut athletic sock. I read that a thinner sock might help so I tried a pair and was sold on the fit and feel of the sock.
I suggest you try a pair and find out for yourself. The cost is minimal and if they work, GREAT, if not, you'll have found out and can move on......
Good luck!

a cool looking pair came with my cycling shoes..they have parts on the top that are transparent they are so thin for venting heat and moisture...they also match the color of my shoes on the ankle part but overall they are very similar to my underarmour socks which were like $10 for 4 instead of $10 for 2

Not cheap, but I wear Smartwool socks for all my workout activities. Their comfort and wicking ability is outstanding.

I only wear them b/c of how thin the material is. Any suggestions for cheaper thin socks made of similar material? I'll have to check out the underarmor socks...

I wanted SmartWool or Wigwam comfort hikers, but couldn't see spending $8 to $16 for one pair of socks. So this is what I did: when anyone asked me what I'd like for a birthday or Christmas present, I'd send them a link to the Smartwool or Wigwam wool socks.

I have seven pair now, and use them for everything. The comfort hikers are my favorite.

There are so many reasons why cycling sucks.

Where to begin?

A more pertinent question is...why wear cycling specific shoes?
Real cyclists ride barefoot...even in the winter just like the braves did until they were eliminated.

Somehow, I SERIOUSLY doubt that. You might not feel it because of the ventilation or if it is very dry where you live, but they DO sweat.

Back to the topic...when I first started cycling back in 1989 we used low cut cotton socks because that was all that was available back then. It wasn't until '91 that i tried a pair of Avocet cycling socks and it was such an improvement that I saved them as my race-day socks. After that, I only purchased cycling specific socks (Capos are my favorite, followed by DeFeet...and I paid about half of MSRP for all the ones I have, never full price). I've wanted to try to use the sports specific ones from Target (and also the UnderArmour ones) but in reality , I have so many socks that I really do not need any more.Also, I didn't like the high-cuff ones (like some of the Capos) before and only used the ankle or low ankle ones. However, I now prefer the longer cuff ones. Don't know why but they just feel nicer.