Okay, last Collective Favourites of the year is about to go out next week, and because the Holidays are upon us, the category we’re covering is socks. So, please, let me know all of your favourite pairs, and why you like them! I know there is already a thread for favourite white socks, but here I’m not interested in just one colour, but the overall best picks.
Ps. I hope at least some of you like something else than Swiftwick socks, as those seem to be a firm staff fave. (Pictured Caley’s worn out pair)
For summer socks, I’ve tried various options and struggle to notice a functional difference. My vote is to go for whatever you like the look of. I’ve got some funky Ornot ones that I’ve been enjoying.
Winter is a different story, as keeping your feet warm becomes essential. My current favourite are DeFeet Woolie Boolies. My partner just got a pair of Assos Ultraz winter socks and she really likes them.
My Favorites:
Summer: Siroko Core Haza (seriously comfortable for the price), Rapha Pro Team or Peloton de Paris
Spring/Autumn: Futurumshop Xtra cool Merino or Gorewear Essential Merino
Winter: Sockeloen Merino Winter
But yeah I have a bunch of socks that I also don’t mind wearing and we all know the best sock is the one you use for the first time.
By the way, where do you get Swiftwicks in Europe?
Nope! I’ve posted a link to a google form on this topic already before (back in discord days), but I thought to keep it simple and just have responses here on the forum, as I find that way it is slightly easier for me to also get through them in just one place. If you really want to do the form instead, it is over here.
Okay, then. My favorite looking socks are Mont Ventoux in barnstormer blue from DeFeet. They’re comfortable as well, but my toenails catch in the vented fabric when I put them on. The best feeling socks are Swiftwick Aspire. Not very fun looking, but perfect on the foot.
In the summer time on the road I really like my 7Mesh socks, a variety of colours. For gravel Merino wool, 7Mesh, Smart Wool and then Darn Tough for bikepacking.
Silca socks hands (or would it be feet?) down. The aero socks are extremely comfortable and not fragile, unlike some other cycling socks I’ve had that have worn out fabric after as few as 1-2 rides. The only downside I’ve encountered with them are that I need to use more laundry detergent than with other socks.
The Silca gravel socks are also excellent and the design of putting more fabric at the toe but less elsewhere is clever. I can hold off on switching to my bulky winter boots at lower temps by wearing the gravel socks with my regular shoes and toe covers. Then it warms up later in the day, I don’t overheat.
Folks have already mentioned Silca’s socks, and I will second that vote. They really are quite comfortable.
But let me also add another domain-specific option: Cross Point (part of Showers Pass) make a waterproof sock, and this is amazing when it’s wet. I commuted for years in Seattle (famous for being wet much of the year) and loved these socks for that. The best part was when I’d put on my shoes for the commute home, which were still completely soaked from the morning commute. Normally putting on cold wet shoes is miserable, but not with waterproof socks! Love, love, love them.
I second (or third) the Silca Aero socks. I’m not sure if they make me faster, but they are the most comfortable material and I enjoy the color options.
I should have noted that I appreciate that both Swiftwick and DeFeet are made in the USA. Seems like everything I buy that is bike-related is imported, so it is nice to support some things made here.
Just bought another 3 pairs of swiftwick aspire 7’s to replace the many, many years old pairs which still perform well but have faded significantly.
For (Australian) winter I used to like the Rapha pro team winter socks but like many Rapha products the design has changed and the quality declined. Now I use some primaloft specialized socks which work well.
For thin non merino socks MAAP Team Long. They can be worn on either foot (Pas Normal has branding on one side making them a bit more single direction), they come in white for if/when i feel pro.
For thin-ish merino socks i’ve come to enjoy MAAP Devision Merino over Swiftwick Pursuit Merino (crew length). I think it’s the slightly longer cuff, and a tiny bit more padding in the foot/sole. I’d still recommend the Swiftwick though.
For thicker wool. Defeet Wooleator 6”, but i have struggled to find them available at a reasonable delivered price to me in Aus for years.
Also recommend learning to darn, because toes will poke through otherwise fuctional socks from time to time.
Ridge Supply is my go-to for 95 percent of my rides. Great material (they’re made by DeFeet), wear like iron. Available in merino for some styles. The colors are what sell them: bright and distinctive. The whole philosophy of the company is to be visible (the company’s founder, Matt Hawkins, was struck by a driver while riding, the driver said he “couldn’t see him,” so Matt started a sock company that makes bright socks). The colors range from conservative to LOUD, and they introduce new combos almost every month. Also: it’s a one-person operation, which is pretty cool.
I also have a pair of aero socks from Grimpeur that are really great! Grimpeur’s stuff is great, from jerseys to bibs to socks.
(Pictured Caley’s worn out pair)