At a glance Stretchy, comfy, anti-smelling, cycle friendly socks that feel good but have a tendency to slide around and slip down on longer rides.
Tested by
Cheryl Frost, tester for The Bike List
Performance
I had never tried out Smartwool's cycle socks before so I was curious to feel the difference between these and their running socks.
My feet slid into these socks and immediately felt stretchy and cozy. They are made from 71% Merino Wool, 26% Nylon, 3% Elastic and use what Smartwool call their 4-Degree Fit System to keep the sock in place. This consists of a ribbed section on the underside of the foot that expands to go around the widest part and finer ribs along the sides to curve over your arches. However, despite them being the right size I did notice that they felt as if they were sliding inside my shoes, which if I was to wear them for a long ride might become uncomfortable.
Unlike Smartwool's running socks, these cycle versions don't have extra areas of padding at the toes or heel. Instead they have extra padding of the same thickness throughout the sole which works fine inside bike shoes. Smartwool call this their WOW technology - where they use higher density padding in impact zones to help reduce shock and abrasion. This did mean more comfort in high impact areas, but unfortunately abrasion was not reduced because my feet had a tendency to slide about.
These socks are made of Merino wool, famed for its anti-smell properties. I am blessed in that my feet don't get too sweaty generally, so I wore them for three long, consecutive days cycling in Bhutan. They still didn't smell, so I would say that they score highly in this area. As the Merino fabric is light and feels airy I would recommend them for warm summer cycle trips where you want to pack light and take the minimum number of socks.
One of the things I like best about these socks is that if you fold back the ankle collar it reads FEELS GOOD. As you look down at your feet the words stare up at you and somehow make you smile. I'd be smiling even more however if my feet didn't slide around inside them.
Buy from www.wiggle.co.uk
Smartwool says:
This light cushioned sock is ideal for road rides of any distance, in any weather. Specifically designed for a woman's foot. Featuring WOW™ technology in high density impact zones, which helps to reduce shock and abrasion. The 4-Degree Fit System keeps the sock in place. Made in the USA of New Zealand Zque™ Merino wool.
Materials - 71% Merino Wool, 26% Nylon, 3% Elastic
Find out more www.smartwool.com
