Best cycling socks: cool socks and winter warmers

From high-performance lightweight socks to three-season winter warmers, here are our favorite models - rated and reviewed

For sure, cycling socks are an excellent way to add a bit more personality to your riding gear. Although things have moved on quite a way from the times when your only choices were either bright fluro or black, there still tends to be a smaller pool of colorways when it comes to winter jackets and shorts compared with socks.

Pearl Izumi socks

Few topics in cycling divide opinion like socks - should they be long, short, white, black, patterned or aero - everyone has an opinion. Even the UCI has a rule about socks, that they ‘must not extend above the middle of the leg’. What should be less contentious is that a decent pair of cycling-specific socks will be more comfortable and better for riding in, whatever the colour.

Lightweight socks worn with cycling shoes, provide a better connection to the pedals than normal sports socks as there is less material to ‘squish’ about as you pedal, helping you to eke out every last drop of power. Sprinters tighten up their shoes before the final for good reason; any movement between your foot and the pedal robs precious watts. The technical fabric will also keep you more comfortable as it will wick away sweat, helping to keep your feet drier whilst features such as arch support and compression help reduce fatigue on longer rides.

Winter cycling socks will also move moisture away from your feet so that they stay warm and dry, but will offer more insulation against the cold, but don’t forget to size up your winter footwear to leave enough room for thicker socks. Cramming thick socks into summer-fit shoes will restrict blood flow and result in colder, not warmer feet.

Best overall

Best cycling socks overall

+ Luxurious-feeling fabric
+ Breathable and wicking
- Not the best range of colors

The fabric of Rapha’s Pro Team socks felt luxuriously soft against our skin and has a reassuring thickness whilst still being breathable and wicking - helped by the mesh panels across the ‘low-wear’ areas of the sock (the top of the foot and around the arch) for better longevity. An ideal workhorse performance sock for temperate climates.

Shoulder-season performance

Best shoulder-season performance

+ Warmer and more material in high-wear areas
+ Large range of colors
- Warmer than other models

Best described as a three-season performance sock for temperate regions. The upper section is a medium-weight mesh fabric, which is fast-wicking and breathable. There are thicker panels across the sole and heel - which gave us a bit of warmth and also promises decent longevity (though more riding is needed to confirm the latter).

Best lightweight socks

Best lightweight cycling socks

+ Soft against the skin
+ Highly breathable and wicking
- Don't feel hardwearing

These socks are super thin and also super soft. Whereas the Castelli Superleggera and Assos Essence socks match Velocio for heat dissipation and breathability, they felt coarser in comparison - with the Velocio offering a soft feel against the skin. It should be acknowledged that there may be questions of durability and how hardwearing these are though.

Retro styling

Retro-cool for warm rides

+ Good mix of colours
+ Comfortable construction
- Hard to match with non-Castelli kit

The material around the ankle of these socks is a little thicker than the section around the foot - which also features mesh panels running along the top. It’s a construction that we thought would work really nicely in places with mild summers or, for hotter regions, in the spring/fall. Also the retro look and colour choice is worth mentioning as well.

Best Merino all-rounder

Best merino sock

+ Good for odor control
+ 3-season warmth
- Not for hot summer use

This a three-season Merino sock rather than an ultra-thick deep winter sort of pair - and as a result they are incredibly versatile. The breathability and moisture wicking are sufficient for riding in the summer, although we felt that they would be a bit warm for some riders. 60% Merino in the blend is sufficient to help minimize odours.

Best mid-height option

Best mid-height option

+ Very light and breathable
+ Cushioned forefoot
- Only for the hottest conditions

These are super lightweight socks for riding in the hottest conditions. The fabrics are quite thin, but the use of mesh helps the socks balance longevity with breathability - the threads are actually pretty thick. A panel underneath the forefoot provides some cushioning when pressing down in the pedal stroke and the mid-height design will suit those looking for this length.

Best for lightweight durability

Lightweight and durable

+ Lightweight and breathable
+ Good fit
- Basic construction

Like the Castelli Superleggera, these are another pair of lightweight socks for hot weather riding. Whereas the Superleggera socks employ a greater variety of thread thickness and mesh sections, these are much more uniform. We thought that breathability was about on par, whilst from our testing we think this design will likely last longer.

Best for versatility

Most versatile cycling socks

+ Versatile for varying temperatures
+ Good breathability and wicking
- Neither super cool nor very warm

I would put these socks very closely on par with dhb’s Aeron LAB socks. Both are a little thicker than the super light Assos Essence and Castelli Superleggera but still provide fast wicking and good breathability. It’s a great option as a slightly more versatile performance sock - and they come in a range of tasteful colours.

Best gravel socks

Best gravel socks

+ Tougher, off-road construction
+ Cooler and breathable foot section
- Not the warmest around the foot

Our final pick here are the T3 Trail Socks from Assos. Perhaps best suited for gravel bike riders, these socks feature a robust construction, including a Shield Tec 3D structure to protect against branches, and other trailside brush. They aren't the warmest compared to others on this list, but still perform solidly.

Cycling-specific socks are largely defined by their fit and the fabric. Given that cycling shoes are designed to be close-fitting, cycling socks tend to be thin so as not to make the shoes uncomfortable and provide a better connection to the pedals. Even winter cycling socks can be pretty thin and rely on low-bulk warmth from materials such as Merino wool.

While the aforementioned Merino wool is a popular choice given its breathability and odour resistance, most cycling socks use synthetic fabrics to deliver the desired combination of ventilation with sweat-wicking properties.

The final piece of the puzzle is good elasticity alongside a solid gripper - the last thing any cyclist wants is a pair of socks that won't stay up.

More advanced and expensive cycling socks can offer compression support or aero benefits. Compression helps by providing support to the muscles, preventing fatiguing micro-vibrations and improving blood circulation using calibrated pressure. Aero socks are said to be one of the most cost-effective wind-cheating gains available to a cyclist, despite the socks' relatively high price. They use textured ribbing to keep the air attached to the leg for longer thus reducing the low-pressure wake and reducing drag.

Given that cycling shoes are designed to be close-fitting, cycling socks tend to be thin so as not to make the shoes uncomfortable and provide a better connection to the pedals. Even winter cycling socks can be pretty thin and rely on low-bulk warmth from materials such as Merino wool.

Cycling-specific socks will improve your comfort on the bike for several other reasons. The materials used are designed to keep your feet as cool as possible by wicking away sweat, drying rapidly and providing extra protection around the heel and toe areas. Winter socks will also wick away moisture but will insulate your feet against the cold rather than cooling them down.

Good cycling socks should also provide arch support to prevent fatigue and soreness on long rides and will be constructed to remain in place around the foot and calf without slipping down or moving around which could cause irritation or hotspots.

Socks for cycling should be the right thickness for the type of riding you do, the temperatures you ride in and the fit of your shoes.

Thin socks will be cooler, work better with slim-fitting cycling shoes and provide a more direct connection to the pedals and bike with less chance of the foot moving around within the shoes.

Thick socks will be warmer but must be worn with shoes that have enough space in them to accommodate the socks. Cramming warm socks into close-fitting shoes will cause a lot of discomfort and probably make your feet colder by restricting blood vessels.

Unless you're looking for cycling socks that promise some aerodynamic advantage, the answer is any height - presuming that you're not entering a UCI race. If you are you'll need to adhere to its rule that states:

'Socks and overshoes used in competition may not rise above the height defined by half the distance between the middle of the lateral malleolus and the middle of the fibula head.'

Outside of competition anything goes with sock height largely governed by taste and fashion. Aero socks tend to be tall, as do many 'pro' socks, which have grown in height over the years. Likewise, some winter socks are designed to cover the entire lower leg, adding another layer of insulation under your bib tights. Regular cycling socks typically feature a cuff that is between 3" and 7".

As with most items of clothing, first and foremost it is comfort that is the most important consideration. Cycling socks might be worn for many hours (or even days!) of arduous exercise, so you don't want to give them a second thought once you start riding. This means that not only do they need to fit your foot, but they also need to work with your chosen shoes - a bulky sock might make your shoes too tight in a certain place, or a very thin sock might not offer enough volume around the heel for the shoe to fit securely.

The second consideration is the temperature you are likely to be using them. The best cycling sock in the world isn't going to work for you if it is designed to work in different conditions to those in which you are cycling. For cold weather, warmth and insulation are paramount whereas in summer temperatures the breathability and quick-wicking of a much lighter sock will be appreciated.

If you ride in cold temperatures, then winter-weight socks should definitely form part of your cycling wardrobe, but they are not the only way to protect your feet. Overshoes and winter cycling shoes can also be used to insulate against the cold, and in fact, simply ramming a pair of thick socks into your normal cycling shoes may well make your feet colder rather than warmer as the increased pressure will reduce warming blood flow.

These socks were ridden in a range of temperatures and with a few different pairs of cycling shoes. Whilst comfort is subjective, our experienced testers have used and abused a lot of socks over the years, so have a great idea what will work well and in what conditions.

For more cycling buying advice, be sure to have a read of our guides on the best road bike helmets, best bike lights, and best waterproof cycling jackets.