New socks might make you faster. As crazy as it sounds, glimpsing a six-inch canvas of dazzling graphics around our ankles gets us excited to ride, which, in turn, makes us ride more—and better. We’re not just making this up. There’s a real psychological phenomenon called “enclothed cognition,” which suggests that what you wear affects your performance. Call it #sockdoping if you want, but we’ll take all the #sockwatts we can get during hot-weather riding this summer.
Check out quick info on the top five socks below, then keep scrolling for buying advice and more in-depth reviews of these and other options.
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Materials Make a Difference
Most cycling socks use a blend of fabrics to achieve the desired combination of breathability, moisture wicking, and comfort. Here’s what to expect from each of the most common sock materials:
Get our new exclusive ‘Ride Lots’ tee in the BICYCLING shop!
Get our new exclusive ‘Ride Lots’ tee in the BICYCLING shop!
Polyester is like a synthetic version of wool, the natural sweat-wicking superhero. But whereas wool comes from sheep, polyester is a product of petroleum (heated to a syrupy concoction, hardened, and spun into threads). The resulting material is softer than wool and just as moisture wicking. Like polyester, Nylon also comes from petroleum, and it’s similarly soft, stretchy, and durable. As such, it’s used to lend strength to blended materials. Elastane, also known as Lycra and Spandex, puts the stretch in your socks. It’s highly breathable and moisture-wicking, but primarily it’s an additive to help your socks stay stretchy and maintain their shape after many washes.
How We Tested and Chose
We rustled up a pile of summer socks of varying thicknesses and subjected them to our sweaty feet on humid, 90-degree, eastern Pennsylvania summer days. During a few rides in each pair, we had our staff of testers evaluate the socks based on breathability, comfort, and moisture-wicking abilities (and, of course, style). Of the socks we didn’t test, we based our selection on market research, user reviews, and our experience with similar products. Check out these nine options that will up your sock game and keep your toes comfy all summer.
Swiftwick Aspire Seven
The Aspire has recently become super popular with testers on our office. It’s thin yet compressive, which helps reduce fatigue on long rides without stifling your toes. In addition to the seven-inch cuff, it comes in a four-inch tall version great for shorter rider, as well as two-inch and one-inch cuffs if that’s your thing. It’s 65 percent Nylon, 29 percent Olefin (a fiber that’s stain-, mildew-, and perspiration-resistant) and 6 percent Spandex. Oh, and it’s made in the U.S. of A.
Assos Dyora RS
Pros
- Incredibly soft and stretchy
Cons
- Not reinforced
This clean-looking sock is seamlessly woven from a buttery-soft microfiber that’s blended with Lycra to deliver a super stretchy fit that gently hugs your foot and ankle. A ribbed mesh panel around the arch adds a little support to the ultralight construction, as well as some extra breathability. But unlike some other socks on this list, it doesn’t have a reinforced toe or heel area, making it more prone to wearing out more quickly—so clip those toenails. Though the 95 percent wear-resistant Polyamide and 5 percent Elastane construction helps.
Memory Pilot Wattstyle Blubilee
Pros
- Light weave at the ankle means freedom of movement
Cons
- Only available in sizes 40-46
Memory Pilot is a boutique brand started by ex-professional bike racer Erik Saunders. He started the company to manufacture gear “locally, quickly, at a scale that the industry could sustain and still maintain a human-centered outlook.” The Wattstyle sock is light and breathable, with midfoot compression and a tighter weave in the toe and heel for durability. The extra-light weave around the ankle means no bunching or constricting in the area of the foot that needs the most freedom to move. The Wattstyle come in one size option that’s designed to accommodate shoe sizes 40-46, however, so not ideal for riders with small feet.
Ornot Mt Tam
Pros
- Made from recycled water bottles
- Woven-mesh upper for breathability
Cons
- No compression
This sock made the cut partially because of the design’s cool rendition of northern California’s Mount Tamalpais. But don’t worry—it has the performance to back up the looks. The tall cuff sits lightly on your ankle, while a meshy upper helps increase ventilation. Tightly woven bottom, toe, and heel panels help reinforce the Mt Tam for longevity.
Defeet Aireator
Pros
- Mesh top-of-foot panel
- Non-constricting
Cons
This is now the go-to sock for many of our testers for sweaty days in the saddle. The thin and breathable fabric wicks moisture away from your feet, and the top-of-foot woven mesh panel helps heat escape. The cuff sits lightly against the skin without compression, and minimal heel and toe seams don’t add bulk. Available in tons of other colors, patterns, and cuff heights, the Aireator is made from recycled water bottles.
Liv Short & Sweet
Pros
- Thin, breathable, and very stretchy
Cons
- Only in black or white
Like the name says, this sock is minimalist and awesome. Made from Liv’s sweat-wicking woven fabric, it’s thin, light, and super stretchy. Pairs kept testers feet comfy on midlength rides, but if you have shoes with tighter ankles, consider the cuffed version. Flat-stitched seams and a seamless heel mean a wrinkle-free fit that won’t cause hotspots.
SockGuy Lucky 13
Pros
- Low cuff
Cons
- Not extremely soft
This soft and comfortable sock is lightweight and breathable, though not as soft or luxurious feeling as some of the others on this list. It has double-stitched heel and toe seams for durability and and a woven mesh foot upper to help release heat and wick away moisture. Check out SockGuy’s zillions of other colors and patterns to find pairs that match all your kits.
Tommaso Cycling Socks
Pros
- High-cuff and low-cuff options
Cons
- Super thin material doesn’t last long
If you’re looking for lightweight and affordable, this is your sock. At $15 for three pairs, this Tommaso is the most high-value option on this list. It’s super stretchy too, made up with 30 percent Elastane and 70 percent nylon fibers. According to most reviewers, it looked sharp and felt great for the first few rides or spin classes, but there were some manufacturing inconsistencies; after a while, the super thin mesh and fine seams tended to wear out. But the three-pack means one purchase should last a while. It comes in black and white, with a low-cut cuff or tab or a slightly higher cuff that hits above the ankle.
POC Essential Road Sock
Pros
- Lightweight, breathable
- Mesh upper and tight-woven mid-foot band for support
Cons
- All colors have a white foot, so you can't hide if it’s dirty
Add a subtle pop of color to your kit with the Essential Road Sock. Like many on this list, it features woven mesh to enhance airflow and comfort. It also has a more tightly woven midfoot band that offers shape and support without compromising breathability. The one bummer is that the foot of every colorway is white, which we know we’re going to turn grey almost immediately.
