Best winter cycling socks: The best options tried and tested for staving off numb feet

A man wears a set of white cycling shoes, black fluffy socks, and blue tights against a blue background
(Image credit: Will Jones)

I'm going to take an educated guess that you've landed on this page because you've been riding recently and ended up with cold toes, and would like to 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:keep your feet warm in winter. Well, you've come to the right place. I've spent years riding through the ওwinter, and have really come to understand what it takes to keep those little pigs toasty and warm, even when it's properly miserable outside. Submerging my feet during a ride is more than a common occurrence, much to the annoyance of my bottom bracket bearings. 

The trick is to not be bound by socks from cycling brands. My top pick, Hollow Crew socks are just from a general use sock brand, but they are made from alpaca wool. Likewise, my pick for the best gꦍravel sock is from a hiking brand, and if you want to go really extreme there's a neoprene option from a sailing company.

+ Incredible warmth to weight
+ Amazingly soft

- Too tall to wear without tights

The ultimate all-around winter sock for cycling, and it's not even a cycling sock. Alpaca wool fibres are hollow, so they trap more air than merino ones too, meaning the socks are warmer for the same thickness. They're also noticeably softer than most merino socks, so if you normally hate that wooly itch then give these a try. The sole is thicker and more fluffy than the tall cuff, to better insulate against cold carbon soles. Colour options are limited, but under tights it doesn't matter at all, and to be honest it makes washing them less stressful. The best thing is they work just as well off the bike too, mဣaking them better value. The crew and ankle socks are the same thickness if you want a lower height cufꦜf, and if you really want to go for the ultimate warmth then the boot socks are even taller and thicker, though watch out if you have particularly tight cycling shoes. 

+ Decent price for merino wool
+ Plenty of colour options

- Only two sizes

The Endura BaaBaa socks come in a wide variety of colours, and while the merino content isn't huge at 37%, but it's decent for the price. The synthetic fibres mean it stays gripped to your foot like a cycling sock should, with higher pile areas on the toes and along the sole, with a lower profile cuff much like the Hollow. The BaaBaa is a much more 'normal' height for a cycling sock though, so wearing these with shorts or knee warmers is definitely on the cards, making them a useful shoulder season staple. They'd also sit below the cuff of most overshoes, which can be handy for sealing water out. They are also soft, for a wool sock; not as💖 soft as the Hollow, but definitely not itchy. The colour selection is definitely on the gravelly end of the spectrum, but they'd not look out of place on the road. If you're particularly hard on your gravel gear then I'd go for the Smartwool option instead.