Best cycling socks 2024: Funky and functional top performers

Best cycling socks overall

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. 

Best shoulder-season performance

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 cycling socks

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 - particularly the Assos Essence. In the case of Assos, it also imparts a feeling of robustness - time will tell with these last us as long. 

Retro-cool for warm rides

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. 

Best merino sock

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 is 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 merino socks for the heat

Another three-season merino sock, however Velocio’s construction is significantly lighter and thinner. In hot climates, that makes these a go-to Merino option. They hold up impressively well for their thickness when it’s 12°C/54°F and drizzling, but I’d only suggest them as a full three-season sock in warmer climates.

Lightweight and breathable

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 there - the threads are actually pretty thick. A panel underneath the forefoot provide us with some cushioning when pressing down in the pedal stroke. 

Lightweight and durable

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 - from past Assos experience, this design will likely last longer. 

Best value lightweight socks

These felt a little thicker than the Castelli Superleggera and Assos Essence Socks, the varying thread thicknesses and mesh sections bear a greater similarity to the former than the latter. Despite the ankle cuff being thicker, the underfoot is quite thin - it’s more for rider comfort/preference than for being harder wearing. 

Best value merino socks

The ankle and the upper part of these socks are a thin(ish) Merino blend that felt a little lighter than that on Rapha’s Merino socks. However, around the toes and underneath the foot, the material is much thicker - more like a deep-winter sock. It's a blend which manages warmth and breathability really well. 

Most versatile cycling socks

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 colors. 

Best gravel socks

Really it depends on where you get cold. If your shoes are heavily vented, dhb’s Aeron Merino socks work best in our opinion. But if your shoes are a little more insulated, these make an excellent pairing with a thin foot section and being warm around the calf. 

Tough gravel socks

Another great option for temperate climates. These have a slightly thicker and tougher weave than the lighter-weight socks on this list - particularly around the calf. The panel around the top of the foot is rather more open and helped keep our feet cool, thanks to good breathability and heat dissipation. It makes these socks notably robust for gravel.