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review

Kalf Tall Sock

8
£14.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Very good socks that match up to other Kalf kit well
Weight: 
35g

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We don't review many socks on road.cc, but the Kalf Tall socks are worth a mention. They complement the Kalf Flux jersey and bib shorts very well, matching up with the little fluoro-orange/pink highlights and completing the look, and they also have some nice little touches.

> Find your nearest Evans store here

The reflective dotted pattern in a chevron design at the rear offers clear advantages for safety, with the length of the sock providing plenty of space for the full impact of the design. The XLs on test reach just to the base of the soleus muscle on the calf, and fit my UK size 11.5 feet well.

Kalf Tall Sock - reflective details.jpg

They're also very comfortable, with a 'Meryl Skinlife' fabric that not only ensures your feet stay odour-free, but also keeps the socks soft after multiple washes.

There's not much in the way of extra padding around the sock – it's pretty much all one thickness – but that makes them really suitable for hot summer riding where extra padding and insulation are not what you need.

The only negative thing I can find with them is that, if you do happen to wear them on a hot day in new shoes, the orange/pink colour can easily absorb dye from the soles of new shoes. Although that could be down to the shoes themselves, it's worth noting that the bright colour of these particular socks means any discolouration shows up easily when you take your shoes off.

> Six summer socks

Other than that, these are a nice pair of socks that I'd happily wear to accompany the rest of the Kalf range, and recommend them to you too.

Verdict

Very good socks that match up to other Kalf kit well

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Kalf Tall Sock

Size tested: X Large

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Kalf says: "Kalf Tall Socks stay odour-free for longer thanks to the Meryl Skinlife yarn, which incorporates silver micro-particles to keep bacteria at bay for more than 100 washes. The three chevrons on the back of the sock are reflective."

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Features:

- Meryl Skinlife yarn

- Reflective nodule chevron design

- Summer weight

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10

Lightweight and comfortable – what more can you ask?

Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10

Some colour has absorbed into the bottom of the sock, but that could be down to the sole of the new test shoes I was using at the time.

Rate the product for fit:
 
8/10

Follow fitting instructions and you'll be fine.

Rate the product for sizing:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort:
 
9/10

I found them particularly comfortable.

Rate the product for value:
 
6/10

£15 isn't exactly 'great' value, but these are very good socks, and go well with other Kalf kit.

How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

Fine.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Really well.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The design, colour and comfort.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Nothing, except possibly the ease at which the bottoms absorb dye.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your score

Very good summer socks that complement the rest of the Kalf range.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 27  Height: 188cm  Weight: 80kg

I usually ride: Canyon Ultimate CF SL 9.0 SL (2016)  My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 5-10 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding

Add new comment

12 comments

Avatar
Rapha Nadal | 6 years ago
1 like

It's a pair of socks for fuck's sake.  Get over it and move on.

Avatar
BarryBianchi replied to Rapha Nadal | 6 years ago
2 likes
Rapha Nadal wrote:

It's a pair of socks for fuck's sake.  Get over it and move on.

Balls is it.  It's a vital part of the foot-pedal power transfer dynamic interface system.

Avatar
rjfrussell | 6 years ago
1 like
Avatar
petertoth | 6 years ago
1 like

There is a Kalf SS17 video out. Looks suspicioulsy like a Rapha video. Nuf said. 

Avatar
mattydubster | 6 years ago
1 like

Rapha sucks.  Complete rip off.  

Avatar
NorthEastJimmy | 6 years ago
0 likes

I tried on a couple of the Kalf jerseys while dropping my wheels off at Evans.  I can't see how they differ from two Rapha jerseys I own, the fit feels the same, the colour and design very similar.  You put a Rapha logo on them, people wouldn't notice and pay happily pay roughly £50 more.  Think I'll be getting one of them along with these socks.

Avatar
Chris Hayes replied to NorthEastJimmy | 6 years ago
0 likes
NorthEastJimmy wrote:

I tried on a couple of the Kalf jerseys while dropping my wheels off at Evans.  I can't see how they differ from two Rapha jerseys I own, the fit feels the same, the colour and design very similar.  You put a Rapha logo on them, people wouldn't notice and pay happily pay roughly £50 more.  Think I'll be getting one of them along with these socks.

 

I've seen the Kalf stuff close up too and don't think it's the same quality (unless you have the Core range, then they are very similarly priced).  The reason for this is the R&D and materials brands such as Castelli, Rapha and Assos put in.  We started on talking about socks here, but for me the difference is what happens when things go wrong. Rapha stands behind its products; replacing them if they fail, or repairing them free of charge.  Additionally, they offer a 50% off downsizing offer - which is unique, I think - and, they have a high residial value on eBay: so you can wear a jersey for while and then flog it and get most of your money back.  Not sure why the brand attracts such criticism, but as a Rapha wearing, Audi driving keen reader of Road.cc I'm not feeling the love  1 

Avatar
Chris Hayes | 6 years ago
0 likes

GBP 15 for Evans' own brand socks?  Er, no thanks.  Keep 'em.

Avatar
drosco replied to Chris Hayes | 6 years ago
0 likes
Chris Hayes wrote:

GBP 15 for Evans' own brand socks?  Er, no thanks.  Keep 'em.

Would they be better socks with the word 'Rapha' on them?

Avatar
BarryBianchi replied to drosco | 6 years ago
3 likes
drosco wrote:
Chris Hayes wrote:

Would they be better socks with the word 'Rapha' on them?

 

For a start they'd be £65, and no, they'd still be over-priced even if they were £15.  The extra tenner is on there purely because they are associated with "cycling".  The £3.99 BTwin ones get a whopping 1/2 a star less....

Avatar
Chris Hayes replied to drosco | 6 years ago
0 likes
drosco wrote:
Chris Hayes wrote:

GBP 15 for Evans' own brand socks?  Er, no thanks.  Keep 'em.

Would they be better socks with the word 'Rapha' on them?

Maybe, maybe not. I don't know, because I own neither.  But I do know that Rapha is a premium brand.  Kalf isn't.  But somehow they want a premium price.  Must be the go-faster arrows on the back.  They won't help. 

Avatar
Cupotea replied to Chris Hayes | 6 years ago
0 likes
Chris Hayes wrote:

GBP 15 for Evans' own brand socks?  Er, no thanks.  Keep 'em.

A bit pricey but I have a pair and have to say they're the best cycling socks I've bought....also the most expensive, which made me wince.

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