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review
Socks
Craft Cool Bike SocksCraft Cool Bike Socks

Craft Cool Bike Socks

7
by Mat Brett
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published Jun 30, 2012

0
£10.00

VERDICT:

7
10
Comfy socks for keeping your feet cool in the hottest summer weather
Weight: 
26g
Contact: 
www.craft.se
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The Craft Cool Bike Socks are a lightweight choice for keeping your feet dry and comfortable on summer rides.

For a pair of ankle socks, there's a whole lot going on here. They're mostly nylon with some Lycra in there along with a fabric called Nanoglide that's designed to dry quickly and cool your skin.

Much of the foot section, including the arch, is made up of mesh panels that are very breathable. You can just about see through the fabric so air can get in without any trouble at all and moisture can find its way out easily. The heel, toe and outer edge of the sole are a little thicker and so is the section that sits underneath your shoe closure, providing a little more padding for your foot.

An 'arch rib' – which is essentially a tighter band around the middle of your foot – is designed to hold the sock in place although I can't say I have any trouble with slippage from designs that lack this feature. If you do, maybe it's a valuable feature for you. The upper section is ribbed so it stays in place without any noticeable pressure and it covers just your ankles rather than extending up your leg to any great degree.

In use, these really do work to keep your feet feeling very cool, especially around your toes which is the area, I find, that most commonly gets sweaty and horrible. Obviously, you need to wear shoes with extensive mesh panels in order to make the most of the air-circulating potential, but these will certainly help keep your feet comfortable in the summer weather.

Verdict

Comfy socks for keeping your feet cool in the hottest summer weather.

road.cc test report

Make and model: Craft Craft Cool Bike Socks

Size tested: 43-45, White/Grey/Blue

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?

Craft say: "Since foot movements and pressure points vary between different sports, the sock design varies for each sport. Bodymapped mesh panels and fabric combinations are adjusted to the unique demands of the specific sport in order to provide maximum moisture transport, ventilation and comfort. To provide an optimal fit, the socks have a specific design for the left and right foot respectively."

I think some cycle socks are over-designed with unnecessary features to give the impression that they're more technical than they actually are, but the bottom line is that these keep your feet cool and dry in summer conditions and that's exactly what they're designed to do.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
7/10

A few little thread ends stick out where certain panels join but that's just a question of neatness rather than performance.

Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10

They really do keep you cool and sweat-free so they're especially recommended if you tend to get hot feet.

Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10

They're going well so far although the black version will probably look good for longer.

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
8/10

Very comfy, especially if you often suffer with hot feet.

Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

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

The aim is to keep your feet cool in the summer and they certainly do that.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The ventilation

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Perhaps.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 41  Height: 190cm  Weight: 75kg

I usually ride:   My best bike is:

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Expert

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

 

summer socks
Socks
Craft
Mat Brett

Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.

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