Having warm and dry feet can make all the difference between smugly overcoming winter conditions to keep getting the miles in, or a downright miserable ride. We’ve all been there, impatiently waiting in the kitchen in damp kit after you finally get home, waiting for your feet to thaw out before you can hop into the shower and recover properly.
Socks might be a relatively small part of your kit, but underestimate them at your peril. Investing a little in a few pairs of dedicated winter cycling socks won’t stop the skies from opening or the temperatures plummeting, but they’ll certainly help make your cycling more pleasurable through the less accommodating months.
From under a tenner for budget-friendly options to £35 for dedicated waterproof socks, we’ve pulled together some of our go-to options for winter cycling socks, as well as our advice on what to look for when you come to make your buying decision.
Cyclist’s top picks of the best winter cycling socks
- Castelli Distanza 20 socks
- Albion All Road Winter Socks
- Maap Division Merino Socks
- Sealskinz Bircham Waterproof Socks
- Assos Ultraz Winter Socks Evo
- Endura BaaBaa Merino Winter Socks
- Madison Roam Isoler Merino 4 Season Socks
- Rapha Pro Team Winter Socks
- Le Col Long Tech Wool Cycling Socks
Keep reading for more on each pair and our detailed buying advice.
Related questions you can explore with Ask Cyclist, our new AI search engine.
How do we test and why trust our advice?
Here at Cyclist, we don’t shy away from the bike when the nights start to draw in, temperatures plummet and the weather takes a turn for the worst.
You can trust that when we make product recommendations, these are based on combined years – decades, even – of riding and product testing experience in real world conditions.
Whether you’re just starting out and are looking for some low-cost options to keep your toes cosy on more wintery commutes, or you’re a dedicated rider looking for the very best in all-weather protection, we aim to cover a range of options for all tastes and budgets.
The best winter cycling socks
Here are our picks of the best winter cycling socks to see you through your cold, wet winter rides.
Castelli Distanza 20 socks
RRP: £22 | View offer
- 50% merino wool blend with elastane and polyamide
- Synthetic heel and toe areas for enhanced durability
- High 20cm ankle cuff
Like many brands, Castelli has opted to use a merino blend for its winter-weight Distanza 20 socks. While this natural merino fibre boasts many favourable properties, including thermal regulation, odour resistance and sweat-wicking, it is usually best when combined with synthetic materials, in this case elastane and polyamide.
The toe box and heel cup of the sock are composed of the synthetic mix to add durability, while the hexagonal textured body of the sock and high cuff use the merino blend. The cuff is finished with a wide welt of doubled-over fabric to enhance comfort.
Finally, the branding is fairly loud with the Castelli name logo around the cuff, though this is likely to be under bib tights on colder rides.
Albion All Road Winter Socks
RRP: £20 | View offer
- Synthetic yarn with 45% polyester, 35% nylon and 20% elastane
- Reinforced toe, heel and footbed
- Orange or black colourways
Albion’s All Road Winter Socks are offered in three sizes, suitable for feet between EU 35-47. Choose between the bright orange or black colourways for these synthetic socks designed to keep you warm through the worst of autumn and winter rides.
The footbed is padded from the heel cup to the toe, which Albion claims provides additional warmth, while the upper foot features a thinner weave to promote ventilation. The cuff is long and highly elasticated to keep the socks perfectly in place, no matter how long you’re out in the cold.
These are good-looking socks, simply adorned with the brand’s route line logo on the rear of the cuff.
Maap Division Merino Sock
RRP: £28 | View offer
- 80% merino and polyamide blend
- Range of eight colourways
- High cuff with arch support and heel reinforcement
These thicker two-tone cycling socks are the winterised sibling of the Maap Division socks, using a high proportion of merino wool to capitalise on the natural fibre’s thermoregulatory, anti-odour and sweat wicking properties.
Choose from three sizes and no fewer than eight colourways, either jazzing up your ankles with bright blue shades or playing it cool in earthy tones.
The fit is a long cuff and wide hem to aid comfort, as well as a reinforced heel, toe and midfoot arch support. To keep them looking and feeling great for longer, Maap claims the fibre blend offers anti-pilling resistance.
- Buy now from Maap (£28)
Sealskinz Bircham Waterproof Socks
RRP: £35 | View offer
- Three-layer construction with waterproof membrane
- Merino blend inner layer for comfort and moisture management
- Durable synthetic outer layer with stretch
The British brand Sealskinz is well-known in hiking and mountain biking circles for producing excellent waterproof socks for the worst of British weather. If you ride or commute a lot in foul weather, you might want to consider waterproof socks for the wettest days.
The Bircham socks are three layer; with a soft 36% merino blend inner, a waterproof membrane middle layer, and a tougher, stretchy synthetic outer layer. Combined, these make a sock that’s not only waterproof but also breathable and comfortable.
Be aware that this triple-layer construction is likely to be considerably thicker than your normal cycling socks, so you might want to size up your shoes if you have a separate pair of winter cycling shoes.
Assos Ultraz Winter Socks Evo
RRP: £23 | View offer
- 20% wool blend with 76% polyester and 4% elastane
- Thicker toe, ball and arch portion
- Seamless construction
Using a blend of natural and synthetic fibres, the Assos Ultraz Winter Socks Evo use 20% wool fibres. This natural fibre offers superior insulation, according to Assos, while the synthetic element improves moisture management and stretch.
Building on the success of the model’s outgoing design, the thickness of the blue lower foot portion has been tripled to add extra insulation at the toes and ball of the foot.
To ensure comfort, the sock features a seamless construction, and there are three sizes to choose from, for shoe sizes 35-46.
Endura BaaBaa Merino Winter Sock
RRP: £18.99 | View offer
- 37% merino and synthetic blend winter-weight sock
- Stretch arch support and padded sole
- Machine washable design
The Endura BaaBaa Merino Winter Sock blends the practicality and durability of a synthetic sock with the wonder properties of natural merino wool fibre. The resulting sock is not only warm when wet, soft against the skin and odour-resistant, but also machine washable for easy care.
The fibre blend is equal parts merino wool and acrylic, along with 23% elastane for stretch and 3% acrylic. The socks are finished with a long cuff, which yields additional warmth over the ankle and lower leg, and a padded sole with stretch arch support.
Choose from plain or more bright colours, with six colourways available in two sizes.
Madison Roam Isoler Merino 4 Season Sock
RRP: £9.99 | View offer
- Multiple features to improve comfort
- Merino blend yarn
- Covered by Madison’s Limited Lifetime Warranty
Who said that winter socks can’t be fun? Madison certainly hasn’t shied away from bold designs with its stripy Roam Isoler Merino 4 Season socks, available in no fewer than six colourways from blue to olive and pink. Three sizes are available, to suit feet between EU 36-50.
The brand’s best selling sock is made from a merino blend, which gives natural antimicrobial and odour-resistant properties, but these are also durable enough to last you for multiple seasons of winter riding, speaking from experience.
Great care has been taken to ensure comfort when it comes to the sock design, including a carefully placed flat seam across the top of the toe, compression at the arch of the foot and ankle, and a deep welt at the top of the cuff to prevent the sock from digging in to the back of the leg. The footbed of the sock is also padded to add comfort and extra insulation.
Rapha Pro Team Winter Socks
RRP: £24 | View offer
- 60% merino blend with nylon
- Reinforced areas at heel and toes
- Wide sizing range from XS to XL to fit EU 35-46+
The lightweight merino/nylon blend of the Rapha Pro Team Winter Socks has been designed to give thermal insulation for colder weather riding, without adding unnecessary bulk that restricts movement in cycling shoes.
There are thicker areas around the toe box and the heel cup, which not only give more comfort, but also improve the durability of the socks in these higher wear areas. Over the top of the foot, there’s a thinner, more mesh-like weave to promote sweat-wicking.
Choose from three colourways; black, blue or brown, each with Rapha’s Pro Team logo at the back of the long cuff.
- Buy now from Rapha (£24)
Le Col Long Tech Wool Cycling Socks
RRP: £23 | View offer
- 50% merino blend winter socks
- Carefully placed, reinforced seams for comfort and durability
- Long or standard cuff length options
Le Col’s Long Tech Wool winter cycling socks are made from a merino blend, composed 50% of the natural fibre, blended with polyamide and 5% elastane to give the socks their stretch.
Choose between two colourways (black or navy blue) and two sizes, S/M or L/XL, catering for EU shoe sizes 39-46+. There’s also a slightly shorter cuff option, the Tech Wool Cycling Socks, which are a little cheaper at £20.
- Buy now from Le Col (£23)
How to choose the right winter cycling socks for you
What materials should I be looking for when it comes to choosing winter cycling socks?
Merino is a popular choice when it comes to winter cycling socks. This natural fibre, derived from the fleece of a specific breed of sheep, has excellent thermoregulatory properties, helping to keep you warm as well as minimising odour, unlike some synthetic alternatives.
Merino is usually blended with a synthetic fibre to increase durability – especially for items like socks where there's high wear.
Do I need waterproof socks for wet weather winter cycling?
Waterproof socks can be a great idea for certain conditions, but aren't essential for all wet weather riding.
Waterproof socks work really well if you're determined to keep your feet dry when faced with flooded lanes or puddle-ridden gravel tracks, stopping the splash from dampening your ride.
However, in warmer conditions they can also be a bit sweaty, as they don't tend to be as breathable as normal socks, so they can just keep your feet wet from the inside of the sock. You also need to be careful not to let the water drain down your leg into the socks, as it will puddle inside - definitely contenders for socks under bib tights!
Waterproof socks are more specialist and do tend to be considerably more pricey than standard options, so they're perhaps best saved for the wettest of days.
Should I wear my socks under or over my bib tights?
An age-old question, and one that often triggers a great debate, ultimately the choice to wear your socks over or under your bib tights is down to you.
Got a fun, bright pair of socks that you want to show off? Pop ‘em on the outside. Want to go for a more sleek look? Tuck ‘em in.
Do I need cycling-specific socks for winter riding?
Yes and no. There are many options for winter socks when it comes to different sport types, and while many of these may be suitable for cycling, do remember that if they are particularly bulky, like some walking socks for example, then this may affect the fit of your cycling shoes.
If you end up crammed into your cycling shoes with excessively thick socks, then this is likely to have the opposite to the desired effect and actually limit your circulation, so that your feet feel more cold.
Many cycling-specific winter socks are designed to add warmth without excessive bulk.
Are winter cycling socks the full answer for warm feet?
A leading question - you probably know where this is going. Even with the best winter cycling socks in the world, if you're still riding in your highly vented summer cycling shoes you're gonna get chilly.
The most cost-effective way to reduce wind chill on your tootsies is to opt for a pair of overshoes to zip on over your existing shoes.
If you're really serious about riding through the worst conditions and your budget allows, consider a pair of winter cycling shoes, and keep your summer shoes in good nick for when that brighter weather rolls back around.
