Review: Sockeloen Merino Winter Cycling Sock

Talk about timing - no sooner did a pair of Sockeloen winter socks show up to the office and suddenly winter showed up too. It was the perfect proving ground to see if the Netherlands-based sock maker has created the warmest cycling socks for winter riding. They may have even settled the over-under debate for good, too.

Founded by Jasper Ockeloen, Sockeloen set out to create the ultimate cycling socks. A cyclist, Jasper set the goal to make a sock just right: not too long, too high, too tight, the list goes on. In a sport where watts count as much as appearance, this is not easy to do. From the days of Rabobank, Sockeloen has evolved into the most sought after cycling sock. 

We got our hands on a pair of Sockeloen merino winter socks. Outside the temperatures have hovered near freezing. There’s also been a couple rounds of snow. What better way to find out if Sockeloen had succeeded in creating a warm winter sock than by heading out into the winter conditions? It should be noted there were no overshoes employed during the testing phase; every cold condition ride was a pair of shoes and Sockeloen socks. 

It is apparent in the detail the moment one pulls the winter socks on. They feel exceptionally thin to be something to hold in body heat. Maybe this whole experiment of riding in cold weather should be reconsidered. Shouldn’t winter socks be absurdly thick? But no, the Sockeloen socks proved to be sufficient in keeping the feet warm in sub-freezing temperatures and snowy conditions while being remarkably thin. It was a matter of note that we had forgotten the concern for winter socks altogether throughout the ride. A thinner but warmer winter sock should not exist, yet here it was.

All of this was made possible by a new structure. Sockeloen changed the structure to promote heat retention using Terry material. The mesh design keeps feet dry and breathable without the added concern of cold air circulating. Atop the sock is the company logo and atop that is the fuzzy cuff to reinforce the notion that winter riding is better when outside.

It’s that cuff that leads riders to rolling up the socks over the winter bibs. While the debate rages about whether socks go under or over winter bibs, one would be remiss to tuck the Sockeloen logo under the bibs. When it’s Sockeloen socks, they go over the leggings. 

We racked numerous miles in blowing cold and stinging snow to see if Sockeloen socks would reach their breaking point. Even after a sub-freezing outing, it was concluded the ride could have gone on longer. Thin, warm, and comfortable. It used to be that a cyclist would have to pick two priorities. With Sockeloen socks, it is possible to have all three.