Waterproof socks for road cycling in winter?

- I guess you will not write a text about one pair of socks?
- Yes? See it!

It's winter. You can ride a bike, but it is a different sport than in other seasons. Reasons can be found everywhere, but I have my theory. The winter leg is a completely different leg than the summer leg. Maybe it's because of these unshaven hair, maybe by those long pants that cover the beautiful calf, or maybe by shoes. Getting rid of a winter bristle is not a particularly simple occupation (or sensible), but it is possible - it turns out, however, that this is not it. It is not possible to give up a long leg because the knees will fall apart ... and even if it is not, the sweat will freeze on them and stop bending. But maybe the blame suffers the feet?

disclaimer: We bought socks from our own budget in the store Mybike - it is not a sponsored text and (at the moment when I write it) the distributor has no idea about it.

I ride in shoes every day ROSE RWS 03. You can say a lot about them, but most of all they are relatively cheap, considering how many routes have traveled with me (including those at temperatures below -15 degrees). Well, everything is fine, only that my pair weighs almost a kilo!

I do not know if there are people in the world who can replace so many adjectives, how many riders can define their legs. Leg is a cult object. Wooden, heavy, light, loose, gas and a thousand other words. What can you say about your leg when there is a half-kilo at the end of it, in a place that is always moving around?

disclaimer II: Feeling cold is a completely individual matter. The fact that I write that in some shoes I can ride in the winter means only that I can ride in them. There are people who will be cold in every shoe and nothing will come of it. There are also those who, with minus -15, drive in the summer SPD shoe and live (last year's report from the Karkonosze Mountains).

And what if it turns out that you can ride in the summer shoe in the winter? Shock, disbelief, doubt, curiosity ...

We are in Mybike, on the wall I hang ugly as night socks, the price starts from the second in front. My vision from the computer is spoiling, but I will give my head that it consists of three digits. Such an opportunity can not be missed! We take two pairs! There will be no lunches for a week.

Socks are the famous, waterproof Dexshelle - the warmest model on offer: Dexshell Hytherm PRO. Black-and-orange.

Zero Note, a Japanese question about the meaning of life: why do I need it?

Every day I go to work and this is one of the few places where I meet people who are not related to sport (unless on YouTube). I'm used to questions for what and why. This time, however, a similar question sowed a hint of uncertainty - this is rare. I can explain the meaning of buying a jacket for a thousand, a bike for thousands of twenty, a meter for one and a half but waterproof socks? Well, if it were just warm socks, maybe it would still be possible, but waterproof? And for that price? The argument that defeated me is:

After all, good shoes are waterproof

And indeed, winter boots, or even autumn boots, especially well impregnated, should not be subjected to moisture. Apart from a few specific cases in which we may be treading on knees in the snow, it is hard to imagine the sense of waterproofness.

Those few, of specific cases probably already know that they need these socks. So I will focus on summer shoes, which, given their breathability and purpose, with water resistance have nothing to do. So you can easily say: target group of Dexshell socks is very limited (very much).

We tested the bathtub and washbasin (btw, does anyone know what is the best bathroom cleaner? Urgently needed). It turns out that the average winter shoes are actually waterproof for a time that only limited our patience. We could not soak them. But ... But in the field, however, przemaka, because sometimes pulls from the hole on the block in the sole - you can tap it with tape or just like us, use for this one-off undersuits from Decathlon. One problem solved. The second is much harder - the water pulls from the top and flows into the shoe and avoid it heavily. You can combine with trousers, you can again with silwertejpem, but let's be civilized. Consider a modern solution, or appropriate socks.

Note first, that is, a Mexican singer JaTrzepako

I do not know if there is something less bike-less than high and thick socks. It's like putting on goggles, a ski jacket and snowboard gloves before heading to Gassy. Maybe it is hidden under the pants, but it's like with your hair - and everybody knows that they are there. If, however, I learned something over the years of winter fighting on the roads, then the winter style is important, but the comfort and the possibility of survival are more important. So if there are socks, thanks to which I will be able to ride in winter in summer shoes - I will be happy, regardless of the appearance.

I'm sorry Piotrek ;-)

A stolen frame from the Naga Weapon movie

Second remark, or misto in Georgia: Ciasnomi

The first impression after contact with the socks is not particularly nice. This is not the kind of sock in which we put on the foot and we feel like in pajamas. It's rather like our tried-and-tested shoe covers, just for feet. The material is similar, quite stiff, places in the middle a lot. There are no seams, but you can see the joining of the material - it runs in a strange place - exactly through the middle. Despite my fears, it does not bother me

The sock is thick and you can see the first problem on a good day - if someone has a tight shoe, he can forget about it. It is as if he tried to fit into it in a thick, woolen rucksack. I'm probably experiencing the only moment in my life (except when I buy) when I'm happy with tying shoes (about which he was here).

Due to the fact that the sock is more like a ski jacket than a sheepskin coat, I have some doubts ...

Note the third Italian song: drooogare

PLN 215 is a lot for a couple. It's more or less what one cheap, sensible winter boot costs or less than half the cost of such a more expensive, sensible shoe. It will be difficult to justify the expense.

On the other hand, the GREAT advantage of expensive socks is that, unlike cheap ones, they do not get lost.
edit: I go back what I wrote, but they get lost, I can not find the second one at the moment. So it's not enough that they get lost, it's even a lot more painful getting lost.

Note the fourth, i.e. the village near Kielce: zimnoboli

In the plan I have a trip to Warka - it will probably be between 150 and 160 km. A day later I am going with the boys around Kampinos, a distance similar. It may be the beginning of January, but the weather is not very winter. Around 5 degrees, in gusts, in the sun up to 10. Wet streets, a thick layer of shit collects both on the bike and legs in a few minutes. I would normally wear some warm winter boots for summer shoes. A few degrees less and I would change them to classic, winter SPDs. But it is as it is - I am moving in the highly-ventilated Giro Empire and the pair of Dexshell Hytherm socks.

At the 3rd kilometer I feel that I'm cold.

At the 10th kilometer I wonder whether to turn back, because it will not work. Sweaty mountain, feet freezing. I think it's hard - if I fall off my feet, at least I will know what to write.

At the 50th kilometer I am just as cold as on the third. I am a bit surprised. It turns out that the feet were actually chilly, but not enough to prevent me from driving. It's more accustomed to the fact that since I'm cold, it will be more in a moment. This is not happening - the patient suffers, but the situation is stable.

From the 80th kilometer I stop worrying about it. Feet no longer feel discomfort. The fact is cool, but it does not sweat, it is not cold and I have such a nice comfort that regardless of the degree of soiling (i.e. properly wetting) the shoe, the situation will not change.

At the 140th kilometer I do not think about feet anymore and I realize that I forgot about them some time ago. At home, I feel that they are cold, but not enough to think that it was a bad choice. But these are my feet - I know that there are many people for whom it would be far beyond the pleasure zone.

On Sunday I am going out for 150km around Kampinos. I bond the shoes a little lighter, the temperature is closer to 10 degrees than 5. On this day, I feel the discomfort only during a stop to change the inner tube. Lack of traffic gives way. Summer shoes + Dexshell socks are perfect.

Note fourth, i.e. Japanese football player: ciepłojakotako

The most important question you should ask yourself when your feet are cold is: why? Why is it cold when it should be warm. I'm wearing 3 socks, shoes, cover and after an hour I will freeze them, WTF ?! In the extreme version, I hold my foot in a plastic bag and it's still hard.

First of all - the more layers the more easily sweat. You probably know this feeling when you put on a warm hat, your head is sweating and the wind blows. Or you will go for one shirt too far and even though you feel the chill, the body sweats and a few minutes later, it is not very pleasant. For a long time I was a fan of winter clothes from Aliexpress - in fact, they are warm and very cheap. When it was colder I put on more layers and also no problem. It is enough, however, to use slightly better clothing once and the man discovers that if there are zero degrees, then putting on the thermal shirt and jacket, it is enough for these temperatures. I will not mention here the wet air and soaking clothes.

Because despite appearances, it is the air that is responsible for maintaining the temperature. The more slack we have, the easier it will be to maintain the temperature. Therefore, if we bring frozen dumplings in a thermal bag from Bidronki, we do not pump air out of it. The feet are the same - there must be some slack in the shoe.

That's why the sock:
it must be breathable - Dexshelle are more than OK here
it must drain moisture - here too
must ensure that the temperature is maintained - this is OK, but definitely not better than the good Merino socks on the slope.
must leave some space in the shoe - here is the problem. It will only work if we have some stock in the footwell, which will indirectly mean that the shoes are too big. While in the case of winter shoes it is possible, it is already hard at summer time ...

Things that are both breathable and waterproof are never going to stop me.

Note five, i.e. a Japanese city: Polecajdo?

If you do not drive at temperatures below 5-7 degrees, and shoe covers are extremely unpleasant for you and you get nervous that after 3 months they look like they are coming back from the war - these socks are for you.

If you want to ride in the winter, and you do not have winter shoes yet, start with them and leave the socks for later.

I am not completely convinced of this product as something a cyclist should have. At least in this warmest version, summer can be quite good. Yes socks are great, but a good autumn / winter shoe should not leak, and a similar level of heating will get in many cheaper socks. However, if you absolutely want to ride during the autumn-spring weather in your summer, unsuitable for this footwear - this is the best option. Alternatively, if you have a fatbike or some enduro and you are fighting snowdrifts, after falling into which, fluff is falling into the shoe.

When it comes to civil use, the situation of everyday life, not mountain trekking in the Asian Himalayas - is also moderate. The sock, even with a second sock, will not guarantee heat. Without a decent shoe, it will not work. However, if you plan to jump over puddles and mud or walk in a downpour, this is definitely the right layer to consider.

Would I buy Dexshell Hytherm Pro again? I doubt it.

Will I use them? Since I already have it. Exceptionally I do not like warmers for shoes and heavy footwear. When the temperature drops to a range of 0 to 5 degrees, I will probably put them in winter boots. When it's colder, I'll replace it with a good ski sock, because there's no water at the time.

Is this a good product? Of course. It does exactly what it promises, and my lack of excitement is rather due to too high expectations in relation to the indication of how well they hold heat. If you want to have waterproof socks, this is the right choice.

Will I consider buying the summer version for long routes with potential rain? Very likely ... but I will ride at night so that no one will see ;-)