Wool socks are available at just about every sporting goods store in America, but the Pearl Izumi Elite Thermal Wool Socks are not just any wool socks—they are designed for winter athletes and are probably the most comfortable wool socks you will ever find.
Pearl Izumi Elite Thermal Wool Socks
Pearl Izumi Elite Thermal Wool Socks are made of 71% merino wool, 28% nylon, and 1% Lycra. Merino wool is extremely warm, naturally anti-bacterial, doesn’t retain odors, and does a fantastic job of wicking away moisture from your feet. You will be amazed at how quickly they dry, even in wet weather.
These socks have a good layer of cushioning under the feet which should make for blister-free riding. They also have a bit of arch compression so they fit well without ever feeling sloppy. They are also they only cycling socks I own that have markings so you can distinguish between the left and right socks. As for height, these socks are 8.5 inches tall (sometimes called cuff height or below the calf length).
While I love the Pearl Izumi Elite Thermal Wool Socks, they are not the heaviest wool cycling socks I own. I have found that if you wear a thin polypropylene sock liner under these socks your feet will be warmer than if you just wore one pair of thick socks.
Pearl Izumi Elite Thermal Wool Socks are only available in one color combination (Black and Shadow Grey). They come in several sizes, from Small through X-Large and seem to be true to size. However, they are not cheap, they retail for around $18 a pair. However, if you ride in the winter I believe you will think it is money well spent. You should be able to get many years of use out of these thermal socks.
Wayne Thais
January 6, 2012 at 3:57 PM
We live in Mahomet, Illinois and ride a Calfee tandem. Our current low riding temperature is 35 degrees, at that temperature we have found that Alpaca winter socks work really well in keeping our feet warm, better than Rapha brand wool cycling socks.
Wayne