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review

Prendas Ciclismo Coolmax special edition socks

8
£6.50

VERDICT:

8
10
Cool, comfy spring/summer socks in a variety of different designs; nice price too
Weight: 
36g
Contact: 
www.prendas.co.uk

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Prendas Ciclismo Coolmax socks are lightweight and comfortable and they come in many different designs to match your bike, kit or mood.

I've used loads of pairs of these socks over several years. They're made from a polyester/polyamide/elastane mix that's very stretchy so you get a close fit without any ridges, and it shifts moisture away from your feet well. They're a consistent weave throughout rather than having any mesh sections but I've never noticed my feet getting particularly sweaty in these even on the hottest summer days or the steepest climbs.

The manufacturers give a temperature range for these socks of 6-22°C. I tend to wear something thicker if it's below about 10°C, or wear some overshoes, but we all have different preferences. Essentially, these are spring/summer weight socks that major on comfort and breathability rather than insulation. The section that sits outside your shoe is a double thickness and it stays in place perfectly well.

Although these are thin, they score highly for durability. I have pairs that are a couple of years old still going strong. If you go for a white pair, they gradually get less and less bright as they inevitably pick up dirt, but that's not unusual. In my experience, the reason to ditch them eventually is because they've suffered one too many wet rides rather than that the threads have worn out. They don't ever go baggy around the top like some.

As well as the performance and the reasonable price, the other reason to choose these socks is that they're available in a variety of different designs. I like the mod roundel ones – a tribute to Bradley Wiggins who was supported by Prendas as a youth rider. If that's not your thing, you can choose the Belgian colours, world champion stripes, checkerboard or various other versions.

Verdict

Cool, comfy spring/summer socks in a variety of different designs; nice price too

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Prendas Ciclismo Coolmax special edition socks

Size tested: Medium

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?

Prendas say:

"Made in Italy by the same company that produces our best-selling Coolmax socks, we are delighted to announce the arrival of these great-looking socks inspired by Bradley Wiggins' victory at the British National Road Race Championships in 2011!

Bradley Wiggins was one of the very first Prendas Supported Riders as an aspiring youth, and has of course gone onto great things!

Bradley is well know for his love of all things mod related, so these socks came from a gem of an idea. Of course, now he is sponsored by Adidas, he can't wear them, but we'd like to think that he would if he could!

"The In Crowd" references the great Dobie Gray's Mod and Northern Soul floor filler.

The nominal temperature range for these socks is 6 to 22 degrees Celsius (42 - 71 degrees Fahrenheit), but of course some people run hot and some cold. So it's up to you."

That all seems reasonable enough.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

They're made of Coolmax which does a good job of wicking moisture away from your skin and doesn't get heavy with sweat.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
9/10

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Overall rating: 8/10

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,

 

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. We send him off around the world to get all the news from launches and shows too. 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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