Fizik Performance Cycling Socks are breathable, comfortable and packed with anti-microbial fabric technology that will keep your feet feeling fresher for longer.
Most of my cycling career, I have been sock-agnostic (sock-nostic?). I’ve bought a couple of pairs of cheap multicoloured cycling socks in the sales but they felt baggy with threads that caught between my toes as I slide them on. I had a pair that came free with a cycling magazine but they never impressed. What was I expecting?
I’ve got a draw full of walking socks that seem to perform perfectly well on the bike, so I’ve never felt the need to invest this amount of money (20 quid) in a dedicated cycling sock. Having ridden with these over a few hundred kilometres, I am starting to realise the error of my ways.
The Fizik Performance Cycling sock is made from anti-microbial Q-Skin yarn that aims to deliver a moisture-wicking performance to keep your feet dry.
Pull them on and they feel a little like surgical socks: like you are being well looked after without any underlying medical trauma. With the toe and heel firmly in place the fit is exceptionally good. There’s a hint of compression around your calf and whether that delivers any muscular benefit or not, you know they are not going to slide down.
And the sock holds tightly around the contours of your feet. They are thin, breathable and there is no padding where it isn’t needed. There isn’t a thread out of place on this tightly woven sock and no seams to cause problems with abrasion.
Sock it to me
I pulled on my cycling bibs, jersey and shoes and took these socks for their first spin around a few local hills.
There is a reassuring amount of padding under the ball of your foot, just where you come into contact with your pedal cleats. And this ensures a really comfortable ride and helps to minimise instances of hot foot.
I can really struggle with this on a ride but even after 200km, these socks proved to be exceptionally comfortable.
And as the heat picked up the Q-Skin yard did its job and keep my feet dry. These are relatively thin socks with an impressively tight weave and that certainly helps to move moisture away from your skin. This is important when cycling shoes often aren’t designed to be as breathable as something like a running shoe.
There’s plenty of stretch in the material which combined with a snug fit keeps everything solidly in place. And there was no sense of rubbing or discomfort at any point. For the most part I totally forgot I was wearing them, which is always a good marker for any piece of cycling kit.
The two months I have spent testing these socks have helped me to revise my sock strategy. I’m done with the cheap (but wonderfully gaudy) cycling socks that I threw into a digital basket when I was shopping online. I’m happy to use those cheaper socks on shorter day rides, but I’ve realised they don’t perform well enough for bigger distances.
I’m also going to phase out the walking socks on all but the coldest of rides. I’ve realised that the extra padding might be contributing to some of the problems I have had with feet and that thinner material really is the way to go.
Increased blood flow and fluid retention means your feet can swell up as you exercise so thinner socks can really come into their own on longer rides.
The only time I’m likely to stick with those thicker non-cycling socks is in the depths of winter, because these Fizik Performance Cycling Socks don’t give me the level of insulation I need when temperatures drop below 5°C. I’ve had a couple of rides where my toes were definitely struggling with the cold.
Value
This seems a lot of money to spend, but the Fizik Performance socks are well constructed and seem sufficiently durable to offer years of great service. And while some people might overlook the importance of a dedicated cycling sock, there is no doubt that they can really improve comfort levels.
I’m not going to fall into the trap of adding cheap socks to an online purchase in future. (I may have been sock-nostic, but maybe I’ve had a Damascene conversion). There are more cost effective options out there though.
Elliot scored the Attaquer Vertical Logo Sock nine in 2019, rating them for their fit and stylish looks. They cost £20 these days and would be a good alternative that offer similar performance and technical spec.
If you’re a fan of merino you might like to try out the This Is Cambridge Fluro Wave Merino Socks. Jo scored them eight back in 2023 when they were priced at £11.70 (While their RRP is now £22 they’re presently available for just £9). The added warmth they offer makes them an affordable winter option.
If merino really is your thing then the Monton Pro Suutu is another option that was priced at £20. John liked the warmth and comfort they offer and Monton is currently selling these for £12.
The Orro Sportive Socks hit the jackpot with a Road CC Recommends award. Excellent fit and great value at £9.99 were the two biggest pros that were identified.
For more options, check out our best cycling socks buyer’s guide.
Overall
Josh tested the previous incarnation of the Fizik Performance Socks last year and scored them seven, but I am seriously impressed with them and I am going to nudge that up to a solid eight stars for my review.
These may be at the pricier end but they are well worth checking out. They are very comfortable, brilliantly breathable and even after a long two-day ride my feet felt in great shape and these socks smelt surprisingly fresh.
Verdict
Great comfort, excellent fit and very capable of keeping feet dry all day long
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road.cc test report
Make and model: Fizik Performance cycling socks
Size tested: Large
Tell us what the product is for
Fizik says: “Designed to deliver drier comfort on road rides of any length, our performance cycling socks let feet breathe easily. Knit from advanced Q-Skin yarn, an innovative fabric that integrates silver ions into the spinning process.”
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
QSkin yarn: highly wicking with antimicrobial properties
Terry areas over the cleats: avoids pressure spots
Thin and light construction to improve breathability
Sizes available:
S: 35-39 – UK 4-5
M: 40-43 – US 6-9
L: 44-47 – US 10-12
The weave is very tight and there isn’t a thread out of place – it holds your foot securely in all the right places.
Other than in cold weather these socks perform brilliantly and deliver on the manufacturer’s promise. Very good breathability and moisture management means your feet stay dry for longer.
For the period that I tested them, I didn’t notice any issues at all. The toe area is reinforced and looks durable.
Very secure fit that delivers excellent comfort
Sized up perfectly and I sense there is a lot of flexibility in the range of sizes that each sock size can cope with.
This is a good lightweight product
Really exceptional levels of comfort and the only issue was when the weather got colder and even overshoes weren’t enough to keep feet warm in conjunction with these socks.
I think this represents relatively good value for money when compared to alternative products with a similar level of technical performance.
How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?
Synthetic material that copes well when being washed – do read the product guidelines.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
This delivers exactly on the performance aims set out by the manufacture.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
Great comfort and a really good looking sock that made me feel just marginally more race-competent.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
There was nothing to dislike here but I’m going to be honest – I prefer colour in socks and would like to see something a little more eye catching.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?
Price seems to match other products that offer similar level of performance.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Yes
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes
Use this box to explain your overall score
I’m going to nudge the mark up slightly from the last time we reviewed these socks last year. They are brilliantly comfortable, feel great to wear and I can say very safely that they are the best cycling sock that I have ever used.
About the tester
Age: 0 Height: 180cm Weight: 83k
I usually ride: Specialised Langster (fixed commuter) My best bike is: Condor Fratello (new – Audax rides)
I’ve been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: Most days I would class myself as: Experienced
I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, touring, club rides, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, Audax
1 thought on “Fizik Performance cycling socks”
Have them and love them. Super summer socks in white too and usually for £10 on eBay