Teko's Adrenalin socks are soft and comfortable technical socks for cycling in warm weather.
- Pros: Technical, good fit, environmentally-friendly construction
- Cons: No striking designs
Technically speaking, Teko actually calls these running socks, but don't fear, they're perfectly suited to cycling and, well, most other situations involving exercise too.
At their core is a technical 'Evapor8' yarn that's breathable and very soft against the skin, with what Teko calls an 'Arch Wrap' system that provides support around the circumference of your foot arch. The heels and toes also benefit from additional padding, while the underside is cushioned too.
That cushioning pays off when riding in super-stiff road shoes (they're perfect partners for my Sidi Shots, for example), and they really perform strongly in the warm conditions they're designed for. That said, they're not super-thin on top, so if it is a touch chilly on an autumnal morning, for example, you won't be suffering with frozen toes too quickly.
A seamless construction is said to give the Adrenalin socks high durability (Teko provides a guarantee against manufacturer defects – not all that common in high wear products like socks), while it definitely reduces the chances of any chafing when worn inside a shoe.
In particular, I like that the fabric is sourced from sustainable materials, while the company also makes a multitude of designs for both men and women, and in differing heights too (if that kind of thing bothers you). At £10.95 a pop, they're well worth a look.
Verdict
Good value, technical socks that do an excellent job
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road.cc test report
Make and model: teko Adrenalin Running Socks
Size tested: XL
Tell us what the product is for
Teko says: "An everyday favourite for your daily run or visit to the gym. Whether you're a weekend warrior, a dawn patroller or night raider these socks will not disappoint. They have a sleek design that will hug your foot in a way that no other socks do. These socks feel luxuriously comfortable against your skin. The sock is lightly cushioned under the whole foot and around the heel for maximum comfort and performance. Easy to care for and from an eco-friendly source."
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
Features (via teko's website):
- Luxurious ultra-fine microfibers dry and evaporate moisture quickly
- Evapor8 fibre regulates your temperature
- Anatomical fit - smooth, seamless & snug
- Performs best in warm, hot & humid conditions
- Teko lifetime guarantee against fault of manufacture
Seamless construction means that there's little to go wrong.
No complaints at all here.
The white fabric does attract dirt easily, but that's par for the course.
Really well considered fit that cocoons your foot.
Seems to be on the money in the XL we had on test – I'm a UK size 12.
30g is hardly noticeable.
The soft fabric and seamless construction, plus the padding, makes these very comfortable.
Good quality technical socks can cost upwards of £15-20 in some places – these are just as good.
How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?
It's fine in your usual wash, but the white can absorb colour and dirt easily.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
Very well.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
Technical, good fit, environmentally-friendly construction.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
No striking designs.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?
A quick look around premium brands shows that these are good value.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Yes, if Teko could come up with more cycling-friendly designs.
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes
Use this box to explain your overall score
Aside from the lack of cycling marketing and designs, there's not much to fault here, these are excellent.
About the tester
Age: 28
I usually ride: Canyon Ultimate CF SL 9.0 SL (2016) My best bike is:
I've been riding for: 5-10 years I ride: Most days I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding
9 comments
Oh please. "Technical" socks with left and right specific fitting. I dont know who is the real mug in this con, the people taken in by it or the reviewers who try to push this crap on us. The marketing departments must work really hard to find a new product to push on a gullible public at a huge profit margin.
I quite like having "L" and "R" on my socks, though they're "technical" socks from Aldi.
The big problem is that they don't last as long as my big toe is always trying to poke out of the same bit of sock (other socks can be routinely switched between feet).
If you want to wear technical running socks for cycling "More Mile" socks available from Amazon etc - pack of 5 for aprox the same price as this.
However don't reccomend going the other way. I won some Road.cc cycling socks in a competition. First time i wore them i put them on and went for a run, when i got home they had holes in.
Such cynicism in one so young... road.cc's rating scale says these are "exceptional" (4.5 stars). A sock revolution!
Didn't you read that they're " they're perfectly suited to cycling and, well, most other situations involving exercise too". Perhaps they're vertically compliant, or have aero benefits? I wonder how many watts/km we're looking at here - I think we should be told!
Mind you, I find most of my (much cheaper) socks adequate for cycling, "most other situations involving exercise", and indeed most situations not involving exercise too. Not great in the bath though.
Inspired by drillium, I have made holes in some of my socks - I could send a pair to road.cc if they would like to review their performance characteristics.
But not all socks are the same! I have lots of pairs I'll choose over others, so there must be something that makes them better. The fit? The fabric? The way they stop your feet sweating? And these do have an 'inside out' seam across the toe... I HATE a seam that digs into your toes.
Wearing running socks for cycling/cycling socks for running?! When will this madness end?
They have a running detector built in. Running is against the rules, as you know.
No, not all socks are the same - but they're mostly not very different either. Certainly not enough to justify paying the premium asked here. Some socks are different and worth more effort and expenditure - hiking socks, waterproof ones, for example - but unless you have some unusual foot condition then just about any old cotton socks are fine for cycling, surely?
Despite my long sock wearing life, I can't say I've ever been bothered by sock seams. And the kind of socks I wear... just turn 'em inside out.
But your money, your choice!
Certain combinations of my work socks and dress shoes are pretty uncomfortable with the toe seam digging in, but I can't say I've ever noticed it as a problem with sports socks and shoes.
For now, I'm sticking with my Aldi socks for most of my cycling - the egonomic ones aren't bad and the merino ones are particularly good.
I mostly wore some X-Socks running ones for years until they got too shabby.