With so many great cycling socks available, choices often come down to little more than looks. If you’re hot for the 80s – so fashionable among those too young to have lived the true horror – the Sporcks Neila White Socks are bang on trend. Oh, and they work very well, too.

  • Pros: Bold graphics, highly visible, durable, comfy
  • Cons: Not for every rider or ensemble…

The double-thickness Meryl fabric is pleasingly tough, a sense amplified by strong elastication that creates a fairly compressive fit. Sizing is accurate, so although getting them on can take enough effort to constitute a warm-up, once on they’re very comfy.

> Buy these online here

The thin mesh tops give good breathability and stop them feeling bulky, while thicker soles mean decent cushioning. Heel and toe are reinforced and have withstood even my heinous toenails… which technically qualifies them as a metal. These socks last.

The Sporcks deal well with sweat, and I never found them less than comfortable even on long, warm rides. They wash up clean and bright too, though it’s probably best to save them for your drier, cleaner outings to give the large white panels on the 16cm cuffs a chance.

> How to keep your feet warm while cycling in winter

At £13.98 they’re not cheap, and are up against lovely fabrics such as in Kalf’s Winter Merino Sock or fancy brands such as Assos or Cafe du Cycliste. But if you want comfy, durable and technical socks with a subtle ‘irradiated Rubic’s Cube’ look, these are the ones for you.

Verdict

Boldy stylish and well-made socks for those who party like it’s 1989

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Sporcks Neila White Socks

Size tested: Large

Tell us what the product is for

Sporcks describes these as a: “Unisex lightweight cycling sock with a medium compression fit, made mainly of Meryl®. They are designed to offer a perfect fit, maximum breathability and great comfort.”

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

The company lists these features:

-Weight of the pair: 40 gr for size S.

-Height of the cuff: S4 (16cm).

-Breathable mesh

-Manufactured in Meryl®.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

‘Double thread’ fabric feels very hardwearing.

Rate the product for fit:
 
8/10

The noticeably compressive fit is comfy (once you’ve wrenched them on).

Rate the product for sizing:
 
8/10

Just right.

Rate the product for weight:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort:
 
8/10

Very good – they wick well, and are compressive but not restrictive or uncomfortable.

Rate the product for value:
 
6/10

They’re €15.95, which is currently £13.98, so pretty high, though so is the quality.

How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

Clean up well, though white is inevitably hardest to keep looking fresh.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Good with sweat, comfortable and nice looking.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Wild 1980s styling.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Wild 1980s styling…

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

Recently tested socks have varied from £10.95 to £19.99, so these are in the middle: £14 is a fair amount for a single pair of socks, but they perform well and are built to last.

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

The only issues are the difficulty of keeping white looking fresh – though that’s true of any sock – and the high price. But they’re not unique in that either. Strong construction, performance and graphics mean they’re nailed on for a very good (if not exceptional) score.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 45  Height: 183cm  Weight: 78kg

I usually ride: GT GTR Series 3  My best bike is:

I’ve been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: A few times a week  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: general fitness riding, mountain biking