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Socks
Pongo Grey Breton Stripe Pongo Grey Breton Stripe
Pongo Grey Breton Stripe socks

Pongo Grey Breton Stripe

8
by Liam Cahill
UPDATED Wed, May 08, 2019 10:39

First Published Apr 1, 2019

1
£16.00

VERDICT:

8
10
Nice styling, comfy and breathable – great on and off the bike
Weight: 
32g
Contact: 
www.pongolondon.cc
How we test

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These Pongo Grey Breton Stripe socks are comfy and suit warm weather rides. The length is great and the styling means they're not just for the bike. They're pricey though.

  • Pros: I love the styling, very comfy
  • Cons: Size up quite small

Pongo does its Breton socks in all sorts of colours, so if you like the design but the neon pink and yellow isn't for you, there are a few more subtle options.

> Buy these online here

I've really liked using these socks. They've stopped my feet from getting sweaty both on the bike and during normal wear. Breathability is aided by the mesh section on the top of the foot and this works well with the 'fine Italian yarns' to keep feet cool.

Combine this with the striped design and I think you've got socks that can easily be used with regular clothes, making them great for those of us who commute by bike.

Pongo Grey Breton Stripe socks 1.jpg

These sit very nicely between the foot and the shoe, with no odd seams to cause irritation.

Durability is also good, with the anti-twist keeping the fit as new. The material at the toe and heel is different to the rest of the sock, but there's not the same type of durable material here that you get with a pair of DeFeet socks.

The fit is also on the small side, with my size 42 feet suiting the larger size much better.

At £16, these aren't the priciest socks we've tested, but they're up there. DeFeet's Cyclismo Tab socks are £17.99. I love the styling of the Pongo socks, though I'd probably pick a slightly more subtle colour.

Overall, you're getting very nice styling with a material that keeps feet comfy. The fit is a touch small, though, and there are some excellent options out there.

Verdict

Nice styling, comfy and breathable – great on and off the bike

road.cc test report

Make and model: Pongo Grey Breton Stripe

Size tested: Large / Extra Large

Tell us what the product is for

From Pongo: "The Breton stripe, the nautical-inspired blue and white stripes synonymous with French fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier, holds the cachet of being considered a perennial wardrobe staple. Over the years unique and colourful twists on the stripe have come to the market to create unique visual identities.

"We've taken this classic French design and modernised it the only way we know how. Blended with fine Italian yarns this sock is certainly going to become a go-to classic in your wardrobe.

"This cycling sock is made using our unique template and construction process to ensure superior quality".

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

Features

Classic 6" cuff

Technical mesh for added breathability

Anti twist + compression band

Superior needle count for quality and durability

Made in Italy

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
7/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
6/10
Rate the product for fit:
 
6/10
Rate the product for sizing:
 
5/10

Come up a tad small.

Rate the product for weight:
 
7/10
Rate the product for comfort:
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
5/10

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

I washed and tumbled dried the socks with no ill-effects.

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

Very well. Comfy on the bike and off it too.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

They are very comfy and I never noticed them making my feet sweat.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

They just don't stand out in a crowded market.

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

Up with the higher end socks. There are more expensive offerings from DeFeet and Neon Velo.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? No

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Maybe

Use this box to explain your overall score

Very nice socks, but a little pricey in a crowded market.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 24  Height: 177cm  Weight: 62kg

I usually ride: Cannondale Supersix Di2  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: road racing, time trialling, cyclo-cross, commuting, club rides, general fitness riding, I specialise in the Cafe Ride!

Pongo Grey Breton Stripe 2019
Pongo Grey Breton Stripe
Pongo 2019
Pongo

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1 comments

Avatar
rjfrussell | 5 years ago
0 likes

Obvs, I don't want to knock what you do.  But is there not a point at which a review should just be, "They are socks-  Ok Socks".  Indeed, perhaps sock reviews, in the absence of some dramatic leap forward, might be unecessary.  Because, ultimately, they are, you know, socks?

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