The Q36.5 Clima Socks are a bit of an acquired taste. They tick certain performance boxes but might struggle to compete with others considering the weave can create a bulge at the ankle.
> Buy now: Q36.5 Clima Socks for £20 from Q36.5
The Clima sock promises a lot – ‘incredible breathability’, ‘instep support to offer essential comfort and performance in hot summer conditions’. On top of this there’s a ‘multi-structure weave’ which offers a ‘lightweight yet supportive second skin feel to enhance power transfer’. But having tested the socks during one of the hottest summers on record, I’ve not been bowled over with the reality.
I’m a size 42 shoe and tested a 40-45. Once on, the socks don’t budge – they are compressive and have never slid a millimetre, so I’d say Q36.5’s claim of them being a ‘supportive second skin’ is fair.
I can’t say I felt more support at the instep than anywhere else, though; compression felt even throughout.
As for the multi-structure weave, this is not only visible by looking at the sock on the foot – some sections are virtually transparent – but also by seeing the effect of a tighter weave around the ankle compared with that around the cuff. The photo shows the bulge created when wearing the socks, and I wouldn’t say I have chunky legs. I think you’d need to have very skinny legs to avoid the bulge. And it’s not mellowed with washing and wearing.
The socks remind me of some NHS-issued compression socks I had to wear (over 15 years ago) following a trauma to the knee. The appearance and feel is more of a woman’s stocking than a conventional cycling sock. The fabric on the top of the foot is exceptionally thin, though encouragingly robust. I am impressed that there is still not one single snag to note anywhere on the socks.
The socks come in black, white and a perfectly described ‘Drab Green’. The black ones I tested are probably the most practical, but does colour of a sock influence heat absorption? My feet were always warmer than I felt they should have been given the thin fabric. I never got to the point of them being sweaty, they were simply never cool, always slightly uncomfortably warm. But as I said, I have been testing them in very warm conditions.
Value & conclusion
The Climas come with a premium price tag, on a par with the likes of Assos (£23), Pas Normal Studios (£18), and Veto (£20). If you’re looking to make marginal gains, and don’t mind the bulge, their high level of compression and negligible weight might justify the cost.
> Buy now: Q36.5 Clima Socks for £20 from Q36.5
Verdict
Possibly the lightest sock you will find, but not the coolest, and the strong compression around the ankle won’t suit everyone
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road.cc test report
Make and model: Q36.5 Clima Socks Black
Size tested: 40-43
Tell us what the product is for and who it’s aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it?
Q36.5 says: “Designed to complement the Dottore Clima Shoes perfectly, the Q36.5 Clima Socks combine incredible breathability with instep support to offer essential comfort and performance in hot summer conditions. The multi-structure weave allows for a lightweight yet supportive second skin feel to enhance power transfer.”
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product
From Q36.5:
“The Q36.5 Clima Socks offer a second skin feel that provides both arch support and exceptional breathability. The super-fine Micro Polyamide threads are seamlessly woven to ensure the thinnest possible sock with a multi-structure construction.
“The result is a sock that precisely follows the shape of the foot while providing strategically placed support and cushioning along the sole, at the instep, and wrapping up around the ankle. The upper portion of the sock makes use of the thinnest possible material weave to enhance thermoregulation and breathability. The thinness of the material belies the socks’ impressive durability.”
Technical Features
Weight M Size 19g
90 % Polyamide
10 % Elastane
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
They definitely offer high levels of compression. While they didn’t cause my feet to be sweaty, they were always on the edge of ‘uncomfortably warm’. That said, all testing has been done in very warm conditions.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
I was impressed by how robust the material was for something so thin.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
Sausage effect at ankle.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?
Comparable to Assos, and certainly not the most expensive ones you can buy. There are cheaper options, such as Universal Colours’ Mono Summer Socks, but looking at the socks we have reviewed, many are around £20.
Did you enjoy using the product? Not particularly.
Would you consider buying the product? No
Would you recommend the product to a friend? If they were looking to make marginal gains, yes.
Use this box to explain your overall score
I didn’t feel like my feet were any cooler than they would have been in certain other socks. Add the bulge at the ankle to this and I can’t really rate them as being a ‘good’ product given the price tag on top.
About the tester
Age: 42 Height: 173cm Weight: 64kg
I usually ride: Road My best bike is: Carbon road.
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: commuting, touring, club rides, general fitness riding, Getting to grips with off roading too!
1 thought on “Q36.5 Clima Socks Black”
They’re socks; they’re twenty
They’re socks; they’re twenty-quid, that’s a completely bonkers amount.