Q36.5 Plus You Socks

Q36.5 Plus You Socks are supposed to be luxury winter shoe-liners, but they're very comfortable in warm weather too and if you need to wear the same socks for several days at a time, they resist getting whiffy.

The Q36.5 Plus You Socks are described as an 'avant-garde winter sock constructed with superior natural thermic merino wool and silk threads'. Apparently, these materials also ensure weight is kept to an absolute minimum.

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Given the ticket price, I was slightly disappointed to discover these weren't pure Merino but a blend. After all, there are plenty of shop-branded hybrids going for a tenner, less if you're lucky.

True, merino (52%) and elastane (25%) are the major components but there's 13% silk and 10% polyamide too, which seem a marked improvement over bog standard staples when the mercury's rising.

Talking of which, I'd taken ours out on a few stonking hot, day rides before settling down to scrutinise the blurb. Given their weight and overall density, I had them down as a middleweight summer pair.

Reinforced toe boxes and heel sections have been commonplace for a while now and usually provide some welcome relief on very long rides, especially if a bit of gravel/rough stuff is thrown into the mix.

I was slightly surprised by their omission. However, this wasn't a problem on longer road rides and ensure a Cinderella fit with road specific shoes. Sizing is pretty 'add to cart' friendly. I'm a 43 in street shoes and our 40-43 felt bespoke.

Something of an Imelda Marcos when it comes to cycling shoes, I'm pleased to report compatibility with everything from race slippers through to winter booties. The 13cm cuffs are another sweet spot, offering sufficient protection from stray stones/flints from freshly surfaced roads and the pale grey with green and white livery is surprisingly neutral too.

Temperature regulation

Comfort was a real revelation. Given the Merino content, I was expecting my feet to remain temperate, whatever the gods bestowed but I was surprised by how good the fibres felt against my skin. According to the blurb, these are guaranteed to work with the wearer, maintaining a temperate inner climate from 8 degrees upward.

Claims such as these are begging to be discredited but my feet have remained dry and comfortable whether I've been doing a 20-mile commute, or 50-mile day ride.

Temperatures have pushed into the low thirties during this period too.

Obviously, this is optimal wearing genuine leather shoes and there was a slight trade-off with synthetic uppers but feet never became clammy, or otherwise uncomfortable.

Odour management

Now, I'm a pleasantly fragrant bloke, even after a couple of hours welding on a hot day, I'll have you know. My feet on the other hand can get close to wall-paper stripping territory, given the right conditions. I've deliberately worn these socks day long, three days running. A bit extreme, dare I say unhygienic, though they still smelt very fresh.

Washing

Bucket washing is the obvious option for tourists and given they're bone dry within 20 minutes. Machine washed at thirty degrees with minimal detergent sees them emerge packet fresh. More sophisticated/ground in petrochemical dirt benefits from a quick pre-wash but that's true of all lighter colours. Three weeks and 500 miles later, they're still looking great with no traces of bobbling, fraying, or similar distress.

Conclusion

I'm probably not alone in having a bundle of bulk-bought merino/polyester mix socks for everyday riding and training. The lion's share of £20 isn't cheap for a pair of socks but the Q36.5s genuinely live up to their hype and I'd certainly recommend them for endurance events, or very hot days.

Verdict

Pricey but very well made, comfortable socks for intense and longer distance riding