Mountain bikers can never have enough bikes, socks. Give us the tall or no-show, funky or plain black, warm or lightweight, cushioned and cozy, vegan or alpaca socks, and we’d be as happy as the day we got our first (or fourth) bike! Here are just a few of our favorite socks, perfectly giftable for yourself or to any cyclist on any occasion.
Chrome Merino Night Sock
The Chrome Merino Night socks have a wide, reflective band on the back of the sock for visibility at night. These crew-length socks are 50% merino wool and midweight for some warmth.
- Price: $25
- Available at Chrome Industries
Cognative Standard Issue Retro Sock
Cognative socks, like their line of mountain bike apparel, reflect the feeling of endless stoke for mountain biking. The thin socks are made of 50% Coolmax moisture-wicking material, have arch support, and a tall 6″ cuff. Many of the 20+ MTB sock styles have coordinating jerseys and other accessories.
- Price: $15.95 – $18.95
- Available at Cognative MTB
Darn Tough Micro Crew Ultralight Socks
I’m only in about 3+ years on my Darn Tough Micro Crew Ultralight socks and they feel as good and snug as they did on Day 1. The merino wool socks are made (darn well!) in the USA and are unconditionally guaranteed for life. The micro-crew — about 4″ cuff height on women’s socks — is shorter than average crew length mountain bike socks, and some styles come with or without cushioning.
Fox Ranger 8″ Socks
No, it’s not just a black tube sock. These Fox Ranger socks are a good choice for an everyday casual sock and mountain bike sock. They aren’t going to leave your feet hot and sweaty like a cotton tube sock might thanks to the stretchy nylon blend and mesh upper. Arch support is a plus and you can get them in two heights, 6″ and 8, and a few subtle color options.
Fox River Canyon Ultra-Lightweight Run Strong Socks
From the brand that keeps the American classic Sock monkey alive, Fox River offers USA-made socks for nearly every use. The Canyon socks are made of a blend of soft, all-natural alpaca fleece (15%), polyester, and nylon for a lightweight and wicking sock ideal for a variety of sports. Available in six colors and $1 from each pair of these and other Run Strong socks sold supports immediate needs and programs at Running Strong for American Indian Youth®.
- Price: $9.60 – $20
- Available at Fox River
Icebreaker Merino Hike Liner Socks
These Icebreaker liner socks are about as light as it gets, and they even have a lifetime guarantee. If you were skeptical about wearing merino in hot conditions, these socks have all the benefits of merino — natural, breathable, and odor-free — in a thin, lightweight package. These are built to stay put and keep your feet dry and they’re thin enough that during colder months you can easily slip on another pair of socks on top.
Pearl Izumi Merino Thermal Sock
Our go-to winter mountain biking sock is this thick, thermal wool sock from Pearl Izumi. If you’ve scoffed at the prices of a sport-specific sock, consider a pair of these to keep your toes warm for any winter riding you may do.
- Price: $22
- Available at Pearl Izumi
Stio All-Trail Lightweight MTB Sock
We like the casual, mountain-vibes styling of this sock and it actually has more weight than the lightweight name implies. It’s got a thicker mid-weight knit and is tall with a good amount of merino wool (55%) and a cushioned forefoot and heel. The backside says “Ride Wyoming” where Stio is headquartered. Yeah, we’re jealous, too.
- Price: $28
- Available at Stio
Swiftwick Pursuit Sock
The Switftwick Pursuit sock may not look flashy but it is a serious performance cycling sock. It has a snug, compressive fit particularly around the arch, and wicks moisture well. While it’s made of 63% merino wool, it’s lightweight enough to wear year-round. The Pursuit comes in six cuff heights from no-show to 12″.
- Price: $16.99 – $21.99 per pair
- Available at Swiftwick
Velocio Signature Wool Sock
This Italian-made, mid-weight 57% Merino wool sock is another good shoulder season or winter mountain biking sock. Cushioning runs the full length of the footbed, covers the toes, and extends behind the ankle making these one of the most comfortable socks to wear on the bike! Several solid color options available.
- Price: $24
- Available at Velocio
Bombas Cycling Calf Socks
The Bombas cycling socks are truly soft and comfortable. We were pleasantly surprised by the performance features of these vibrantly colored socks like cushioning just below the forefoot where you pedal and materials that wick sweat away nicely. The running styles offer similar performance features but with additional cushion at the heel. And for every pair purchased, another pair is donated to the homeless community.
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