Whether you set out for a ride in the rain or get caught by a surprise shower, cold, wet feet are part of winter cycling. Overboots and waterproof winter cycling shoes are a big help. Fenders are important, too, but inevitably, the rain or wet road spray is going to seep into your cycling shoes — usually as it drips down your leg. The single best defense against cold, wet feet while cycling through the winter months is waterproof socks. 
I’ve heard about waterproof cycling socks for a few years, but I had never tried them until this season. I am a 100% convert to them for winter riding.
Like the winter shoes or over booties, waterproof socks are no guarantee for 100% dry feet while riding, but they are the best solution I’ve found. In fact, I rarely use overboots anymore. I simply wear waterproof socks with my regular cycling shoes, even when it’s dry because they do a great job of sealing out wind and cold, too.
Showers Pass Waterproof Cycling Socks
Much like any performance waterproof apparel these days, waterproof cycling socks rely on a waterproof, breathable membrane laminated between other materials. GORE-TEX is the best-known waterproof, breathable membrane out there, but there are countless other variations. (If you’d like to learn more about GORE-TEX and all its various designs, read our GORE-TEX Guide.)
According to Showers Pass, their Crosspoint Waterproof Crew Socks are among the first waterproof, breathable socks to hit the market, so they seemed like the right ones to test. The Crosspoint is made of 3-layers: a wear-resistant knit exterior (feels like a regular sock), a waterproof, breathable Artex™ membrane (the part that keeps the water out), and a Coolmax FX moisture-wicking anti-bacterial lining (the part that makes them feel nice on your feet).
They also feature what Showers Pass calls 3D-molded construction, which gives them a more shaped look than a traditional “flat” sock. At first touch, the Crosspoint socks feel like a mix between a neoprene bootie and a regular sock. They’re thicker than normal socks, too, but are less bulky on your feet than I anticipated based on how they feel to the hand. That said, if your cycling shoes are snug with traditional socks, I recommend going for the lightweight version of the Showers Pass waterproof socks.
Do Waterproof Cycling Socks Work?
The simple answer is yes; waterproof socks are waterproof. You can literally stand in water, and your feet will stay dry.
Are they cold and clammy? No. Thanks to a Coolmax lining and the membrane’s breathability, the Showers Pass Crosspoint waterproof socks feel pretty normal. I wear them on every winter ride.
Does that mean your feet will stay dry through a cold, wet ride? Not necessarily. While they do a great job, it’s a scenario where “if the thunder don’t get you, the lightning will.”. The socks do, in fact, seal out water, but it’s still difficult to keep water from seeping into your socks from above the cuff.
Theoretically, you could wear rain pants that reach below your socks and somehow seal the cuff to create a watertight system. But anyone who has cycled in the rain for hours at a time knows that scenario is unlikely. Water is tenacious stuff, and when your legs are soaked, the water eventually follows gravity into your socks, whether waterproof or not.
That said, waterproof socks are still a great tool, and I highly recommend them for wet, slushy and even just cool weather rides. It’s been a rollercoaster of damp spring weather here in the Northwest, and the Crosspoint socks have quickly become my go-to riding socks when rain is inevitable or the temps are below 50 degrees (10c). First, waterproof cycling socks keep your feet drier than any other sock and most shoes. On a couple hour, not super wet ride, they do keep your feet dry. It’s the multi-hour, totally soaked adventures that inevitably lead to water finding its way in sooner or later. Second, the Crosspoint socks are warm. Even if a little water finds its way in, waterproof cycling socks keep your feet far warmer than traditional socks. Like a wetsuit, they create a thermal barrier that seals in heat.
Multi-Purpose
The bonus about waterproof socks is that they’re great for more than just cycling. You can wear them in work boots and hiking in wet conditions, too. So, while not a guarantee for dry feet, waterproof socks definitely help keep feet warmer and drier. You can count on them for short rides and occasional showers. And for those extended adventures where it’s just a matter of time before water finds its way down your legs and in through the cuff, they will still help keep your feet warm.
Showers Pass Crosspoint waterproof socks $40
Read more of our adventure cycling content
Using our product links helps support offpistemag.com. While the website is partially funded through affiliate sales, we only review and promote products we test and believe merit being highlighted.
