Waterproof Socks – Tested

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 road spray will seep into your cycling shoes — usually as it drips down your leg. The single best defense against cold, wet feet while cycling in winter is waterproof socks.  

I’ve heard about waterproof cycling socks for a few years, but I’d never tried them until this season. I am a 100% convert. Waterproof socks are a must-have addition to any cold, wet-weather cycling kit.

Like winter shoes or overbooties, waterproof socks are no guarantee for 100% dry feet while riding, but they do a great job of keeping your feet warm, regardless. They are the best solution to warm, dry feet 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 water out), and a Coolmax FX moisture-wicking antibacterial 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 truly waterproof. You can literally stand in water, and your feet will stay dry.

Are they cold and clammy? No, they’re actually pretty comfy. 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, waterproof or not.

That said, waterproof socks are 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 socks and any shoe-and-overboot combo I’ve used. On a couple-hour, not-super-wet ride, they 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 gets in, waterproof cycling socks keep your feet much 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 wet hikes, too. So, while not a 100% guarantee for dry feet, waterproof socks definitely keep feet warmer and drier than anything I’ve tried. 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 still help keep your feet warmer than if you didn’t have them.

Showers Pass Crosspoint waterproof socks $40

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