Cannot recommend

By seattleleaf Ranked #124 - Socks December 3, 2008

I'm generally pretty soft in my reviews and can usually find some nice things to say, but not in this case. I don't know what Gore was thinking with this product. The concept is great and totally sold me, but practical application is absurd. First, the sock is bulky...kinda like a hospital bootie. This would be fine if it was going OVER the shoe, but these are meant to go inside. Problem is, cycling shoes are traditionally tighter than a normal shoe, and especially so when it comes to road shoes. I couldn't get the shoe on with my normal smartwool sock so I had to go with a super-thin summer sock. My doubt level was rising before I ever clipped into the pedals. For the first half hour or so of my maiden voyage, the socks were fine. They cut the chilly wind and my toes were OK, if not immobile due to the cramming nature of this "sock." After about an hour, trouble set in. These DO NOT breathe...and I have pretty ventilated shoes. Though the wind was being blocked, these were the equivalent of riding with a wet towel wrapped around my feet on a 40 degree day. Needless to say, by the end of my two hour ride, my toes were numb. Either from cold or from being stuffed like ground pig into a salami. There are better, cheaper options to be had or sure. Whoever designed these things never put them through any real-world QA. I can't think of a single application they would work for unless you cut out the bottom and wore them OVER your shoe with a nice insulating sock. I'll just get my money back.

View Details: Gore Bike Wear Alaska WindStopper Sock

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