Bamboo socks?
#1
old newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Posts: 956
Bikes: Specialized Roubaix
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 602 Post(s)
Liked 405 Times
in
209 Posts
Bamboo socks?
Is anyone wearing bamboo socks while riding?
Are they delicate or do they last like cotton socks?
Are they delicate or do they last like cotton socks?
#2
I'm good to go!
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 15,347
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
Mentioned: 53 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6387 Post(s)
Liked 4,982 Times
in
3,430 Posts
Cotton doesn't seem appropriate for a cycling forum. Perhaps for a lose outer layer or a T-shirt. But certainly not for anything next to the skin that needs to move with you and have some support when wet with sweat.
So if bamboo socks compare themselves to cotton, consider them for times when you are off the bike and not sweating.
So if bamboo socks compare themselves to cotton, consider them for times when you are off the bike and not sweating.
#3
old newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Posts: 956
Bikes: Specialized Roubaix
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 602 Post(s)
Liked 405 Times
in
209 Posts
Cotton doesn't seem appropriate for a cycling forum. Perhaps for a lose outer layer or a T-shirt. But certainly not for anything next to the skin that needs to move with you and have some support when wet with sweat.
So if bamboo socks compare themselves to cotton, consider them for times when you are off the bike and not sweating.
So if bamboo socks compare themselves to cotton, consider them for times when you are off the bike and not sweating.
Likes For pepperbelly:
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Wake Forest, NC
Posts: 6,045
Bikes: 1989 Cinelli Supercorsa
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3663 Post(s)
Liked 3,100 Times
in
1,868 Posts
Too many splinters.
Likes For smd4:
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Eastern VA
Posts: 1,740
Bikes: 2022 Fuel EX 8, 2021 Domane SL6, Black Beta (Nashbar frame), 2004 Trek 1000C for the trainer
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 276 Post(s)
Liked 462 Times
in
271 Posts
I had a pair of bamboo sock. These were for cold weather. They weren’t soft and comfortable. The wicked moisture. But the pair I had were too thick and warm for summer. They wore a hole in the heal rather soon.
Pearly’s possum hair socks are also warm.
Pearly’s possum hair socks are also warm.
Likes For biker128pedal:
Likes For Inusuit:
#7
I'm good to go!
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 15,347
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
Mentioned: 53 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6387 Post(s)
Liked 4,982 Times
in
3,430 Posts
Then my other two questions will be if it loses it's support as it gets wet with sweat as does cotton. Or does it become abrasive to the skin when wet with sweat as does cotton?
Have you found a pair of bamboo socks that claim to be good for cycling?
Have you found a pair of bamboo socks that claim to be good for cycling?
#8
old newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Posts: 956
Bikes: Specialized Roubaix
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 602 Post(s)
Liked 405 Times
in
209 Posts
I just started looking. This heat here has me thinking cotton really isn’t the fabric of our lives. I change socks and underwear at least once per day. I bought some bamboo boxers and was wondering if the socks would be useful.
Likes For pepperbelly:
#9
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada
Posts: 8,721
Bikes: I have 3 singlespeed/fixed gear bikes
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4227 Post(s)
Liked 2,491 Times
in
1,286 Posts
Wool is the best fabric for socks and that's what I prefer using. Best thing about wool is that it works great in both hot and cold weather.
Likes For wolfchild:
#10
I'm good to go!
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 15,347
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
Mentioned: 53 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6387 Post(s)
Liked 4,982 Times
in
3,430 Posts
So get something that has cycling in their advertisement. Or at least for sporting activities. If bamboo does, then try them and let us know.
Last edited by Iride01; 07-21-23 at 09:19 AM.
Likes For Iride01:
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: NJ, USA
Posts: 1,286
Bikes: two blacks, a blue and a white.
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 446 Post(s)
Liked 850 Times
in
412 Posts
Good socks are getting kind of expensive (said every generation), but I've been really happy with the Bombas and the SmartWool cycling socks. The SmartWool are about 1/2 Merino wool, then synthetic; the Bombas are mostly synth with some cotton. Both hold up well in all respects.
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 5,691
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2661 Post(s)
Liked 3,227 Times
in
1,843 Posts
I've been wearing bamboo socks for the last 12 months or so, on and off the bike. They are, indeed, antibacterial; I have to remember to wash them at regular intervals, because there's no odor after repeated uses. They're very comfortable, too. I've now retired my cotton blend and wool blend socks.
The only hit against them is that the first bamboo socks I bought were no more durable than wool blend socks. But now I buy bamboo with reinforced heels and toes, and these seem much more durable.
The only hit against them is that the first bamboo socks I bought were no more durable than wool blend socks. But now I buy bamboo with reinforced heels and toes, and these seem much more durable.
Likes For Trakhak:
#13
old newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Posts: 956
Bikes: Specialized Roubaix
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 602 Post(s)
Liked 405 Times
in
209 Posts
I've been wearing bamboo socks for the last 12 months or so, on and off the bike. They are, indeed, antibacterial; I have to remember to wash them at regular intervals, because there's no odor after repeated uses. They're very comfortable, too. I've now retired my cotton blend and wool blend socks.
The only hit against them is that the first bamboo socks I bought were no more durable than wool blend socks. But now I buy bamboo with reinforced heels and toes, and these seem much more durable.
The only hit against them is that the first bamboo socks I bought were no more durable than wool blend socks. But now I buy bamboo with reinforced heels and toes, and these seem much more durable.
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 5,691
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2661 Post(s)
Liked 3,227 Times
in
1,843 Posts
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 3,913
Bikes: Trek Domane SL6 Gen 3, Soma Fog Cutter, Focus Mares AL, Detroit Bikes Sparrow FG, Volae Team, Nimbus MUni
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 923 Post(s)
Liked 2,122 Times
in
1,121 Posts
My wife hand knits a ton of socks, almost exclusively with wool but has used bamboo. I have a drawer full of colorful and warm wool socks I use for winter cycling.
Bamboo is a summer yarn. Cool, wicking, comfortable, strong. Honestly I just use store-bought cotton socks in the summer. If I lived in a hotter or humid climate I might use something else.
Bamboo is a summer yarn. Cool, wicking, comfortable, strong. Honestly I just use store-bought cotton socks in the summer. If I lived in a hotter or humid climate I might use something else.
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: reno, nv
Posts: 2,337
Bikes: yes, i have one
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1155 Post(s)
Liked 1,200 Times
in
699 Posts
i wear cotton socks when cycling. never had an issue. temps here today are 100F but also only 7% humidity, that probably plays a role.
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 5,691
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2661 Post(s)
Liked 3,227 Times
in
1,843 Posts
My wife hand knits a ton of socks, almost exclusively with wool but has used bamboo. I have a drawer full of colorful and warm wool socks I use for winter cycling.
Bamboo is a summer yarn. Cool, wicking, comfortable, strong. Honestly I just use store-bought cotton socks in the summer. If I lived in a hotter or humid climate I might use something else.
Bamboo is a summer yarn. Cool, wicking, comfortable, strong. Honestly I just use store-bought cotton socks in the summer. If I lived in a hotter or humid climate I might use something else.
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Ellensburg,WA
Posts: 3,200
Bikes: Schwinn Broadway, Specialized Secteur Sport(crashed) Spec. Roubaix Sport, Spec. Crux
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 191 Post(s)
Liked 179 Times
in
91 Posts
Worst two things about wool are that it may cause itching and has real durability issues. A third issue is special washing instructions depending on wool and blend. I have used smartwool and have found they are comfortable but are not durable and do tend to shrink with washing.
I have had better durability with both Wright sock and Areo Tech Coolmax.
Bamboo makes for great fly rods, flooring, utensils, ISO container decking and many other uses.
__________________
Sir Mark, Knight of Sufferlandria
Sir Mark, Knight of Sufferlandria
Likes For Black wallnut:
#19
Full Member
"Bamboo" is just a fancy way of saying "rayon". It is another type of rayon fabric. Been around for many decades in some form or another.
Likes For Galoot:
#20
old newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Posts: 956
Bikes: Specialized Roubaix
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 602 Post(s)
Liked 405 Times
in
209 Posts
I thought they might be something special but I guess not.
I will keep wearing my Adidas athletic socks. They are polyester and should be fine for cycling.
I will keep wearing my Adidas athletic socks. They are polyester and should be fine for cycling.
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 7,007
Bikes: Trek Domane SLR 7 AXS, Trek CheckPoint SL7 AXS, Trek Emonda ALR AXS, Trek FX 5 Sport
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 810 Post(s)
Liked 1,887 Times
in
1,073 Posts
I swear by these... Been using them for years for cycling and non cycling. It has been uber hot here this year and my feet stay nice and dry. Nothing beats merino wool cycling socks.
Likes For jaxgtr:
Likes For CAT7RDR:
#23
LBKA (formerly punkncat)
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Jawja
Posts: 4,299
Bikes: Spec Roubaix SL4, GT Traffic 1.0
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2208 Post(s)
Liked 960 Times
in
686 Posts
In my own experience with the "bamboo" materials, I find most of the keywords and cause to be purely artificial, if not fully made up. I tried a shirt, some socks, and some sheets for the bed that were supposedly going to breathe better, wick moisture, all those keywords that seem so attractive. I prefer and get better performance from cotton.
Likes For Juan Foote:
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Wake Forest, NC
Posts: 6,045
Bikes: 1989 Cinelli Supercorsa
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3663 Post(s)
Liked 3,100 Times
in
1,868 Posts
“They’re hunting socks, sir.”
”At this hour?”
”At this hour?”
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 3,913
Bikes: Trek Domane SL6 Gen 3, Soma Fog Cutter, Focus Mares AL, Detroit Bikes Sparrow FG, Volae Team, Nimbus MUni
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 923 Post(s)
Liked 2,122 Times
in
1,121 Posts
Well that was quite the rabbit hole. Interesting. All fabric called bamboo is created with the rayon process, not all rayon processed fabric is from bamboo. Per my wife the knitter, the % of bamboo matters a lot in the feel; higher is silkier. She says it knits more like cotton than wool, whatever that means. She's a yarn snob; rarely does she use cotton and never ever acrylic. Bamboo is something she'd use for knitting lightweight socks, as opposed to wool or alpaca for warmth.
Aside, from my perspective as a connoisseur of hand-knit and purchased socks, hand-knit are warmer and my preference for cycling, machine made have a tighter knit which is more comfortable for hiking.
Aside, from my perspective as a connoisseur of hand-knit and purchased socks, hand-knit are warmer and my preference for cycling, machine made have a tighter knit which is more comfortable for hiking.