Are these really faster aero socks or are they just for show?

Along with tire and mechanical resistance, air resistance is one of the biggest forces you will have to overcome while cycling, especially time trials. The faster you go, the more air resistance there is, so aerodynamics become more important. Most of the resistance comes from your body and can be reduced by the clothes you wear. We all know aerodynamic helmets from time trials, but there are also aerodynamic shirts, pants and even socks!

With CFD, or Computational Fluid Dynamics, you can virtually test different surfaces and see which works best when looking at aerodynamics. Originally primarily used in aerospace technology, it has also proven its worth in other areas, including bicycles.

Aero socks not only reduce drag itself and make you faster, they also reduce the recoil of the air against you. For example, if air hits your leg head-on, it doesn’t go directly over your leg. The resulting small eddies land behind your legs, creating a suction that pulls you back. The diagram below shows how compressive strength works.
This effect was discovered by enginering a new golf ball in 1905 by William Taylor.

Originally, vertical ribs were introduced as good aerodynamic surfaces. The vertical ribs of the Aero Sock allow the air that hits you to flow down your leg more smoothly, reducing turbulence and greatly reducing back pull. All of our first aero socks feature this surface, saving up to 7 watts compared to regular cycling socks. So you can save up to 12 watts by reducing drag and reducing drag. In time trials, milliseconds and centimetres sometimes make the difference, and that’s a lot. Even an older air sock with 5 watts can produce amazing results!

The vertical ribs of the Aero Sock allow the air that hits you to flow down your leg more smoothly, reducing turbulence and greatly reducing back pull. All of our first aero socks feature this surface, saving around 10 watts or more compared to regular cycling socks. So you can save up to 10+ watts by reducing drag and reducing drag. In time trials, milliseconds and centimetres sometimes make the difference, and that’s a lot. So now we know that air socks are proven to make you faster, but there are so many more benefits to wearing air socks! Aerodynamics are not only scientifically proven, but you look like a pro, which is sure to inspire you to ride like a pro.