Rapha Pro Team Sock Preview

by Paul Horta-Hopkins · 08/04/2017

Rapha Pro Team Sock Preview

Michael Brennan

Over here in continental Europe, things are warming up and it’s that time of year when the best bike comes out, shorts are the norm and covers have disappeared from shoes!

As every discerning cyclist knows, quality socks are an essential bit of riding kit. As part of our spring sock special, Rapha were kind enough to send us three pairs of their Pro Team socks to test. One pair of white, a pair of black, and a pair of blue to match the Pro Team II kit currently on test (the blue is an ever so slightly different shade, seemingly due to different fabrics).

The Pro Team Sock comes in three lengths, short, regular and long. We have the more conservative regular option in for testing, which seems a safe height amidst the ongoing debates over appropriate sock length.

The aesthetic of the sock is certainly clean and minimalistic. ‘Pro’ level socks do have a tendency to be logo and text heavy, so it’s nice to have this more simple option from Rapha. At the top of the sock is a series of ‘convict stripes’. The design motto behind Rapha’s Pro Team collection is ‘forçats de la route’, or convicts of the road – hence the stripe motif.

While the look is simple, the construction is certainly not. Rapha say the socks are 64% Meryl Skinlife Nylon, 15% nylon, 15% elastane and 5% lycra. The feel of the fabric is very soft, and there seems to be the right amount of stretch and support in the material. Certain parts, such as the heel are more built up – which seems like a smart move. An arch brace is good to see, and the material that sits on the top of the foot is well ventilated.