Premgripp® socks by Velobici – £25
Love ‘em, or hate ‘em, you can’t look good on a bike without socks.
To some they are a functional piece of material to insert between skin and shoe, while for others they are the colourful cherry atop the icing of yet another skin-tight masterpiece.
Wherever you appear on the sock-spectrum, you’re unlikely to pay too much attention to the technology involved.
With this rather natty offering from UK brand Velobici – in classic black or white with a cool pink/yellow trim – you are being asked to reassess sock technology.
These are the Premgripp® which, in very simple terms, are high quality, great looking, and very comfortable socks.
Those are the facts.
Now for the high-tech bit.
These socks are designed to stimulate the nerve endings in the soles of your feet to improve blood circulation in the feet and lower legs.
This is achieved with what Velobici describe as ‘offset technology’; which is to do with the specific support in the various sections of the sock.
The theory is that this will help reduce the problem of numb feet on the bike.
Secondly, the Premgripp® feature a series of gel pads across the sole, both inside and outside the sock. The idea here is to increase grip and stability so that nothing slips and slides around; creating a perfect union between foot, sock, and shoe.
So, do they work?
Well, on the improved blood circulation it’s very hard to tell.
The socks are very comfortable, there’s no doubt about that, and I haven’t felt any foot numbness while wearing them on the bike. But it’s the kind of thing that comes and goes anyway, so I wouldn’t like to offer any definitive evidence.
As for the gel pads, they feel lovely and undoubtedly keep everything in place very effectively. Given the choice, I would quite like to have sticky little gel pads on all of my socks.
Is this level of sock technology necessary? I’m not so sure. Is it the height of luxury? Absolutely.
At £25 a pop these socks are top-end, and it’s fair to say this is all ‘marginal gains’ stuff.
But very nice if you fancy treating yourself.
Website: velobici.cc
(All images via Velobici website)
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