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review
GripGrab Waterproof Merino Thermal Socks£47.95
VERDICT:
Not cheap, but great waterproofing and impressive comfort
No water gets in at all
Comfortable
Keep your feet warm
Thicker than standard socks so you'll need a bit of spare room in your shoes
Weight:
101g
Contact:
At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.
What the road.cc scores meanGood scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.
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These GripGrab Merino-Lined Waterproof Winter Socks have no problem keeping the elements out. They are amazingly waterproof, and not overly bulky with it, plus they do an impressive job of keeping your feet warm too.
If you are not a fan of wet feet, then you need a pair of these GripGrab socks as literally nothing is getting through their layers.
They're made from a polyamide/elastane outer and a merino wool (45%), acrylic and elastane inner sandwiching a polyurethane membrane, and are very comfortable to wear.
With some waterproof socks I've worn, the materials slide against the membrane, which can feel odd, but you don't get any of that here. The GripGrabs feel just like a traditional pair of socks.
They aren't bulky, but their construction does make them a little thicker than standard socks so you'll need a bit of spare room in your shoes. This isn't something you normally allow for in road shoes, but if you own a specific pair of winter shoes or boots with a bit more room in them then these socks will fit fine.
The merino wool content on the inside helps the socks feel soft against the skin and warm too. Merino is famed for its insulation qualities and that is noticeable here. Get your feet soaked in cold water and you will barely feel the temperature change.
> How to keep your feet warm cycling through the winter
Breathability is okay; it's not a major issue for their intended winter use, but on warmer days your feet will sweat, and things can get a bit clammy – the downside of waterproofing.
The only downside to the GripGrabs being so waterproof is that if any water gets in over the top of the cuff, it's staying in there. If you ride using mudguards, or use waterproof trousers over the top covering the cuffs, this won't really be an issue, but it's worth bearing in mind.
I found them great for gravel rides where it wasn't necessarily raining but there was a lot of flooding, and I could walk or ride through most sections without getting my feet wet.
The overall quality is great. A reinforced heel and toe protect against wear, and there are no stray threads hanging off anywhere. There are seams, but none are positioned in a way that irritates.
They are a fair chunk pricier than some, though, such as Giro's Xnetic H20 socks at £39.99 and Showers Pass's Crosspoint Waterproof Wool socks, which are £37.
Price aside, though, I really can't fault them; in terms of performance, comfort and quality they're great.
Verdict
Not cheap, but great waterproofing and impressive comfort
road.cc test report
Make and model: GripGrab Waterproof Merino Thermal Socks
Size tested: Large
Tell us what the product is for
GripGrab says, "The Merino-Lined Waterproof Winter socks are fully waterproof, insulating and comfortable cycling socks designed for the cold and very wet days.
Merino wool offers comfort, high breathability as well as excellent insulating properties, making these socks ideal in the wettest of conditions. Both heel and toe are Nylon-reinforced for added durability.
Notice: The socks are completely waterproof, but will get soaked if submerged in water to above the top cuff."
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
GripGrab lists:
* Heavy rain protection
* Nylon reinforced heel and toe
* Insulating
* Breathable
* Merino wool
* Storm-proof
Rate the product for quality of construction:
9/10
Rate the product for performance:
9/10
Rate the product for durability:
8/10
Rate the product for fit:
9/10
Rate the product for sizing:
9/10
Rate the product for weight:
8/10
Rate the product for comfort:
8/10
Rate the product for value:
4/10
How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?
Simple instructions to follow, and they remained the same size and shape.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
They keep the water out and are comfortable to wear.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
Great waterproofing.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
Bulkier than traditional socks.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?
A good tenner more expensive than those mentioned in the review.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Yes
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes
Use this box to explain your overall score
Overall, the quality is excellent, as is the comfort and the waterproofing. They are pricier than some of the competition, but I'd still pay full whack for them considering their performance.
About the tester
Age: 44
I usually ride: This month's test bike My best bike is: B'Twin Ultra CF draped in the latest bling test components
I've been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: Every day I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed,
Since writing his first bike review for road.cc back in early 2009 senior product reviewer Stu has tested more than a thousand pieces of kit, and hundreds of bikes.
With an HND in mechanical engineering and previous roles as a CNC programmer/machinist, draughtsman and development engineer (working in new product design) Stu understands what it takes to bring a product to market. A mix of that knowledge combined with his love of road and gravel cycling puts him in the ideal position to put the latest kit through its paces.
He first made the switch to road cycling in 1999, primarily for fitness, but it didn’t take long for his competitive side to take over which led to around ten years as a time triallist and some pretty decent results. These days though riding is more about escapism, keeping the weight off and just enjoying the fact that he gets to ride the latest technology as part of his day job.
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Add new comment
3 comments
I got some Bridgedale (my normal sock brand) winter waterproof socks before the holidays, leisure lake were doing them better than half price. Very warm, feel weird though, the days I have worn them it's been wet, but not the soaking I need for the real benefit. I will only wear them when very wet, or take them for a wet commute home. But so odd I'd prefer to get damp feet unless crazy rain.
With a deep irony, they take 2-3 days to get properly dry after washing.
Is there not an ickle bit of contradiction between merino wicking it away and a moisture barrier to stop it being wicked away?
The merino wicks it away from your skin. It was never going to wick it any further than the merino itself, after that it has to evaporate. Since the thing which comes after the merino claims to be breathable, no worries.