- News
- Reviews
- Bikes
- Accessories
- Accessories - misc
- Computer mounts
- Bags
- Bar ends
- Bike bags & cases
- Bottle cages
- Bottles
- Cameras
- Car racks
- Child seats
- Computers
- Glasses
- GPS units
- Helmets
- Lights - front
- Lights - rear
- Lights - sets
- Locks
- Mirrors
- Mudguards
- Racks
- Pumps & CO2 inflators
- Puncture kits
- Reflectives
- Smart watches
- Stands and racks
- Trailers
- Clothing
- Components
- Bar tape & grips
- Bottom brackets
- Brake & gear cables
- Brake & STI levers
- Brake pads & spares
- Brakes
- Cassettes & freewheels
- Chains
- Chainsets & chainrings
- Derailleurs - front
- Derailleurs - rear
- Forks
- Gear levers & shifters
- Groupsets
- Handlebars & extensions
- Headsets
- Hubs
- Inner tubes
- Pedals
- Quick releases & skewers
- Saddles
- Seatposts
- Stems
- Wheels
- Tyres
- Health, fitness and nutrition
- Tools and workshop
- Miscellaneous
- Tubeless valves
- Buyers Guides
- Features
- Forum
- Recommends
- Podcast
review
Showers Pass Crosspoint Waterproof Sock£25.00
VERDICT:
Excellent as part of layering system but not quite good enough on their own; the search for dry feet continues
Weight:
111g
Contact:
www.showerspass.co.uk
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.
- Exceptional
- Excellent
- Very Good
- Good
- Quite good
- Average
- Not so good
- Poor
- Bad
- Appalling
"Yes, they are actually waterproof". A bold claim by Showers Pass about their Crosspoint socks. To be fair they are kind of right but squelchy toes aren't quite banished forever.
They are made up of three layers. On the outside there's Artex, a tough knitted fabric; on the inside, a Coolmax FX liner; between them, a waterproof, breathable membrane. The liner is very soft against the skin and although they feel a little weird as you put them on thanks to the membrane they are oh so comfortable when they're in place.
The Coolmax is anti-bacterial and I can vouch for its effectiveness. After wearing them pretty much non-stop for two weeks without washing them not the slightest whiff of damp dog could be found.
The knitted outer is hardwearing and you won't find any seams in irritating places. The elasticated cuff sits just below mid-calf and it grips well, keeping the Crosspoints in place without leaving indents in your skin.
The membrane is truly waterproof with initial rides in the rain providing positive results. It was wet enough to soak my shoes on the hour's commute riding sans overshoe and mudguards. The outer layer of the sock was wet but nothing had penetrated the membrane, leaving my feet dry and beautifully cosy.
Once the roads are properly wet, with puddles forming and heavy spray from passing traffic, the Crosspoints fail in pretty much the same way as all waterproof foot coverings: water gets in the cuff after it runs down your legs. On some rides this could happen within fifteen minutes or so and the problem with waterproof membranes is they keep the water in just as well as they keep it out. Your feet stay wet for a long time and they got cold to even on a day with temperatures around 14°C.
Overall the Crosspoints get many things right with regard to build quality and comfort, and the waterproof membrane is 100% waterproof, as they claim. I did the 'stand in the bath' test just to confirm that, but on their own they aren't enough to keep your feet dry on the bike.
Pairing them up with overshoes they make part of a good layering system and their warmth when dry means they're brilliant winter socks. You do need a bit of room in your shoes as they are a bit thicker than standard cycling socks. If they do get wet on a freezing cold morning though I could imagine it's going to be very unpleasant.
They might work with waterproof trousers though. If you can get the water to flow over the cuff your feet will stay dry so that's possibly a good option for urban commuters.
Price wise they are on par with the likes of SealSkinz and others, though they all suffer from the same issues as the Crosspoints when it comes to water ingress. I'd rather spend the money on a decent pair of overshoes that'll also keep your shoes clean.
Verdict
Excellent as part of layering system but not quite good enough on their own; the search for dry feet continues
road.cc test report
Make and model: Showers Pass Crosspoint Waterproof Sock
Size tested: Large, Black
Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?
Showers Pass have this on their website: "Riding in the pouring rain with no booties and no front fender (we dare you)" well I took that dare and I've got wet feet. The Crosspoints are a a good cross training option so for hiking or running they will do a sterling job providing you don't step in any puddles higher than the sock cuff.
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
Soggy toes are a thing of the past! Ride in comfort for hours with our Crosspoint All Weather Cycling Socks; featuring:
Artex waterproof and breathable three-layer bonded construction
Wear resistant knit exterior
Moisture wicking anti-bacterial Coolmax FX lining
Mid-calf length for maximum coverage
Sizing - 36 to 49
Rate the product for quality of construction:
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
6/10
Tough one this, they perform as well as most overshoes but have the same failings. The problem is Showers Pass's claim that they allow you to ride without overshoes and guards; they won't.
Rate the product for durability:
8/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
8/10
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
8/10
Rate the product for value:
6/10
Okay but I'd rather spend the money on decent overshoes which would also keep your shoes clean.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
Keep the water below the cuff and they performed brilliantly, no moisture will get in at all. Rain will still get in through the cuff though.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
Comfort and performance on damp days.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
Once your feet are wet they take ages to dry.
Did you enjoy using the product? So so.
Would you consider buying the product? No.
Would you recommend the product to a friend? No.
About the tester
Age: 35 Height: 180cm Weight: 76kg
I usually ride: Whatever needs testing or Genesis Flyer, fixed of course! My best bike is: Kinesis T2 with full Centaur Red
I've been riding for: 10-20 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.
Latest Comments
- matthewn5 4 min 1 sec ago
I did the four windows on my Victorian flat. I replaced the parting beads (between the panes) and the staff moulds with new timber ones that have a...
- Geoff Ingram 38 min 4 sec ago
Back in the 70's and 80's I was doing quite physical work in an environment of over 40ºC for hours at a time, sweating like a herd of pigs.The...
- Rendel Harris 2 hours 33 min ago
Well, I don't have any insight into how all consuming being a professional cyclist is and so how much you have to put your faith in your advisors,...
- Hirsute 3 hours 13 min ago
In the comments "Was it due to icy conditions? "
- chrisonabike 3 hours 19 min ago
Shurely "Place with large concentrations of bikes (and presumably thriving second hand market) in bike theft hotspot shock"?...
- Hirsute 3 hours 20 min ago
Finding solutions to US school drop off: Our school has 2 VIP parking spots they auction off at their fundraiser. So, I got one 😁 - and made it...
- slc 5 hours 55 min ago
Marsh lane was unchanged on Friday - I don't think the contractors have been back since the protest.
- chrisonabike 6 hours 30 min ago
She did say (in comment) they'd suggested to the council to make this access and emergency vehicles only and the council said no....
- S.E. 23 hours 31 min ago
My guess is that they sell mainly on the German market - feel free to correct me. That might explain why they are not "pushing" their products,...
Add new comment
20 comments
i got these + waterproof overpants and its perfect
but yes without anything on the top i suspect you eventually get the water in.. physics!
as far as I know the only tights that have a waterproof membrane right to the ankle are lusso wintex tights. wear mx80 boots and put the loop of the lusso tights over the boots. job done
Here's an emergency "precaution" for you fair weather weight weenies. Carry couple of extra strong condoms, which you wear over the sock but under the shoe. Pick a colour that matches your kit if you like. I once rode a 12 hour in atrocious conditions, and my Durex sponsored feet were warm as toast.
I might try this, purely for the smugness of buying condoms that'll fit a size 10
Ribbed or Tickler?
Anyone tried clingfilm instead of gaffer tape round the top?
In my mind it would work, but never tried it out.
My parents used to have Artex on all their ceilings.
Warm is more important than dry. Merino socks and neoprene covers mean feet get wet, but so what? So long as they're not cold, it's not really a problem, is it?
hmm, I use sealskinz and I've never had a problem of water running into them from the top, maybe the tester needs to put a bit of fat on like me - then there aren't any gaps
My solution is to cut small holes in the bottom of waterproof socks, so any water that gets in the top can run straight out again.
Well I can see that would stop that squelchy feeling if the rain does get in. Nice idea but you still have to cut your expensive socks.
Mr Funky, respect! That's just the kind of solution duct tape calls for, though with my hairy calf I feel it would simply be delaying one kind of an agony for another. I will try it though.
My solution, though it looks really really awful and could possibly only be tolerated by tourists and Audax riders, is full length trekking gaitors. With warm socks, boots then overshoes, then gaitors it's pretty close to waterproof. And it stops the rain getting in the tops, enemy of waterproof socks and winter boots alike. A pair of 3/4 MTB waterproof shorts over the top and you're done!
just the one?
and the other is hairless?
Well actually Martin... I shave one calf to counteract a slight tendency to turn to the left when riding. It was making a mess of my time trialling and it took me years to figure out, but I finally tracked it down. My powermeter tells me my right leg is slightly more powerful than my left, so by shaving my left calf and reaping the huge aero benefits on that side I find I can finally ride in a straight line.
I wear water proof socks in very wet conditions and my feet stay dry with no water creeping in down the legs. How???? simple!!! Duct tape!! If you carefully wrap duct tape around the top of the sock ensuring it is not too tight or too loose, and that it covers the water proof membrane as well as covering an inch or so of your leg, then the rain will just run over the top and not into your sock. I tried it out in the shower first to give it a good test. My feet stayed dry!!! So now I always do this when the roads are very wet. it really works!! Only fails if you haven't quite got the tape on right. Wearing water proof/resistant tights over the top will help with success. I have been out in torrential rain and no problem, dry feet!! makes you feel very smug
. ok, so it must hurt to remove?? Just whip it off as soon as you are home while your legs are still a bit sweaty, do it quickly, doesn't hurt me and I'm no hero. I feel i am the only one who has done this. . I'd be interested to know if anyone else has used this method. . 
I wear water proof socks in very wet conditions and my feet stay dry with no water creeping in down the legs. How???? simple!!! Duct tape!! If you carefully wrap duct tape around the top of the sock ensuring it is not too tight or too loose, and that it covers the water proof membrane as well as covering an inch or so of your leg, then the rain will just run over the top and not into your sock. I tried it out in the shower first to give it a good test. My feet stayed dry!!! So now I always do this when the roads are very wet. it really works!! Only fails if you haven't quite got the tape on right. Wearing water proof/resistant tights over the top will help with success. I have been out in torrential rain and no problem, dry feet!! makes you feel very smug
. ok, so it must hurt to remove?? Just whip it off as soon as you are home while your legs are still a bit sweaty, do it quickly, doesn't hurt me and I'm no hero. I feel i am the only one who has done this. . I'd be interested to know if anyone else has used this method. . 
I wear water proof socks in very wet conditions and my feet stay dry with no water creeping in down the legs. How???? simple!!! Duct tape!! If you carefully wrap duct tape around the top of the sock ensuring it is not too tight or too loose, and that it covers the water proof membrane as well as covering an inch or so of your leg, then the rain will just run over the top and not into your sock. I tried it out in the shower first to give it a good test. My feet stayed dry!!! So now I always do this when the roads are very wet. it really works!! Only fails if you haven't quite got the tape on right. Wearing water proof/resistant tights over the top will help with success. I have been out in torrential rain and no problem, dry feet!! makes you feel very smug
. ok, so it must hurt to remove?? Just whip it off as soon as you are home while your legs are still a bit sweaty, do it quickly, doesn't hurt me and I'm no hero. I feel i am the only one who has done this. . I'd be interested to know if anyone else has used this method. . 
I wear water proof socks in very wet conditions and my feet stay dry with no water creeping in down the legs. How???? simple!!! Duct tape!! If you carefully wrap duct tape around the top of the sock ensuring it is not too tight or too loose, and that it covers the water proof membrane as well as covering an inch or so of your leg, then the rain will just run over the top and not into your sock. I tried it out in the shower first to give it a good test. My feet stayed dry!!! So now I always do this when the roads are very wet. it really works!! Only fails if you haven't quite got the tape on right. Wearing water proof/resistant tights over the top will help with success. I have been out in torrential rain and no problem, dry feet!! makes you feel very smug
. ok, so it must hurt to remove?? Just whip it off as soon as you are home while your legs are still a bit sweaty, do it quickly, doesn't hurt me and I'm no hero. I feel i am the only one who has done this. . I'd be interested to know if anyone else has used this method. . 
I wear water proof socks in very wet conditions and my feet stay dry with no water creeping in down the legs. How???? simple!!! Duct tape!! If you carefully wrap duct tape around the top of the sock ensuring it is not too tight or too loose, and that it covers the water proof membrane as well as covering an inch or so of your leg, then the rain will just run over the top and not into your sock. I tried it out in the shower first to give it a good test. My feet stayed dry!!! So now I always do this when the roads are very wet. it really works!! Only fails if you haven't quite got the tape on right. Wearing water proof/resistant tights over the top will help with success. I have been out in torrential rain and no problem, dry feet!! makes you feel very smug
. ok, so it must hurt to remove?? Just whip it off as soon as you are home while your legs are still a bit sweaty, do it quickly, doesn't hurt me and I'm no hero. I feel i am the only one who has done this. . I'd be interested to know if anyone else has used this method. . 
