DexShell Ultra Dri Sports Socks

The Dexshell Ultra Dri Sports socks work really well to keep your feet warm and dry. With a waterproof breathable Porelle membrane construction, high calf cuffs that grip your shins and repel water as well as can be expected, and a merino inner for warmth, they're a great option for sodden cold days.

• Pros: They just work – water stays out, warmth stays in
• Cons: None I can think of

A proper three-layer waterproof sock, the inner cushioning is 3/4 merino, 1/4 nylon, for warmth and a great feel against the skin, dry or wet. Inside the cuff is a slick layer of what feels like a very supple vinyl. It acts as a sort of seal, preventing the worst of water getting down from your leg. Of course it's not going to be completely watertight, but it does a very good job.

The real test came on a three-hour gravel-track-bogfest of a 'ride' in about 8 degrees, with a strong wind and a huge volume of standing water on the tracks, constantly blown into one shin or the other off the front wheel as direction changed. Worn as a single layer sock inside some Gore-Tex Northwave boots with three-quarter bib knickers on, the Dexshells kept my feet and shins nice and warm, even with repeated drenching from the wheels and half an hour fighting through an ankle-to-shin-deep bog when I realised the reality on the ground differed from the map. Eventually the boots were soaked, but my feet remained feeling dry thanks to the membrane allowing my feet to breathe. This from someone with what must be the worst circulation in Highland Perthshire, I might add.

> How to keep your feet warm while cycling in winter

If you're going to spend £35 on waterproof socks you may want to be able to use them for more than just bike rides – so I took them out for a few decent trail runs in pouring rain to see. I found them to be excellent running socks. Out for several hours aiming for deep puddles, my feet stayed dry, warm and there was no slippage of the cuff – surely a harder ask than when cycling because of the tens of thousands of impacts.

Fit inside the shoe was snug without being tight, with no bunching or movement. I ran a blustery, hilly off-road half-marathon through some fairly waterlogged trails, and felt nothing but warm and cosy; feet, and specifically toes, were quite happy.

All in all, the Dexshell Ultra Dri Sports socks do exactly what they say on the tin. Highly recommended.

Verdict

If you want your feet to be both warm and dry in atrocious conditions, these will be the socks to go for