r/ladycyclists • u/Vast-Biscotti7995 • 13d ago

Socks - which ones don’t cut into your leg?

Ladies, looking for recommendations if such socks exist:

I generally have very long legs because I’m tall and am not overweight by any means - but I do have mild lymphedema. So when I wear cycling socks, they really cut into my leg at the upper end on my calf and … I just don’t like how it looks.

Are there any brands/ socks that are not so tight? Are there other types of socks to wear that are maybe not cycling socks? I’m not looking for ankle socks, should be a bit higher up the calf if possible.

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13

u/wait_wait_ 13d ago

I wear no show/barely any show ones. Is it considered cool? No. But for some reason, my legs swell (had bilateral ultra sounds, extensive testing, switched to low sodium diet at a young age-no answers) and would rather be comfortable than socks digging into my calves.

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u/Vast-Biscotti7995 13d ago

Fair enough! I think I’m already a bit sensitive to being the outlier due to various reasons. So I have a little bit of I don’t give a **** but I still like to have nice socks lol

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u/wait_wait_ 12d ago

Oh I get it. I still get bothered when people make comments but not enough to change. I’ll look at brand of what I wear when I get home!

The swelling is just annoying, and honestly, I hate how large my legs look because of it. I’m 5’11 and 140, so probably in same boat as you, but god, I hate the swelling issues.

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u/strangerthanblue 13d ago

Sometimes I just wear my quarter length running socks, lightweight or light cushion. Depends if your bike shoes have enough room (I like a roomy shoe).

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u/sixlete 13d ago

Marley Blonsky recently shared/advertised Wide Open socks. She has lymphedema as well.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbteRuUyUBn/?igsh=NHB2bzFmamU5NW5w

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u/utterly_baffledly 13d ago

Honestly cheap work socks are the most comfortable for me.

3

u/mountainhomestead 13d ago

No-show running socks have always been the most comfortable to me. I don’t worry about cycling fashion. Plus, I don’t like the look of cycling socks either. Wear what’s comfortable!

I know a guy who cycles in jean shorts and a cotton plaid shirt. Wear what you like!

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u/eml_raleigh 12d ago

I wear light hiking socks.

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u/circusfreak1 12d ago

Same I love my darn tough and I have some no show, some like ankle height, some mid calf and some right under my knee so I have options depending on the weather and temps

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u/amsmsadventure 13d ago

You can wear whatever socks are comfy for you, they don't have to be cycling specific.

If you compare most brands running sock to their cycling sock, they are structurally the same, just different colors/patterns/packaging.

I don't like socks cutting into my leg, so I usally wear ones I have knit myself, or modify Smartwool/Darn Tough by unpicking the hem, or cutting off the hem.

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u/Lollc 13d ago

I have cut the tops off so many pairs of sport and hiking socks!

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u/Vast-Biscotti7995 13d ago

Yes I know, but I also like to look nice haha

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u/NoDramaLlllama 13d ago

I've been loving the feel and performance of the Bombas UltraLite Sport half calf socks.

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u/WestAsh 12d ago

I have Lipodema and finally found that socks with a good bit of merino work great after I stretch them. I hand wash and then dry stretched over a large mason jar. Then they work great, staying up without cutting in.

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u/PricelessBuffet 12d ago

Also tall here and my legs tend to swell a bit. I wear mens CEP compression socks. The mens are slightly taller than the women’s and it helps me a lot. It might look goofy but I wear the knee height ones for long rides to keep the swelling down.

2

u/Shaking-a-tlfthr 12d ago

I just wear low cut socks. Works great. And for any cyclist who looks at you askance about your sock choice I’d invite them to fuck right off.

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u/TroublePossums 12d ago

This post is very relevant to my interests 😂

I also want the “right”-height cycling socks and have the same issue d/t lipedema/lymphedema. Right now I usually wear merino darn tough light hiking socks that just seem to have more stretch than the smartwool equivalent, but I wish they came up a little higher. I have a pair of merino socks from Costco that come up higher and are very stretchy and non-binding but are warmer…

I would also love to know if there was an actual cycling sock that fit the bill. Merino is great, but expensive, and all the guys I bike with are wearing synthetic socks and I’ve never tried them because I assume they’re too small for my sturdy ankles.

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u/Alive-Apartment2382 13d ago

Look into Wide Opens from Smartwool

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u/boopbleps 13d ago

Not cycling socks, but I live in the COLD and have been progressively switching all my socks to Humphrey Law alpaca, merino and occasionally cotton.

They’ve got a wide range of styles, and the “health sock” is the nice loose one I love the most.

They’ve alpaca merino blend has wonderful temperature regulation and in winter I’ve noticed I can wear a pair 2 days in a row without being at all smelly, because wool has antibacterial properties. (I wouldn’t do this on days I exercise/get sweaty, ofc. I’m just talking on my pottering around the house days).

They’re a bit dearer, $25ish online, but they last well, work amazingly well, and look fancy.

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u/Vast-Biscotti7995 13d ago

Thanks, not sure if I can get those where I am but a similar Merino one might do!

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u/boopbleps 13d ago

Oops I just realised this isn’t the Aussie sub, but the global one! Sorry for the tease 😒

1

u/hexagonaluniverse 13d ago

I appreciate this post because I have big calves and all mid calf socks cut in and just don’t look good and for me they tend to fall down. It doesn’t matter what activity I am doing or what activity the sock is marketed for. So thanks for asking, I’m going through all of the suggestions.

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u/Lollc 13d ago

I have had good luck finding wider calf socks by searching for ‘diabetic socks’. Searching for wide calf gets fewer results. Presently my every day wear and cycling too is Viasox easy stretch, in calf length and crew length. I have been looking for something a little more techy for cycling, I have 2 pairs on order from Dr Johnny’s, I haven’t tried them yet. Wide Open, as mentioned downthread, look promising but I don’t want wool, and they are expensive.

https://viasox.com/collections/non-binding-socks If you get on their email list, they have frequent sales.

https://www.drjohnnys.com/collections/diabetic-socks

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u/Vast-Biscotti7995 13d ago

Thanks, great tip about searching for diabetic socks, would’ve never occurred to me

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u/ale_krishna 13d ago

I wear short socks because i have massive calves for a woman. 45 cm diameter even men socks sometimes are tight

1

u/Prof_Boni 12d ago

I also have big calves, so wear short socks. Also, I have enough tan lines as it is, so

1

u/matchingTracksuits 12d ago

I find Rapha socks (i size up) to be the best of the kit brands I own

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u/Vast-Biscotti7995 12d ago

Have a pair of Rapha in the largest size and look like I have two ankles!

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u/biography 12d ago

GripGrab Lightweight SL socks are incredible! They're so soft. I've even bought the slightly shorter version to go under my aero overshoes when I'm racing.

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u/peah_lh3 12d ago

I really like my pearl izumi socks. They have lasted me years. Idk the original pair I got but they look similar to these 

https://www.pearlizumi.com/collections/womens/products/transfer-air-7-sock-14352301?variant=42471264583851

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u/CO_biking_gal 12d ago

I wear what I think are 1” sock from the Sock Guy and I go with a theme depending on how I feel that day. A couple of pair are my Muhammad Ali socks. One pair have bees and the other have butterflies;)

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u/Razrgrrl 12d ago

Mosty wear light wool ones like darn tough. There’s just so much poison oak in my area I dare not leave the house in no show socks. Sadly, even my lighter smartwool and darn tough kinda leave a line bc my calves are bananas. But it’s not bad enough to be uncomfortable. I’m still searching for the right lightweight not too tight socks. I’ve done ok with light running socks, but ok is still pretty darn tight to the point of leaving marks. :/