How Many Watts Do Aero Socks Save?

What Are The Benefits Of Aero Socks?

Regardless of the type of cycling you do - road race, time trial, gravel etc. Aero Socks are the first upgrade you should make to your race day set up. The benefits of riding with Aero Socks are:

Improved Aerodynamic Efficiency: By manipulating the boundary layer of air around the legs, aero socks help to decrease the wake created behind the cyclist. This effect is akin to the dimples on a golf ball, which enhance its flight by reducing drag
Enhanced Performance in Competitive Settings: For competitive cyclists and triathletes, even minimal gains in speed can be crucial. Aero Socks provide a cost-effective way to achieve these gains compared to more expensive gear upgrades like deep-section wheels
They are particularly beneficial in high-speed scenarios, where they can save significant energy over long distances

Putting Aero Socks To The Test

We tested our Aero Socks against standard cycling socks in a wind tunnel test at the Silverstone Sports Engineering Hub. Jean Spies, an Olympic track cyclist, wore each sock during 30 second sprints at speeds from 40-75kph (Jean's max speed on the track).

Jean Spies - Olympic Sprinter

Jean Spies represented South Africa in track cycling at the Olympics. His max speed on the track exceeds 75kph, making him the perfect test rider.

Wind Tunnel Parameters

The wind tunnel tests precisely controlled speed in 5kph increments. Jean maintained a constant cadence while engineers measured his power savings.

Aero Sock Advantage at High Speed

The results were clear - aero socks slashed drag and saved Jean power at every speed. Across the speed range tested, the savings were roughly 3% of total drag.