Calcetines Castelli Venti Soft Merino

Merino wool with nylon reinforcement

Merino wool is a naturally good insulator and remains warm even when damp, whilst the added nylon makes the sock more durable and hard-wearing than a 100% wool sock. This is Castelli’s thickest sock, designed for maximum warmth when temperatures are at their lowest.

Why is this the thickest sock in the range?

With the thinner merino socks, such as the Bandito 2 Merino 18, Castelli deliberately opts for minimal bulk, at the expense of some insulation in extreme cold. The Venti Soft Merino takes the opposite approach: more fibre volume around your foot means more trapped air, and therefore more warmth. The trade-off is that you’ll have slightly less room in your cycling shoes. If you’re riding at the upper limit of your shoe size, it’s wise to try these socks on in advance with your shoes, or to opt for half a size larger if possible.

20 cm cuff

The high cuff covers a large part of your lower leg, providing extra protection against the cold above your shoe.

• The coldest winter rides, where maximum warmth is more important than a tight fit
• Cycling shoes with a little extra room in the fit

• Tight-fitting cycling shoes: the thinner Bandito 2 Merino 18 is a better choice

• Wash the socks at a maximum of 30°C, inside out, to protect the merino wool
• Leave them to air-dry: the tumble dryer damages the wool fibres and can cause them to shrink
• Try the socks on with your cycling shoes if you’re unsure about the fit, especially if the shoes are already a bit on the tight side