Castelli Bandito 2 Merino 18 Cycling Socks

Merino wool blend

Merino wool is naturally a good insulator, even when the fibre becomes damp, and regulates temperature better than most synthetic materials. In a blend, this provides warmth that adapts to the conditions: warm in the cold, without your foot getting too hot as the intensity of your activity increases.

Why does merino feel warmer than a thicker synthetic sock?

Merino fibres have a natural crimped structure that traps air between the fibres, similar to how PrimaLoft works, but using an organic material that also absorbs moisture without immediately feeling clammy. This allows Castelli to use merino to create a thinner sock that still feels warm, rather than compensating for warmth with extra thickness, as is the case with the PrimaLoft socks from the Sweetspot or Scorpion ranges. The result is a sock that feels more like a summer sock in your shoe, but with winter insulation.

Thin, close-fit construction

Rather than adding bulk for warmth, this sock maintains the thickness of a summer sock, ensuring a tight fit in your cycling shoe.

For whom is this a better choice than a thick thermal sock?

If you have a cycling shoe that’s already on the tight side, or if you find that a thick winter sock disrupts the fit in your shoe, then this thinner construction is the perfect solution. You don’t need to consider a larger shoe size, as is sometimes necessary with thick, lined thermal socks. The trade-off is that the insulation is less effective in truly severe freezing conditions than with a thicker sock; for most winter days in the Netherlands, that difference is negligible in practice.

18 cm cuff

This cuff covers part of your lower leg, slightly shorter than the 20 cm cuff on the PrimaLoft socks in the range.

• Cooler to cold rides where you still want to maintain a tight, summery fit in your shoes
• Cycling shoes that are already on the tight side

• Extreme freezing conditions: for these, a thicker PrimaLoft® thermal sock, such as the Sweetspot 20 Thermal or Scorpion Logo 20 Thermal, offers better insulation

• 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
• Put the socks on and take them off carefully to prevent holes forming at the seams