They can make a difference a significant difference and I've also tested people where bare legs were faster than any aero sock we put on them.

Unless your certain you don't know

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Brian Stover USAT LII
Accelerate3 Coaching
Insta

It seems strange then that pro's are doing so much work to get the right clothing, change their CDA etc, but none are wearing socks, if it can make a noticeable difference!

Enough for the UCI to care to stick their nose into it. That's how much it matters. Lol.

I wear Aero Calf sleeves. They're on under my wetsuit. I don't like putting socks on wet feet

It really depends on the rider and the socks if you have hairy legs socks will be faster if you have smooth legs and put on some baggy socks they are going to be slower. The latest thinking is to use a fabric that will trip the air flowing over the legs to reduce drag. https://www.cyclingweekly.com/...rs/nopinz-trip-sockz

it can make a positive or negative difference.
For me I've yet to test a sock that's faster than no sock. We've seen that on pro triathletes down to slow triathletes. We've also seen the opposite where just about any sock seems to help.

The main take home from all the testing I've done is socks are individual and may or may not make you faster.

fwiw I also lump calf sleeves in here as putting on socks could cost you :40 of that :30 gain you would have made. Calf sleeves might be a better option...or they might not

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Brian Stover USAT LII
Accelerate3 Coaching
Insta