Endura Aero TT/Tri Calf Socks

Triathlon Forum
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  1. I’ve seen the Endura QDC drag2zero aero calf socks at a few events recently and (they retail here for £39.99 which is about $52-53) I can get them for £33.24 online so i’m very tempted! Does anybody have any proper experience racing in them and can vouch for actual improvements or better still does anybody have any proof/links to research of any aero/physiological benefit that they might bring? I’m 21, a biker who survives the run, and have a half iron coming up which I’m looking to podium having come 4th last year so considering if they’re that much faster and if people have experience racing in compression socks really who’d be willing to share any advice?

  2. Also the socks are made of the ‘ribbed’ material that I’ve seen on a lot of TT skinsuit sleeves and a UK firm Planet-X have a short sleeved trisuit for £50 ($65) with similar ‘striped’ material on the sleeves. Has anybody got any word on aero benefit and are ss trisuit nicer to race in than normal no sleeve trisuits?

First post on ST forums so sorry if it’s a bit novice in layout etc.!

Any advice would be awesome, cheers! :slight_smile:
Tim.

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Plenty of people (whether pure triathletes or strict time trialists) have tested those or similar socks and many race in them because they work. The textured material on the socks and sleeves “trip” the airflow going around your lower legs and upper arms. These parts of your body are basically cylinders and cylinders are not very aero. “Tripping” the airflow helps to shrink the area of low pressure behind these cylinders.

Here’s the rub: unless you test them in a controlled fashion you have no way of knowing how much time they’ll save you. However, if you’re going to wear socks on the bike and run anyways I say go for it. I wouldn’t wear them in training though as that will stretch them out and thus diminish any aero benefit. Try them on once to be sure they fit them save them for race day.

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NoPinz also has both socks and the calf compression sleaves. There seems to be lots of track and windtunnel testing to suggest a few watts saved, but your results may vary.

I have both. I really like the socks and I use them for crits and road races. Very comfortable and the material doesn’t get bunched up around the toes. I don’t think they will last a long time, but they are my favorite cycling socks even if they weren’t more aero. I can’t say I like the sleeves much, but I will be uncomfortable and goofy looking for a couple watts.