Cross Point Superlight Waterproof Socks : Review Update

 Note: Guitar Ted Productions was sent a pair of Cross Point Superlight Waterproof Socks for test and review at no charge. Guitar Ted was not paid nor bribed for this review and he will always strive to give his honest thoughts and opinions throughout.

At the very beginning of September I introduced this review of the Cross Point Superlight Waterproof Socks. Back then we were still experiencing "Summer" and those conditions persisted on a whole lot longer than expected. So, I really could not give an honest take on how the socks performed. That is, until now. Since November began we have had a LOT of rain, and while it is not really very typically cool, it is a lot cooler than it was for the last two months. 

Now that it has rained the waterproofness claims can be tested, and I have done that. I also will share my impressions of the Cross Point socks against a couple of pairs of Seal Skinz that I have tried in the past. 

Make sure you click that link above for all the pricing and technical aspects of the Superlight Waterproof Socks. Now, on with my latest findings.....

Waterproof Or....?: 

My biggest concern to start with was to find out if these socks would actually keep your feet dry in a "real world way", so I did not simply step in a tub, or what have you, to test that aspect of the socks. This recent dump of rain made for a lot of mud puddle opportunities, so I went out and targeted everyone I could find for about an hour.

The good news is that, yes, the waterproof claims seem to be holding up here. I got both feet soaked from mud puddle riding and I even stepped into one, because that is something you might actually do, and I found no issues at all with seepage or leaking. 

I should mention also this was after machine washing the socks and hang drying them, so they have gone through a wash cycle to be sure that the socks will do what they claim. 

My only concern from this point onward is how perspiration and cold weather riding might affect the outcome from wearing these Superlight socks. I know that has been something of a bugaboo with regard to the two other socks I will be comparing the Cross Point socks with. Once my feet got hot and sweaty in those Seal Skinz I was doomed to frozen feet. The weather has not been conducive for testing these socks in that manner yet, so until that happens I will hold off judgment on that point. 

Cross Point socks on the left, Seal Skinz in the middle and right.

Comparisons: 

Besides the comments above regarding perspiration and the Seal Skinz socks I will also say that the Seal Skinz socks I have are probably ten years old or older. Their product line may reflect a different user experience now, but this is what I have. Seal Skinz has a much wider array of choices as well, so there may be something there that is more directly applicable to my review here. I recommend checking them out. 

My Seal Skinz socks are much thicker, stiffer, and harder to get on than the Cross Point socks are. I like the thinner, almost "normal" sock feel of these Superlight socks. The Cross Point feels most like a thick wool sock but it does still have that feeling of a synthetic tube to a degree, which the Seal Skinz socks have in spades in comparison. Just from a feel standpoint, I think I'd opt for either companies thinner offerings before anything they sell that is thick and stiffer. Especially for cycling shoes, which tend to not allow for a big, thick sock. 

If anyone has any experience with any of Seal Skinz's latest, thinner offerings I would be interested to hear from you about your experience. 

So Far... 

I like these socks for commuting, shorter rides, and cooler weather. I did wear them for a short while on a pretty typical Summer day and while they were tolerable, it was not particularly pleasant after a few hours. So, in my opinion, these are for "shoulder-season" riding. 

I'll be interested to see how my feet hold up in these during cool, wetter rides, but that weather hasn't been happening here yet, so that take will have to wait until my final installment on these socks. 

I do like the feel of these compared to my older socks, and they seem to work well, keeping my feet dry. The thinner material is both more supple and easier to get into and wear with cycling shoes. So, if you have sworn off past efforts in waterproof sock items, these might change your mind, as they have changed mine. 

I'll have a final take on these socks once the weather allows for some proper test ride conditions.

Friday News And Views

Gravel Grinder News: Lauf Becomes Title Sponsor of Gravel Worlds:

Last week on Friday (too late to make the cut here) Gravel Worlds announced that they had a new title sponsor in Lauf Cycles. Garmin, who had been the title sponsor of Gravel Worlds, is still backing Gravel Worlds but at a lesser level. 

Lauf Cycles has sponsored Gravel Worlds since 2016, being that event's "official bicycle" since that time, but Gravel Worlds now will have Lauf as a title sponsor for at least the next three years. 

Look for further announcements including new promotions for next year's Gravel Worlds to come. The 2025 dates are August 22nd - 24th. You can learn more about Gravel Worlds at their site HERE.

Legendary Cycling Media Journalist Goes Solo:

For years cycling media's James Huang has commanded respect and fans worldwide for his no-nonsense takes, technical news, and reviews of products. He has worked for many of the most well known cycling publications and websites over the years, most recently with the "Escape Collective". Huang left his post there in May of 2024 and now has announced that he has a Substack hosted site called "n - 1", a take on the famous saying cyclists use when looking at a new bike by saying "n + 1" is the formula for how many bikes you should own. 

Maybe Mr. Huang's writings over the years have impressed and helped you out, or maybe you've never heard of the guy, but to me he is an industry icon. James Huang is "the standard" when it comes to technical cycling journalism and he knows what he is talking about. I have respected him for years, and I actually met him once during a Trek/Fisher press camp in Monterey, California. I'm pretty sure that Mr. Huang was not impressed by me and probably doesn't recall that meeting, but it is one of the highlights of my time in cycling media. 

Give "n -1" a try and if you didn't know where Mr. Huang went now you do. I may have more to say on the state of cycling media in another post. 

Update On The Cross Point Sock Review: 

Some of you readers may recall my review of these Cross Point waterproof socks which I started looking at back in early September HERE. I promised an update "later in the Fall" and so here we are.

The thing is that since that introduction we have been bone dry and hot as far as the weather goes. While we just had a spate of colder weather, we're back into the 70's for a bit and wet weather is still a rarity here. 

Due to these conditions, I just do not feel it is fair to conclude this review just yet. I am hopeful that colder and wetter weather will present itself and I'll be able to try out this product in proper weather soon. So, if you felt that you were left hanging concerning this review, this is what is going on with it. 

Again, I hope to get this wrapped up soon. 

Image courtesy of Enve Cycles

Enve Cycles Shows New Hex Gravel Tires:

Another new gravel tread is out there called "Hex" and is offered up by Enve Cycles. Available in 40m and 44mm sizes, in tan wall only, the tires feature a nano particle enhanced compound that is claimed to reduce rolling resistance and increase grip. 

Hexagonal knobs provide three-way flex edges for grip as well as providing for an enhanced ride feel. There is puncture protection under the tread and reinforced material around the bead chafer. The Hex is tubeless ready and claimed weight for the 40mm tire is 430 grams and the 44mm tires are claimed to weigh 450 grams each. 

The Hex gravel tires are priced at $75.00 USD each. You can purchase them directly from Enve HERE.

Comments: Enve follows the "not much, if any, tread in the middle and low, laterally placed blocks on the shoulders" recipe for tread design which has been a staple design for gravel tread since the early twenty-teens. Interesting to read that Enve has their contract manufacturer using a "nano particle enhanced compound". This nano particle technology has been pretty much the sole domain of Vittoria tires for several years. Makes you wonder...

Also interesting is the somewhat conservative sizes available. 40mm is racy, but becoming less popular while anything closer to 50mm wide seems to be getting all the flowers from riders of late. Of course, Enve had to work with a factory, as they do not actually make these themselves, so it may be a case where the factory offered up these options and that was it. We may never know, but there you go.... Tires from Enve if you want them. 

RAT 1000 For 2025 Announced:

The Spinistry is an event organizer based in Texas that has created a subset of gravel events that is just as iconic as anything you've heard of. While events like Unbound, Barry-Roubaix, and Gravel Worlds have been stalwart "classic" gravel events for years, I feel many people are unaware that The Spinistry is an organization that deserves to have its events seen in the same light.

Take, for instance, the Red River Riot, an event that has been ongoing since 2010. The Spinistry can boast of other regional events that have become staples in the area as well. 

Their long distance, Tour Divide-like event is the RAT 1000, a stage event across the state of Texas from Texarkana on the Eastern border to Tucumcari, New Mexico just over the border in New Mexico. You can read all about it HERE. There are shorter options, you can 'tour' the route, or you can take on the ITT version and try to set a FKT. It looks like an amazing route and you can do this in October next year if you want to take up the challenge.

That's a wrap on this week! Thank you for reading Guitar Ted Productions! Get out and ride those bicycles!

Review: Cross Point Superlight Waterproof Socks

Note: Guitar Ted Productions was sent a pair of Cross Point Superlight Waterproof Socks for test and review at no charge. Guitar Ted was not paid nor bribed for this review and he will always strive to give his honest thoughts and opinions throughout.

Socks. We don't think much about them unless it is to color match a particular kit we have for cycling, or you just need a fresh pair to slip over your feet in the morning or after a shower. Besides that, you should never have to think about socks. Not ever. 

However; this isn't the case if socks bind and bunch up, slide down your legs into a balled up mess around your ankles, or if your big toe is sticking out of a hole in them. Then you have to think about socks, which honestly, who wants to think about socks? Okay, maybe a few of you want to think about socks, Anyway.... 

Another time I think about socks is when they get wet, and I have to wear them for a while yet, and that's uncomfortable. Your feet might get colder then, sore from wet skin grating against a sock material, or it may be that uncomfortable, squishy feeling that socks have when soaked. 

This is where the Cross Point Superlight Waterproof Socks come in. Now, I have seen and tested waterproof socks before. Generally speaking, they were thick, stiff, not very foot-conforming, and HOT if they were worn in anything but cold weather. Really cold weather in some cases. Then when your inevitably sweat-soaked feet stopped pedaling, the cold air would affect your feet negatively and that was that. So, suffice it to say that past experiences with these types of socks was negative, and that's being kind. 

So, when I was approached to review these socks I was, shall we say "skeptical", to put things nicely? Well, when I looked further into these socks, I saw that they were claiming some things I was curious to find out if they were true. So, here we are. 

What It Is: The Cross Point Superlight socks are Cross Point's lightest waterproof socks. They are made in a 3-layer way which was designed to allow the foot to stay drier and yet repel water. The inner layer is a wicking Coolmax fiber. Then in the middle you will find a breathable, waterproof membrane. Finally the outer is a durable Nylon layer. 

The design for the Superlight socks is seamless and is claimed to be odor resistant. Cross Point utilizes a proprietary 3D lamination process to bond the layers together. This, they claim, lends a better fit and better performance. 

First Impressions: The socks came in and I have to say that they felt thicker than most of my socks but not crazy thick. Maybe "Winter weight" for a wool sock would be a similar feel here. Although the fabric doesn't feel what I would call "soft to the touch" at all. It is a coarse, thick feeling sock. A lack of stiffness was notable and was far better than any other waterproof sock I've handled. Perhaps the fact that this sock is so much thinner and lighter weight than anything I've handled in a waterproof sock is why that seem to be the case. 

Slipping the socks on was easy. Nothing like the battle which I engaged in trying to get some of those previous, far too stiff waterproof socks on. That was a nice surprise. In fact, they went on like any other sock would on my feet. The top of the sock is what Cross Point calls "crew length". I measured it at 8" from the heel up to my calf. The logo on the highlighter green field is a rubberized one, which was a surprise. 

A quick spin around the neighborhood using my Giant MTB shoes at 88°F with high humidity for about a half an hour showed me that these socks are far, far better than anything I've yet tried in a waterproof sock. However; about at a half an hour was where I felt my feet getting hotter, so these would not be the choice for a warm Summer's day ride. Of course, but I found this to be a revelation, and it made me hopeful that when things do get cooler and wetter that these socks might prove to be a valuable resource for inclement rides. 

Also of note, I ended up having to make a meeting on time after the ride and I walked two miles total distance with these socks on in street shoes. This was perfectly fine but maybe not as comfortable as a nice wool sock is for my day to day wear. Still, I mostly did not think about the socks and that is the goal. After removing them I thought there was a hint of "stank" but they weren't ripe and my feet were dry. There must be something to the claims of wicking and odor control. But again, we will see after things get wet and colder. 

 The Cross Point Superlight socks are normally $47.00 USD but at this writing they were on sale on their site (HERE) 

Stay tuned for an update later into Fall.