Price: $24.99 (custom printed); $19.99 white
Sizing: M (40-43 EU) or L (44-47 EU)
Availability: Online
Obtained by: Company sample
RBR advertiser: No
Customizing Your Socks Just Got Easier
Do you have a favorite kit and there’s no matching socks to complete the look? Or a club kit, but they didn’t sell socks with it? Now Haftners offers custom-made cycling socks for even one-off orders. The company has developed a printing process that takes their white Bouclier Aero sock and transforms them into a custom design.
Joseph Haftner, owner and CEO of Haftners, reached out to me, looking for RBR to review their custom Bouclier socks. Intrigued by the company’s ability to print any design, I took him up on the offer. I sent him the logo and text from the International Women’s Day – Together We Ride, an event I’m for which I volunteer.
Joseph’s team quickly turned around some designs and even sent a few ideas of their own. The staff was super easy to deal with and speedy. Once I selected the design, my custom socks landed on my doorstep in no time.
The above picture shows the foot portion has no custom printing, only the cuff. Haftners uses a two-sided printing technique that only prints on the cuff. There were a few imperfections in the printing, and I’m unsure if it is due to the dark purple I selected. Also, initially, I was concerned that the white portion of the sock would be visible when wearing cycling shoes, but for the most part, it does not show. (See picture at the top of page). However, it looks a bit funny walking around without shoes or wearing recovery slides. One other thing to note, the large black company logo detracted from my particular design, and I wished the logo was smaller or removed altogether.
The socks are very comfortable, with padding in all the right places and no seams at the toe. There is slight compression but not too tight. The company states the vertical stripe pattern around the calf is for improved aerodynamics. Also, the same stripe pattern at the top of the foot is designed to push hot air up and out. They also claim to have tested the sock’s aerodynamic qualities in a wind tunnel, and since I don’t have access to a wind tunnel, I’ll have to take their word for it.
From my personal experience, I found the socks to be on the warm side when tested on an 80+ degree summer day. I’d wear these socks in temps of 70 and lower. But it’s all personal preference.
I wore and washed the socks several times. There was no fading of the printing or shrinkage. However, I did wash in cold water and line dry.
Bottom Line
Haftners, a family-owned and run business in Austin, Texas, provides an option for cyclists looking for a one-off custom pair of socks or even a small quantity the larger manufacturers won’t print.
Sheri Rosenbaum regularly contributes articles and reviews products for RBR. She’s an avid recreational roadie who lives in the Chicago area and a major advocate for women’s cycling, serving on the board of directors and volunteering with the Dare2tri Paratriathlon Club. Click to read Sheri’s full bio or visit her web site sunflowersandpedals.com.
I find it strange that Haftners website has no desriptoin of the mix of materials in their socks. Probably means a mix of poly and nylon/elastic.
I’ve gotten very used to a wool mix which don’t smell as fast, so wonder if these will quickly get odorous as most artificial fibers do.