In my opinion and use of them, they do a better job at keeping your feet dry (and a little cooler) when you sweat a lot. I use Defeet socks for riding as well as everyday use. You can usually find them on sale at places where they'll have 3 pair for $15 or something like that. I once got six pairs off ebay for about $20 or so. In the end, I think they are definitely worth it. If your feet aren't comfortable, then you won't be either.