Pas Normal Studios produce a full range of cycling clothing, all delivered with a slice of Scandinavian style. As the name suggests, the Logo Light overshoes aren't a deep winter offering, but rather, like many of the best overshoes, are an option for slightly warmer temperatures when your feet still need some added protection against the wind and light rain. Let's see how they fair.

The construction

The Pas Normal Studios Logo Light Overshoes have been designed primarily to keep the elements out rather than providing insulation. They’re made out of a fine-knit blend of nylon and elastane, which PNS says is naturally windproof and water resistant, while a DWR treatment is designed to aid this further. Internally taped seams add to the weather protection capabilities.

Rather than use a zip on the rear, the overshoes attach underneath the shoe using Velcro, and are designed to be put on before your shoes and then pulled over them.

The top of the overshoes has been laser cut and uses a silicone grip, both designed to hold them in position as well as prevent any water from seeping down into your ankles and shoes. A Kevlar patch on the toes has been added to reduce the natural wear and tear that's a result of putting your foot down at traffic lights and other hasty stops.

Available in sizes S (36-39), M (40-43) and L (44-47) in blue, black and olive green, they also feature a large reflective logo across the outside of each foot.

The ride

Putting on the PNS Logo Light overshoes is easy. Simply pull them on and over your feet before your shoes, put the shoes on, then stretch the overshoes over the shoes. A Velcro tab keeps them securely on the feet, and so far I've had no issues with it coming undone.

It’s a wonderfully easy way to put on overshoes, especially if you have shoes with retention dials. Other overshoes or oversocks I’ve used tend to require being pulled up and over the shoes but when you have a couple of retention dials and cleats to get in the way, this can become cumbersome. But not with this PNS model. They have been the easiest pair of overshoes to put on and take off, which after a cold, mucky ride that leaves you with dirty feet and numb hands, is a blessing.

The performance is excellent, too. Despite lacking the overall insulation of heavier-duty overshoes I remained comfortable even in sub-zero temperatures. Admittedly, my feet did get cold on the rare occasion that water managed to get through via very soaked bib tights. However, in that level of prolonged heavy rain and cold weather, there aren't many options that will keep you toasty.

These really excel at water repellency and windproofing. Water beaded off the material with ease, whether I was riding in light showers or heavy rain. Little water seeped in, which also meant that I didn't experience the windchill typically associated with wearing wet cycling clothing.

The silicone grippers at the top also stay securely in place and do a good job of stopping water soaking down the overshoes, especially when paired with water-repellent bib tights.

An additional feature that I really like is the Kevlar toe covers. These will increase the longevity of the overshoes and have shown no signs of wear over the testing period.

There are also large reflective logos across the external side of the overshoes, which boost visibility nicely. A reflective strip across the rear would make rear visibility a little better, but given that in foul weather most will be using a rear light, side visibility is more important.

My one slight gripe is the Velcro. While it makes these overshoes incredibly easy to put on and take off, it's a nightmare when it comes to kit washing. It doesn’t matter how well you think you’ve put the connecting pieces of Velcro together, it will find fleeced material or stitching seams from other kit items to latch onto, pulling at the fibres in the process. I found that, given they are relatively sweat-free after use, it's better to wash them by hand. Fortunately, the water and dirt repellency makes this a far easier task than with most kit items.

Value

At £70/$90 for a non-insulated overshoe, the PNS are at the higher end of pricing when compared to the likes of Endura, Madison and Shimano. However, these options use zips and I’ve never had a pair of overshoes with a zip closure that offers good weather proofing. I always find that it allows for some water to travel down into the shoes, so the zipless and full silicone hem of the PNS makes them better in the rain.

Rapha adopts a similar design with its Winter Overshoes, but the joint between the hem cuff and the main body can allow some water seepage. The Assos RSR Winter Speed Booties are also similar, but come in at £95 / $130 and don’t feature the same toe protection.

When you consider the performance, sleek nature and ease of fitting and removal, the PNS overshoes represent pretty good value in my opinion.

Conclusion

The Pas Normal Studios Logo Light Overshoes are an impressively effective pair of overshoes for wet and unpleasant conditions. The waterproofing is fantastic thanks to the membrane and the silicone gripper at the top. Only in the wettest of conditions does some water seep through via the bib tights.

They feature virtually no insulation, but the weatherproofing does limit wind chill effectively. Fitting is also easy thanks to the zipless design and Velcro fastening underneath. Meanwhile, a Kevlar toe boosts longevity. These are not cheap, but their level of performance and price makes them reasonable value. All told, they are a very effective pair of overshoes for rainy conditions whatever the time of year.

Many of the best cycling overshoes we’ve had on test are designed to keep out the worst of the winter’s weather. But what about something lighter for those cool, damp autumn rides? Step forward the dhb Equinox Windproof overshoes.

dhb Equinox Windproof Overshoes: construction

The dhb Equinox is made from 100 per cent polyester to provide a full water resistant, windproof fabric. There’s a slightly fleecy lining and taped seams to add more weather protection.

As you’d expect there’s a reinforced sole and added reinforcement on the heel too. There are well-sized pulls on the heel and housing for the zip so it doesn’t rub on your calf.

dhb Equinox Windproof Overshoes: fit

The fabric is very lightweight and stretchy, giving a really close fit. With the mid-length rise up my calves, feel like something that I should be riding on a summer-evening TT.

Alongside the stretch of the fabric, the heel and zip pulls make these incredibly easy to put on and take off again, something I never thought I’d say about an overshoe. I’m a EU sized 41 so went for the small (for sizes 40-42) and accordingly there seemed room to spare.

As the fabric is thin and the fit close, it does make it easy to snag the overshoe on your shoe fastenings. This wasn’t much of a problem for shoes that used BOA-type closings but was more difficult with ratchet and Velcro fastenings. 

The reinforced sole gives much greater coverage to the underside of shoes than many overshoes do, improving the fit and ability to keep out road spray. For me this came at a cost as the mid-section fouled the cleats on my road shoes. I do have my cleats set fairly far back, but they’re not at the limit of the mounting so I’d say this is more an overshoe design issue rather than an odd set up. 

Things weren’t much better on my mtb/gravel/commuter shoes and on these the gaps underneath were too modest to accommodate the grips on the sole of my shoe as well. 

dhb Equinox Windproof Overshoes: performance

The dhb Equinox overshoe has done exactly what it’s set out to do; it provided protection against the cool and wet autumn weather.  In all honesty, I wouldn’t normally wear an overshoe in such conditions, just opting for a warmer sock and more robust shoes. But this approach still leaves me with wet and dirty shoes whereas the Equinox keeps everything clean and dry saving me a job afterwards.

As the Equinox overshoes weren’t compatible with my road cleats I’ve used them with my mtb pedals on my commuting and gravel bikes instead. But even here the overshoe fouled my cleat albeit with enough room to wiggle it into my pedal.

The other problem using on this type of shoe is that the Equinox are quite thin so unlikely to stand up to the natural wear and tear of such riding. This is particularly the case for the sole, as the gaps are much too small to accommodate any significant shoe grips so you’ll be likely walking on – and wearing through – the underneath of the overshoe.  

dhb Equinox Windproof Overshoe: Value and conclusion

The dhb Equinox has an RRP of $45 / £35 (and at the time of writing on sale at $18/£14). This makes it the most affordable of the best cycling overshoes we’ve tested and in line with the tiny toe covers on the market such as the Sportful Pro Race Toe Covers ( $25 / £24) and Castelli Toe Thingy 2 ($25 / £22).

However, at the base price, the Equinox is not that much less than overshoes such as the GripGrab Ride Waterproof shoe covers ($50 / £38) which offer much more weather protection and a more durable construction.

If you they’re compatible with your cleats and shoes, the Equinox are a good option if you want a little more protection for your shoes and warmth for your feet on cooler spring and autumn rides. The close fitting stretch fabric gives a good fit but isn’t robust so they won’t fare well with heavy footed use or off-road riding so don’t expect them to last you particularly long.

dhb Equinox Windproof Overshoe: Specs

• Properties: wind and waterproof
• Recommended for: autumn and spring riding
• Weight: 113g (small as tested)
• Sizes: XS (EU 37-39) to XL (EU46-48)
• Fabric: 100% polyester

As a brand known for both the design as well as function of its products, you might have thought that Rapha would keep away from putting its name on something as unstylish as an overshoe. But rather than shy away, it's stepped up with the zip-less Winter Overshoe.

How would Rapha’s offering compare with the rest of the best cycling overshoes we’ve had on test?  

Rapha Winter Overshoes: construction

The Rapha Winter Overshoes are made from a three-layer fabric, with fleece lining on the inside and a waterproofed layer on the outer. All of the seams are taped internally to ensure waterproofing.

The sole of the overshoe is reinforced with Kevlar to protect the fabric when walking in and out of the café.   

Round the ankle is a broad elasticated gripper strip – but there’s no zip. Instead, you fasten under the sole of your shoe with a broad Velcro strip. The stretch of the fabric accounts for the rest of the fit.

Style-wise, these are very understated – especially in black. If you’re more daring than me and are after more visibility, then they’re also available in pink. The black version has a broad white, reflective panel down the rear for brightness.

As you’d expect from Rapha, the materials, construction and finishing of the overshoes is really high quality.

Rapha Winter Overshoes: Fit

Different from most other overshoes the Rapha Winter Overshoes don’t have a zip and so you put them on before your shoes rather than close over them. This feels strange although this could be as much to do with it just being a different approach to what I’m used to. It does save some straining and fiddling over the back of your shoe (I’ve had several zips on other overshoes fail at this strain point) and removes the potential discomfort of the zip against your leg.

Putting the overshoe on is tricky but getting the overshoes off is even harder; the silicon gripper did a far too good job of holding onto my ankle. Half the time I resorted to getting someone else to pull it off for me.  None of these things are ideal if you’re really wet and cold and just want to get in.

There are four sizes of Winter Overshoes covering EU shoe sizes 36-47. The medium size (for EU shoe size 39-41) covered my sized 41 Specialized road shoe nicely with room to go either way. Sizing is going to be as much about your shoes than it is of the overshoe of course and is definitely something to check especially if you have several sets of shoes.

I’ve got skinny ankles and the non-adjustable ankle gripper was on the large side for me. It’s something to keep your eye on if you have large ankles / calves as it could be too tight and uncomfortable.

Rapha Winter Overshoes: The ride

The Rapha Winter Overshoe provided much more warmth than I expected, it’s certainly not a bulky overshoe (weighing 106g for a medium pair). With my standard thin socks on my feet were plenty warm enough in temps of 5-10 degrees celcius and I’d be happy to wear on colder days.

Levels of waterproofing are good and my feet have stayed nice and dry on wet rides. In terms of performance, there's not really anything negative to say. 

They’ve held up well through testing and don’t have any obvious signs of wear aside from some dirty marks on the white panels. They’re washable at 30 degrees celcius, although the most I’ve bothered with is a cold water rinse to take the worse of the muck off them. 

The underside of the overshoe does tend to creep onto the grips of my shoe so I expect that it will soon wear through. I think this is more an issue with the design of my shoe than the overshoe as the heel curves round into the sole. 

Rapha Winter Overshoes: Value and conclusion

As you’d expect from Rapha the Winter Overshoes come in at the top end of prices, setting you back $75 / £55. Price-wise this makes them comparable to the more robust Sportful WS Reflex Bootie ($75.00 / £59.99).

The Rapha Winter Overshoes are well performing warm and waterproof shoe covers. If you dislike the zips and itchy Velcro closures on most overshoes you’re going to love it; if not, putting your overshoes on before your shoes will likely drive you mad.

Rapha Winter Overshoes: Specs

• Main fabric: 87% polyester, 13% elastane
• Colours: Black with white panel, pink with black panel
• Sizes: small (EU 36-38) to XL (EU 45-47)
• Contact: www.rapha.cc

Want to keep wearing your favourite summer shoes into Autumn? The marvellously-named Toe Thingy 2 blocks all those pesky vents and mesh panels over your toes that are so handy in the summer but distinctly chilly in cool weather.

They are essentially the answer to the (quite specific) question ‘How do you keep the chill off your toes when it’s not really cold enough for full overshoes?'

Castelli Toe Thingy 2: construction

The design is simple enough: a neoprene cover for the front of your shoes so that cold air can’t get through. The upper section is made from neoprene that’s about 1.5mm thick, so it’s very stretchy. The rubberised lower is 3mm neoprene and has a cut-out for your cleats that I found fitted round SPD-SL, Look Kéo and Speedplay cleats.

Castelli says they weigh 91g. UK importer Saddleback puts it at 62g. On my scales they’re 53g. Not exactly heavy anyway.

That thin top section means you do have to be careful stretching them into place, and some users report failing seams or rapid wear. You surely don’t want to walk in them more than necessary but that’s true for all but the toughest overshoes.

Castelli Toe Thingy 2: the ride

I pulled the Toe Thingy 2s over a pair of summer shoes and set out on an early-morning ride. Or to be precise, I pulled one Toe Thingy on, leaving my other foot exposed to the chill. 

And yes, as it was foretold, the toes protected by the Toe Thingy were warmer than those not. At the end of a 90-minute ride that saw the temperature down around 6-7°C the toes protected by the Thingy were a couple of degrees warmer than those not, as measured by my infrared thermometer. 

They also help to fend off spray from damp roads, but there’s not enough protection here to keep rain from soaking your feet. That’s the point at which you need full overshoes, and if you want a bit more insulation put the Toe Thingy 2s on first and you end up with properly toasty toes. 

One extra bonus: the Toe Thingy 2s are small enough to easily fit in a pocket, so you can take them along in case the weather changes, or peel them off and pocket them if a day starts cool then warms up.

However, they’re looking a bit tatty, possibly because I’ve been stretching them around Speedplay cleats, which are a little larger than Look Kéo or Shimano SPD-SL cleats.

Castelli warns that the red interior can transfer, so don’t wear them over your Euro-pro box-fresh shiny white shoes.

Castelli Toe Thingy 2: value and conclusion

At the $25 / £22 RRP they’re a shade on the pricey side. You can, after all, buy a pair of full overshoes for that.

However they’re currently £13 from Tredz, which is a bargain for a bit of very useful weather protection. In the US, they’re $25 pretty much everywhere, which is a lot cheaper than most full overshoes (except Velotoze) and the same as other toe covers from Giro, Endura and several others - plus cheaper than Specialized’s neoprene toe covers, whose $45 pricing seems somewhat optimistic.

Overall, Castelli Toe Thingy 2s are a very handy addition to your cycling wardrobe for spring and autumn riding, just be a bit careful how you stretch them.

Castelli Toe Thingy 2: specs

• Windproof Neoprene protection for your toes
• Rugged, rubberized sole with openings for cleats
• Red fabric on inside
• Can be worn on its own or as a layer between your shoe and shoecover
• WARNING: The colour of this product may transfer when wet. Avoid long term contact with light colored surfaces.
• Sizes: one size fits all
• Weight: 53g
• Temperature: 10°C - 18°C / 50°F - 64°F

Here it comes, the unpredicatbale and potentially grim British winter... when time taken to get dressed for a ride needs to be factored into your schedule, not to mention the palaver of peeling off damp and dirty layers at the end of a ride.

Booties are unquestionably a great piece of kit to protect both your feet and shoes. Finding the perfect pair isn't always easy though. You can end up with something that's baggy, or at the other extreme, stretched to its limit and straining its seams, potentially pinching above the ankle too. Alignment of the cleat and heel cap openings is paramount and there's also the important detail of just how easy they are to get on and off.

I tested a couple of the best cycling overshoes last year, Sportful's WS Reflex 2 is my first pair this year. By comparison, it has a lot going for it in terms of performance.

Sportful WS Reflex 2 Bootie: construction

The WS Reflex 2 is primarily made from Gore-Tex’s Infinium, a four-way-stretch windproof and water-resistant fabric.

A neoprene trim runs around the sole and up the rear of the bootie. There's also a raw neoprene trim at the ankle opening to help prevent water ingress.

The toe, underside and heel box are made of a robust, rough material.

Inside there's a soft, fleecy lining.

A single zipper at the rear features a hook at the base and a garage at the top - a continuation of the neoprene guard that prevents the zip coming into contact with any other layers (including skin!). 

Overall construction and finishing is outstanding and reflective detailing doesn’t seem as fragile or vulnerable as on many overshoes.

The WS Reflex 2's are designed as a unisex overshoe and come in sizes S to XXL,  covering sizes 38-47 inclusive.

Sportful WS Reflex 2 Bootie: fit

The WS Reflex is a staple in Sportful’s winter range, we reviewed a previous version back in 2015. The Reflex 2 takes on the same basic design in terms cut and shape, a positive in my opinion. A single rear zip with a loop at the base helps make pulling on the overshoes a breeze in comparison to some I’ve tested. The neoprene around the sole and ankle add give to the overshoe which really helps with getting them on and off.

I've been testing an L, intended to fit sizes 42-43. The overall fit was good and I certainly wouldn't have wanted to go one size in either direction; they offered a snug but not over-tight fit. I guess it's worth noting that I wear a 42 shoe.

I personally found the ankle opening to be perfectly judged; many overshoes are tight here and lead to pinching but there were no post-ride signs of pinching with the Reflex 2's.

The underside is the only let-down in my opinion, though this will be somewhat down to your shoes. For me, the heel pad opening was positioned too far forward (or consider it simply too small). I could stretch the bootie over the shoe’s heel pad (see photo below) but walking around invariably dislodged it. Even if I refrained from walking around, it tended to slip out of position while riding. Either scenario leads to treading on the bootie itself at some point, so adding excessive wear. 

Sportful WS Reflex 2 Bootie: performance

I’ve hardly had extreme conditions for testing, certainly no where near the -5 degrees that Sportful claim as a lower limit. I’ve resorted to setting an early alarm in order to get them out in the coldest possible temperatures. They've kept my feet toasty warm down to 4 degrees. 

Despite the fleece lining, I have been pleasantly surprised by just how breathable they are; the cosiness is misleading. At 8 degrees, pressing on up hill, my feet were no where near boiling in a bag. In fact, when I returned home, there was no sign of damp, sweaty socks or leg warmers. This in itself makes the booties perfect for longer training rides when it starts out exceptionally cold but can quickly warm up.

I’ve had my fair share of rainy rides using the booties. For the first 30 minutes or so water beads and rolls. In persistent rain, the membrane eventually becomes saturated and water begins, albeit slowly, to seep through. I could ride for 2+ hours without actually sensing dampness and, even then, my feet remained warm despite being damp (remember my temperature window though).

Sportful WS Reflex 2 Bootie: value

I reviewed a couple of pairs of overshoes last year, from Altura and Dexshell, costing £40 and $51/ £37 respectively. I’d say they weren’t so different to the Reflex 2's in rainy weather, though Sportful's definitely win on the breathability stakes. Durability should play a part here and if you can't get the heel cap cut-out on the Relfex 2's to align with your own shoe, you'll be adding to wear-and-tear. With an RRP of $75 / £59.99, these are pretty pricey and will certainly only justify that tag if they are compatible with your shoes.

Booties that fit perfectly aren’t always easy to find and the WS Reflex 2's weren’t a perfect fit for me. Just as with shoes, a ‘try before you buy’ approach should ensure shoe compatibility. 

Sportful WS Reflex 2 Bootie: specs

• Main fabric: 100% polyester
• Lateral inserts: 80% elastodiene 10% elastane 10% polyamide
• Overlay: 90% polyurethane 10% polyester
• Sizes: S-XXL
• Contact: www.sportful.com

Toe covers are an incredibly useful halfway house for your feet when it’s not quite cold enough for full overshoes but the temperature is still in single figures.

Not only do they supply extra insulation but they’re also perfect for keeping your best cycling shoes clean when the lanes are still wet and filthy. If you’ve just splashed out on a pair of pristine white kicks for the new season, it can be heartbreaking to return home with them splattered in mud after the first ride.

These toe covers from Sportful are some of the best I’ve used, with a really excellent snug fit, tough stitching and a reflective stripe/logo on the top.

Sportful Pro Race Toe Covers: construction

The Sportful Pro Race Toe Covers are made from 3mm fleece-backed neoprene, which is thick enough for a good layer against the chill but pliant enough to pull on over the top of shoes and cleats without a struggle, and forming a good seal with the shoe once in place.

The pattern uses two pieces of neoprene - the larger piece wrapping over the top of the shoe with a seam running around the outside of the toe and underneath on either side of the cleat hole in an arc shape, sensibly avoiding a possible future split at that weak spot and instead dividing the load as well as supplying an anatomical sock-like fit.

The top edge is raw cut, which gives them more of a streamlined look than the type that’s turned over at the top - and I haven’t had any issues with it being less durable for the lack of hem.

The cleat holes for me are not quite perfectly placed as I prefer my cleats set back more than average, but there’s enough stretch in the neoprene that this doesn’t cause a problem. There’s no bunching or wrinkling and no impeding of clipping in or out.

There’s no abrasion-resistant or rubberised material on the sole, as featured in the construction of other toe covers including the Castelli Toe Thingy 2 and the La Passione Toe Covers, but in the past I’ve found these can wear through just as easily as straight neoprene, and can actually be more of a barrier to a snug fit than rough surfaces.

The ride

Neoprene is not - and doesn’t claim to be - waterproof, but for spring or autumn riding where wind chill is often the thing that wrecks your enjoyment, these will effectively plug the vents in your shoes.

I've been wearing these for the last month in a variety of conditions. Sportful says they're for use in temperatures of 5deg and up, and I'd go along with that.

Unlike overshoes, your feet are unlikely to overheat in them since they're only really protecting the toes, but one of the benefits of toe covers that's often pointed out is that they can easily be stashed in a jersey pocket if you decide it's too hot for them. At only 74g for the pair they're hardly a burden either way.

As for wear, all toe covers have to be regarded as a sacrificial layer, and although the Sportfuls are tougher than some I’ve used in the past, the edges of the neoprene surrounding the cleat hole are beginning to look a little chewed up, but crucially the reinforcing ring of stitching around the edges has yet to be breached. 

So far they haven’t worn through at the underside of the toe that touches the tarmac at junctions and traffic lights, vindicating Sportful’s decision not to spec a stiffer abrasion-resistant sole. However, I still wouldn’t expect them to last beyond this season - or at least in a presentable state.

To prolong the life of the Sportful Pro Race Toe Covers it's best to leave them in place on the shoe and not remove and refit them each time you take your shoes on and off, though admittedly that's not quite so easy with lace-up shoes. This way you don't have to stretch and drag them over sharp-edged cleats so often. I've been using them with my 'winter' shoes, which were my summer shoes a couple of years ago, and these have two Boa dials. It's easy to peel back the top to get at the Boa dials.

Value and conclusion

£24 is not a lot to pay for the extra protection the Sporful Pro Race Toe Covers bring to your toes and your cycling shoes, but it’s at the upper end of toe cover prices: the Castelli Toe Thingy 2s cost £18; the La Passione Toe Covers have an RRP of £20 while the dhb Toe Cover Overshoes have a list price of £18.50.

As you might expect, the waterproof (claimed) Assos Spring Fall Toe Covers G2 are priced higher at £35, so the Sportfuls aren't the most expensive.

Sportful only offers one size in the Pro Race Toe Covers, which seems aimed at larger shoes (mine are size 44). Castelli also only offers a single size, so those with smaller feet might need to look at Assos (three sizes), La Passione (three sizes) or dhb (two sizes).

To sum up, these are very effective, nicely designed, well made, durable and probably the best-looking toe covers out there - if the aesthetics of toe covers is something you care about.

A company that started out making wetsuits, British brand Huub is now making a splash with its new range of cycling clothing – and with that experience it's in a particularly strong position to make a very good pair of winter cycling overshoes.

In the Huub Neoprene Winter Overshoes I’ve found a worthy successor to my trusty pair of Endura Freezing Points which, up until the arrival of the Huubs, had kept my feet warm and dry since 2018. That’s good going for overshoes, whose lives are usually nasty, brutish and short thanks to the sustained attack of front wheel spray, road scuffing and endless dragging over jagged cleats. However, although the Huub overshoes are every bit as excellent as the Enduras in their performance, I can't see them lasting as long: the thin, stretchy skin over the Neoprene foam is easily damaged unless you're very careful putting them on and taking them off and keep them away from sharp objects such as chains and chainrings.

Huub Neoprene Winter Overshoes: construction

Huub has raised the stakes by making the cuff taller than the average overshoe (with the exception of Spatz) and certainly taller than my Enduras, though to be fair the new Endura Freezing Point II is cut higher than the original.

Neoprene is the perfect fabric for winter overshoes, being highly insulating and keeping feet warm even when water has seeped in. Huub’s is stretchier than average, and covered with a smooth skin to make the overshoes waterproof, while on the inside is a fleecy linking. The stretchiness means it's less of a wrestling match to get them on than with some overshoes, but I did find the fabric fragile, inadvertently 'puncturing' the skin, possibly from pulling it over a cleat when taking them off.

The cleat cutout is big enough to accommodate extremes of fore-aft position plus bigger types such as Speedplay, while the heel cutout is also perfectly sized so that the neoprene doesn’t get too trampled but still wraps around securely. The front seam has been moved slightly higher onto the top of the toe box so that’s it’s clear of the road surface when you put a toe down. All the seams are taped.

>>> The best overshoes: buyer's guide

At the rear there’s the overshoe equivalent of a sewn-in tongue to seal the zip. This means you’re putting your shoe through a tube, which doesn’t cause a problem with low-profile road shoes, but bulkier SPD shoes could stretch the ‘tongue’ to its limit and possibly get stuck. Also, as I mentioned, it's not so easy to take them off again, and that risks damage to the fabric unless you're very careful.

There’s a Velcro strap at the top of the zip to take up any slack, but I found the fit around the calf was good enough thanks to the stretch in the neoprene.

The underside is reinforced with an abrasion-resistant grey fabric and there’s no fraying or wearing there. There are reflective strips up the back, and the silver Huub lettering is also reflective.

>>> Best winter road bikes reviewed

The size M/L supplied a nice, snug fit with size 10 road shoes, even though the size guide recommends XL/XXL for size 9-11.

Build quality is good: they’re nicely stitched and the Huub logo is not peeling despite a lot of stretching.

The ride

Huub uses the strapline ‘Now there’s no excuse’ with these overshoes and that sums it up neatly. I’ve worn them in wet and cold conditions and they’ve performed exceptionally well, making miserable weather much more bearable.

Huub says their temperature range is -5°C to 10°C and I’d agree with that. I haven’t suffered from cold feet at the lowest temperatures it’s safe to ride in – not quite -5°C but with windchill making it not far off. I also have worn them in drizzly rain at 10°C without overheating. Neoprene isn't known for being breathable, but they didn't get noticeably sweaty.

In heavier rain, the water tends to come in through holes in the soles of cycling shoes and there’s not much you can do about that, but the neoprene itself keeps water out, and the high cuff with good closure stops rain from getting in through the tops. When I rode through a flood, water did come in through the tops, but unless you had Wellington boot-high overshoes à la Spatz, that’s inevitable. I question whether super-high overshoes are really necessary anyway, since more water comes up through the sole than through the tops in really wet conditions.

Crucially, they keep your feet warm even when water gets in.

Value

The Huub Winter Neoprene Overshoes are relatively high priced, £10 more than the Endura Freezing Point II. But they’re priced lower than deep winter overshoes from established premium brands such as Assos (Assos Assosoires Bootie Winter, £80) and Rapha (Deep Winter Overshoes, £70). The Spatz Roadman IIs are £84.99.

Anyone who's had the (non)-pleasure of riding with me through the colder months will tell you that my two most used phrases on a ride are "When's the cafe stop?" and "I can't feel my hands or feet".

I'm well aware it's a privileged occupational hazard to have, but as a sufferer of Raynaud's (a medical condition that affects blood flow to the extremities when cold) the struggle, and pain, is very real.

>>> The best cycling overshoes 2018/2019: toasty toe covers for autumn and winter riding

So when the thick winter ready Dexshell Heavy Duty Overshoes arrived at CW Towers, I was champing at the bit to try them.

Construction

With most neoprene booties, such as the Sportful All Weather booties, you get a soft wetsuit-like fabric that, while doing a good job of keeping your feet warm, can be prone to snagging or even impact crushing (where the neoprene loses its loft).

The Dexshell Heavy Duty overshoes, however, are significantly different in that the neoprene has a more woven appearance. Dexshell says this also makes them abrasion resistant and while I'm hoping not to test that specific attribute any time soon, they certainly stood up to the thumbnail test (giving the overshoes a good pinch to see if it penetrates), so I would be inclined to take it at its word.

On the underside and toe area of the bootie, panels of a more robust fabric have been used to provide grip for when putting your foot down/walking, as well as adding an element of durability to the high-contact areas. This grip comes in the form of a criss-cross pattern of thread across the entire section, a nice touch that, unlike a surface treatment, shouldn't wear with washes or peel off.

At the back a full-length reflective waterproof zip is used, along with handy finger loop to help pull the Dexshell Heavy Duty overshoes on and a velcro closure tab to secure the zip at the top.

At the top of the overshoes is an additional 2cm elasticated cuff with an internal silicone gripper to help secure them in place.

The ride

Like the Sportful All Weather bootie, the Dexshell Heavy Duty overshoes are really easy to pull on thanks to the design, with any shoe closure adjustments easily accessed and made.

The fit of the overshoes was noticeably good, not only because coming in four sizes (many brands only offer two or three) allows it to be closer to your actual shoe size, but also because the thinner elasticated gripper at the top really holds them in place throughout the ride.

I confess I wasn't out on a miserable rainy day, but with plenty of surface water around I found that the overshoes held back most of the wet stuff. However, as with all overshoes, they're only really as good as the shoes you wear underneath, and with a pair of (now downgraded) Pearl Izumi Women's Elite Road IV shoes on, the water eventually found the booties' and shoes' ventilated areas on the undersole and crept in that way.

Damp feet, but by no means cold feet. The Heavy Duty overshoes did a top-notch job of keeping my feet totally warm, providing total wind resistance, which is something Dexshell needs to shout about a bit more as for us cold feet sufferers it's often more of a selling point than anything else.

Value

I've already lamented the cost of neoprene winter overshoes when compared to their much bigger but similarly constructed wetsuit brethren. So coming in at around £5 cheaper than many other brands on the market is very pleasing to see, especially as they have great detailing such as the reflective elements and silicone gripper for this lower price.

The front of the Gore Windstopper Thermo overshoes is made from a thick version of Gore’s Windstopper fabric. This is very windproof, having a three-layer structure with a built-in membrane. It’s also reasonably waterproof, although it will wet out in a downpour. And it’s breathable, so your feet don’t get too sweaty.

The rear of the upper is made of thinner Windstopper fabric. There are quite a few seams. As well as being taped, they are flatlocked with wide zigzag stitching, so they are watertight.

In practice, no overshoes will be completely waterproof, as water will find its way in through the base and by running down your leg. So it’s probably better to accept this and have a lighter overshoe which will dry quickly – something that the Gore Windstopper Thermo overshoes pull off well.

The fit is close enough to prevent draughts and also helps keep out water without being uncomfortable – particularly as the Windstopper fabric is very stretchy and flexible.

The underside of an overshoe is very prone to wear. Any time you put your foot down, walk in the overshoe or clip in risks causing damage. In this respect, the Gore Windstopper Thermo overshoes are a bit fragile.

There’s a reinforced toe section. But the middle of the underfoot is a continuation of the upper fabric. There are taped seams around the cut-out in the base and these quickly show signs of use. They’re likely to look distinctly tatty after a couple of seasons’ use.

Gore displaces the zippers on the Gore Windstopper Thermo overshoes to the inner side of the leg. They have a reversed zip, which helps keep the rain out, although they are not waterproof and don’t have a backing strip.

>>> The best cycling overshoes 2018/2019

The Gore Windstopper Thermo overshoes are available in all black as well as with a yellow front section. The latter improves visibility but soon looks dirty. There’s a reflective strip built into the rear of the overshoe and reflective lettering for better visibility.

The dhb Extreme Weather Neoprene overshoes are designed to keep your feet comfortable in the most miserable winter riding conditions. And at £30 they’re good value too.

Made of 3.5mm thick neoprene, they are coated for waterproofness and, being so thick, provide plenty of warmth. The extra thickness does make them quite bulky though and I found that I was scuffing them on the cranks. They’re heavy too.

>>> Cycling in the rain: how to survive it

The upper of the dhb Extreme Weather Neoprene overshoes has just one seam, running up the middle of the front. That’s a good thing, as the fewer seams, the less chance of water finding its way in. And dhb flat stitches the seam and tapes it on the inside, so it’s properly waterproof.

The fairly simple construction does mean that the dhb Extreme Weather Neoprene overshoes are slightly tight across the front of the ankle though and you can feel this a little when pedalling.

>>> The best cycling overshoes 2018/2019

The upper has a reversed zip at the very rear. This does a pretty good job of keeping water out, although it is in the line of road spray. The neoprene of the upper overlaps inside it though, to help keep your feet dry.

On each side of the zip are reflective bands and there’s a reflective dhb logo, so rearwards visibility is well catered for in the dhb Extreme Weather Neoprene overshoes. There’s a Velcro tab to stop the zip from undoing as you ride too.

>>> Best winter cycling gloves for autumn and winter 2018/2019

The underside of the dhb Extreme Weather Neoprene overshoes is a tour de force. It’s an area where overshoes can quickly deteriorate as you walk in them, clip in and clip out.

But dhb has used Kevlar reinforced fabric – as used in bulletproof vests – at the toe, heel and midsole of the dhb Extreme Weather Neoprene overshoes. So they stand up well to wear, although the woven fabric does accumulate dirt.

The cleat and heel apertures and the midsole are double taped with wide, flat tape, also helping with durability. And there’s more taping on the inside of the seams to help keep the dhb Extreme Weather Neoprene overshoes waterproof.

But both the openings in the sole are quite large, so that you do get more water ingress through them than in some other overshoes. So despite the robustness of the uppers, I did find my feet getting damp from the inevitable wheelspray.

I was excited to see a pair of Sportful Neoprene All Weather Booties land on my desk. Cold feet can, in my experience, make or break a ride. I'm never sure which is more painful, losing the feeling in your feet or the feeling returning. Both can be excruciatingly painful, so my personal aim every winter is to ensure that I never lose radio communication with my feet in the first place, and thus I am on an eternal quest for the best overshoe on the market.

>>>Best cycling overshoes 2018/2019: Toasty toe covers for autumn and winter riding.

Of course an appropriate pair of socks will go a long way towards keeping feet warm, but there's only so much merino wool can do, so it's down to the outer layer to truly keep the wind and water-induced chill factors at bay.

As the name suggests, the All Weather Bootie is made using a neoprene as the base fabric. Constructed using just two fabric panels has kept joins, which can be vulnerable to weather encroachment, to a minimum, and where the fabric has been connected at the front of the forefoot, a glue has also been used to restrict possible water entry.

At the rear of the bootie a zipper, with additional stormproof flap, continues to the heel cup, while tough protective fabric has been applied to the toe, sole and heel areas to give protection to the overshoes in the areas that can suffer from wear and tear.

Nice touches have been added to the Sportful Neoprene All Weather Bootie in the form of a easy-pull-on loop at the heel, as well as reflective detailing at the front and rear.

The ride

Pulling the Sportful Neoprene All Weather Booties on I was immediately impressed with the fit. The small/medium was perfect over a size 40 road shoe. In fact, they would have made a great pair of thermal aero overshoes (if winter-racing watt gains are your thing). Normally overshoe snugness at this level can require such endurance and perseverance – first of all getting them on over your shoes and then dealing with the shoe closure that you’ve inevitably sprung while doing so – that it counts as a pre-ride warm up. So I was really grateful for the stretchy neoprene and the finger loop at the base of the zip to pull the overshoe over the heel. My Boa dial shoe closure did come unfastened, but the wide opening allowed for easy access and retightening.

Thanks to living in Manchester, which they don’t call the Rainy City for nothing, I was able to ride the Sportful Neoprene All Weather Booties in early autumn in rain of almost biblical proportions and, with the tempreature having dropped to single digits, I was able to give the Sportful Neoprene All Weather Booties a good run for their money. In downpours like this, with no front mudguard, there isn’t anything on the market other than wearing a pair of boats on your feet that can keep back the tide of water constantly being driven against overshoes. To be fair, the Sportful Neoprene All Weather Booties did put up a reasonable fight when surface water on the road was minimal. But after a couple of hours’ riding when puddles became unavoidable, the water did eventually breach.

However, rather than a sudden gush of cold liquid, it was over an unnoticable period of time so that although I realised my feet were wet through, they were never cold. Even at the end of the ride when I was banished from entering the house until I had accomplished the dishonourable task of disrobing in the doorway (seriously is there any other sport that has this level of grounding?) when I was able to pour water out of my shoes, my feet were still a nice pinky colour rather than the whiteish blue that riding in the rain normally leaves them.

It’s only been a couple of outings, but so far so good in terms of the durability, something that the Sportful WS Bootie Reflex overshoe  suffered with in the past, although I suspect this is partly do to the minimal walking I’ve needed to do in them.

Value

I always struggle with the cost of cycling neoprene overshoes. It always feels disproportionate to the size of them, especially when wetsuit booties are around half the price, even the highly technical ones. However, in terms of market comparisons, these are at the lower end of the price range at £40, which makes them pretty good value for what's on offer.

Rather than just trying to keep your feet warm with insulation, the Ekoi Heat Concept overshoes have a double battery pack in a pouch in the side of each overshoe’s ankle cuff and heating elements built into the overshoe fabric.

The degree of heating (and the battery life) is controlled via a push button on the outside edge of the cuff, so you can change the heat level as you ride, perhaps reducing it once you’ve warmed up to conserve battery life.

An LED in the button changes colour to tell you the level of heating that you’ve selected. Ekoi says that this varies from 25C with a run time of up to 5 hours, up to 40C with a maximum run time of 2 hours. There are 30C and 35C levels in between too.

>>> The best cycling overshoes

The Ekoi Heat Concept overshoes themselves are made from neoprene with a fleece lining. So even without the batteries they’re quite bulky. I found I quickly scuffed the fabric on my cranks. The additional weight from the batteries is also noticeable. But the heating is very efficient – you’re unlikely to need the 40C setting for long.

The base of the Ekoi Heat Concept overshoes is open and the two sides are held together with a Velcro strap. This works well enough, although if you’re riding with typical vented summer shoes under the Ekoi Heat Concept overshoes, you’ll end up with damp feet from wheelspray. The underside of the toe is more robust, although the taping around the edge of the base is prone to damage from putting a foot down and clipping in.

>>> Ekoi Heat Concept gloves review

The Ekoi Heat Concept overshoes are sold in three sizes, to cater for foot sizes from 40 to 47. They come with a battery charger, although this uses the continental two prong plug, so you’ll need some sort of adapter to charge it from the UK mains. It takes anything up to 5 hours to charge the batteries, if you’ve run them down fully during a ride.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJR2Sr2Ige8

Ekoi says that you should switch off the heating elements in heavy rain, when there’s a risk of short-circuiting the batteries. You should surface wipe the overshoes, rather than putting them through the washing machine too, so they do quickly become dirty-looking.

Overshoes tend to give up after a season or two and the Ekoi Heat Concept overshoes look unlikely to fare any better despite their substantial design and price tag. But if your rides are made miserable by cold feet, they may just be what you need to keep on riding through the winter.

The Ultralight Aero is a classic Belgian bootee style shoe cover rather than a full-blown overshoe, but made in something a bit more sophisticated than a knitted fabric.

It’s made from a stretchy Lycra, with an even more stretchy insert at the rear to help get it on and off. The toe is reinforced to reduce wear and tear when putting a foot down or walking.

>>> Ten cycling shoe bargains

There’s a front cleat hole and a rear heel hole which are taped around, but the section under the instep is made from the same lightweight Lycra as the upper, so it wears quite quickly. However, the lightweight construction does mean it’s easy to adjust your shoes through the shoe covers while on the move.

With no zip it can be a bit of a struggle to get the shoe covers over some shoes, particularly if they have prominent buckles or dials. Once on they’re comfortable enough, but it’s a bit easier to fit them over your shoes before putting them on.

>>> Nine best cycling shoes of 2017

The shoe cover’s main function is to keep your shoes a bit cleaner on dirty roads, but Giro also suggests some aero benefits.

Watch: Which aero gear gives you the most bang for your buck?

There’s a bit of extra warmth too from covering up the shoe’s vents, but not as much as you’d get from a more substantial overshoe. And they’re not waterproof, so if it rains or there’s water on the road your shoes and feet will get damp.

So apart from a slightly slicker look and their claimed aero benefits, these Giro shoe covers really offer no additional benefits over a standard oversock and are more expensive than most.

Although it’s getting lighter and warmer, it’s still good to keep your feet warm and dry – especially if it adds visibility out on the road too. And that's where Mavic’s Vision overshoes come in.

They feature darts of reflective material at the rear of the overshoe, along with Mavic’s hallmark yellow flashes. There’s also reflective taping over the top of the cuff.

The zip is waterproof and has a chunky puller. It’s covered by a reflective flap with a top Velcro tab to make doubly sure that water doesn’t get in. I didn’t have any problem with the zip coming undone during rides – and there’s an additional reflective band here too.

>>> Mavic Vision Thermo glove review

The rest of the overshoe is made of a stretchy Roubaix-style fabric which gives a nice close fit over cycling shoes, although there’s enough stretch for them to be comfortable. If you are close to the top of the size range, however, you may want to size up to ensure there’s enough room for buckles or Boas.

>>> Tips for cycling and training in the dark (video)

Watch: Guide to overshoes

The outside of the fabric is DWR treated, giving pretty good water resistance even though the seams are are not taped. The heel and the base of the foot are made of a more robust fabric that stands up well to walking and clipping in.

>>> What can you expect from these £900 Mavic Comete Ultimate shoes?

The Vision overshoes are showing signs of wear and tear around the cleat holes, though. It’s no worse than you’d find with most other overshoes, but is likely to limit their lifespan to a couple of years max.

The fit and the quality of its construction are two of the most important design features of an overshoe, as well as it being warm of course.

If they are too long in the toe they can ride up over the end of the foot, or if they aren't robust enough holes can very quickly appear due to you walking in them.

Fortunately, Lusso's boots don't suffer from the first problem, having a good length but not so long that they ride up.

>>> The best cycling overshoes: a buyer's guide

They're a good fit at the other end, too, reaching well over the ankle and up the lower leg.

Watch: Cycling Weekly's tech of the month

What's more, despite my stickman-like skinny ankles, I was happy to find that the cuffs held in place when riding.

I also like the fact they're slim-fitting, but this is due to the fact they're not waterproof.

While I'm sure they might survive a light sprinkling, they definitely didn't survive the downpours that I put them through.

Fortunately they're windproof, which does make them warm. I found them to be really quite insulating, which I put down to their inner fleecy lining.

Couple this with the thicker outer material used they successful keep the wind off, keeping toes that little bit warmer when riding.

>>> Endrua Road II overshoes

While I'm not a fan of the aesthetics of the Velcro fastening along the back, it was perfectly functional when done up. It's a little difficult to align properly and leaves the back of your legs looking messy.

Looks aside though, it held the boots together better than other overshoes that I've used with just single tab of velcro holding them together.

Plus, it makes them easier to put on, as the whole of the back of the boot can be opened up.

The bright orange band also makes them nice and visible, as does the reflective strips down the spine of the boot and the Lusso symbol on the front.

>>> Northwave H20 overshoes

Consistent use has, however, left me with concerns over the durability of the Lusso Windtex overboot.

They've began wearing through in the toe area, with both holes appearing after the stitching – a sure sign that they could do with some reinforcing in this area.

Although, like I said earlier, I have found this to be a consistent issue across a range of overshoes.

As their name suggests, the Northwave H2O overshoes are aimed at wet weather riding. They only have quite a light Roubaix-style flocking on the inside for a bit of extra warmth, rather than being full-on neoprene or having thicker insulation. This means there’s a lot less bulk than with many shoe covers and they’re easier to get on and off and more comfortable to ride in than some. It also means that they’re good for damp roads when the temperature’s hovering between about 5 and 10 degrees, rather than for really cold rides.

Watch: buyer's guide to overshoes

The polyurethane coating is pretty durable and has stood up to scuffing and washing while the seam up the centre is tape sealed on the inside to keep the rain out. The velcro strap at the ankle helps get a tight fit there so that trickle down from the top is not a problem, although as usual road spray and surface water do find their way in through the sole openings.

These openings are large, with the bottom being open from the reinforced section which fits over the toe right down to the back of the heel, although there’s a central Velcro strip under the instep to keep the two halves together and provide some adjustability.

>>> How to dress for wet weather cycling (video)

At the rear there’s a reinforced patch with a reflective heel loop and reflectives run up either side of the zipper too. This is backed with a storm flap to help reduce water ingress and held together with a Velcro strap at the top.

In summary, these are nicely made overshoes, a good weight for UK conditions and durable. If you don’t fancy orange, they’re available in yellow or reflective black too.

For more details visit the i-Ride website.

The Endura Road II Overshoes overshoes have really impressed us this winter and spring. Firstly, the price is very competitive and significantly lower than similar products from other leading brands. Does this mean the quality is less? The answer is a resounding no.

Buy now: Endura Road II Overshoe from Wiggle for £24.99

Read more: The best cycling overshoes, buyer's guide (video)

Overshoes get a lot of abuse, but the Road IIs stand up very well to all abuse that a typical Winter ride can hurl. The Endura Road II Overshoes have well made, reinforced toe and heel sections and hard wearing stitching that uses aramid. After a few short walks, it is often these parts of the overshoe that wear through quickly, but we have had no such issue here.

>>> 7 of the best winter cycling gloves

The fit was really good too and zip is nice and chunky making it useable with gloves. The zip also features a lock down puller and Velcro® tab to keep it in place and stop it coming undone. Being neoprene they are quite chunky, but they more than make up for this in terms of durability and insulation. There are also nice reflective details on the zips too, adding a touch of rearward visibility.

For clocking up winter miles in foul weather, the Endura Road II Overshoes are a great value, well performing pair of overshoes.

By definition, you are likely to be wearing overshoes when the weather isn’t that great, which means that visibility may be lower too, so it’s good to have some extra reflective elements in your kit so that you show up better to other road users. It’s also a good idea to have reflectives at night, in addition to riding with lights.

The Reflex shoecovers tick both boxes: in daylight they appear to be just an ordinary grey pair of overshoes, but they are made entirely of reflective fabric, so they light up like a beacon in a car’s headlights. They’re not heavily insulated and Castelli claims a temperature range from 6 to 12 degrees, which seems about right. The seams are all taped on the inside, so they stay dry in wet conditions, although as with all overshoes there’s the Achilles heel of the open areas on the bottom for the shoes’ cleats and the ankle cuff, where water will find its way in.

I found the Reflex a good fit, although the waterproof zips were a bit fiddly to get started on their way up. They’re displaced away from the back of the heel, so they aren’t uncomfortable and don’t rub when you’re riding.

>>> Vittoria Arctica winter shoe review

The overshoes have a base made of a more resilient cordura fabric which has so far resisted abrasion – another potential problem when clipping and unclipping and if you walk in them much. I haven’t found my feet getting cold on typical cool, damp rides and the overshoes have proved water resistant.

>>> Cycling shoes buyer's guide

Although they’re expensive, the Reflex overshoes are a good option if you’re serious about your bad weather and night time riding.

Castelli’s Diluvio is a popular choice for wet weather riding: indeed so popular is it that it is available in three different models. We’ve tested the longer 16cm cuff version, but there’s also a shorter variant as well as the Diluvio AR (for All Road) which is designed to work will road and mountain bike shoes.

Compared to some other overshoes the Diluvios lack fancy features. However, it is the lack of unnecessary bulk that makes them attractive. The very stretchy 3mm thick neoprene material makes slipping them over your shoes extremely easy and provides a close fit, while they are also seam-sealed to help keep out rain.

There’s a waterproof zipper which runs down the rear of the 16cm cuff and is flanked by reflective stripes running down to the heel to improve visibility. The zip functions well but the addition of a heel loop would be helpful and – unlike with the shorter version – there is no Velcro strap at the top to keep them done up.

>>> How to dress for winter racing

With cleat and heel cut-outs you shouldn’t slip about when off the bike either, but since there’s no reinforcement to the soles – which are an extension of the uppers in the same material – I would have concerns about their long term durability and resistance to abrasion.

>>> Best winter cycling gloves

When riding on cold mornings the Castelli Diluvios kept my feet warm. There are warmer options out there, however, and if the temperature drops towards zero a thicker pair of socks is definitely advisable. Like other neoprene covers they do not keep out heavy rain – in a severe downpour you’d want something more water resistant.

The GripGrab RaceThermo overshoes are advertised with a temperature comfort range down to 0°C but they have coped just fine on sub-zero commutes and early morning winter rides.

It's unlikely that any overshoes will ever be entirely waterproof, especially when you factor in seepage from the top via your leg warmers and spray coming up through your shoes, but these come pretty close.

>>> The best cycling overshoes: a buyer’s guide (video)

When wearing the high vis versions, the 2mm waterproof neoprene construction has seen off rain and road spray without trouble, and despite riding in some heavy downpours a number of times they haven’t yet been breached directly from the rain.

On a particularly wet ride in South Wales whilst wearing the black pair, the downpour, puddles and road spray did eventually see the water reach my socks, but the neoprene overshoes retained heat regardless and my toes stayed nice and warm.

The hi-vis options are great for urban riding or for an added bit of visibility in the lanes. However, there’s also something on offer for those wanting a more understated choice thanks to these also coming in black.

The Kevlar reinforcements to the toes and heels keep the overshoes in place and help maintain their shape and structure.

The VeloToze collection of overshoes seem to have taken the domestic time trial and road racing scene by storm. VeloToze says they are waterproof, windproof and aerodynamic - pretty much everything you want from a race orientated overshoe.

They are made from a material that is akin to a thick rubber balloon, or put another way they are a swimming cap for your feet.

>>> The best cycling overshoes: a buyer's guide (video)

To put them on you simply stretch them over your shoes - this is a little difficult and it is crucial you choose the correct size.

There are no zips or velcro straps to create drag and the flexible material gives a snug fit which must have an aerodynamic benefit.

See how much speed can you buy?

When it comes to being waterproof and windproof they are the best I have seen. Save for the large cleat shaped cut-out, which is a problem for all overshoes, my feet remained dry and they acted as an effective barrier to the wind.

>>> 10 worst winter kit mistakes and how to avoid them

Velotoze says they are  designed for cold, rainy or snowy days. However, on the coldest days you'd want a thicker more insulated option and if taking part in a long race on a warm days you'd want better ventilation.

>>> Can an aero road helmet make you faster?

These rubber overshoes are great for racing, especially over shorter distances. If you are looking for an overshoe to be used for all your riding you’d want a more robust option.

There is also a short version of VeloToze overshoes that only come up to just below the ankle joint. The VeloToze Short cost £13.00.

It’s never a bad thing when you buy a piece of kit for one thing, and it turns out to be great at another thing too. That could well be the case with the Bontrager RXL Windshell overshoes.

The likelihood is that most people buying these overshoes are going to be buying them to keep their feet warm and dry through chilly spring and autumn conditions. However such is their aero fit, that the Bontrager RXL Windshell overshoes could well be called into time trial duty come the summer months

If you're wondering where to start with the foot protection like this, our buyer's guide to the best cycling overshoes will give you the full low down and includes our current favourites. 

Most importantly, these overshoes provide excellent windproof protection. The Profila Wind fabric that almost completely surrounds your foot is almost totally windproof, meaning your feet should stay nice and warm well down into single figures.

Watch our buyer's guide to overshoes

The fabric is also water-resistant. It’s not going to keep you dry for long in torrential rain, but for showers and riding on wet roads it’s more than good enough. Is obviously not as technical as something you might find on one of the best winter cycling jackets, but in terms of giving you're feet extra protection, it does a good job. 

The only problem I found with the Bontrager RXL Windshell overshoes is that they’re not the easiest to get on, partly to do with the tight fit, but also because the zip is awkwardly positioned on the inside of the leg. Ok, we’re not quite in Velotoze territory here, but they wouldn’t be the first choice if you were in a mad rush to get to a startline.

However once on, the benefits of the Bontrager RXL Windshell overshoes are obvious. Not only do they offer great protection, but they sit really tight around your shoe, ankle, and lower leg, making them a great choice of your chasing aerodynamic gains.

Finally, the cleat holes on the bottoms are nice and large so they’re easy to use with all cleat systems and the toe is made from a reinforced material to prevent wear over time.

These GripGrab RaceAqua overshoes first came into use as the morning commute became milder, keeping the road spray and rain off on the way to work.

However, they really came into their own when used on this year’s wet and muddy Paris-Roubaix Challenge sportive.

The white ones will now never be white again, but for the 170km cobbled sportive they kept my feet and cycling shoes dry during rain, and deflected the thick mud that clogged brakes and caused crashes.

>>> The best cycling overshoes: a buyer's guide

Now that the weather has got warmer, they can still be used on windy, mild days as the thin material and no lining mean your feet won't overheat.

Be careful with the size you buy; you’ll never get a slightly too small size over a pair of cleats, but once the overshoes are on they are well fitted and very aero.

My only reservation might be their durability: the production material is thin and the sizing snug, so be aware of stretching and splitting them, or any rubbing on the cranks that could wear through.

Contact: gripgrab.com

UK Distributor: wiggle.co.uk

The sister product of the excellent Elite Softshell gloves  we reviewed recently, we were glad to find that the Pearl Izumi Elite Softshell overshoes delivered similar levels of performance during rides in inclement weather.

>>>Best cycling overshoes

Just like the gloves, these overshoes offer great protection from the British winter. The 3-layer softshell fabric which covers much of the upper of the overshoes is the same material to that used in the Pearl Izumi Pro Softshell jacket, so it was no surprise that our were feet warm and cosy down to around freezing, even while wearing cheap trainer socks instead of more expensive thermal socks.

As far as wet weather protection goes, Pearl Izumi are not making any claims that these overshoes will keep your feet bone-dry through long rides in constant rain, instead saying they are suitable for “light rainfall”. From our experience this seems pretty much spot-on, with our feet remaining dry through the odd passing shower, but succumbing to the conditions after half an hour to an hour of persistent rain.

Probably the most eye-catching feature of the Pearl Izumi Elite Softshell overshoes is the method of rear closure, which uses Velcro instead of the zip you usually see adorning the back of overshoes. The upside of this design is that you can adjust the rear to ensure a comfortable fit. However we found this system made the overshoes difficult to secure (unless you have a friend to help) occasionally leaving a gap at the cuff allowing water to trickle in.

>>>Best winter cycling gloves

Aside from this there is little to fault. The soles are reinforced with Kevlar making it exceptionally durable, withstanding the numerous walks in and out of cafes that we subjected them to, and the reflective elements on the front and rear are a nice touch for nighttime riding.

For more details visit the Pearl Izumi website.

A good quality shoe cover is an essential piece of winter cycling kit. The Thermo Plus shoe cover is Mavic's top of the range, claiming to offer 'efficient protection against cold, wind and rain.'

>>> Best Winter Cycling Gear

Our first impressions were positive. The Thermo Plus is an attractive overshoe with neat styling and subtle Mavic insignias. Mavic's useful size guide ensured that the covers fitted our size 45 road shoes very well. The 'Ergo Flap' on the side of the cover is a great feature for accessing your shoes retention system mid ride and means that you don't have to remove the whole shoe cover. The overall weight is fairly light too compared to other overshoes we have tested.

Through extensive Winter riding we found that these shoe covers performed well in temperatures ranging from 5-12ºC. But, when the mercury plummeted to 0ºC on Boxing Day and much of the Christmas break, we found these covers not to be warm enough. For use in freezing temperatures, the shoes feature a pouch where thermal gel packs can be inserted for added warmth, but unfortunately Mavic had not provided us with these.

>>> More more reviews of overshoes, click here.

 Whilst these would have likely have made a difference, we have to be critical. At £48 a pair these are expensive and that is before you add on the added cost of gel packs. At £30 the Sportful Roubaix Thermal Booties reviewed earlier in the month are  cheaper and felt warmer.

We also found that water resistance was poor on these shoe covers, and once wet, they became colder. This is in contrast to thicker neoprene shoe covers, which are able to retain heat when wet, through providing a layer of insulation (like a wetsuit). The downside to neoprene covers is that they are heavier and bulkier.

Durability is good. The heels and toes feature a reinforced plastic which has held up well through around 1000km of riding. So far we haven't noticed any signs of splits, tears or holes. The rear zip is also sturdy worked very well with its 'stay down puller.'

For more information head over to Mavic.

The wrong choice of clothing is one of the worst winter cycling mistakes. However the Caratti Deep Winter overshoes show that winter rides and frozen feet needn’t come hand in hand (foot in foot?), but we’re not convinced they warrant the their ‘waterproof’ label.

What’s most impressive about the Caratti overshoes is the closed-cell neoprene material which is used for the main body. From our experience this is completely windproof. Admittedly the fairly benign start to the British winter has meant we haven’t been able to test these in truly Arctic conditions, but we enjoyed toasty toes during early morning rides with the mercury hovering comfortably below freezing.

However, Caratti also claims that these overshoes have a “waterproof construction”, and that's something we’re really not convinced about. The neoprene which is used for most of the overshoe does a decent job keeping the rain at bay, and is certainly a match for a couple of hours' riding through steady rain, but it is completely undermined by the dodgy fit.

>>>Ten of the best budget winter cycling jackets

We found the fit to be tight around the shoe (not necessarily a bad thing), but loose around the ankle, allowing water to run down the leg and quickly saturate our socks. In heavy rain this meant pretty soggy feet within 10 or 15 minutes, which is not a pleasant feeling if you’ve got a long ride in front of you.

The Caratti Deep Winter overshoes claw back marks elsewhere. One of the main problems with neoprene is that it is not the most robust of materials. Thankfully these overshoes have a reinforced sole that does a good job of preventing the material from splitting and wearing away around the heel and cleat holes, holding up to “walking in and out of a cafe” test which we love here at CW.

The rear zip is also sturdy, and doesn’t give the feeling of constantly being on the verge of splitting (although this may be due to the loose fit around the ankles), and the Velcro across the top of the zip stays nicely in place and comes with a nice reflective touch.

The Specialized Shoe Cover is a simple product that does what you’d expect for a £15 pair of oversocks.

They’re not quite your average shoe covers, though. The polypropylene material is much like a regular oversock, only thicker and tougher — a kind of overshoe and sock hybrid.

So far they’ve resisted wear and tear around the sole far longer than a regular oversock and thanks to that extra thickness, warmth and overall shoe protection are improved too.

To match up with the extra warmth provided, the length of the cuff is fairly substantial to prevent any coverage issues with your longs.

The lack of water repellency is slightly disappointing, and could render them far less useful as the worst of winter sets in: get caught in a wintry shower and their warmth could disappear.

These are a good low cost addition to your stock of cycle kit, but are unlikely to replace a full heavy duty pair of winter overshoes.

For more details head over to the Specialized website.

Choosing exactly how to shield your feet from the elements in winter is not always a black-and-white decision. Most of the time, admittedly, wearing your usual road shoes with no protection is a recipe for numb toes on anything but the shortest jaunts. But on the other hand, on spring, autumn and mild winter days, a full overshoe can be overkill. Especially considering how much of a faff it can be to pull some of them on.

Enter the GripGrab Easy On Toe Covers. A bit like Baby Bear’s porridge in the story of Goldilocks, it offers a ‘just right’ solution between a pair of unsuitable ones.

Windproof, and water-resistant up to a point, they do away with most of the challenges of donning full overshoes, pulling quickly and simply over the forward half of your shoe. The underside loops behind the cleat/pedal connection too, so once they’re in place, they ain’t going anywhere.

With much of the ventilation on road shoes sitting above the forefoot and toes, these toe covers have the potential to make a significant difference to foot comfort. While we didn’t fancy trying these on a 50 mile ride in sub-5°C weather, they did do a perfectly adequate job of keeping our toes from freezing over on shorter rides, and we loved the convenience of just being able to whip them off in seconds and stash them in a back pocket.

Head over to Wiggle for more info.

There’s nothing worse than heading out for a long ride in cold weather, only to lose feeling in your toes by the time you reach the end of the street. Thankfully that’s never going to happen with the Sportful Roubaix Thermal Booties that provide cold and wet weather protection in a good-fitting, durable package.

The warmth of these overshoes is provided courtesy of the fleece-lined windproof softshell fabric which covers the front of the bootie. This is the same material that Sportful use on some of their mid-range jackets, providing plenty of protection from cold air. The rest of the material is neoprene, which although doesn't possess the same windstopping credentials, is in less exposed areas and still provides good insulation.

It’s all very well having warm feet in dry weather, but if your overshoes are susceptible to rain, your toes won’t be toasty for long. Thankfully the Sportful Roubaix Thermal Booties also manage to offer a good level of protection against wet weather. We wouldn’t go as far as describing these overshoes as waterproof, and after an hour or two of persistent rain the dampness does start to creep in, but they do a good enough job for most conditions.

With such good protection, you’ll be glad to hear that Sportful have also prioritized durability to allow you to wear these day after day throughout the winter. Both the heels and the toes are reinforced to prevent wear when walking off the bike, and we didn’t notice any sign of splits around the heel or cleat holes. The rear zip is also sturdy and was never at risk of pulling apart.

Helpfully Sportful provides details on how their sizes measure up with standard shoes sizes, meaning we could be sure that the large overshoe on test would fit nicely over our size 42 shoe. This is a nice touch considering there is little stretch in the main body of the overshoes, but they still fit extremely well with no loose material hanging around at the hem. Sportful has also added a little loop on the heel to help you pull the booties on, the cherry on top of an excellent piece of clothing.

There aren’t many items of clothing that require you to have at them with the scissors before you can even wear them, but you’ll need to take a deep breath and be brutal before going anywhere dressed in Slipstream shoe covers.

This modern take on the classic cotton sock ‘Belgian bootie’ is worn over the shoes with a view to keeping the elements out and your shoes clean. The DeFeet Slipstream overshoes don’t come with a cleat cut-out - that’s where those scissors come in, cutting a simple slit along a dotted line on the sole. This is best done with the overshoes pulled onto the shoe, lest an unruly moment leads to you cutting all the way through the upper too.

They pull onto the shoe with minimal snagging and it has to be said the branding and bright colours look great on. With five colours available, including two fluoros, and a simple white for those who like doing laundry, you should have no problem matching them to your bike either.

There’s not a great deal of weather protection here, and you’ll want a proper overshoe when it’s cold, wet and wintry; but for most of autumn, spring and early winter the DeFeet Slipstream overshoes will confer that ‘pro’ look while helping keep the chill off feet and guard against spray from damp roads too.

Click here for more details.

It’s surprising anyone has been able to get any riding in over the holiday period, with so many fallen trees and flooded roads in Surrey and Kent.

But with good intentions, we grabbed this offering from SealSkinz and headed out to give these £35 waterproof, windproof and breathable booties a go to see if they live up to expectations.

Thankfully they did and really worked well, even in some pretty grim conditions. The simple sock design is easy to pull on and fits very well around the shoe and legs, limiting any leakage.

A mix of fabrics is good and bad with these Assos overshoes.

The stretchier, non-windproof upper and rear elements mean that these fit very well indeed, but sensitive feet will feel the difference in protection offered.

As well as the stretch, the panel shape helps with the fit and puts little stress on the zip.

A solid affair that clicks nicely closed and refuses to slip down accidentally.

Despite initial fears of unsecured Velcro closures, we grew to like the PI overshoes.

The fleece-backed fabric offers warmth and the outside coating keeps the wind off too.

Serious weather needs serious protection and from the moment you pull these BBB overshoes on, you can feel the warmth.

They are undoubtedly bulky, but the trade off is weather resistance. Toughened toe and heel bumpers mean they've barely been scratched despite the rigours of a photoshoot and early morning testing with added traffic stops.

Extra thick toe and heel layers simply add more protection.

The Castelli Dilvuio C shoe cover's 3mm neoprene material doesn't sound very thick but its snug fit makes it surprisingly insulating. The top sits close to the ankle, I prefer to wear them with tights rather than knee warmers but, importantly, they don't slip down like some other over shoes can do and they hug shoes very tightly.

Testing these, I found that they were waterproof in light rain, or if the ground was wet, but if it was lashing it down over a sustained period time water would seep in at the cuffs – it took around 40 minutes on one ride in the heavy rain. What's important though is when it did ingress, it didn't result in chilly feet because of the insulating properties of the neoprene.

Watch: Buyer's guide to overshoes

Neoprene doesn't breathe very well, and at the end of rides I would find I had damp socks. Whether this was from water leaking in or due to my own sweat wasn't clear but the important thing was my feet never got cold because of it.

A long zip makes it easy to slip the shoe covers over your riding shoes, and the zip closes without feeling stretched or being pulled too taught. An easy pull tab and a little give in the neoprene also takes some of the chore out of getting these on, avoiding the winter morning wrestle other overshoes can challenge.

Finishing details include reflective additions on the heel and zip. It's enough to offset the black of the overshoe but if you want a bit of colour they also come in fluorescent yellow and bright red.

On seriously wet days I'd opt for something more waterpoof but in light rain or riding over wet ground the Castelli Diluvio C Shoecovers 16 do the job very nicely.

Performance-wise, these overshoes are among the best we have ever used.

We didn't get cold feet - full stop. Which would have scored them a nine.

Unfortunately, the Neoprene sole just doesn't cut it. It was showing signs of toe wear after just one ride, for which we couldn't avoid docking one point.

The bamboo and charcoal-infused, PU-coated Neoprene does an incredible job of keeping the heat in and water out.

Kevlar-reinforced heels and toes should be long-lasting too.