Pearl Izumi Elite Softshell overshoes review

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.