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Finding your usual pair or cycling trainers just aren’t cutting it in the colder, wetter months? You could certainly do worse than putting your trust – and your money – in the best winter cycling overshoes money can buy.
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Here, we’ll go through just what cycling overshoes are, the advantages they have over ‘normal’ shoes, as well as listing four of the best waterproof shoe covers and addressing a number of overshoe FAQs.
Let’s take a look:
What Are Cycling Overshoes?
Cycling overshoes are footwear worn over another shoe. Made from weatherproof materials, they are designed to offer a warm, snug fit and keep the wind and rain out.
As a general rule, you’ll find overshoes are either waterproof, windproof, or even both.
Overshoes for Normal Shoes v Cycling Shoes
You certainly can find great effectiveness in donning overshoes over ‘normal’ shoes. Indeed, the only main difference is that cycling overshoes normally leave the bottom free so people can still ‘clip’ them into pedals.
Though ultimately, it shouldn’t matter if you’re wearing cycling or ‘normal’ shoes. If your shoes aren’t waterproof, you’re in trouble – making overshoes essential on wet days.
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Top 4: Waterproof Overshoes for Cycling
Best Cycling Overshoes for Normal Shoes:
1. PERLETTI Waterproof Shoe Covers (Price not available)
Quality cycling overshoes for normal shoes
- Reflective inserts
- Made of easy-to-wash PVC material
- Side zipper and elastic strap to enhance comfort
First up are these excellent shoe covers from Perletti, available in fuchsia, camouflage, lemon green or silver.
With a flexible non-slip sole and reinforced heel and toe, you could hardly find a safer pair of overshoes, while their side zipper and elastic strap facilitates slipping them on and taking them off.
The overshoes also possess reflective inserts, so you’ll stay seen even in the dark, while their PVC materials are easy to wash and are ideal for protecting shoes from rain, sleet or snow.
Best GORE-TEX Waterproof Cycling Overshoes:
2. GORE WEAR C3 Cycling Shoe Covers (£73.18)
A jack-of-all-trades of bike shoe covers
- Waterproof, windproof, and excellent breathability
- Work with most pedal systems
- Available in black or in eye-catching neon yellow
Waterproof, windproof, and breathability, all in one overshoe. What more would you want – or indeed expect – from a brand as reliable as Gore-Tex?
Perfect for cool conditions, these lightweight overshoes boast Gore-Tex’s Active Technology whether in black or unmissable neon yellow, giving them all the qualities you’d expect from a good cycling overshoe.
What’s more, its open sole with a reinforced edge protects against abrasion, while its adjustable back Velcro strap helps you find the perfect fit for you.
Best Cheap Waterproof Shoe Covers for Cycling Shoes:
3. Vaude Waterproof Overshoe Bike Gaiter (Price not available)
A quality waterproof cycling shoe cover for both genders
- Unisex design
- Water and wind-repellent, high level of breathability
- Also offers choice of black or neon yellow design
A great overshoe for men and women, this Vaude design acts strongly as your shoes’ cover for rain, wind or snow, as well as offering superb breathability.
Made of 100 per cent polyester, it’s also machine-washable, and offers a simple yet effective hook-and-loop fastening system.
There’s also a strap across the underside of the instep, as well as over the heel, meaning that you could wear these over cycling shoes and still clip into your pedals with ease.
Best Cheap Reusable Waterproof Shoe Covers:
4. TAGVO Waterproof Overshoes (Price not available)
Comfortable reusable shoe covers you can depend on
- Available in variety of striking colours
- Lightweight and portable
- Ideal for much more than cycling, too
Finally, these Tagvo reusable overshoes are great for cycling and so much more; camping, hiking – you name it, they’ll keep water out.
Available in ‘Kids Blue’, ‘Kids Pink’, ‘Adult Black’ or ‘Adult White’, these overshoes are made of highly elastic PVC material, making them even more more waterproof, durable and comfortable.
Their soles are also made of quality rubber, with fully non-slip soles, making them more wear-resistant, while the shoes are both lightweight and easy to fold up so that they’re more portable, too.
Waterproof Overshoes – FAQs
How tight should cycling overshoes fit?
The best waterproof cycling overshoes should provide a snug fit in the heel, with a comfortable amount of pressure on the instep and little bit of breathing space for your toes.
How to put on cycling overshoes?
Start by putting your toes into the overshoes first, then working back up your feet. Make sure the overshoes still allow your cycling shoes to clip in to the pedals without getting in the way.
Finally, pull the back of the overshoes over the heel. Once they’re on, double-check that your feet have the right amount of room within them, before fastening them completely (i.e. zipping all the way up if they come with a zip).
How to keep water out of cycling overshoes?
The best way to try and keep water out of the top of your overshoes is by wearing trousers which fit over your shoe tops.
Waterproof tights or splash-resistant leg warmers, for instance, will direct water away from the shoes, keeping as much of it out as possible.
Likewise, shorter socks may help in this regard as they won’t be big enough for water to wick.
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