DexShell Heavy Duty Neoprene Water Resistant Cycling Bike Overshoes

Product Information

Performance is comparable to DexShell's Heavy Duty Overshoes. The biggest difference for me was simply the longer cuff, which can be more stifling in milder conditions while offering more protection in colder ones. This will simply be personal preference. Emma’s first encounters with a bike were in between swimming and running. Soon after competing for GB in the World Age Group Triathlon Championships in Edmonton in 2001 she saw the light and decided to focus on cycling. The bike is a Christmas present and so will not see any use for about 5 weeks as we are in November now. These two gentlemen could not be any more accommodating if they tried, quality service that is a rare find in today’s crazy world, I can not recommend this company enough! Overall, DexShell deserve recognition for a great bit of kit that does exactly what it should with no compromises in quality - and without the price tag of some premium overshoes. Specs

Also, you’re going to end up walking in your overshoes at some point, and you’ll have to put a foot down at junctions or stops, all of which subjects them to wear. Further reflective detail is provided by logos etc, but some of these will be hidden, if you are wearing longs.At first getting them on seemed to be a bit of a challenge. Pulling them on in one go was not an option. I wondered how convenient they’d be at the roadside when the rain started to pelt down. In fact, they have loosened up a little with use. Moreover, pulling the toe up tight, easing the instep strap into place and pulling the rear flaps together before zipping up has become a pretty smooth operation. Similar to SealSkinz models I’ve worn. The sole has two openings with reinforced elastic edges, and abrasion resistant fabric around the toe and mid-sole areas for durability. 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

In cold, dry weather a traditional neoprene overshoe will work as an excellent insulator, but will get waterlogged in persistent, heavy rain. 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. The robust toe and midsole areas gave enough stiffness to help the overshoes hold their shape, but had enough stretch to let you pull them in to place first time.Verdict: These overshoes are warm and durable plus their generous sole openings should help prevent you damaging the material when walking around.” All-weather overshoes tend to follow the same basic pattern; there’s a high ankle cuff to try to prevent rain from running down your leg and into your shoe, and a bootie-style lower section that covers your shoe. That typically has a central seam on top, which is taped to keep out wheel spray. Other seams will usually be taped too. Providing useful foot protection for spring and fall, you could also wear a set of these underneath full overshoes if you get really cold toes. Technically cycling overshoes aren't designed for trainers or other non-cycling specific footwear. There will no doubt be some options for shoe protection on a bike, but even with a rain cover, your feet will get pretty cold in standard trainers or office shoes. It's certainly worth considering giving a clipless pedal system a try for keeping your feet warm throughout the year, you'll also be very surprised by the difference it makes to your riding.

Damp feet, but by no means cold feet.TheHeavy 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 This windproof construction slips over the front of the shoe, with a rugged underside to provide grip and a silicone print to help keeps rips at bay. I will admit to being a bit of a photography geek when out on my bike, regularly getting on and off the bike for shots, so these have had a decent amount of walking to handle too. They aren’t showing a single sign of wear to date. Indeed, all the photos in this review were taken at the end of the test period, rather than the start. Value And, if you’re keeping it indoors, here’s everything you need to know about indoor cycling, training apps and the best smart trainers. The undersides of even the best cycling overshoes are prone to wear. Depending on your riding style, you may want to look for a tough, seam-free base with reinforcements at the heel and toe box, especially if you're often having to dab in gravel or stop at traffic lights.While the fit was snug, it was refreshing not to have to burn calories pulling the things on. Getting dressed for a winter ride is quite an undertaking, not to mentioned the removal of it all post-ride, when it’s potentially caked in mud and wet. For me, the DexShells are genuinely the easiest-to-pull-on overshoe I’ve ever used. Considering the quality and performance, I’d say Altura's are decent value for money. For me, the fit wasn’t as good as with DexShell due to the tight cuff, but this won’t be the case for everyone. The reflective detailing certainly beats DexShell’s.

For me, the overshoes fitted really well; there were no excessively loose areas, even at the toe (where some reinforced panels can create an elf-like point). The elasticated cuff definitely helps to hold the shoe firmly in place when riding. I was a huge fan of the length of the cuff, which is shorter than average. Some overshoes really feel stifling around the lower leg, building up moisture around the ankle in milder conditions. This wasn’t an issue with here. The elastic didn’t leave a mark post-ride either. Whether that matters, of course, depends on when you’re planning to use your overshoes. It doesn’t only rain in winter… Overshoe sole design Only after a couple of hours in continuous rain could I sense dampness. I can’t be sure where exactly it was getting in, or if it was penetrating the actual fabric. Certainly, the fabric isn’t as good as a smooth surfaced neoprene (which seems impenetrable); water will get through it. The zip is waterproof, with a reflective strip on each side, plus there’s a reflective logo at the frontThe Achilles heel of any overshoe tends to be its sole. First, it needs to have a couple of holes in it to fit over your shoe’s cleat and heel. This inevitably lets water in, which can creep into your shoe’s upper and through vent holes in its sole.