Alternatives to Rapha Neoprene overshoes?

mitchgixer6

Hi all

Just wondering if anyone has a good alternative to the Rapha Neoprene overshoes? I got a pair cheap from an ex team rider and have been using them all winter. Really impressed with the quality and performance in keeping my feet warm and dry.

I had an off this week and there is now a gaping hole in the right one so ideally need a new pair, but I don't really want to pay the £55 for a new set. Any ideas on overshoes that have the same quality/performance that don't cost an arm + a leg?

Cheers

Anonymous

I have Pearl Izumi ones with a solid velcro fastner at the back and cant fault them.

thegreatdivide

Prendas Aquatex for £30.

darkhairedlord

Save the money for sunglasses, winters over.

mitchgixer6

Thanks for the replies folks.

Thinking ahead for next year mate and hoping to pick a pair up with money off. I already have sunglasses thanks, been using them all winter.

sloppyschleckonds

Will Rapha repair them?

bigpikle

I've got some great BBB ones and they've served well for a few seasons.

mitchgixer6

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

Will Rapha repair them?

Good point. I'll ask the question.

btiratsoo

Northwave fighter or h2o extreme. Great at keeping your feet warm and made from a decent thickness of neoprene too. Think they are around the £20 - £25 mark from Wiggle or CRC.

alihisgreat

I'm a big fan of my Endura Road overshoes - £20 from Ribble.

IrishMac

Castelli Diliuvio, or at least I think that's how it's spellt :P They've served me well all winter

MattC59

PRO NPU Tarmac, mine are on their third winter and other than a few very minor cosmetic scuffs are showing no sign of wear. They're a bit of a bu66er to get on, but are tough enough to get heavy handed with.

g00se

BBB, Endura and Planet-X make decent, budget neoprene covers.

schlepcycling

IrishMac wrote:

Castelli Diliuvio, or at least I think that's how it's spellt :P They've served me well all winter

+1

Garry H

MattC59 wrote:

PRO NPU Tarmac, mine are on their third winter and other than a few very minor cosmetic scuffs are showing no sign of wear. They're a bit of a bu66er to get on, but are tough enough to get heavy handed with.

+1

I just leave mine on the shoes, except than when they need washing.

proto

Very happy with Endura neoprene overshoes. Work well, good value.

Iamnot Wiggins

IrishMac wrote:

Castelli Diliuvio, or at least I think that's how it's spellt :P They've served me well all winter

I've been looking at these, how do they hold up when it's wet? And, are they nice & toasty when teamed with the right socks?

dov2711

I quite liked the Rapha overshoes having got them a couple of years back in the sale, however they didnt do it for me in the worst of the weather. Rapha (understandably imo) dont offer repairs on overshoes.

Been using BBB artic overshoes this winter and they are a fabulous piece of kit. If I am honest I am a bit of a clothes snob so hadnt innitially considered BBB which with hindsight was ridiculous.

Flâneur

I've had some Diluvio 16's this winter and though they have worked well at keeping my feet warm. Big down side is that they are fragile. Cleats will rip them easily and you can easily rip/fray with some crank rub.

Would I recommend them? If it was for just one winter then yes as would other club members.

I've heard good things about the Prendas ones but never tried.

aidso

I've a pair of BBB from here after my Endura zips gave up on me:
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-t ... bbazosh227

Could go a size smaller but they keep my feet dry and warm except for the trickle that runs down from my ankles...hence the size smaller suggestion.

mitchgixer6

Well I emailed Rapha and explained I ripped them in a crash. I've to send them back for repair via the freepost service. I'll wait and see if they charge for the repair.

Thanks for all the replies, plenty there to research!

pippi_langsamer-2

Neoprene overshoes are neoprene overshoes. Anyone spending more than a tenner on them should be shot!

Buy a pair of PX oshoes and for the cold, buy a pair of warm socks and a cheap pair of windproof (thin), overshoes to put under your cheap neo overshoes.

sloppyschleckonds

Pippi Langsamer wrote:

Neoprene overshoes are neoprene overshoes. Anyone spending more than a tenner on them should be shot!

Buy a pair of PX oshoes and for the cold, buy a pair of warm socks and a cheap pair of windproof (thin), overshoes to put under your cheap neo overshoes.

All the style of clown shoes.

I've got Assos and Prendas and never even give my feet a 2nd thought in winter.

pippi_langsamer-2

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

Pippi Langsamer wrote:

Neoprene overshoes are neoprene overshoes. Anyone spending more than a tenner on them should be shot!

Buy a pair of PX oshoes and for the cold, buy a pair of warm socks and a cheap pair of windproof (thin), overshoes to put under your cheap neo overshoes.

All the style of clown shoes.

I've got Assos and Prendas and never even give my feet a 2nd thought in winter.

I wear wetsuits a lot. For water sports before you ask . I pay lots of money for good wetsuits coz they have blind stitched seams, fluid welded seams blah blah blah....but they do the job of keeping water trapped between the neoprene and the skin and keeping it warm.

Cycling overshoes aren't designed to be worn next to the skin, nor are completely sealed, hence they are generally relying on neoprenes fairly good ability to block out wind. I fail to see how one piece of neoprene is so much better in these terms than another.

rolf_f

Pippi Langsamer wrote:

Neoprene overshoes are neoprene overshoes. Anyone spending more than a tenner on them should be shot!

Buy a pair of PX oshoes and for the cold, buy a pair of warm socks and a cheap pair of windproof (thin), overshoes to put under your cheap neo overshoes.

There is more to overshoes than their material. You might as well say that a Colnago Master is much the same as an Argos steel FS MTB because they are both made of the same material.

But I'd agree that there is a limit to what it is worth paying. But there is much better than just the PX overshoes out there even if they are very good value.

pippi_langsamer-2

Rolf F wrote:

Pippi Langsamer wrote:

Neoprene overshoes are neoprene overshoes. Anyone spending more than a tenner on them should be shot!

Buy a pair of PX oshoes and for the cold, buy a pair of warm socks and a cheap pair of windproof (thin), overshoes to put under your cheap neo overshoes.

There is more to overshoes than their material. You might as well say that a Colnago Master is much the same as an Argos steel FS MTB because they are both made of the same material.

But I'd agree that there is a limit to what it is worth paying. But there is much better than just the PX overshoes out there even if they are very good value.

Maybe I need to read up more on cutting edge winter boot technology.

What else is there to overshoes then other than the thickness of the neoprene? Quality of the zip perhaps. Yes.

But I agree with you- there's only so far you can go with neoprene technology in the realms of a cycling overshoe.

rolf_f

Pippi Langsamer wrote:

Rolf F wrote:

Pippi Langsamer wrote:

Neoprene overshoes are neoprene overshoes. Anyone spending more than a tenner on them should be shot!

Buy a pair of PX oshoes and for the cold, buy a pair of warm socks and a cheap pair of windproof (thin), overshoes to put under your cheap neo overshoes.

There is more to overshoes than their material. You might as well say that a Colnago Master is much the same as an Argos steel FS MTB because they are both made of the same material.

But I'd agree that there is a limit to what it is worth paying. But there is much better than just the PX overshoes out there even if they are very good value.

What else is there to overshoes then other than the thickness of the neoprene? Quality of the zip perhaps. Yes.

Quality of zip, stitching, welded seams or not, fit (the Velcor'd PX ones are far less effective than the likes of BBB for keeping water out), how the sole area is designed (some last five minutes, some months), outer surface finish (a smooth exterior surface can be repaired with puncture glue and patches, fabric surfaces cannot), ease of removal. I could probably come up with more.

If you don't think there is any difference between overshoes then you probably haven't tried many. I've only tried 3 and they were all wildly different.