budget overshoes

chatlow
chatlow Posts: 850
edited December 2014 in Road buying advice
Hi,

Was going to post this in commuting section but it may get a good look at here instead. I am looking to buy some good overshoes for commuting. Need to be waterproof and would be a bonus if help keep toes warm too. Will be used with my cheap muddyfox road bike shoes, not my shimano's.

Any thoughts?
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Comments

  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,321
    Craft over-toes are excellent for the money... in fact they are better than full on over shoes... honest!

    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/craft-neoprene-toe-cover/
    left the forum March 2023
  • chatlow
    chatlow Posts: 850
    thanks for the suggestion but I am not convinced they will stop my socks from getting wet. We all know that wet socks == a bad morning in work. No heater or drier at mine so it's a must to keep them away from rain :-)
  • 2_tyred_itai
    2_tyred_itai Posts: 53
    Whatever you get, they need to be neoprene material.

    How about these for something cheap, Santa might be getting me these for Xmas:
    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Optimum-Mens-Cy ... B007UNC5Y4
  • chatlow
    chatlow Posts: 850
    2_tyred_itai wrote:
    Whatever you get, they need to be neoprene material.

    How about these for something cheap, Santa might be getting me these for Xmas:
    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Optimum-Mens-Cy ... B007UNC5Y4


    These look perfect! Bit confused about sizing though. I am size 9 and going by what the comments say, a large would prob be best..
  • chatlow
    chatlow Posts: 850
    also found these which look very similar and maybe a bit tighter helping with streamlining!

    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/craft-rain-bootie/
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CLPXOSH/pl ... -overshoes
  • nochekmate
    nochekmate Posts: 3,460
    cougie wrote:
    http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CLPXOSH/planet-x-neoprene-overshoes

    They win sweet FA in the design stakes but they do the job! I've paid 2x the price for overshoes from other brands that last half the time and winter riding is not about the aesthetics!
  • meanredspider
    meanredspider Posts: 12,337
    Whatever you do, DON'T buy Endura. For some reason, the lifetime of their overshoes can be measured best in hours or days at best.
    ROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH
  • chatlow
    chatlow Posts: 850
    nochekmate wrote:
    cougie wrote:
    http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CLPXOSH/planet-x-neoprene-overshoes

    They win sweet FA in the design stakes but they do the job! I've paid 2x the price for overshoes from other brands that last half the time and winter riding is not about the aesthetics!

    Can anyone confirm these or the optimum neoprene one's are 'waterproof'? Not too bothered about looks, just want dry feet.

    I'm between these two.

    thanks
  • bendertherobot
    bendertherobot Posts: 11,684
    None of them are waterproof. Even if the body is water will get into the top or bottom. You're looking for as much protection as you can.

    I'd recommend BBB ones personally. No better or worse in terms of waterproof(ness) but seem durable, well made and cheap.
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
    https://twitter.com/roubaixcc
    Facebook? No. Just say no.
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    Neoprene is waterproof. But if you haven't a front guard with a flap - you're basically hosing down your legs and water runs down.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,321
    Agree with Bender... I had two pairs and water gets inside... interestingly, once it is inside it doesn't want to get out... so they are waterproof in reverse. That's why I gave up on them and got the toe covers instead
    left the forum March 2023
  • chatlow
    chatlow Posts: 850
    cougie wrote:
    Neoprene is waterproof. But if you haven't a front guard with a flap - you're basically hosing down your legs and water runs down.

    interesting. not sure if this will help, but i will always be wearing these with waterproof trousers that go over the top of the shoes, so it's just the top of the shoe itself that needs to be waterproof
  • londoncommuter
    londoncommuter Posts: 1,550
    Sorry to slag them off as I generally like PlanetX but those neoprene overshoes are terrible. Really cheap and keep your feet warm but they don't keep the water out for a minute (open cell rather than closed cell neoprene or something??).

    That's fine for a long ride when any overshoes would let the water in but they're really annoying for a short commute where you otherwise might have got away with keeping everything dry. On the plus side though they take 5 seconds to put on so I use them when I might not be bothered to put others on and they cost me £10.

    I haven't tried many others but the Endura Road ones seemed fine.
  • bendertherobot
    bendertherobot Posts: 11,684
    ugo.santalucia wrote:
    Agree with Bender... I had two pairs and water gets inside... interestingly, once it is inside it doesn't want to get out... so they are waterproof in reverse. That's why I gave up on them and got the toe covers instead

    In addition, after yesterday's commute they were, of course, in the absence of rain, damp on the inside.

    I think there's probably a market for the longer toe cover. The half shoe or something.
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
    https://twitter.com/roubaixcc
    Facebook? No. Just say no.
  • trailflow
    trailflow Posts: 1,311
    Ive found those toe covers rip fairly easily on the underside. It would be better if they had rubber protectors underneath.

    Here's a cheaper version for ￡3.86 delivered
    http://www.aliexpress.com/item/WOLFBIKE ... 96963.html
  • chatlow
    chatlow Posts: 850
    ok, so I am being put well off neoprene now! Almost got the BBB's but still think it will be a waste of £15 if it pours down.

    Saw in Evans that there are a few designs which are like a sticky wetsuit material (and did look waterproof). Assume this is not neoprene and might be worth paying a little more for these?
  • trailflow
    trailflow Posts: 1,311
    Anybody tried these ? http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CLPXROS/pl ... f-overshoe
  • Coach H
    Coach H Posts: 1,092
    meanredspider wrote:
    Whatever you do, DON'T buy Endura. For some reason, the lifetime of their overshoes can be measured best in hours or days at best.

    I am still amazed every time a comment like this comes up as my Endura Road are on their 6th Winter and are still going strong!!
    Coach H. (Dont ask me for training advice - 'It's not about the bike')
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    I have the cheapo £10 Planet X overshoes. Stretchy neoprene, easy to put on / take off, extremely warm when coupled with woolie boolie socks / shoes big enough to accommodate them. They do keep my feet dry in most conditions, but if it's torrential they are not actually waterproof. I have full guards with a front flap, so I'm not spraying myself as I ride, and 99% of the time my feet are warm and dry.

    I suspect properly waterproof overshoes might be a bit boil in the bag.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,321
    bendertherobot wrote:
    I think there's probably a market for the longer toe cover. The half shoe or something.

    Aren't they called slippers?
    left the forum March 2023
  • Stevo C
    Stevo C Posts: 132
    I've just bought the DHB Extreme Winter ones

    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-extreme-wea ... -overshoe/

    I've been using them since the middle of last week and am impressed so far. They fit nice and tight - last week I endured two absolute soakings - bone dry feet at the end both times (10 mile commute on a bike with no front mudguard). This week it's been 2-3°C when I've set off in the morning - toasty feet on arrival.

    So far so good
    cheers

    Steve
  • schlepcycling
    schlepcycling Posts: 1,614
    cougie wrote:
    Neoprene is waterproof. But if you haven't a front guard with a flap - you're basically hosing down your legs and water runs down.
    Neoprene isn't waterproof, water will get through but it's designed to trap body heat and warm the water and insulate.
    'Hello to Jason Isaacs'
  • Stevo C
    Stevo C Posts: 132
    Whilst I agree with you - some overshoes have an outer waterproof shell. The DHB ones I linked to have a TPU outer covering.

    All I can say is that I've commuted in them twice in the pouring rain and have arrived home with bone dry feet (10 miles - 45 minutes). No other pair of overshoes I've had, have managed that (Craft, BBB & Shimano is what instantly comes to mind)
    cheers

    Steve
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    schlepcycling wrote:
    cougie wrote:
    Neoprene is waterproof. But if you haven't a front guard with a flap - you're basically hosing down your legs and water runs down.
    Neoprene isn't waterproof, water will get through but it's designed to trap body heat and warm the water and insulate.

    My neoprene wetsuit is waterproof. Water only gets in at the zip and the arm leg and neck holes.

    Submersing it in a lake is worse than you're going to get on an overshoe.
  • schlepcycling
    schlepcycling Posts: 1,614
    cougie wrote:
    schlepcycling wrote:
    cougie wrote:
    Neoprene is waterproof. But if you haven't a front guard with a flap - you're basically hosing down your legs and water runs down.
    Neoprene isn't waterproof, water will get through but it's designed to trap body heat and warm the water and insulate.

    My neoprene wetsuit is waterproof. Water only gets in at the zip and the arm leg and neck holes.

    Submersing it in a lake is worse than you're going to get on an overshoe.
    That's most likely a dry suit made of closed cell neoprene which is waterproof the normal open cell neoprene as used in overshoes and wetsuits (hence the name) or semi-dry suits is not waterproof but does keep you warm once wet as it uses body heat to warm the layer of trapped water.
    'Hello to Jason Isaacs'
  • meanredspider
    meanredspider Posts: 12,337
    Coach H wrote:
    meanredspider wrote:
    Whatever you do, DON'T buy Endura. For some reason, the lifetime of their overshoes can be measured best in hours or days at best.

    I am still amazed every time a comment like this comes up as my Endura Road are on their 6th Winter and are still going strong!!

    You actually have to take them out of the packet and put them on your shoes to wear them out... :wink:
    ROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH
  • arthur_scrimshaw
    arthur_scrimshaw Posts: 2,596
    nochekmate wrote:
    cougie wrote:
    http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CLPXOSH/planet-x-neoprene-overshoes

    They win sweet FA in the design stakes but they do the job! I've paid 2x the price for overshoes from other brands that last half the time and winter riding is not about the aesthetics!

    I've got a pair of these, they do the job, not waterproof but warm and stop the worst of the water getting through. I had Endura before and they were rubbish despite being twice the price of the planet X

    The design is a mixed bag, makes them very easy to put on without damaging them but getting them to look neat is another matter!
  • chatlow
    chatlow Posts: 850
    great replies, thanks. Still tempted by the neoprene.

    These shoes look good but i am worried the cloth at the bottom will get ripped straight away as it's practically touching the top of the cleat so will get hit when clipping in and out.

    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/bbb- ... src=aw.ds#


    also like the planet x 'waterproof' ones linked earlier, these:
    http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CLPXROS/pl ... f-overshoe
  • arthur_scrimshaw
    arthur_scrimshaw Posts: 2,596
    edited December 2014
    My experience is that nothing (jackets/shoes etc etc) is properly waterpfoof so my criteria is that when the inevitable happens I'm still warm (but damp)
    Neoprene overshoes do this for me, I also have neoprene gloves which are great so far but I have concerns over longevity as I understand they wear out more quickly.

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