Best cycling overshoes 2024 – Keep your feet warm and dry during the winter months – Cyclingnews

It’s probably safe to say most cyclists reach for their overshoes when cycling in wet and cold weather to help keep their feet dry and warm. 

The best cycling shoes by design aren’t particularly well insulated. Throw in low temperatures, wind chill and road spray or rain and it’s easy to understand how you can end up with cold or even freezing feet while cycling in winter. If it’s a longer ride and you get things wrong you could even end up damaging your feet. 

There is a really broad range of overshoes on the market which can be split into lots of different subcategories. Different riders will need different things but we’ve got most bases covered here and there are clear explanations on which overshoes are suited for the best job. Whether you are looking for one pair to get you through the whole winter or additional pairs for more specific conditions or riding. If you’ve had frozen feet on the bike before I’m willing to bet you remember it well. Overshoes will add an extra layer of insulation against the freezing wind and will also prevent rain and water from entering which will also slowly freeze your feet.

There can be some really fine differences between different models that are all designed with certain temperatures or weather conditions in mind. You can also try a set of winter cycling shoes to further insulate your feet or to pair with overshoes for maximum protection. 

If you are shopping for your first pair, this guide should offer some useful advice. There’s also more information that I didn’t have room for here at the bottom of the page so head there for more advice and tips.

Best cycling overshoes: Quick list

Heavy duty layering system

The Spatz Pro Stealth overshoe system is the latest offering to be offered from Spatz, the British brand that specialises in foul weather kit whose overshoes have been leading the charge in overshoe performance for the last several years. 

The Pro Stealth is an overshoe system that includes a set of sturdy neoprene toe covers which weigh 75 grams and can be worn under the main overshoes. This adds an extra layer of warmth and protection but means they can also be worn on their own as well, or the overshoes can be used without them on less grim days. They are tight-fitting and offer a good level of protection. Despite their appearance they are also very easy to pull on. 

The overshoes themselves have been refined, being slightly lighter than the similar Spatz Pro II which we also rated highly. They are a little bit thinner and use covered neoprene fabric across a lot of the foot area which should minimise nicks and tears which has been something to watch for on previous Spatz Iterations. 

The fit has also been firmed up and everything sits tightly in place, the toe cover/overshoe fit area is snug thanks to silicone grippers and I think this will help minimise underfoot water ingress. There’s still the fleecy inner lining and discreet Spatz Logos on the midfoot and calf. 

If you are looking for a heavy-duty, winter overshoe that can deal with pretty much anything look this way. You won’t be disappointed

To read more about why they are worthy of the coveted five-star rating, check out our Spatz Pro 2 overshoes review. We’ve also reviewed the Spatz Roadman 2 and Legalz Pro overshoes, which also garnered five-star ratings.

Fast winter protection

The Fasta Oveshoe from Spatz is also a new model for Winter 2023/24. If you are familiar with the Legalz model from Spatz the Fasta represents a slightly lighter weight, more fitted and aero, one-piece overshoe that just brings a bit less bulk whilst still offering great protection.

The Fasta isn’t as high cut as the Pro II or Pro Stealth but is similar to the Legalz and feels a little bit lighter when you’re wearing it. I’ve worn it on cold chaingang rides and it’s been just the ticket. 

It’s also a one-piece pull-on design meaning there is now no velcro strap to close underneath. The downside to this means they’re certainly not ‘fasta’ to put on in the morning, but they’re still easier than Velotoze. 

Spatz also says the overshoes should provide a smoother transition with bib tights or legwarmers thanks to being a bit thinner at the top. They are burly enough to put up with some pretty grim weather though if you don’t need full-blown four or five-hour deep winter ride protection or tend to press on a bit the Fasta may be what you need. 

Wet weather protection

The GripGrab Aquashield Shoe Covers are a well-thought-out lightweight, wet-weather option if you’re looking for something that offers good resistance to rain and road spray without adding lots of weight or bulk. 

Their design and fit are different to most of the other overshoes in the guide. The Aqua shields are tall overshoes that are probably only around a centimetre or two shorter than the Spatz Pro Stealth they are however specifically designed to sit under your tights or leg warmers which is meant to minimise the amount of water running down your legs and directly into your shoes. The picture above is to show you what they look like. 

You can of course wear the majority of overshoes this way if you want to, but in my experience, nearly all cyclists wear them over tights or warmers. An interesting point if you’re trying to minimise water ingress into your shoes.

I wore them on a very wet day recently and a standout was the feeling you get as your lower legs and shins start to slowly get soaked was eliminated by having them sitting under my bib tights, it was also quite a nice sensation as the soft fleece lining is comfortable against your skin.

Overall they are going to be suited to shorter or harder wet rides or efforts where you still generate some heat. The bottoms are fairly open (for road cleats only) and I think if you were out for hours in the rain in them you would end up with wet and possibly still cold feet. You need the bulk of a heavier neoprene option to stay wet but warm for hours. But in the wet or on days when there’s lots of spray, they are a good option and don’t break the bank. 

Budget neoprene option

The simply named Endura Road Overshoe in Hi-Viz Yellow is another competitively priced neoprene option, one that has been a cornerstone of the Endura overshoe line for years. 

The main body of the overshoes features soft neoprene and the Hi-viz fluoro sections stand out, there is also a reflective strip on either side of the zip to help you stand out in the gloom and dark. There is a black version, but the Hi-Viz is nice in the winter gloom. The aramid stitching around the neoprene underside of the overshoe feels really durable and solid and I was drawn to this feature. 

The Road Overshoes keep your feet warm and dry for long periods, they fit snugly around your shoe and the durable lower sections around the cleat opening feel solid. The offset zip makes getting them on really quick. However, if you like your overshoes to extend a little higher up the leg perhaps look elsewhere as the Enduras aren’t the tallest. I also managed to put a nick in one quite easily with a fingernail taking them off, so this is something to look out for. If you are looking for an affordable, good-quality overshoe to deal with wet or just cold conditions, the road overshoes are a really solid buy. 

You can read our in-depth review of the Endura road overshoes here 

Aero and waterproof

Velotoze offers a simple, yet very effective solution for waterproofing. By creating a full latex membrane that encases the shoe tightly like a swim cap. The solution to this was the Velotoze Road 2.0, which offers reinforcement at the bottom and around the toe to add durability.

The sealing of the Velotoze is actually amongst the best in the guide. The fit is so tight it’s very hard for water to penetrate. As a result of this though and all latex construction breathability i