Overshoes are wind and waterproof sock-like covers that are worn over shoes to protect your feet from foul weather.
The best cycling overshoes will keep your feet warm and dry in the worst weather. You’re not going to enjoy riding through the colder months in just your best cycling shoes, which are typically designed for more clement conditions, with lots of ventilation and lightweight uppers.
While a pair of winter cycling shoes is the best option if you're a dedicated foul-weather rider, a pair of overshoes is the most convenient way to add some weatherproofing and insulation to cope with the cold and cycling in the rain.
Overshoes are available for both road and mountain bike shoes, but they're more common for road shoes.
Read on for our top-rated overshoes and more buying advice at the end of this article.
Best cycling overshoes as rated by BikeRadar's testers
Castelli Pioggia 3
- £55 / $59.99 / AU$102 as tested
- Smooth, stretchy and good looks
- Comfortably warm despite their lack of bulk
Finally, an overshoe that looks quite nice on, with low bulk and a stretchy, close fit. Functionality is good too, with excellent waterproofing and wind resistance, and enough insulation for comfort on winter rides in typical UK temperatures.
Castelli claims they’re aero (they certainly look it), and they're thin enough that you can adjust Boa dials on your shoes through them too.
Endura Freezing Point
- £49.99 / $69.99 as tested
- Thick neoprene with a fleeced inside face
- Sturdy base and strong stitching
Endura’s range-topping road overshoes are neoprene, with a fleecy lining for extra warmth, which extends to the base too, so the soles of your feet shouldn’t feel the chill.
Sturdy construction should ensure longevity and there are plenty of reflective points to add road presence.
Since our review, Endura has released the Freezing Point II overshoes, with the rear zip moved to an offset position to reduce the chance of it digging in, according to the Scottish brand.
Gore C5 Windstopper Thermo
- £59.99 / $79.99 / AU$105 as tested
- Low bulk, comfortable fabric construction
- Good water resistance without neoprene
Gore uses thicker, more insulated fabric on the front of the C5 Windstopper Thermo overshoes, where most water will hit your foot, and thinner fabric at the rear, for a comfortable, lightweight feel and a less bulky profile.
These overshoes are DWR treated, with a breathable construction that keeps out water, without getting sweaty inside.
As well as the black overshoes pictured, there is also a neon yellow option.
Castelli Diluvio UL
- £60 / $70 / €60 / AU$110 as tested
- Robust build with a high cuff
- Plenty of reflective details
The long ankle cuff of the Castelli Diluvio UL overshoes helps keep rain out and there's a Cordura fabric that reinforces the lower sides. The long rear zip has a storm flap that helps keep your feet dry and there's a top zip garage to stop the puller from rubbing.
The base is a bit more enclosed than some competitors, which should help with water ingress. There's a lot of reflectivity, with pads at the rear of the heel and the large Castelli wordmark on the sides helping to up your road presence.
DexShell Heavy Duty Overshoes
- £37 as tested
- Well-made and warm
- Neoprene
Made from four panels of neoprene with flat-lock stitching, these DexShell overshoes provide instant, sustained warmth and wind protection. They will resist road spray and light rain well, but they will eventually saturate, which can lead to wet feet.
Overall, these overshoes are well-made and well-considered. The wide opening at the bottom should minimise any damage when walking around and the ankle cuff is snug enough to keep water out, without being too tight.
Rapha Overshoes
- £55 / $75 / AU$95 as tested
- Neoprene, but without too much bulk
- Available in bright pink as well as all-black
Although these overshoes are neoprene, Rapha’s cut is good and there’s not too much bulk.
We found the Rapha Overshoes to be good for single-figure temperatures (Celsius), but they might be a bit too light to be comfortable in colder climes.
The optional hot pink colour adds a bit of flash to get you noticed, although you’ll need to wash these overshoes frequently to keep them looking fresh.
Shimano S3100R NPU
- £49.99 as tested
- Heavyweight neoprene will handle cold, wet conditions
- Bright colours and reflective detailing help with visibility on the road
Designed to work down to -5°C, Shimano’s neoprene overshoes have a water-resistant outer, a high ankle cuff and a robust base.
Their bright colour and reflective details are good for your road presence, and the cut is close enough not to feel too bulky.
Van Rysel 2mm RoadR 500
- £25 / $30 / €25 as tested
- No-frills design made of lighter-weight 2mm neoprene
- Comfortable and close-fitting with less crank rub
These overshoes from Decathlon are made of 2mm neoprene rubber rather than 3mm, so they're that bit thinner. They also come without zips, which eliminates one of the more frequent points of failure and leaking, although this does make getting the overshoes on and off a bit more difficult.
The close fit and thin rubber make for comfortable pedalling and means they're less likely to scuff on your cranks. Considering they're among the cheapest overshoes you can buy, the Van Rysel 2mm RoadR 500s do the job well.
Also consider...
These overshoes scored fewer than four out of five stars in testing, but they're still worth considering, particularly if you find a good deal.
dhb Extreme Weather overshoes
- £32 / $41 / AU$52 as tested
- A straightforward neoprene design that won’t break the bank
- Do the basics well
Made from 3.5mm neoprene, dhb’s Extreme Weather overshoes provide plenty of insulation and are water-resistant.
They have taped seams and a Kevlar-reinforced base, along with enough reflective details to get you noticed. All this comes at a budget price.
Dhb Neoprene Nylon overshoes
- £35 / $45 / €37 / AU$60 as tested
- Full-featured with robust seams to protect from wear
- Good reflectives and a robust rear zip
Made of 3mm neoprene rubber, these overshoes from dhb offer good wind and water protection. All the seams are taped and there's a reinforced sole that's reasonably enclosed and quadruple stitched to protect the seams from wear.
A chunky rear zip with a velcro top tab is edged with reflective tape, making for easy ingress. They're well-featured at a very reasonable price.
Endura Road overshoes
- £32 / $60 / €35 as tested
- Offset zips help avoid rubbing
- Glossy surface sheds water well
The Endura Road overshoes are well designed with nice features such as a zip offset from the rear to help avoid irritation. They're easy to get on and off, with a chunky zip and puller.
The gloss surface sheds water well and the hemless ankle cuff fits closely to avoid water ingress. They're relatively enclosed on the base, helping to keep feet drier for longer.
Sportful Fiandre Bootie overshoes
- £80 / $90 as tested
- Quality Gore-Tex fabric construction for low-bulk rain resistance
- No insulation, so best for milder conditions
High-end materials give excellent rain protection in a lightweight, if pricey, overshoe.
The absence of insulation may leave your feet a bit cold on winter rides, however. These are better suited to wet but mild conditions.
Altura Firestorm overshoes
- £40 / $56 / AU$72 as tested
- Lightweight fabric construction
- Cool colour with extensive reflective detailing down the sides
A nice change from black, Altura’s softshell overshoes come in this grey option, with reflective speckles down their sides. There is a black version too, if that's your preference.
With fleecy insides, they’re warm, but the fabric wets out quicker than some of the competition.
They're also less stretchy than some, so sizing is important.
GripGrab RaceThermo Waterproof Wind Shoe Covers
- £53 / $65 / €58 as tested
- Plenty of reflective elements
- Zipless design to keep water out of the tops
GripGrab dispenses with the rear zip, with a close-fitting ankle cuff to help keep the rain out. That makes getting the overshoes on a bit fiddly, but the cuff does a good job of keeping the rain out. They're made of 4mm neoprene, so they're slightly thicker than the majority of overshoes.
The shiny uppers shed water well and won't wet out. The base isn't so enclosed though, so water can get in here quite easily.
Spatz Roadman 3 overshoes
- £95 / €95 as tested
- Knee-length design keeps water out
- Large reflective area on back of calves
Spatz offers something different with these overshoes, with their knee-length uppers keeping your entire lower leg drier and better insulated and massive hi-viz areas on the back of the legs.
You don't get zips, so getting the Spatz overshoes on and adjusted is a bit of a struggle, but once there they do provide increased lower leg protection, although the base is quite open, so water still gets in there.
Have you found what you're looking for?
If you're looking to buy more winter kit, make sure you check out our guide to the best winter gloves and the best cycling kit for riding in the rain.
And, if you're keeping it indoors, here's everything you need to know about indoor cycling, training apps and the best smart trainers.
How to choose the best overshoes for cycling
Overshoe material
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.
The classic material for overshoes is closed-cell neoprene rubber. It’s the same stuff used for wetsuits and provides wet-weather protection while adding insulation.
Unfortunately, it’s not that durable, so it’s often covered with a tougher outer fabric. At 3mm or so thick, it has quite a bulky look too, and it's not at all breathable.
Sometimes, kit makers will use a less bulky fabric for the uppers, one that’s typically DWR (durable water repellent) coated to repel water, and includes a breathable membrane.
It’s an alternative to neoprene that’s lighter and less stiff, but it can lose its water-resistance over time and, unless additional insulation is added, may not be as warm in cold weather.
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
The 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.
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.
Most overshoes use a much tougher fabric on the base, sometimes including Kevlar fibres, to cope with the abuse. Even so, you’re likely to find that your overshoes wear quite quickly and need replacing after a couple of winters' riding.
With that in mind, cheap but functional might be better than technical and flashy if you're budget-conscious.
Do you actually need overshoes?
An alternative to overshoes is to buy a pair of dedicated winter cycling shoes. They’ll have sealed soles, so water ingress from below is avoided. The upper is usually insulated, waterproof and breathable, meaning your feet shouldn’t get cold, wet or sweaty.
With some winter-specific shoes, heel lift can be an issue because the ankle cuff needs to be wide enough to allow you to insert your foot into the boot.
In the last couple of years, brands such as Mavic, Fizik and Northwave have brought out winter cycling shoes that are more like summer cycling shoes. These have a waterproof upper and sole, and include insulation, but without a cuff the fit around the ankle is closer, leading to better pedalling dynamics and a more comfortable fit.
If you’re planning to ride extensively in cold, wet conditions, a dedicated set of winter shoes or boots may work out cheaper than hammering your summer shoes and replacing overshoes regularly.
Waterproof socks are a boon for the winter rider too.
Winter cycling shoes also nullify the debate about whether overshoes should be worn over or under your bib tights.
What about mountain bike overshoes?
Mountain bike overshoes are generally designed for SPD clipless pedals.
But they aren't very popular among mountain bikers, who have more choice of winter cycling shoes than roadies.
For flat-pedal users, there are even fewer options. We've found the flat-pedal overshoes that do exist prone to ripping. This is probably because they have to stretch over flat mountain bike shoes, which can be bulkier than clipless versions.
That said, there's no reason why the road-oriented overshoes in this list won't work with gravel or cyclocross shoes. You just might need to slightly size up.
And you can buy overshoes, such as the GripGrab DryFoot 2, for normal shoes. If you don't mind them being a bit baggy, they should keep your feet dry while riding to work, for example.
