Overshoes are windproof 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.
Editor's note: This list was updated on 30 October, 2024, with guidance on how we test cycling overshoes and why you can trust BikeRadar.
Best cycling overshoes as rated by BikeRadar's testers
Castelli Diluvio UL
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- £60 / $70 / €60 / AU$110 as tested
- Pros: Robust build with a high cuff; plenty of reflective details; good warmth and protection
- Cons: Open base allows some water ingress
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.
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DexShell Heavy Duty Overshoes
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- £37 as tested
- Pros: Well-made and warm; no-nonsense design; easy to pull on
- Cons: Can't guarantee dry feet in the rain
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.
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Rapha Overshoes
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- £55 / $75 / AU$95 as tested
- Pros: Warm with sleek design; bright colours available; good fit
- Cons: Bright colours quickly look used; cleat whole is on the tight side
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.
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Shimano S3100R NPU+
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- £49.99 as tested
- Pros: Heavyweight neoprene handles cold well; good visibility; decent waterproofing
- Cons: Breathability sacrificed for waterproofing
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.
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Van Rysel 2mm RoadR 500
- £25 / $30 / €25 as tested
- Pros: Comfortable and close-fitting with less crank rub; good value; secure zips
- Cons: Not cut out for the coldest winter days
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.
Endura Road overshoes
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- £32 / $60 / €35 as tested
- Pros: Offset zips help avoid rubbing; glossy surface sheds water well; well-priced
- Cons: Not the sturdiest construction around the cleat; crank rub
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.
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Sportful Fiandre Bootie overshoes
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- £80 / $90 as tested
- Pros: Quality Gore-Tex fabric construction for low-bulk rain resistance; lightweight; well-made
- Cons: No insulation, so best for milder conditions; pricey
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.
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GripGrab RaceThermo Waterproof Wind Shoe Covers
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- £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.
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Spatz Roadman 3 overshoes
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- £95 / €95 as tested
- Pros: Knee-length design keeps water out; large reflective area on the back of calves; good insulation
- Cons: Some ankle rub; open bottom lets water in
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.
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How we test cycling overshoes
We test cycling overshoes out on the bike during the cold and rainy seasons.
Our testers spend a long period using the overshoes to identify the good, the bad and the ugly parts of their designs and to see how well they hold up to British winter.
The main criteria we check for are as follows:
- Warmth – how well the material and design retain heat on cold days.
- Sole design – are there compatibility issues when using clipless pedals and can spray seep in through the bottom?
- Bulkiness – do the overshoes add too much material to your shoes, causing them to rub on the crank?
- Value for money – how do the overshoes stack up against the competition; are you getting a good deal?
- Waterproofing – do the overshoes live up to the brand's claims?
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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.
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.
