Spatz Roadman 3 Overshoes review

UK-based Spatz takes a different approach to keeping your legs dry and warm with the Roadman 3 Overshoes.

While overshoes usually stop just above the ankle, the Roadman 3s are much longer and stretch to just below the knee.

That, as you might expect, ensures extended coverage, but getting them on is tricky. Although your lower legs are better protected than with a more conventional design, the open base still makes it easy for your feet to get wet.

Spatz Roadman 3 Overshoes specifications

The extra length of the Spatz overshoes puts the cuff well out of the line of fire of road spray, while the front face of the calves is made of fleece-backed neoprene for extra warmth.

A hardy, Cordura-type fabric over the inside face of the heel provides protection from abrasion.

All the seams are taped internally and the outer surface of the overshoes is covered liberally with reflectives to up your visibility.

Like the GripGrab RaceThermo Overshoes I've also tested, there’s no zip, so, in my experience, you need to put the Roadman 3s on before donning your cycling shoes.

The toe section is Kevlar-reinforced and made of extra-thick 4.5mm neoprene for warmth. Also like the GripGrab overshoes, the base is quite open.

There are 'liquid seal gripper' silicone bands along the inside edge to help keep the overshoes in place and a Velcro tab closure mid-sole.

Spatz Roadman 3 Overshoes performance

Getting the Spatz Roadman 3 Overshoes on is tricky, given the design, and there’s a tendency for tights to ruck up inside.

Spatz suggests you can wear them inside your tights, which may keep your legs warmer, but then you lose the extra-large reflective areas on the backs of the legs and the smaller ones on the sides.

Once you’ve got them seated, the extra length over standard cycling overshoes does a good job of keeping your lower legs warm and they fend off road spray effectively, thanks to the hydrophobic outer.

With their additional length and the extra layer of waterproof neoprene over your lower legs, the Spatz Roadman overshoes are better equipped for wet roads and lower temperatures than shorter overshoes. They should see you down towards freezing comfortably.

The Roadman 3 Overshoes are a good option if you like to go out in cold, properly wet conditions, particularly if your bike doesn’t have mudguards. However, they may be overkill for riders who aren’t committed to long miles in all types of weather.

I found the Cordura fabric at the ankles tended to ruck when pedalling and scuffed on the cranks. There’s also a tendency for the neoprene over the front of the ankle to rub when pedalling.

The sole area is quite open and prone to letting water in, particularly towards the heel; an issue that will affect any overshoes, no matter the leg length.

The 'liquid seal grippers' are silicone strips around the edge of the sole opening and the top cuff of the overshoes. Those at the top help hold things together and reinforce the resistance to water ingress from the tight cuffs.

However, water found its way in between the edges of my shoes and the bottom opening of the overshoes.

Spatz also sent me a pair of its knee-length Merino socks, which increase insulation. However, this tends to make getting the overshoes on and well-positioned tricky.

They’d be a good addition in really cold conditions, but feel unnecessary in the sort of soggy, mild winter conditions often experienced in the southern UK.

Spatz Roadman 3 Overshoes bottom line

If you’re committed to riding whatever the weather, the extra-long Roadman 3 Overshoes will be a useful ally in keeping your lower legs dry and warm.

Their unique design delivers more protection than many regular overshoes, albeit at a price.

However, getting the overshoes on over tights is awkward. I’d prefer a more robust under-instep closure to increase longevity and the open base means your feet will eventually get wet in shoes that have sole venting.