Showers Pass Club Shoe Covers

The Showers Pass Club Shoe Covers are designed to protect feet and expensive footwear on the wettest rides. Arguably the most convenient shoe covers I've used to date, they fit in a flash but their thin materials with zero insulation means they aren't really suitable for mid-winter riding.

The Portland, Oregon-based brand has opted for a lightweight nylon and uncharacteristically generous cut. This ensures they'll fit over everything from brogues to booties and slip unobtrusively into a pocket when not required.

Stealth black complements the entire wardrobe and is tempered with intelligently positioned 3M reflectives. Even at variable town cadences, these grabbed driver attention from around 150 metres, nearer 250 when hustling along unlit roads on clear nights.

The taped seams, waterproof zippers and elasticated cuffs keep Mother Nature firmly outside and also passed my hosepipe test very convincingly. Rubberised soles feature sensible reinforcement around the heel and toe box; their dimpled texture provides good grip on slippery surfaces, including decking. That said; keep pottering to a minimum, or those soft compounds will wear swiftly.

Showers Pass acknowledges that most of us use step-in pedal systems some, if not all of the time. They also suggest cutting the sole to accommodate cleats, though doing so voids their two year warrantee.

I rode ours stock for 150 miles before practicing my scissor skills. Showers Pass's sizing is accurate, so you can buy on-line with confidence. Our large samples were absolutely bang-on for my size 43/44 feet. Donning them couldn't be simpler, even wearing winter weight gloves, thanks to generous zippers and oversized tags.

Sustained, heavy rain and blustery conditions didn't get a look in, or cause them to flutter like bin-liners on sweeping descents. With temperatures hovering around double figures, fibres breathe reasonably proficiently, avoiding any clamminess. Closer to zero and thicker socks helped, although traditional/coated neoprene overshoes knock them into a cocked hat.

Little changed when cut for cleats, although full-on submersion in deep puddles resulted in minor, localised dampness This was easily overcome by slotting some thicker laminated card between insole and drillings. Technically hand-wash only, ours appear tolerant of 30 degree machine washing using soap flakes/comparably gentle detergents.

Don't be mislead by the middling score, these are great for milder, wetter conditions and extremely user friendly. However, most British riders buy overshoes with winter in mind and prioritise designs that will keep feet warm when the mercury plummets.

Verdict

Excellent choices for wet and relatively mild conditions but wouldn't be my first choice for midwinter