Gore Universal City Gore-Tex Overshoes

Unlike most cycling shoe covers, Gore's Universal City Gore-Tex Overshoes are designed to be compatible with regular shoes, so are ideal for commuters who ride in their work shoes and want to keep their feet dry and shoes clean ready for the office. You pay top dollar for this, though – £60 is a lot to part with when many other brands have waterproof offerings for around the £35 mark (Altura's Night Vison City overshoes, for example).

The Gore-Tex fabric used here, with fully taped seams, does mean these do a very good job of keeping wind and rain out, with water beading well on the outer. They are also quick and easy to put on and take off, which is often not the case with overshoes.

> Find your nearest dealer here

The overshoes are simply constructed, with a broad 7cm-wide Velcro closure at the back – no zips to battle with. The ankle cuff is elasticated to reduce water running down inside, and the open sole has an abrasion-resistant Kevlar surround that comes up around the heel. There is no reinforcement at the toe or heel though, and the Gore-Tex shell is quite thin, so they're not likely to be super-durable – though they are designed just for short jaunts around town.

The advantage of their lightweight construction is that they fold down to nothing and tip the scales at a measly 90g the pair, so you can pop them in your bag once you whip them off at your destination.

They're suitable for year-round use, but are best for milder days because they don't have any insulation. When it was mild and wet I did get a little moisture build-up inside if working hard riding uphill, but I didn't notice it until I took them off, and they are designed for stop-start city riding rather than tough training rides.

> Buyer's Guide: Essential wet weather clothing and gear

A broad elastic strap across the mid-sole keeps them secure, leaving the ball of your foot open so you could wear them with cleats if you chose to use cycle shoes. Their roomy cut does mean they would be quite baggy over road shoes, less so with mountain bike designs maybe. My feet are a size 39-40 and I tested the S-M size, which is 38-41, and it was just large enough to fit over chunky trainers.

One gripe I have is the minimal reflective details – just two small logos and a little L and R on the inside, rather than outside, of the ankle to indicate which is for which foot. For something designed for urban riding, I'd expect a lot more reflectivity to make them really show up at night. There is a neon yellow version which is high-vis for daytime use, but it won't help in the dark.

> 6 tips for cycling at night

So, a well-performing overshoe but missing a trick as far as safety goes, and very expensive at full price. You can find them discounted, but they're still not exactly a bargain.

Verdict

Waterproof overshoes for the well-heeled man or woman about town