Sportful Fiandre WS Bootie

The Sportful Fiandre WS Booties are great for keeping your favourite shoes clean and dry on mild, damp days, but don't expect them to keep your feet warm when the temperature drops.

• Pros: Water-resistant, great fit, durable
• Cons: Lacking insulation, expensive

Although the main fabric is not especially stretchy I found the overshoes really easy to get on, with a hook at the base of each heel helping me to zip them up quickly and easily. Size-wise, I tested a large, which according to the label in the booties is a 42/43, but on the Sportful size guide is claimed to be 40-43. Either way, I'd say they come up slightly small but were a good fit on my size 41 shoes. Unlike most overshoes, which tend to be quite tight around my calves, I found these to be a comfortable size, easy enough to zip up but also tight enough to stay in place once on.

The overshoes feature what Sportful calls an 'abrasion resistant bottom' made of a thick, rough fabric that has certainly shown few signs of wear so far. They feel sturdy and well made, with a good sized hole for the cleat so the fabric didn't get caught in my pedals at all or cause any issues. Having previously worn through the base of cheaper overshoes within a matter of weeks, I'm pleased to say that these seem very durable so far.

The main elastane/polyester fabric is very breathable but not especially thick; these definitely aren't the warmest overshoes I have worn. To be fair, Sportful doesn't claim that they are particularly insulating – they're designed to offer excellent wind and rain protection, which they do to a certain extent. In showers and light rain they kept my shoes and feet lovely and dry, but at the first sign of heavy rain were quickly soaked through. The water-resistant zip helps, and a zip guard on the inside of each zip adds a further barrier from the rain as well as stopping the zips from catching on tights or irritating bare legs, should you be brave enough to venture out in shorts.

> Buyer's Guide: 12 of the best overshoes for winter cycling

The Fiandre overshoes come in two colours: the black that I tested, or a fluorescent yellow. Both feature a reflective Sportful logo, reflective strips around the top cuff and a reflective heel loop for extra visibility.

In terms of price there are certainly cheaper options out there, such as the GripGrab RaceAqua Overshoes which George was very impressed by and cost almost half as much. And if you're looking for warmth over waterproofing, check out the neoprene Alé Winter Shoe Covers at £40.

Overall, the booties are a great fit, comfortable and durable. They're ideal for damp autumn/spring riding, but don't stand up to the elements well enough for winter and do come at quite a price.

Verdict

Decent overshoes to protect your feet on mild, drizzly days, but not fully waterproof and they come at a price