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review

Craft Neoprene Booties

8
£32.00

VERDICT:

8
10
Good value, hard wearing, and perform well; a welcome addition to the winter wardrobe
Weight: 
210g
Contact: 

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Craft's Neoprene Booties are hard-wearing overshoes that offer both warmth and visibility for winter rides.

Being neoprene they will let water in eventually, but like a wetsuit, once that water is in they keep close to the foot and heat up, providing some level of comfort in colder weather.

To enable access and removal, the booties feature a 3/4 length rear zip and a velcro tab to keep the zip firmly shut. The velcro does a sterling job in ensuring that the fit is suitably tight.

As overshoes they do a reasonable job, keeping water out of your shoes for a good period of time, I found 10 miles to be about their limit in proper rain, but they keep drizzle and mist at bay indefinitely, and if it's hammering it down then they will last for about 5 miles. I should add, I don't use mudguards, so front wheel spray is a large contributory factor in soaking through, if you are properly equipped then you should get better mileage.

I've used them for wet commuting, which involves about 300 metres of walking in both directions, and thus far the kevlar-reinforced undersides are showing no signs of abuse.

One of the features I've liked about them is the reflectivity both on the rear and the sides, with circles being the order of the day, adding a little to the winter commute peace of mind.

Like most overshoes they will keep the rain out to a point, but once it's in the neoprene does a solid job of keeping it there and retaining some foot heat for longer rides. The windproof aspect of the fabric does a grand job with the insulation.

Overall Craft's Neoprene Booties are solid winter kit that look like they will withstand the worst of the abuse they're designed for; pair them with a front mudguard for even better protection.

Verdict

Good value, hard wearing, and perform well; a welcome addition to the winter wardrobe

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Craft Neoprene Bootie

Size tested: Large

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

For those who ride in all weathers and all conditions, the Craft Neoprene Booties are a good option to keep the feet warm regardless of the conditions outside.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Neoprene body, with 3/4 length rear zip, partnered up to kevlar reinforced toe and heel sections.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10

Water will get in eventually, but once in it's warmed and the feet stay warm regardless of the conditions.

Rate the product for durability:
 
9/10

I've been really impressed with these, they've withstood the rigours of my commute very well without any early signs of breakage.

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
8/10

Nice and snug.

Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

There are cheaper, and there are more expensive. £32 seems a good price for an item that works well.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Water gets in eventually, either through holes in your shoes or through seeping through the neoprene, but when it does the booties still perform very well and help keep the foot warm.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The side reflectivity works well and is a good addition.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Nothing.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Yes.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.

Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?

A solid performance at a reasonable price, the Craft Booties performed as well as you could wish for in a neoprene overshoe.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 37  Height: 176cm  Weight:

I usually ride: Rapide RC4, Raleigh SP Race, Hoffman BMX  My best bike is: Rapide RC4

I've been riding for: 5-10 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, touring, sportives, general fitness riding, Adventure-packing, crossing-countries

 

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2 comments

Avatar
Roberj4 | 9 years ago
0 likes

Even better at around £12 I'm on my 2nd pair. Not worth the RRP £32.

Avatar
Yorky-M | 9 years ago
0 likes

nice design

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