RH+ Vermont shoe covers

Overshoes are an essential item to keep feet warm and stop rides deteriorating into frozen-toed misery. These RH+ Vermont shoe covers will do exactly that.

The RH+ Vermont shoe covers are made of 90% neoprene and 10% nylon, making them stretchy and yet tight fitting to your feet for maximum insulation. A long side zip makes for easy use and allows the hem to sit tight against your shin stopping any air flow in. The cold is certainly kept out, but don't be fooled and think these are waterproof.

The neoprene material means they act like a wet suit and actually hold water to help with insulation. This was noticeably affective in relatively light cold rain or for short periods, but like many overshoes they are lacking in persistent heavy rain. Over time the water will work its way through to your shoes and feet. I ride with them on my commute to work and no matter how cold or how heavy the rain is they do make a significant difference so I would certainly recommend them to take the edge off. Just maybe not ideal for a long weekend training ride in torrential rain.

The garish pair I had to test would not be everyone's cup of tea looks wise, but they also do them in black if you prefer. Having said that, when riding in the dark you can never have too much bright clothing on especially on my commute in Bristol. Naturally the overshoes get dirty easily and look like they fade, but a quick wash and they are back to impressive full fluorescence.

A word of warning: check the sizing. Although they stretch, it's not a matter of one size fits all since the pair I tested were tight on me and I have relatively small feet. There is also a large Velcro tab underneath which is great with a cleat opening. However if you ride mainly in mountain bike shoes with a large sole at the heel, it's easy to damage the tabs from walking on them.

Verdict

Good overshoes for cold and light rain, but struggle over time in heavy rain