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review

DexShell Heavy Duty Overshoes

8
£37.00

VERDICT:

8
10
Good waterproofing, warmth and fit for not a huge amount of cash
Good waterproofing
Hardwearing
Visible reflective strip
Rear zip can clash with some tights
Weight: 
166g

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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These DexShell Heavy Duty Overshoes certainly live up to their name, dealing with pretty much everything the British weather can throw at them. Their design isn't exactly groundbreaking in any way, but you are getting solid performance and durability.

Over the last 20-odd years I've worn plenty of overshoes like this: a thick neoprene/nylon blend that stands up well to water both from below and above, a full zip closure, and plenty of reinforcing around the toe and heel. These Dexshells work really well – on very wet days rain might make its way in from the top, but it'll take a good couple of hours before it penetrates the fabric itself.

> Find your nearest dealer here

> Buy these online here

The beauty of neoprene, though, is that it is designed to keep you warm when you inevitably get wet, and on cold morning rides in the rain I never suffered from numb toes.

Their temperature range is good too, especially in the dry. I had no problems riding with a hard frost on the ground, and it'd be around 12°C before my feet would start feeling clammy.

DexShell's size guide is spot on, and the fit is great: they stretch easily around road shoes with chunky Boa-style enclosure systems.

A bit of give in the material means they fit snug as your foot rotates through the pedalling motion, as well as making them easy to get on and off – along with the full-length zip on the rear, obviously, plus the pull tab on the heel.

2021 Dexshell Heavy Duty Overshoes - heels.jpg

I'm not a massive fan of a zip on the rear, as many tights use a zip in the same place which can clash and cause irritation. If you haven't got that issue then the zip here works well, the tab making them easy to pull up or down with gloves on, and its design keeps the water out.

The zip is kept in place when done up by way of a Velcro strap which stops it working its way down as you pedal.

2021 Dexshell Heavy Duty Overshoes - cuff detail.jpg

When I was commuting, I'd easily go through a pair of overshoes each winter purely because they'd wear out on the bottom from walking to and from the bike. These DexShells are heavily fortified against that happening, with a much more hardwearing fabric being used for high wear areas like the sole and front, where it extends up over the top of the toes to avoid damage from catching your mudguard. They are also stitched around the openings for the cleat and heel bumper.

2021 Dexshell Heavy Duty Overshoes - toe.jpg
2021 Dexshell Heavy Duty Overshoes - sole.jpg

Fitting them around any cleat wasn't an issue, even bulky Speedplays.

2021 Dexshell Heavy Duty Overshoes - sole toe.jpg

The overall quality is pretty good, a few stray threads here and there, but nothing to detract from the look and performance.

> Buyer’s Guide: 15 of the best cycling overshoes

Price-wise, £37.99 is competitive.

Castelli's Diluvio UL shoecovers are of a similar build and performance for £50. dhb's Aeron Lab Neoshell overshoes are also 50 quid, though it does offer an Extreme Weather Neoprene overshoe with an rrp of £35.

Conclusion

These Dexshells are a hardwearing pair of overshoes that cope well with all of the crap weather we can expect in the winter months. They're very good, and well worth the money.

Verdict

Good waterproofing, warmth and fit for not a huge amount of cash

If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website

road.cc test report

Make and model: Dexshell Heavy Duty Overshoes

Size tested: Large

Tell us what the product is for

DexShell says, "Made from neoprene fabric with a water resistant reflective zipper. The elastic cuff band with silicone gripper ensures slip-free fit. A semi-open sole with abrasion-resistant fabric panels reinforces the entire toe area and the middle sole."

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

Fabric: 90% Neoprene, 10% Nylon

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
7/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for fit:
 
8/10
Rate the product for sizing:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight:
 
7/10
Rate the product for comfort:
 
7/10
Rate the product for value:
 
6/10

How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

I just let the rain wash them.

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

Impressive water resistance, and keep your feet warm should they get wet.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Close fit.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

The zip can clash with bib tights.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

They're cheaper than some – Castelli's Diluvio UL shoecovers and dhb's Aeron Lab Neoshell overshoes are both £50 a pair – and just a few quid more than dhb's £35 Extreme Weather Neoprene overshoes.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

They're very good: decent quality and value, and perform well.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 42  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is: B'Twin Ultra CF draped in the latest bling test components

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed,

As part of the tech team here at F-At Digital, senior product reviewer Stu spends the majority of his time writing in-depth reviews for road.cc, off-road.cc and ebiketips using the knowledge gained from testing over 1,500 pieces of kit (plus 100's of bikes) since starting out as a freelancer back in 2009. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 170,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him, he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. With a background in design and engineering, he has an obsession with how things are developed and manufactured, has a borderline fetish for handbuilt metal frames and finds a rim braked road bike very aesthetically pleasing!

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