As the mellow shades of autumn make way for the bleak monochrome of winter a chap's mind naturally turns to ways of keeping his extremities warm. Cold and wet feet will make even the shortest ride a misery, and the most cost effective way of keeping them warm is to cover them in overshoes.

These Pro Tarmac overshoes have loads of features, from the taped seams to the reflective patches on the back via the kevlar reinforced toes and the fleece lined interior. The 3mm neoprene is about as thick as you can get, any thicker and they wouldn't bend, let alone form around your feet. As it is they are a very snug fit and pulling them on can be a bit of a sweaty wrestling match. Don't even think about using them with anything other than proper road shoes and make sure you get the right size.

Pro are, as everyone surely knows by now, Shimano's in-house brand for kit and parts. Quality and attention to detail is typical of the Japanese giants, as is the 4" long label which tells you what the shoes are made of in 22 different languages. At £35 they're at the top end of the overshoe market but feel extremely well made and sturdy.

In use they certainly keep your feet warm and dry, according to the manufacturer they'll work down to temperatures as low as -15, which is as much as you'll need unless you head into the Arctic or know some really, really long downhill stretches of road. They're certainly a step up in quality and warmth from the Polaris Neo-Lite overshoes I tested last winter.

Verdict

Thick, strong, warm and well made. Winter chills? Bring 'em on!