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review

Showers Pass Club Shoe Covers

6
£22.00

VERDICT:

6
10
Excellent choices for wet and relatively mild conditions but wouldn't be my first choice for midwinter
Weight: 
140g

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The Showers Pass Club Shoe Covers are designed to protect feet and expensive footwear on the wettest rides. Arguably the most convenient shoe covers I've used to date, they fit in a flash but their thin materials with zero insulation means they aren't really suitable for mid-winter riding.

The Portland, Oregon-based brand has opted for a lightweight nylon and uncharacteristically generous cut. This ensures they'll fit over everything from brogues to booties and slip unobtrusively into a pocket when not required.

Stealth black complements the entire wardrobe and is tempered with intelligently positioned 3M reflectives. Even at variable town cadences, these grabbed driver attention from around 150 metres, nearer 250 when hustling along unlit roads on clear nights.

The taped seams, waterproof zippers and elasticated cuffs keep Mother Nature firmly outside and also passed my hosepipe test very convincingly. Rubberised soles feature sensible reinforcement around the heel and toe box; their dimpled texture provides good grip on slippery surfaces, including decking. That said; keep pottering to a minimum, or those soft compounds will wear swiftly.

Showers Pass acknowledges that most of us use step-in pedal systems some, if not all of the time. They also suggest cutting the sole to accommodate cleats, though doing so voids their two year warrantee.

I rode ours stock for 150 miles before practicing my scissor skills. Showers Pass's sizing is accurate, so you can buy on-line with confidence. Our large samples were absolutely bang-on for my size 43/44 feet. Donning them couldn't be simpler, even wearing winter weight gloves, thanks to generous zippers and oversized tags.

Sustained, heavy rain and blustery conditions didn't get a look in, or cause them to flutter like bin-liners on sweeping descents. With temperatures hovering around double figures, fibres breathe reasonably proficiently, avoiding any clamminess. Closer to zero and thicker socks helped, although traditional/coated neoprene overshoes knock them into a cocked hat.

Little changed when cut for cleats, although full-on submersion in deep puddles resulted in minor, localised dampness This was easily overcome by slotting some thicker laminated card between insole and drillings. Technically hand-wash only, ours appear tolerant of 30 degree machine washing using soap flakes/comparably gentle detergents.

Don't be mislead by the middling score, these are great for milder, wetter conditions and extremely user friendly. However, most British riders buy overshoes with winter in mind and prioritise designs that will keep feet warm when the mercury plummets.

Verdict

Excellent choices for wet and relatively mild conditions but wouldn't be my first choice for midwinter

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Showers Pass Club Shoe Cover

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?

'Lightweight waterproof nylon shoe covers keep street or cycling shoes clean and dry. Zippered side closures with hook and loop tabs for easy on/off and fit adjustability. Water–resistant, reinforced, cleat–adaptable coated nylon soles. Simply cut sole with scissors to wear with cleats'.

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

* Water Resistant

* Cleat Adaptable

* Light Weight

Taped seams, waterproof zippers and elasticated cuffs

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
7/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
6/10

Water repelling qualities are very impressive.

Rate the product for durability:
 
6/10

Rugged materials and good quality of construction relative to weight.

Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
6/10

Superb in mild, wet weather but cannot compete with treated/neoprene models when temperatures really tumble.

Rate the product for value:
 
6/10

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

Overall, the Club shoe covers are excellent options for milder, wet weather, accommodate a much wider choice of footwear and pack really small. While an obvious choice for everyday commuting and touring, protection against chill is vastly inferior to coated/neoprene models.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Intelligent design that accommodates a much wider variety of footwear types.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

While not overly susceptible to cold feet (and mine have certainly stayed dry throughout) they're not particularly warm either, which is likely to alienate those looking to buy a single set of overshoes for all conditions. Enclosed sole is a double edged sword too-especially since most of us run step-in systems, some, if not all of the time.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Yes, great for wet rides in milder temperatures.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? In the above context, definitely. However, there are better options for cold weather.

Overall rating: 6/10

About the tester

Age: 40  Height: 1m 81  Weight: 70 kilos

I usually ride: Rough Stuff Tourer Based around 4130 Univega mtb Frameset  My best bike is: 1955 Holdsworth Road Path and several others including cross & traditional road

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo cross, commuting, touring, fixed/singlespeed, mtb,

 

Shaun Audane is a freelance writer/product tester with over twenty-eight years riding experience, the last twelve (120,000 miles) spent putting bikes and kit through their paces for a variety of publications. Previous generations of his family worked at manufacturing's sharp end, thus Shaun can weld, has a sound understanding of frame building practice and a preference for steel or titanium framesets.
Citing Richard Ballantine and an Au pair as his earliest cycling influences, he is presently writing a cycling book with particular focus upon women, families and disabled audiences (Having been a registered care manager and coached children at Herne Hill Velodrome in earlier careers)

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13 comments

Avatar
caaad10 | 9 years ago
0 likes

This company is really making a name for itself (and it rhymes with Pass), I've just seen the mullet shower cap and I actually laughed out loud for the second time this morning....

Avatar
KlapperRael | 9 years ago
0 likes

The purpose of these shoe covers is NOT to shuffle around in like shopping bags as shown in the picture. They are made to cover a shoe and add waterprofing and wind protection. I live in the Pacific Northwest and wear Northwave Arctic shoes. When the temp is in the 30s (f) and raining these are roomy enough to put over these large shoes and they definitely make a big difference.

Avatar
jacknorell replied to KlapperRael | 9 years ago
0 likes
KlapperRael wrote:

The purpose of these shoe covers is NOT to shuffle around in like shopping bags as shown in the picture. They are made to cover a shoe and add waterprofing and wind protection. I live in the Pacific Northwest and wear Northwave Arctic shoes. When the temp is in the 30s (f) and raining these are roomy enough to put over these large shoes and they definitely make a big difference.

Interesting, I have the Northwave Celsius shoes, the Arctic is the even warmer one... the whole point with those shoes is that they're waterproof and warm!

They are very definitely both. So why would you even need this product?

Frankly, my Celsius shoes only stop being just-a-bit-too-warm at around freezing (30-35 Fahrenheit).

Avatar
KlapperRael replied to jacknorell | 9 years ago
0 likes

I have unusually bad problem with cold feet, even the Arctic won't keep my feet warm at or below freezing. Also, after hours riding in downpour even Arctic allowed some water in. I have found this product to help both issues. My problem with the review is the suggestion that they are meant as the primary over boot for your shoes in wet and cold or to be used as a shoe cover for walking around in your biking shoes.

Avatar
jacknorell replied to KlapperRael | 9 years ago
0 likes
KlapperRael wrote:

I have unusually bad problem with cold feet, even the Arctic won't keep my feet warm at or below freezing. Also, after hours riding in downpour even Arctic allowed some water in. I have found this product to help both issues. My problem with the review is the suggestion that they are meant as the primary over boot for your shoes in wet and cold or to be used as a shoe cover for walking around in your biking shoes.

OK, that makes more sense! Raynaud's or similar is terrible, couple of friends suffer from very cold extremities and as a secondary layer this makes sense.

As *normal* overshoes, these sort of fail  3

In the UK, we rarely get (even in Scotland...) weather so harsh that winter boots + covers are needed.

Yep, the winter boots will eventually let some water in even with overtrousers put on correctly, but do tend to keep warm for most.

Avatar
The _Kaner | 9 years ago
0 likes

These make NO sense...no self respecting human being (should) would be seen in these surely! What type of 'schmoke' have these people been inhaling??? I'd rather piss on my cold frozen/wet feet rather than be associated with something such as this. Nay, I'd slaughter the neighbour's pet and wear it's pelt before resorting to these 'beasts'...

Avatar
Flying Scot | 9 years ago
0 likes

They are hilarious, April first?

Avatar
jacknorell | 9 years ago
0 likes

These make little sense, unless nipping to the shops...

Even touring-type (without very aggressive grub screws) flat pedals would rip these apart in a half-decent length ride...

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Yorky-M | 9 years ago
0 likes

Gruffalo wellies

Avatar
don simon fbpe | 9 years ago
0 likes

http://www.hibike.com/shop/product/p43dca291ca026ff55aad10921994d4e3/Shi... + merino socks
ftw
EDIT: Why doesn't anyone do any market research before launching products these days?

Avatar
DanTe | 9 years ago
0 likes

They look terrible

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fennesz | 9 years ago
0 likes

Black plastic bags anyone?

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adrianoconnor | 9 years ago
0 likes

These look like they were designed for people who use flat pedals, wear normal clothes and just want to keep their shoes dry on a quick run. They probably wear these with one of those giant flappy rain capes.

I can't see why you'd ever choose these over a pair of regular tight-fit overshoes (with actual cleat holes built in) if you're even remotely serious about cycling.

For weather-proof riding, I like Endura FS-260 slick overshoes, though they only last 6 months or so before they start falling to pieces.

My wife bought me some Caratti neoprene overshoes for Chistmas, and they look really excellent -- looking forward to using those now it's getting really cold, and hoping they last well.

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