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review

Northwave Extreme Graphic overshoes

7
£19.99

VERDICT:

7
10
Pretty good option if you want a lightweight shoe cover, but would be better with a zip
Weight: 
52g

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The Northwave Extreme Graphic is more of an aero advantage oversock for racing or time trialling than a foul weather overshoe, but they do keep the early morning chill off provided you can cope with the faff of stretching them over your shoes every ride.

  • Pros: Highly visible reflective heel strip, decent durability for such a thin fabric
  • Cons: A bit of a faff to get on and off

Temperatures are starting to take a bit of a dive now, and although it hasn't quite got down to the freezing mark yet it's close enough early morning or late afternoon, and the Northwaves have proved a useful choice.

> Find your nearest dealer here

As I said, they're more about giving an aerodynamic aid than offering protection against the weather, but they do take the edge off when the temperature dips to about 5°C. The Lycra feels a little thicker than on those I've used for time trialling in the past, although there is no resistance whatsoever against wind or rain. If that's what you want then look at the more robust options here in the review section.

> How to get more aero without spending a fortune

If you want a cover just for keeping your shoes clean or for a bit of wind cheating then the Northwaves offer plenty. They are close fitting from top to bottom and while their lack of zip makes them a faff to get on and off, there is enough stretch to get them over the likes of Boa fastening systems without them feeling like they are going to tear at the seams.

Northwave SS17 Extreme Graphic Shoecover - tab.jpg

The sole has two cutouts for your cleat and heel tab, with both having a bit of reinforcement stitched all the way round. The cleat cutout is big enough to take the largest designs, like those from Speedplay.

Northwave SS17 Extreme Graphic Shoecover - underside.jpg

The full height reflective strip is a nice touch if you ride in the dark. The motion of your pedalling being lit up by car headlights is a good indication that a cyclist is ahead.

Northwave SS17 Extreme Graphic Shoecover - heels.jpg

Durability is often an issue with this type of overshoe but the Northwaves are standing up surprisingly well. I don't keep taking them on and off the shoes, instead just pulling them down to the bottom of the fastening on my shoes. That way you don't have to keep pulling them over the cleat, which can create wear.

Also be careful how you walk in them, as the toes will tear if they keep touching the tarmac.

> How to keep your feet warm while cycling in winter

We haven't really tested this kind of overshoe before on road.cc so we haven't really got anything to compare them to, but at £19.99 they do look a little pricey.

One of the main players for this type of Lycra overshoe is Prendas with its Hi-Top, which also costs £19.99, but it does come with a zip. Lusso also offers its Windtex Stealth, with excellent weatherproofing and a full zip, for just a tenner more.

Verdict

Pretty good option if you want a lightweight shoe cover, but would be better with a zip

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: Northwave Extreme Graphic overshoes

Size tested: Large

Tell us what the product is for

Northwave says, "Perfect for chilly morning and late evening training rides or commuting, Northwave's Extreme Graphic Shoecover also protects your road cycling shoes from road dirt and grime as well as scuffmarks from cleats or other debris. With a 19cm cuff height and reflective inserts for increased visibility, these lightweight road bike overshoes feature windproof qualities to keep your feet comfortable and dry."

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

Everything sized up fine but you could go a size smaller for a closer fit because of the stretch.

Rate the product for weight:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort:
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
5/10

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

They maintained their shape and size fine and came up clean.

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

As an aerodynamic aid or to keep your shoes clean they perform well.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Good fit when on.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Lack of zip.

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

There isn't much on the market like these overshoes, and those there are tend to have a few more options like a full zip to aid getting them on.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yeah, I think so, especially if you could get them a little cheaper.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

They'll do the job of keeping your shoes clean or as an aero aid for a bit of time trialling, with the only real downside being that they are a bit of a faff to get on and off.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 40  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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