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dhb Cover Sock Overshoe

7
£19.99

VERDICT:

7
10
Good oversocks that protect your shoes and provide a little extra warmth, but for once dhb aren't the cheapest
Weight: 
50g
Contact: 
www.wiggle.co.uk

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Oversocks seem to be everywhere at the moment and these Cover Sock ones from dhb are a decent option, providing a little extra warmth and adding protection for your shoes.

The dhb oversocks are made from polypropylene (65%) with nylon (31%) and elastane (4%) making up the remainder. Polypropylene doesn't absorb water and it dries super-fast, so even if these get wet with road spray, the air blowing over them as you ride means they're soon back to normal.

The edges of the cleat and heel holes are reinforced well so they don't easily fray and the fabric is reasonably robust although, as with all oversocks, walk far in them and the soles will soon start to look ragged. Funnily enough where ours did suffer a bit of wear and tear was on the top - basically these are like a pair of very thick tights and like tights they can snag on things like buckles and ratchets. At some point that's what one of ours did with a small hole developing as a result - small mind, when you wore 'em over white shoes it looked like there was a pixel missing. You want to put them on the moment before you get on your bike and take them off immediately afterwards.

These don't add loads of warmth to your feet – again, in common with other oversocks. As an experiment, I went for a ride wearing one of these oversocks on one shoe, and nothing on the other shoe (yes, I'm quite the stylemonger some days). A little less air blew through the mesh sections of my shoe with the oversock on, but there really wasn't all that much difference. I noticed it more around my ankle, the double-thickness cuff providing considerably more insulation than just a sock. That all means that these are best for those days when the temperature is just a bit too warm for overshoes – about 10-12°C, something like that.

To me, the main purpose of oversocks is to keep gunk off your shoes. They stop mud and grit getting into the mesh, the ratchets and so on. Bung them through the washing machine after several rides and they come out looking good – and that's something you can't do with your shoes.

Shockingly, dhb aren't the cheapest when it comes to oversocks. We've reviewed Prendas's Meraklon oversocks previously and they're just £7.95 a pair while Rapha's Cordura-based ones are £15. What's going on? The world's turned upside down.

Verdict

Good oversocks that protect your shoes and provide a little extra warmth, but for once dhb aren't the cheapest

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road.cc test report

Make and model: dhb Cover Sock Overshoe

Size tested: Black - L/XL

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?

Here's the full write-up from dhb:

"Protect your shoes from dust and muck and boost warmth. Polypropylene fibre is quick drying. Perfect when overshoes are too much.

- Lightweight shoe cover

- dhb ankle logo

- Quick drying polypropylene base fibre doesn't absorb water

The dhb coversocks are a lightweight polypropylene based shoe cover, which are worn over the cycling shoe. This will protect your shoe from road spray and grime, whilst also boosting warmth a degree or two. The 65% Polypropylene is a durable fibre which does not absorb moisture, and promotes quick drying. The shoe cover has two holes pre-cut and finished for your shoe cleat and heel to make contact with the floor. This means you can use them straight out of the packet - no cutting required. The cuff is close to seal against the ankle and prevent any drafts from intruding."

That's all reasonable.There's nothing to argue with there.

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

Polypropylene doesn't absorb water so these don't get or stay particularly wet from road spray.

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

It depends how you look at it. These are pretty durable as oversocks go... but no oversocks I've ever tried are particularly durable compared to overshoes and these are no exception.

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
7/10
Rate the product for value:
 
6/10

Did you enjoy using the product? Yeah, they perform well

Would you consider buying the product? I'd probably save money and go with Prendas

Would you recommend the product to a friend? As above

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 41  Height: 190cm  Weight: 75kg

I usually ride:   My best bike is:

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

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding,

 

Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. We send him off around the world to get all the news from launches and shows too. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.

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7 comments

Avatar
1961BikiE | 12 years ago
0 likes

Seems expensive for a dhb product. You could almost buy a pair of oversized Sealskinz and get a much warmer more water resistant product as long as you know someone to neatly edge stitch the hole you cut for the cleat. As said, get 3 pairs of Prendas and you could even layer them depending how cold it is. Or just wear your MTB winter boots on the coldest/muddiest days.

But then you wouldn't look pukka racer. I don't have to worry, the 30kg of emergency rations I carry around the middle is a dead give away that I'm not Roger Hammond.

Avatar
Coodsta replied to 1961BikiE | 12 years ago
0 likes
1961BikiE wrote:

I don't have to worry, the 30kg of emergency rations I carry around the middle is a dead give away that I'm not Roger Hammond.

Brilliant that's what I'm calling it from now on!

Avatar
Matt_S replied to 1961BikiE | 12 years ago
0 likes
1961BikiE wrote:

Seems expensive for a dhb product.

Exactly what I thought. But what would I know, I have a more cycling shoes that the wife has shoes, including 2 pairs of winter boots. So a pair of 20 squid oversocks is probably good value when you look at it like that.  7

1961BikiE wrote:

I don't have to worry, the 30kg of emergency rations I carry around the middle is a dead give away that I'm not Roger Hammond.

Maybe you've eaten Roger Hamster? He must be about 30kg.  4

Avatar
Coodsta | 12 years ago
0 likes

That's outrageous! I can never buy rapha again now I know there are more expensive options available!  14  4

In all seriousness it does seem a little steep when the prendas ones work great & cost a third meaning I can have them in three different colours to match my jerseys....  3

@bez I always thought they were daft until I got some, the work really well at keeping the road goo of my (white) shoes  26 plus when it's cold the add another layer of insulation under overshoes, keeping the feet nice & toasy  1

Avatar
russyparkin | 12 years ago
0 likes

bez your probably right there, i have some sparkly whites for the dry and some dull grey shimano r0-somethings for winter, still wear covers though, enhance the life of them etc

Avatar
Bez | 12 years ago
0 likes

Oversocks seem aa little pointless to me. Given their current popularity, are they for the people who had enough money to follow the "white everything" trend of 2011 but who now don't have enough money to buy a pair of black shoes for the winter?

 1

Avatar
cryocon replied to Bez | 12 years ago
0 likes
Bez wrote:

Oversocks seem aa little pointless to me.
 1

Me too. It's like Superman wearing his pants over his tights. Crazy  7

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