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review
£14.99
VERDICT:
Fantastic bad weather protection and great for racing and time trialling, but lack breathability for longer rides
Weight:
98g
Contact:
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.
What the road.cc scores meanGood scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.
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The Velotoze Tall Covers are overshoes simply made from rubber, not that dissimilar to Marigold gloves. They provide highly impressive rain and wind protection with arguable aerodynamic benefits, but a lack of breathability leads to sweaty feet in warmer weather or on longer rides.
Getting the Velotoze Tall Covers on is a battle, if you try to fit them on like regular overshoes. Velotoze suggests the best way to fit them is to first pull them over your feet and up your ankles, slip your shoes on, and then stretch the overshoe over the top and front of the shoe.
The first time you use them does take a while, but you soon get the knack of it. Just don't try to do it in a hurry. Velotoze also recommends reapplying some talcum powder after a few uses, as that helps with the removal. Rubber, talcum powder, we're on thin ice here...
Find your nearest dealer here
Buy these online here
The rubber material forms a second skin. It's like they've been shrink-wrapped into place. The overshoes have a cleat hole and another hole at the heel, to help with the fit. Unlike regular overshoes, though, there are no zips or Velcro straps to fail.
They are snug around the ankles and at first it's a bit irritating as they apply more pressure than other overshoes, but I quickly got used to it.
The first benefit they offer is fantastic bad weather protection. They completely block wind and rain, and I detected no ingress of water during some very wet rides. They easily surpass most other overshoes for weather protection. Apply some silicone spray and the mud will slide right off them.
A second benefit is the aerodynamic one, though it's harder to support with no wind tunnel data. They don't look that dissimilar to the overshoes worn by Team GB and Wiggo, and that seems to have prompted what amounted to about half the competitors in my local 10-mile time trial to rush out and buy them. As far as smoothing the airflow over any sort of shoe, there's no question the super-tight fit achieves that.
The downside is that after some rides my feet and socks were soaked. There is zero breathability. Even a short 10-mile time trial, plus a 30-minute warm up beforehand, was enough to get my feet really sweaty. Not pleasant.
While there's no reason why you couldn't wear them for a longer ride in cooler temperatures, they are most definitely a product best saved for road racing and time trialling. You're going to look a bit of an idiot if you rock up to a club run in a pair of these I reckon, but don't let that stop you.
They're available in two versions, short and tall as tested here. The short ones are a good option over a summer race shoe, but do look a bit odd with exposed socks. The seal around the top isn't as good as the longer version, and is susceptible to letting water drip in. The tall version looks better and provides better protection from the elements. They're available in three sizes and a choice of colours.
Verdict
Fantastic bad weather protection and great for racing and time trialling, but lack breathability for longer rides
road.cc test report
Make and model: Velotoze Tall Cover
Size tested: VeloToze, Tall, Red 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?
VeloToze says: "veloToze Tall shoe covers are designed for road cycling on cold, rainy or snowy days. Whether it's race day, training day or just another commute day, veloToze tall shoe covers will keep your feet dry, warm and comfortable."
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
Waterproof: designed to form a tight seal with your calf, to keep your feet and shoes dry
Windproof: windproof materials keep your feet warm even on cold morning or winter rides (5C/40F to 16C/60F)
Lightweight: made of a flexible, lightweight material that doesn't retain water when wet
No zippers or velcro straps : innovative design flexes over your shoe, so there are no vulnerability points, like zippers or velcro
Aerodynamic: smooth, flexible material creates a form-fitting design
Compact: easily fits in jersey pocket or saddle bag
Rate the product for quality of construction:
8/10
Well there's not really much to them, but they're well designed and well shaped, and the cleat cutout is accommodating of most types of cleats.
Rate the product for performance:
9/10
Impressive wind and rain protection, and arguably good aerodynamics too, but lack breathability for longer/warmer rides.
Rate the product for durability:
7/10
Initial concerns about the material tearing have so far proved unfounded, but you do need to treat them more carefully than regular overshoes. Probably not suitable for commuting.
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
9/10
There's really very little to them, and therefore they are light on the scales.
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
8/10
They're quite snug around the ankles, but you soon get used to that. The sweaty feet is the biggest downside really.
Rate the product for value:
9/10
Cheap enough to invest in a couple of pairs, and better bad weather protection than more expensive overshoes.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
For racing and time trialling, they're brilliant. I'd question their suitability for general riding and commuting, on the grounds of breathability and durability.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
Aerodynamics and bad weather benefits.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
My sweaty feet!
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 score
Overlook the lack of breathability and these are ideal for tackling wind and rain, perfect for racing and time trialling, but for commuting and general riding they're a bit overkill.
About the tester
Age: 31 Height: 180 Weight: 67
I usually ride: My best bike is:
I've been riding for: 10-20 years I ride: Every day I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, cyclo-cross, commuting, touring, mountain biking
David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes.
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8 comments
just tried to put my pair on and they're unbelievably tight! can't get them up passed my foot to put on - I looked at the video of them being put on but its definitely not that easy!!!
Anyone know if they will stretch over shoes with a rear Boa dial (like Lake cx236)?
Purchased a pair at Christmas and used during my 25 mile daily commute and they are perfect for the wet weather. Yes they are bit difficult to get on first couple of times but then they loosen up. Great protection in wind/rain/snow and combined with Defeet Woolie Boolies I've done several 4-5hr rides with lovely warm dry feet. As some other people have pointed out they can get holes but I still haven't replaced mine yet and for the sake of £15 great value for money.
Along with other members of our cycling group, I bought a pair of the tall version of these last winter and they are extremely waterproof and keep your feet warm.
However, they are an absolute pig to get on and off your foot and I followed the Velotoze instructions to the letter.
I wore for one ride and they tore around the cleat recess hole when I tried to get them off so I agree with previous comments about longevity. I complained to Velotoze and they sent me a replacement short pair which are much easier to get on and off but Ive only used them once or twice.
So the customer service is good but I dont think I would buy another pair of these and would long for overshoes of a sronger material and longevity.
Do the perfect job for one or two rides and are then majorly compromised when small holes begin to form at points where the material folds as your ankle moves.
The sweaty-foot thing is no big deal when compared to getting very wet feet in heavy rain.
Water eventually comes in via the underside cleat holes.
I feel that these are almost perfect, just need to have a rethink about some of the weaknesses of the product.
I have both the short and long pairs.
Positives first:
Totally waterproof
Great instructions on how to fit them. Just a tip, follow them you'll have zero problems.
Should be great for winter conditions when its nippy.
The most aero overshoes on the market, i would suggest.
Negatives:
Hole developed in inner heel after one use. Possibly caused by heal rub on crank or chainstay. Although none of my other overshoes, Belgian booties or shoes have ever developed any marks previously so I would imagine it did not occur for any long period of time.
Breathability. is poor, your feet will be swimming in perspiration after use. But no one is saying that these a breathable so be fore warned.
I would have to question the longevity of this product as damage occurs far to easily
In fairness to Velotoze, when I questioned the quality of the product I was offered a complete refund no questions asked. So I would say this product has the possibility to be outstanding if Velotoze could reinforce the delicate areas where contact/friction may occur such as the inner heal (chainstay/crank arm contact point) and the top of the instep around the big toe (wheel overlap/crank arm contact point) then this would be as good as it gets in terms of overshoes.
I would recommend people try these but be warned durability may not be great but at a price point that wont kill you if you go through them in 1/2 or full season.
Bring out the gimp...
But the gimp's asleep...