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review
Overshoes
Altura Thermastretch overshoesAltura Thermastretch Overshoe

Altura Thermastretch overshoes

8
by John Stevenson
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published Apr 2, 2014

0
£29.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Super-cosy with plenty of reflective; great for chilly mornings and the dusk dash home
Weight: 
130g
Contact: 
www.zyro.co.uk
How we test

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Altura Thermostretch overshoes are a ridiculously simple design that works well to keep your feet warm and dry on chilly, wet days.

Pulling on A pair of Altura Thermostretch overshoes is a bit more of a struggle than zipping up conventional shoecovers because the zip is missing, but it's well worth the slight extra faff.

These overshoes are both very snug and very warm because the thin, stretchy neoprene hugs your feet, trapping a layer of air and sealing out the elements.

The material is waterproof too, so it keeps out moderate rain, and when water does seep in through the tops and bottoms, it stays put and warms up, rather like a wetsuit sock.

The slight downside in drier conditions is that they're not at all breathable, so you get sweaty feet. I found they worked best paired with Merino-blend socks which stay warm when they get damp and don't pong the place out afterwards. I'd far rather have warm, damp feet than dry, cold ones any day.

Altura is known for its Night Vision range of clothing, festooned with reflective patches. The Thermostretch overshoes aren't officially designated as Night Vison, but there's plenty of reflective here anyway on the sides, top and back. That gives an eye-catching 'dancing light' effect in car headlights, helping you be seen in gloomy morning and evening rides.

Verdict

Super-cosy with plenty of reflective; great for chilly mornings and the dusk dash home.

road.cc test report

Make and model: Altura Thermastretch Overshoe

Size tested: Medium Black

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?

Altura says:

High stretch, pull on neoprene overshoe offering an incredibly close fit.

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

High stretch multi fabric neoprene construction

Zipless pull on design

Hi-vis reflective trim

Sizes Available:

L

M

S

XL

Colours Available:

BLACK

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

Looking good so far; the tougher material of the sole is wearing well.

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
9/10

Snug and warm.

Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

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

They kept my feet warm and dry.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The close, cosy fit.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

The slight struggle to get them on. They seem tough, but over Speedplay cleats I needed to be careful not to snag them.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Yes.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 46  Height: 5ft 11in  Weight: 85kg

I usually ride: Scapin Style  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: commuting, touring, club rides, general fitness riding,

 

John Stevenson

John has been writing about bikes and cycling for over 30 years since discovering that people were mug enough to pay him for it rather than expecting him to do an honest day's work.

He was heavily involved in the mountain bike boom of the late 1980s as a racer, team manager and race promoter, and that led to writing for Mountain Biking UK magazine shortly after its inception. He got the gig by phoning up the editor and telling him the magazine was rubbish and he could do better. Rather than telling him to get lost, MBUK editor Tym Manley called John’s bluff and the rest is history.

Since then he has worked on MTB Pro magazine and was editor of Maximum Mountain Bike and Australian Mountain Bike magazines, before switching to the web in 2000 to work for CyclingNews.com. Along with road.cc founder Tony Farrelly, John was on the launch team for BikeRadar.com and subsequently became editor in chief of Future Publishing’s group of cycling magazines and websites, including Cycling Plus, MBUK, What Mountain Bike and Procycling.

John has also written for Cyclist magazine, edited the BikeMagic website and was founding editor of TotalWomensCycling.com before handing over to someone far more representative of the site's main audience.

He joined road.cc in 2013. He lives in Cambridge where the lack of hills is more than made up for by the headwinds.

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