Caratti Deep Winter Waterproof Overshoes

If you suffer with cold feet in the winter months read on as Caratti's Deep Winter Overshoes are the most insulated I've tried. Their waterproofing and build quality is impressive too.

You might have seen the piece we ran last month about the re-launch of the Caratti clothing brand, but if you didn't here's a little recap. Caratti were the biggest importer of Italian brands into the UK bringing in their own kit along with the likes of Castelli, Sidi and Colnago back in the 80s and 90s. Things went a bit quiet then but they're back and these overshoes are part of their new range.

Neoprene is used for a lot of overshoes purely because it's good at insulating even when wet. There are two types though, 'open cell' and 'closed cell'; being waterproof the Caratti's are the latter. The Deep Winters are impressive in the rain with no water getting in through the material at for a good 45 minutes thanks to the material and taped seams. This was in a controlled environment (power shower head to replicate heavy rain) though because out on the road they do suffer the same fate as every other pair of overshoes. Water running down your legs enters through the ankle hole and makes its way into your shoes. This can be limited by the use of a decent set of mudguards though.

They aren't very breathable which for once is a good thing. Last winter may not have been that chilly but the one before saw me commuting in temperatures of -10°C and I would have given anything to have a pair of the Carattis then; they are properly toasty even when soaking wet.

The overall build quality is excellent with neat tidy seams and a reinforced Kevlar sole. I normally get through a pair of overshoes each winter normally due to a broken zip or seams tearing due to them being stretched over shoes twice a day, five times a week. Neoprene is a synthetic rubber so its naturally elastic anyway but the Caratti's seem more so than others making them very easy to stretch over shoes, even those with buckles. This also means a lot less strain on the zip to so I can see these lasting a long time. The large size tested here is 43-45 so I'm on the upper limit with my UK size 10's, and there shouldn't be any need to size up.

For night usage you get a reflective Velcro tab and strips either side of the zip plus the Caratti logo will light up too. Rotating feet are one of the best visual cues for drivers following cyclists so its good to see plenty of reflectives in a sensible position.

At £35 I reckon they offer good value for money when you consider the waterproofing, insulation and fit, especially when the only overshoes I've rated for really cold and wet protection in the past were £60.

In conclusion I'd recommend the Caratti Deep Winter Overshoes for anyone who rides throughout the winter no matter what the weather. Until someone develops a water tight seal at the ankle these are about as waterproof as you'll get and by far the warmest.

Verdict

Super warm and waterproof material combined with a great fit makes for exceptional overshoes