Alé Winter Shoe Cover

Alé's Winter Shoe Covers are designed to keep feet warm and expensive (and not so expensive) shoes from winter's slushy wrath. Performance is excellent, although no less than I'd expect from this end of the market.

They're made from neoprene, the stuff of divers' wetsuits designed to provide warmth rather than keep you dry. That said, it's a decent weight and takes a while before it becomes saturated in heavy and/or persistent rain.

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Overshoes by definition need to be snug fitting to keep the elements out. These are no exception. I default to recessed SPD/Time cleats from October to March, which makes for easy walking off the bike and feels more secure when dabbing a foot down. Cross country mountain bike shoes with more aggressive soles and, sometimes, slightly broader toe-boxes can present compatibility hassles with second-skin, wind-cheating covers. Thankfully, the combination of Alé's middleweight fabric and accurate sizing is sufficiently accommodating.

Though a little tight around the heels, pulling them over wasn't a struggle, nor did it strain the zipper. Some zippers can pinch a little around the Achilles' area but these have sat flat and unobtrusive.

Tested in temperatures between -4 and +8°C, these have provided ample warmth, without turning particularly clammy for three hours or so. Admittedly, much of this was riding fixed, when – even factoring in windchill – the inability to coast certainly gives circulation a boost.

Aside from drenchings dished out by passing lorries, or submersion in deep roadside puddles, the fabric has locked moderate rain and spray out for at least an hour. Past the two hour mark and dampness does give way to soggy warmth.

The medium density fabric sported a fair bit of silt and contaminant, but the snug fit prevented most of it from transferring to the bike's cranks. Aside from some minor tidemarks where spray had reached the soles, the shoes have remained clean.

Post-ride, I've let them dry before brushing the accumulated grot away in between machine washes. Like most neoprene designs, they take a while to dry out – typically, a couple of hours in the airing cupboard – but to date they have responded very well to 30-degree machine washes.

Reflective detailing is always appreciated too. Fluorescent yellow is the default option for winter kit and is particularly effective for overshoes on account of their movement, but black goes with everything, and retro-reflective detailing is very good at nailing people's attention. Here, reflective stripes at the heel are bolstered by fluoro logos on the side, which covers most bases.

> Buyer's Guide: The best cycling overshoes

Ultimately, the Alés are well made and should last a good few seasons. Glossy, water-repelling fabrics that keep the feet dry suit me better, but if warmth is highest on your list and you don't mind some clamminess, these are one of the better neoprene models I've used in a good while.

Verdict

Neoprene overshoes that do a very good job of keeping feet warm and shoes protected from winter's wrath