Northwave Extreme Graphic overshoes

The Northwave Extreme Graphic is more of an aero advantage oversock for racing or time trialling than a foul weather overshoe, but they do keep the early morning chill off provided you can cope with the faff of stretching them over your shoes every ride.

• Pros: Highly visible reflective heel strip, decent durability for such a thin fabric
• Cons: A bit of a faff to get on and off

Temperatures are starting to take a bit of a dive now, and although it hasn't quite got down to the freezing mark yet it's close enough early morning or late afternoon, and the Northwaves have proved a useful choice.

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As I said, they're more about giving an aerodynamic aid than offering protection against the weather, but they do take the edge off when the temperature dips to about 5°C. The Lycra feels a little thicker than on those I've used for time trialling in the past, although there is no resistance whatsoever against wind or rain. If that's what you want then look at the more robust options here in the review section.

> How to get more aero without spending a fortune

If you want a cover just for keeping your shoes clean or for a bit of wind cheating then the Northwaves offer plenty. They are close fitting from top to bottom and while their lack of zip makes them a faff to get on and off, there is enough stretch to get them over the likes of Boa fastening systems without them feeling like they are going to tear at the seams.

The sole has two cutouts for your cleat and heel tab, with both having a bit of reinforcement stitched all the way round. The cleat cutout is big enough to take the largest designs, like those from Speedplay.

The full height reflective strip is a nice touch if you ride in the dark. The motion of your pedalling being lit up by car headlights is a good indication that a cyclist is ahead.

Durability is often an issue with this type of overshoe but the Northwaves are standing up surprisingly well. I don't keep taking them on and off the shoes, instead just pulling them down to the bottom of the fastening on my shoes. That way you don't have to keep pulling them over the cleat, which can create wear.

Also be careful how you walk in them, as the toes will tear if they keep touching the tarmac.

> How to keep your feet warm while cycling in winter

We haven't really tested this kind of overshoe before on road.cc so we haven't really got anything to compare them to, but at £19.99 they do look a little pricey.

One of the main players for this type of Lycra overshoe is Prendas with its Hi-Top, which also costs £19.99, but it does come with a zip. Lusso also offers its Windtex Stealth, with excellent weatherproofing and a full zip, for just a tenner more.

Verdict

Pretty good option if you want a lightweight shoe cover, but would be better with a zip