Scicon Shoe bag

If you like to keep your kit organised for race day then something like the Scicon Shoe Bag might be just what you are looking for. It's a simple storage solution for your shoes and other accessories like socks, but while it looks really pro you've got to ask, how the hell is it 35 quid?

• Pros: Plenty of ventilation to let your shoes breathe, looks well made
• Cons: Really expensive for what it is

I'm a bit of a sucker for a nice bit of luggage, something that I picked up from time trialling all around the south of the country a fair few years ago, every weekend. When you've got to leave at 3am for a 90-mile drive, the last thing you want to do is find yourself in a cold, draughty village hall in the middle of nowhere with only one shoe or without your skinsuit an hour before the race.

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I've had various kit bags and cycling suitcases over the years (I'm currently poncing around with the Silca Maratona Gear Bag) so I can see the idea behind the Scicon, but when I actually had the product in my hands I was a little underwhelmed.

It costs £35! For something that doesn't feel that much different in quality than bags I've received for free with shoes like the Giro Empire VR90.

The materials used aren't exactly pleasing to the touch, and for the money I'd expect something with a little more padding.

The upper has a kind of rubberised section to protect the toes of the shoes (yes, the shoes are in the wrong way round in our photos), with the rest being made of mesh which does at least give plenty of ventilation if the shoes have got wet or sweaty during your ride.

At the rear you get a zipped mesh pocket for your socks and you could keep a few other things in there too.

In its defence it does look very well put together, with neat and tidy stitching which feels durable, plus you get a carry handle and all of the zips run smoothly.

Size-wise, with a pair EUR 45 shoes in there things are pretty snug, so if you have bigger feet/shoes then things could be a little tight.

How does it compare? Well, we haven't tested any shoe bags in the past and even a search online doesn't throw up much. There are some Shimano ones for around 20 quid but everywhere is sold out, although I did find a Polaris option without any mesh that'll set you back a quid!!

> Buyer's Guide: 15 of the best bike bags and boxes 

Looking at the specialist kit bags on the market, Castelli has the Race Rain Bag, which has a top section for your kit and a couple of mesh pockets, plus a removable shoe bag on the bottom. That has an rrp of £60. And Scicon has a Race Rain Bag too, with 'space for your shoes', so maybe there is a market out there (Scicon's is £99), but I still reckon the Scicon Shoe bag is expensive for what it is.

Verdict

Ideal solution to keep your kit organised, but overpriced for what it is