Castelli Entrata Shoe Cover

Tell us what the product is for

Castelli says the Entrata Shoe cover is designed to keep your feet warm and dry when the temperatures drop thanks to a DWR-coated fleece lining.

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

The body of the shoe cover is constructed from a four-way stretch fabric with a DWR coating to offer a degree of splashproofing. A ribbed texture over the ankle allows for enhanced ankle articulation and the neoprene cuff acts as a seal to keep the warmth in.

All the stitching throughout the shoe cover appears to be of a high quality. The seams are not taped so you can expect damp feet if riding in wet weather. There is a small patch of rubberised material under the toe but apart from this, the shoe covers are a made from a single material.

The four-way stretch material meant that the cover was a snug fit over my shoes and there were no signs of them slipping when I was riding. They kept my feet warm on chillier rides in dry conditions and kept a degree of spray out of my shoes.

The upper feels durable but I have concerns about the sole material. There is no reinforcement around the cutouts for the heel pad or cleats, which I can envisage wearing quite quickly.

The XL size is claimed to be suitable for shoes sizes 45/46 and I found this to be spot on, offering a snug yet form-fitting feel.

Lighter weight than a fully waterproof overshoe but it strikes me as a good balance between warmth and weight.

The Entrata shoe covers kept my feet warm in single digit temperatures where there was minimal water on the road surface.

How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

I washed the shoe covers with the rest of my cycling kit at 30°C and they came out clean. The ridges on the ankle section have a tendency to collect dirt and grime but being black in colour, they hid it well.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

I reached for the Entrata shoe covers on cooler rides where I didn't want the bulk of fully waterproof over shoes but needed some additional warmth for my feet. I found them particularly effective when used in conjunction with highly ventilated shoes that I would otherwise have to put on the shelf until summer rolls round again.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

A tab at the top of the zip would have been welcome to help with getting them on and off, and I also have some concerns over the long-term durability of the sole cutouts.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

The Entrata shoe covers retail at £65, which is expensive when compared to similar products. At this price, it's possible to find a very good pair of overshoes that are also fully waterproof as well as warm. The Rapha Winter Overshoes claim to be fully waterproof, they're insulated and retail for the same price as the Entrata shoe covers You can also snap up the highly rated GripGrab RaceThermo overshoes at a tad cheaper than Castelli's offering. The Lusso Windtex Stealth overboots are 30 quid cheaper and they're good against wind and rain down to temperatures just above freezing point.

Use this box to explain your overall score

These shoe covers kept my feet warm in cooler conditions that didn't require a fully waterproof over shoe. The build quality and fit are top notch, which should be expected given the price, but they are expensive when you're able to buy overshoes that are both waterproof and insulated for much less money.