Castelli Diluvio Shoecover

These Diluvio overshoes from Castelli cost a bit more than most but they're warm and well made.

Like many others, they're 3mm neoprene which is thick enough for plenty of insulation. Just as important for keeping your feet warm, that neoprene extends well over the sides and round to the soles. You get a hole for your cleat, of course, and another at the heel for grip when walking to and from your bike, but that little bit of extra coverage compared to a completely open-soled overshoe makes a big difference.

The only real downside to this design is that it's quite easy to damage the neoprene when you walk. Gravel and stones don't do it any good at all so you need to keep off your feet as much as possible.

Castelli give these a temperature range of 0-14C. Now, I'm notoriously cold blooded - I might have mentioned it once or twice before - but even I wouldn't head out in neoprene overshoes when it's 14C. That temperature might be considered a bit nippy in Castelli's Italian homeland, but round these parts it's regarded as warm. 0-10C would be closer to the mark, I'd say.

The closure on the Diluvios is unusual. The back doesn't open fully. Instead, it's slit from just above the top of your heel, enough for you to get your foot in easily, with a webbing loop at the back to help the process. An adjustable Velcro tab provides the closure. It's a system that works well. There's absolutely no impediment to your pedalling movement and that Velcro is positioned far enough away from your longs that you're unlikely to catch any threads and do damage as long as you're careful putting the overshoes on.

The finishing around the top isn't the neatest ever. It's just a raw edge where the neoprene has been cut. A bit of binding around there would make it look tidier although it wouldn't alter the performance.

The seams are thermosealed - heat-sealed as well as stitched - so they're watertight and rain doesn't soak through the neoprene either. Water can get in the top and via that rear closure although you can do it up tightly to keep that to a minimum. It has to be really hosing down for that to become an issue. Even if your feet do get wet, they'll usually stay warm thanks to the insulation.

What else do you need to know? There's reflective trim at the back for extra nighttime visibility and, oh, there's a huge scorpion printed on the side, and that's obviously a good thing.

Verdict

Warm, waterproof overshoes for cold-weather riding, although they're more expensive than most