Recommendations for for waterPROOF overshoes

2 hours, usually pouring down, at fairly high speeds to go over MTB winter boots.

None of this neoprene bollox that just lets water through!

What do you recommend for truly dry feet?

I like the Endura FS260 overshoes – they’re a lightweight waterproof fabric/plastic type thing.

They’re not especially robust, especially when used off road, I usually reckon on a season on road shoes then a season on MTB shoes which will wreck them completely.

Also, given that they have a couple of gigantic holes in the bottom for cleats, no overshoe will ever be completely waterproof.

Also, given that they have a couple of gigantic holes in the bottom for cleats, no overshoe will ever be completely waterproof.

And, more significantly, even bigger holes at the top for your legs…

None of this neoprene bollox that just lets water through!

It absolutely  does not.

If you’re in a multi-hour downpour, your feet are wet because the rain has run down your legs and into your shoes/boots. This will happen with the very bestest of waterproof boots and/or overshoes. At least a neoprene overshoe will keep your feet warm(ish) even though they’re wet.

As for what I do, Shimano winter boots, tights, with the stirrup of the tight over the boots, so water running down my leg drains a bit more down the side of the boot and a bit less into the boot.

Neoprene is waterproof. Completely.
The holes in the bottom, hole in the top, and stitching is not.
Plus your feet sweat. More than you think.

Closest you will get are Spatz.

Plus your feet sweat. More than you think.

I’ve worn winterboots once when it was a bit warmer than i expected, drained a cup full of water out of them after my ride…

What do you recommend for truly dry feet?

Not going out when it’s wet.
Or waterproof boots, trousers, gaiters and riding very gently (so you don’t get a sweat on).

ebike boost low heart rate, knee length sealskinz with waterproof over trousers.

or indoors at spin

I’m using Shimano s1000x. I don’t do much off-road in the middle of winter but use them a lot during the shoulder seasons. They are prone to being torn by brambles etc, but I’ve just patched them with stormsure and old inner tube.

What they are really good for is keeping my feet warmer and dryer inside my winter boots, and protecting my expensive winter boots from crap and clag on winter road rides. I’m sure this is extending their working life. Means I also use summer shoes for longer into autumn /early winter.

Not up to 2 hours steady rain though, but much less sweaty than neoprene.

Neoprene is waterproof. Completely.

Yep – some divers wear drysuits made from it, so it ain’t letting water in.

Forget overshoes for properly dry feet – winter boots plus a gaiter (and./or trousers) is what you want.

Shimano MW702, for years I put up with wet feet and trying overshoes, waterproof socks. They are worth the money, got me through the festive 500 with not a single wet foot.

Going slightly (but relevantly) off-topic…

Those GripGrab ankle gaiters help a massive amount as regards the water running down your legs and into your boots. I used the cut-off Marigolds a couple of times but the proper gaiters are much more robust.

Knee-length SealSkinz socks. I know folk reckon the SealSkinz don’t last very long but I’ve found it helps if you hand wash them (and definitely don’t spin). I think the machine washing process stresses the liner too much.

This doesn’t make any sense to me – I know that in theory, neoprene is waterproof, but my experience of neoprene is FAR different.   I’ve had several neoprene overshoes and the inside front of the overshoes is ALWAYS soaked by the end of a ride.  The zip is on the side/rear so it’s not the zip… it it was just runnning down my leg and into the overshoes, surely there’d be a pinch point at some interval which should stop or reduce it, but it’s uniformly soaked.  Is it because it’s stretched?  Is it just somehow rubbish neoprene?  What about my winter boots with neoprene cuffs or tongues?  Again all penetrated and soaked.

I have an ancient pair of Goretex insulated overshoes. They are still mostly in one piece, and are warm and dry, worn off and on road. Better than the sealskinz overshoes that are more neopreney which don’t have enough insulation to keep warm if properly cold,  though pretty good at mostly dry

I was going to suggest Velotoze but your feet will sweat and get wet and cold. And they don’t last very long. Spatz are ok but eventually the water will wick down the inside of the neoprene and once it finds your sock wick even faster into your footwear. I used to use diving repair cuffs as gaiters to go over the top of winter boots and that worked pretty well. Probably better than the GripGrab cuffs I tried. I have accepted that as long as my feet are warm I don’t care if they are wet, so stick with the Spatz and wool socks.

Grip Grab gaiters over the cuff of Northwave winter boots is the best combination I’ve tried. Even they will let water in during prolonged wet conditions.

Those endura mt500 overshoes that they sadly don’t make anymore.

And as long as you accept that the xxxl fits only on babies and you get so sweaty putting them on you have to do it in a walk in fridge in your underwear then they were just the ticket.

BBB make a number of PU coated overshoes and they work well as can be, especially if you have waterproof over trousers for the heavy stuff that covers the big ‘ole that your leg is in. I use boots these days – MW7’s.