Review of the Velotoze Tall Shoe Covers

Simon Tuck

The Velotoze Tall Shoe Covers

Velotoze Tall Shoe Covers are a lightweight, aero, waterproof and windproof shoe cover that fits easily in your jersey pocket. The covers are basically a latex sock which goes over your shoe, with a hole for the heel bumper and a reinforced hole for the cleats.

Velotoze Tall Shoe Covers are a simple solution to the age old problem of cold, wet feet

I’ve seen these shoe covers before. I liked the idea, but dismissed them. I already had a couple of pairs of overshoes, one for my MTB shoes and one for my road shoes. I also have a pair of waterproof socks and several pairs of toe covers. And I still tend to get the odd wet and/or cold tootsie.

Recently I was preparing for my first ever race and I had decided that I needed some new cycling stuff to mark the occasion. It was forecast for some heavy rain for the next week or so, so for some reason I went and found these Velotoze on-line and bought a pair. My thinking behind this was that they were lightweight and aero, both great things for racing. I also liked the idea that with them sealing against the skin there was no way any rain was running down into my shoes.

At 89g the Velotoze Tall Shoe Covers are way lighter than a standard overshoe, if that sort of thing bothers you

The Velotoze range of Shoe Covers are all made of latex, which is windproof and waterproof, but not breathable, and the Tall Shoe Covers form a snug seal against your skin at your upper ankle. Socks must finish or be tucked under this seal at the top of the cover or they’ll absorb any wet and draw it inside your shoes. I wore a pair of merino blend socks and didn’t find there to be a massive sweat problem in nearly 2 hours of wearing them on the bike and walking around indoors.

There’s a lot of aero in cycling at the moment. I’ve had to succumb to the pressure and get myself an aero helmet; how much more aero can you get than covering your shoes in tight latex? No zips, no straps, no buckles dragging in the wind. I can’t prove any time saving or extra watts because I don’t possess a wind tunnel, but I know they look fast and that’ll do for me.

With no zips or buckles the Shoe Covers are very aero

They weighed 89g on my kitchen scales and my normal overshoes weigh 128g and 133g for comparison. The latex takes a bit of a knack to get on over your foot and hoist up around your ankle so you can then put your shoe on. After that you then pull the cover over your heel and then the toe of your shoe. That’s the correct way to put them on – there’s a video on the Velotoze website if you need it.

Unfortunately nobody I know will own up to knowing any tips or tricks to putting on latex gear, but the Velotoze website is full of all sorts of tips and tricks, and they suggest applying talcum or baby powder after cleaning to prevent sticking. Once you’ve put them on a few times it gets easier.

The Velotoze range includes these Tall Shoe Covers, some shorter Short Shoe Covers, and some Toe Covers. All are available in a multitude of colours to match to the rest of your kit. I used these shoe covers in a very wet crit race, as well as riding to and from the circuit in the rain. There was grit and spray everywhere as the course had been flooded the day before. I didn’t think about my feet once until I got home, where my feet were dry and my socks and shoes were only a little damp with sweat.

Underneath the Velotoze Tall Shoe Covers, you can see a small hole caused by walking on rough surfaces

These covers are great for racing or time trialling in inclement weather, and also as an emergency option stashed in a jersey pocket or saddlebag. My other shoe covers either have to be worn or left at home; they don’t pack away without taking up lots of space that I’d rather use for food and valuables.

The latex seems fragile, and I managed to open up a small tear in the sole area when I walked on my rough concrete driveway. In their defence though, I was far from gentle with them as I knew I was reviewing them and they stood up to a lot of abuse. Be aware that they aren’t recommended for mountain biking or cyclocross, and the manufacturers make no claims on longevity, but top tips to help prolong their life are available on the velotoze.com website.

For £14.99 you can’t really go wrong if you use them as intended. These shoe covers aren’t for everyday riding or epic distance rides, but there’s certainly room in my box of cycling gear for them despite all the other options I have available.

Velotoze

[rps-include blog=127.0.0.1 post=30824]