Neoprene and PU coated fabrics offer a defence against the rain, but overshoes are equally valuable for keeping out the cold.

The demarcation between softshell and hardshell jackets can be applied to overshoes, too. Those pictured here, from Etxeondo, are made from Gore’s highly-respected Windstopper fabric, and, like softshell jackets, overshoes made from ‘soft’ fabrics are often treated with a coating to provide water resistance, if not total waterproofing.

Softer still is the lightest form of overshoe – the ‘oversock’ – which performs much as described. This minimalist garment simply pulls over the shoe like, well, a sock.

There are no zips or Velcro fastenings to contend with, and typically they are knitted, either from wool or a synthetic equivalent, offering natural channels for cooling to temper the insulation, which gives it an advantage in the breathability stakes over fabrics like neoprene. The obvious drawback is an absence of waterproofing of any kind.

Natural wool is insulating even when wet, so spray from the road is unlikely to create a chilling effect, but anything heavier – a shower or downpour – would be unpleasant indeed, making the oversock one for dry days only.