Oversocks are fairly important at this time of year, and through autumn for that matter, when the temperature and weather conditions are agreeable enough to avoid overshoes, but you still want to protect your feet against the rain, sludge kicked up off the road and the chill that remains in the air.
Ignore the fact that dhb confusingly call these the Cover Sock Overshoe – they’re definitely oversocks.
Oversocks are, on the whole, pretty simple and these are no different, with two pre-cut holes on each for your shoe cleat and heel, and made from a polypropylene (65 per cent) with nylon (31 per cent) and elastane (four per cent) mix.
Polypropylene is a quick-drying fabric which absorbs very little water, helping to keep your feet dry (and, crucially, warm) when on a wet ride, as I experienced on a recent trip to Wales.
The presence of elastane means there’s plenty of stretch, with the small/medium size (large/extra large is also available) providing a good fit over my size 43 shoes, although my Lake CX236C shoes have a very sleek profile, with the absence of any Velcro straps or buckles.
Oversocks are designed to protect your feet while riding, not walking, and it’s easy to snag the material if you spend a disproportionate amount of time hobbling about on your cleats. Sooner or later the material will be compromised but it was disappointing to find a couple of small holes appear at the front of the right sock after only a handful of rides. Maybe I should be more careful, and the oversocks are still perfectly functional as the holes haven’t got any bigger, but it’s worth noting.
That aside, dhb’s oversocks fit the bill for providing a little extra warmth for your feet and protection for your shoes. At £12.99 a pair, they’re not the cheapest out there (Prendas’ popular Meraklon Oversocks are £7.95 and come in a wider range of colours, while Rapha’s version are £15 and are made from Cordura which should make them more durable), which is surprising for Wiggle’s in-house brand, which is normally hard to beat for value. Finally, two colours are available (black and white), which is key if you’re a stickler for The Rules.
