With most bike shoes having breathable open-mesh toes, it’s the front of your feet that cop the worst of the wind, mud and rain. Full shoe covers are a faff to put on and can get warm during the in-between seasons, which is where these come in.
They’re made from a stretchy, windproof and water-resistant softshell fabric with a brushed, fleecy inner (which we assume is for warmth rather than barefoot comfort). The underside is Neoprene, which stays warm when wet but if you tend to hop on and off your bike, wears out quickly. We’d rather have a durable rubber toe cap
These do a good job of keeping the chill off, and Galibier suggest wearing them under full overshoes in winter if you really suffer with cold feet. As a bonus, you can still access your shoe straps with them on.
This article was originally published in Triathlon Plus magazine.