There are two main things I expect from a pair of hi-vis overshoes: that they protect my feet against moisture and that they make me more visible to other road users.
GripGrab overshoes most certainly meet both of these requirements. If you’re only here for a short browse and want a quick response, you won’t be disappointed with Grip Grab’s offering.
It’s not all perfect, but for the price, $49.99 / £38, you can’t go wrong with what GripGrab has produced; as a mid-priced product, they compete well with many of the best cycling shoe covers available.
GripGrab Ride Waterproof overshoes: construction
(Image credit: future)
Made of 100% polyester, the overshoes are quite stretchy, an elasticity that allows you to put them on quite easily over your road shoes.
The underfoot and heel at the back are connected by durable velcro that has never come undone on its own, while under the toe is a section of Kevlar material designed to make the overshoes durable and stronger to wear.
I opted for the hi-vis version to review, and it was nice to see that the brand logo and the dozens of tiny little dots on the outside and back of both overshoes reflected vividly, increasing visibility again.
The height is just below traditional sock height, which might look weird if you’re riding in shorts, but if you’re wearing winter tights, it wouldn’t be a cosmetic issue.
GripGrab Ride waterproof overshoes: the ride
(Image credit: future)
Nobody likes to ride in the rain, but when the sky darkened on a guiding trip in Slovenia, I was the only one in a group of 27 who was happy with the approach of thunder and sky loaded with rain, as it meant I could properly test the overshoes having been limited to drizzly conditions before.
What I found in moderate rain was that the overshoes did a great job of keeping out raindrops and spray, although I’m not too sure they would repel a torrential downpour.
The water washed off without seeping into my shoes underneath, but noticed how scuffs and nicks remained on the shoe covers even after hand washing them.
GripGrab markets these overshoes for fall, winter and spring, alluding to their insulating properties. I can’t attest to their thermal qualities when the temperature gets close to freezing, but I can say with confidence that they got my feet very warm after a while in typical shoulder season temperatures. They never felt suffocated, but the fact that they caused me to have hot feet suggests that breathability isn’t a strong point.
Their lightweight properties meant I had no problem stuffing them in my back pocket, although as with most clothes, together they took up an entire pocket.
Every time I put them on halfway through I was impressed with how quickly I was able to do it with the material that never got in the way of my cleats. The velcro allows them to stay in place where intended, although towards the tip the material tends to slip out.
GripGrab Ride Waterproof overshoes: value and conclusion
(Image credit: future)
At $49.99 / £38 / €41.95, the GripGrab overshoes are competitively priced. For comparison, DexShell’s Heavy Duty overshoes cost £42 and have similar properties without the hi-vis fabric, while the SealSkinz Waterproof All-Weather sock offers great visibility in low light conditions but lacks winter warmth and sells for $50 / £35.99.
There’s nothing to complain about with GripGrab overshoes. They have excellent visibility, protect the rider from moderate rain conditions and are easy to put on and take off, while being light enough to slip into a back pocket.
I would question the breathability of the shoes, especially when it’s not that cold, and I was also a bit disappointed with how quickly some marks appeared that I couldn’t get rid of, but the overshoes won’t stay never in perfect condition.
Like all the best cycling overshoes, their only job is to protect the more expensive shoes underneath to keep our feet dry, and this is a pair of overshoes that does just that.
GripGrab Ride waterproof overshoes: features
- Price: $49.99, £38, €41.95
- Colour: high visibility yellow
- Size: EU 36-49
- Website: gripgrab.com
