Caratti's Neoprene Windproof Toe Covers are the perfect riding companions as the transition from winter to spring takes place. They cover the vents of your summer shoes first thing in the chilly morning and slip easily into your jersey pocket when things warm up a little.
- Pros: Impressive windproofing for something so simple, cheap
- Cons: One size fits all could be an issue on smaller shoe sizes
The Caratti toe warmers have quite a few uses. This time of year, they are a nifty solution for those early morning rides when you know that the temperature is going to warm up while you are out, or when things are really brutal – think snow and freezing temperatures – they can be an extra layer above or beneath a pair of traditional overshoes.
> Buy these online here
The 3mm neoprene construction offers some impressive windproofing and even if you do get wet feet they hold in a lot of heat to stop you getting cold toes.
Being stretchy they fit snugly over the front of your shoes, and thanks to their length they cover the vents that you'll normally find on the toe box of your shoes and the one at the front of your sole. Being a one size fits all product, though, they'll come quite far up the shoe if you have small feet, covering laces, buckles and so on, although they do have the stretch to do that securely.
Thanks to some beefy stitching around the sole area and the outskirts of the cleat hole, they'll stand up to plenty of wear and tear as long as you don't tend to scuff the toes as you walk.
You can whip them off in a matter of seconds when the temperatures warm up, and thanks to their slim profile they'll slip easily into your jersey pocket without taking up much room.
> How to keep your feet warm while cycling in the cold
Value-wise, what can you say? They're a tenner, which means that they look much better value than the likes of the Q365 Termico Toe Covers that cost £26.99. They are cheaper than the Sugoi Resistor Toe Covers too, although dhb's toe covers are the same price and come in different sizes.
Verdict
A simple and cheap solution to keeping your toes warm
Make and model: Caratti Neoprene Windproof Toe Warmers
Tell us what the product is for
Caratti says, "Perfect for those colder rides where a full overshoe maybe too warm. The toe warmer forms a windproof barrier around the most exposed part or your foot, to keep your toes warm but allows for airflow around your ankle to help counter act over heating."
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
Caratti lists these features:
Light Weight neoprene
Windproof
Reinforced Cleat Opening
Rate the product for quality of construction:
9/10
Plenty of reinforcing around the edges.
Rate the product for performance:
9/10
Rate the product for durability:
9/10
Rate the product for fit:
8/10
Plenty of stretch so that they aren't baggy on smaller shoes.
Rate the product for sizing:
6/10
One size fits all, which might not...
Rate the product for weight:
9/10
Rate the product for comfort:
9/10
Rate the product for value:
9/10
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
They keep your toes warm even when wet.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
Great windproofing.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
Possibly a couple of size options might benefit those with smaller feet.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?
Cheaper than many on the market; same price as dhb's (which come in different sizes).
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Yes
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes
Use this box to explain your overall score
Simple and effective, what more is there to say?
Age: 40 Height: 180cm Weight: 76kg
I usually ride: This month's test bike My best bike is: B'Twin Ultra CF draped in the latest bling test components
I've been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: Every day I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed
Pro bike riders more into need for speed than bicycle environment philosophy. T'was ever thus. They don't pootle.
Without knowing the police force, it is hard to say other than you are wasting your time with lancs, Essex, Surrey, Suffolk, Norfolk....
I must admit I find it odd. I assumed a cyclist had run into a bus driver, fallen off and as a consequence, died (as in "run over by a bus driver")...
Did commuting to and from work on my bike for 46 years in the London traffic increase the number of my red blood cells? - my breathing is superb, ...
I made a complaint within an hour of the story being published. I have zero faith that they will amend anything....
Especially children, near a school, one might imagine? By a bus driver driving children to school?...
TBF I think that's before she saw the light and got on her bike. Not so great if her views have been informed by Mr. Briggs though.
That's a great price. Just bear in mind Import duty and handling charges will be applied pre delivery.
Yep, I appreciate your problem. I wouldn't buy a bike without at least sitting on the same frame configuration on a trainer in the shop, something...
One less thing to clutter up your jersey pockets no? Though difficult to retrieve in a hurry...