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review
Overshoes
Castelli Diluvio shoecover 16Castelli Diluvio shoecover 16

Castelli Diluvio shoecover 16

8
by Mat Brett
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published Nov 28, 2012

3
£35.00

VERDICT:

8
10
Warm neoprene overshoes that offer a touch more coverage than usual and do a good job of keeping water out
Weight: 
158g
Contact: 
www.saddleback.co.uk
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The Castelli Diluvio 16 overshoes are warm and a touch taller than usual, and they do a good job of keeping water out.

These are made from 3mm thick neoprene that's stretchy enough to pull over your shoes really easily. The neoprene wraps around the sides of your feet and round to the soles with just holes for your cleat and heel, so you get good insulation here.

The Diluvio 16s are just a little bit taller than most other overshoes so you get a little extra coverage. I got out the Road.cc ruler (we have just the one) and measured them at about 8cm above the ankle – enough to notice, not so much that it looks ridiculous.

A YKK waterproof zip up the back takes care of closure. The flap behind it extends over the top too, like a chinguard at the top of a jersey, so the zip can't snag your Lycra. Reflective material on either side of the zip helps get you noticed at night – and it's more conspicuous than a similar amount of reflective on a jersey, say, because of the movement of your feet.

A version of these with a Velcro closure – which we reviewed last year - remains in the Castelli range.

Go riding in heavy rain in any overshoes like this and your feet will get wet sooner or later – the water soaks in via your tights or gets in at the bottom, it's sneaky like that – but the extra height, the fact that the seam down the middle is thermosealed as well as stitched, and the waterproof zip mean that the Diluvio 16s keep the worst of it out. The main point is that any water that does get inside does so slowly so your feet don't get freezing in the process.

When it's not raining, these provide enough insulation for most winter conditions without being too bulky. Castelli give temperature ranges for all their products (everyone else should follow suit) and they go with -5°C to 12°C here. It hasn't been sub-zero around these parts yet this winter, but judging by the Diluvios I had last year, I'd say that's reasonable.

Oh, and they've got a gert big scorpion on the side and that's clearly badass.

Verdict

Warm neoprene overshoes that offer a touch more coverage than usual and do a good job of keeping water out.

road.cc test report

Make and model: Castelli Diluvio shoecover 16

Size tested: 2XL

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Castelli say, "The 3mm Neoprene fabric will stand up to the wettest and coldest winter riding conditions. All seams are thermosealed for complete water protection, with cleat and heel areas open for stability while walking. The stretchy material easily pulls over your shoes while a Velcro closure prevents water from running down your leg into the shoecover.

- 16cm cuff

- Reflective detailing on back

- Extra protection – so cozy you'll almost hope for rain"

Apart from the fact that I never hope for rain, that about covers it. As I said in the review, water will always find a way in sooner or later if it's raining hard enough, but these do a great job of minimising that.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
6/10

Neoprene overshoes start at about £20. Rapha's are £50, Assos's are much more expensive again, although they're having a laugh. £35 for these seems fair enough.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

They do exactly what they promise.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

That little extra height, the thermosealed central seam and the waterproof zip.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Nothing, really. The top looks a little unfinished, I guess. There's no binding around the edge like there is for the cleat and heel holes.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Yeah, I would.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 41  Height: 190cm  Weight: 75kg

I usually ride:   My best bike is:

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding,

 

Overshoes
Castelli Diluvio shoecover 16
Castelli
Mat Brett

Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.

Add new comment

3 comments

Avatar
Iamnot Wiggins | 9 years ago
0 likes

No overshoe is really waterproof though on account of cleat holes & that which your leg goes into!

And, if somebody has sold you a neoprene overshoe on the basis that it's waterproof then they need a slap. They'll let water in but like most neoprene things, they'll keep your feet warm with it. Mine were nice & toasty yesterday after 4 hours in the wet.

Avatar
SEllis | 9 years ago
0 likes

Firstly, the Castelli website says that the temperature range of these overshoes is +10 - +16 ℃, I used them yesterday in 4.5 ℃, in the pouring rain and they didn’t keep any rain out. Marketed as waterproof, they are more like sponges. My feet were in a puddle of water all day, my toes were numb from the cold.

They are a nice overshoe, in light to very light rain in my experience and also in the dry when it’s a bit chilly.

I’m looking for another pair of Castelli overshoes which are really waterproof.

Avatar
jasecd | 11 years ago
0 likes

I've had these since September last year - they do indeed do a good job of keeping your feet dry but they are actually quite easy to rip.

Despite being fairly careful I have ripped a couple of holes in these as they are very tricky to get over cleats. I don't think the neoprene is as strong as it should be on the base.

Still, at least the scorpions look cool!

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