Specialized

Neoprene Shoe Cover

An Utter Disappointment

Familiarity:

I returned this product before using it

Size Bought:

XXL

Height:

6' 3"

Weight:

185

I recently purchased a pair of Specialized Neoprene Shoe Covers. They were an utter disappointment. First, the sizing specs provided by Specialized are inaccurate. I wear size 48 cycling shoes with external BOA dials that take up a bit more room inside the shoe cover. I therefore purchased the XXL shoe covers which are intended for size 49-52 shoes. The covers were too short ? I couldn?t stretch them enough to properly fit on my size 48 shoe. A second issue is the partial-length side zipper on the upper shaft of the shoe cover. The zipper stops a couple cm from the lower seam of the shoe cover. It narrows the width of the shaft opening and also creates an extremely steep, difficult angle of entry for your foot into the cover. Zippers are touted as providing a more secure and smoother-fitting seam at back of the shoe as compared to a Velcro closure system. Brands using the latter promote the ease of putting on and taking off the shoe cover. I?ve used both types of shoe covers (from a manufacturer other than Specialized) and found each to be satisfactory. However, my zipper shoe cover has a full-length zipper which creates a horizontal foot entry, unlike the Specialized neoprene model. A third design element I was not enamored with are the Velcro straps that wrap and attach under the sole of the cycling shoe. This is a simpler (and probably less-expensive) way to make a shoe cover that is compatible with both road and mountain bike shoes, as compared to shoe covers with cutouts for the heel and cleats. When I attached the straps to each other the closure did not seem very secure, perhaps because the contact area is small. Given the fit issues I described above, I could not take the Specialized Neoprene Shoe Covers for an outdoor bike ride and therefore I can?t comment on how they perform at keeping feet warm and dry.