Shoe covers are a blessing and a curse. They keep your feet warm in cold weather, but they can be a serious drag to put on. And, well, let’s just forget about taking them off — even worse. When conditions are right, it’s refreshing to grab a set of Gore Wear Windstopper Toe Covers.
Gore Wear C3 Windstopper Toe Covers Features:
- Cut-outs for all current pedal systems
- Reflective materials
- GORE® WINDSTOPPER® fabric with medium thermal protection
- Lightweight and packable
- Right and left specific
- MSRP: $35.99
Added protection without getting in the way on cold rides.
Could be the Goldilocks of foot protection
Over the years, I’ve used all kinds of shoe covers, booties and even waterproof socks (Seal Skinz Super Thin Pro Hydrostop socks are pretty sweet). When conditions warrant it, there’s nothing better than a good old-fashioned shoe cover. But, the thing is, those conditions are few and far between and most of us can make do with something as simple as a set of toe covers.
Toe covers essentially cover the myriad of vents found on today’s road shoes. In this case, Gore uses Windstopper for wind protection, light insulation and a good dose of water-resistance.
The C3 Toe Covers slip easily atop any road shoes and cleats.
The opening is said to be compatible with all cleat styles on the market, but I’ve only tested them with Speedplay Aero models. There’s plenty of stretch and they fit on my Garneau Course Lite II’s without any issues whatsoever. Coverage is perfect and the covers sit just at the lower BOA dial.
Temperatures hovered in the upper-30’s and I felt quite comfortable. Yes, I’d be warmer with full shoe covers, but I was just fine with a pair of Castelli Merino socks and the shoe covers on rides ranging from 37-45 degrees.
The opening is big to accommodate a variety of cleats, but can expose vents.
Weather coverage is certainly not going to be as good as full booties either, but if it’s mainly cold and some road splatter you’re trying to avoid, these toe covers will do the trick. And, nobody really enjoys riding with a full pair of booties on anyway, so these will do the trick most of the time.
The Good
- “Just right” protection under cold conditions
- Allows your feet to breathe naturally
- Super-easy to install and remove
- Windstopper is reliable stuff
The Bad
- Doesn’t reliably cover sole vents
The Bottom Line: Gore Wear C3 Windstopper Toe Covers
When full shoe covers or booties are too much, the Gore Wear Windstopper Toe Covers are just the ticket with enough protection to brave cold weather without turning your shoes into a sauna.
Buy Now: Available at CompetitiveCyclist.com
