The GripGrab Flandrien Waterproof Knit Road Shoe Cover is an overshoe inspired by the classic Belgian style ‘bootie’ and designed to keep your feet extra warm in chilly weather. They were a convenient option in dry conditions, but I found they didn’t offer as much protection as I had hoped for on rainy days or when I hit a large puddle.
As our best cycling overshoes buyer’s guide shows, these days there are a plethora of options for protecting your feet in cold weather, from full-on overshoes in a variety of high-tech and low-tech materials to more minimalist toe covers.
GripGrab designed the Flandrien Knit Overshoes for road use only. Soft fabrics tear easily and void the warranty if used on shoes not used on public roads.
The overshoes are designed to keep your feet warm when temperatures drop, but not in the low single-digit temperatures often experienced in the UK winter. If the temperature is 8-9°C and the weather is dry, these overshoes are very good at keeping your feet warm.
However, I noticed that in rainy days or when running on damp roads, the material would absorb moisture and my feet would get cold. This is somewhat disappointing as these are marketed as having the “latest waterproof technology”.
I liked the fit around my lower leg as the material didn’t feel tight, but it wasn’t too loose to slip off. I found it to be non-itchy and the material was nice and soft.
Under the overshoe, GripGrab glued a rubber block to the front toe area of the cleat. This definitely helps when you’re walking around a cafe, but it doesn’t sit perfectly straight and there’s a fair amount of excess glue around the material.
To further strengthen the underside, the cleat and heel holes are reinforced at the hem to prevent the hem from tearing if you have to wear them. It is convenient because
I made sure to follow GripGrab’s washing instructions using cold water and non-bio detergents. This did a good job removing both mud stains and odors from the dirt trapped in the material.
worth
At £66, these are far from the cheapest overshoes you can buy, but if you look around, you can get them for less.
The £59.99 Giro Xnetic H2O shoe covers are made from a similar knit material to GripGrabs and Leon was impressed with their waterproofness.
We consider the Spatz Roadman 3 Super-Thermo Hi-Viz Reflective Overshoes with Kevlar to be the gold standard in overshoes, and George certainly appreciated them. Like the unconventional Wellington boot, the neoprene design is surprisingly warm and not waterproof, but the neoprene keeps you warm and keeps a layer of insulation close to your feet. Quite expensive though, he comes with a £89.99 price tag.
If you prefer knitted overshoes, Rebecca especially liked the Q36.5 WP overshoes for weather protection during light showers, which retail for £81.
The low-budget, Steve-reviewed DeFeet Slipstream Strada Overshoes cost £29.99 and are now heavily discounted. But these are basic oversocks for dry conditions.
whole
The GripGrab Flandrien Overshoes did not exactly meet their expectations and their waterproof limitations limit their appeal in the UK winter. It may come in handy because it provides good wind resistance. But when it comes to protection in really harsh weather, it doesn’t compare to Giro’s Xnetic H2O Shoe Covers.
verdict
Comfortable knit overshoes – but not enough protection in wet conditions.
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Make and Model: GripGrab Flandrien Waterproof Knit Road Shoe Cover
What is the purpose of the product
GripGrab says:
These shoe covers are only suitable for road cycling shoes. It might fit in gravel shoes or his MTB shoes, but the tread pattern and reinforced studs on the soles of non-road shoes are more likely to damage the fabric, whether you walk around or not, and you’ll quickly lose the product. warranty will be void.
GripGrab Flandrien Waterproof Knit Road Shoe Covers are perfect for when you’re hitting the road in the fall and winter.
A modern take on the knitted cover sock, this sock retains all the soft fabrics, stretch and close-fitting cut that characterized its historic predecessor, but is modernized with water-resistant membrane technology. and promote. “
Tell us a little more about the technical aspects of your product.
internal:
55% acrylic, 43% polyamide, 2% rubber
outside:
79% polyester, 17% elastane, 4% rubber
* Breathability and insulation: keep your feet warm and dry
* Waterproof & Windproof: Protect yourself from the elements
* Form Fit: Stretchy material ensures a snug, comfortable fit
* Slip-on cuff: Soft cuff hugs your foot
* Abrasion Reinforcement: Reinforced fabric in high abrasion areas
* Suitable for road cycling shoes only
Evaluate the product for construction quality.
6/10
A rubber block is glued under the toe for ease of walking. However, the blocks are not glued cleanly, and I think they can easily come off if they get caught on something.
Evaluate product performance.
4/10
GripGrab says it’s waterproof and windproof, but I noticed my feet were still wet and cold when I was riding on damp roads. But they were good dry.
Please rate the durability of the product:
6/10
No issues yet, but the rubber block underneath seems to be the weakest point. The knit material of the upper can tear in the unfortunate event of a winter crash.
Please rate product fit:
9/10
Rate the product for size:
8/10
Please rate the product weight:
7/10
Please rate the comfort of the product:
9/10
Knit material is much more comfortable than neoprene overshoes.
Evaluate the value of your product:
5/10
For knitted overshoes, they are quite expensive.
Is the product easy to clean? What is your reaction when you wash it?
*Hand wash in cold water
* Do not bleach
* Do not iron
*Please do not squeeze
* Do not tumble dry
*Do not leave soaked
*Do not use fabric softener
*Wash dark colors separately.
I followed the washing instructions and they came clean and free of unpleasant odors.
How does the product perform overall when used for the purpose for which it was designed?
When I used it on a dry winter day when there wasn’t much moisture on the road, it kept my feet warm, but in wet, damp conditions from the road spray, my feet got cold quickly and then cold.
What did you especially like about the product?
Very comfortable, especially when compared to tight fitting neoprene overshoes.
Tell us what you didn’t like about the product
We found that they weren’t very waterproof and could only handle very mild road spray.
How does the price compare to similar products on the market, including those recently tested by road.cc?
More expensive than many overshoes on the market, such as the DeFeet Slipstream Strada knit overshoes, at only about £30. Although cheaper than the £72 Q36.5 WP Knit Cycling Overshoes.
Are you happy with your product? No
Would you consider purchasing the product? No
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Perhaps – depending on the conditions they ride in.
Use this box to describe your overall score
We found these to be best in dry, not too cold conditions. I didn’t think these overshoes were as waterproof as GripGrab calculated.
Year: twenty two
I usually ride: Doran Rebas My best bikes are:
I have ridden: under 5 years old I ride: every day I would classify myself as: semi-professional
I regularly do the following types of riding. I love road racing, time trials, commuting, club riding and off-roading with my buddies.
