Sealskinz Thetford Waterproof All Weather Cycle Oversock

The Sealskinz Thetford Waterproof All Weather Cycle Oversock is a simple idea that works well. A waterproof and windproof layer for cleated road or gravel shoes that  ups your mildly-bad-weather game at a much lower cost than specific shoes. They aren't the most robust, mind, so if you'd prefer tougher, more traditional protection, check out our guide to the best cycling overshoes.

Welcome to riding in the UK – hope you brought your wellies.

Not the most appealing of openers, granted, but the reality is there's a reason this place is mostly green and lush – our position between a rather damp ocean and a European land mass that heats up, dragging the weather their way. En route, a fair amount of that evaporated seawater succumbs to gravity, and if you ride a bike on a regular basis you will inevitably encounter some of it, either on its downward trajectory or, after settling, being propelled upward by your front tyre as you blast through it.

Keeping your feet dry as well as warm is a perennial challenge for year-round cycling. You can invest several hundred quid in waterproof, insulated shoes – or you can add a removable layer of protection. That's where Sealskinz' Thetford oversock comes into the picture.

Sealskinz is a trusted name in the world of appendage protection, and in winter I mostly wear its heated waterproof gloves, on or off-road. I'm also a huge fan of the company's knee-length wader-fisherman's socks, to protect the lower legs. Paired with 3/4 bib knickers, you're much better protected and warmer than full tights.

The Thetford is a shorter sock that's extremely stretchy to fit over and around the contours of your shoes and any Boa buckles they might have. There are probably aero benefits too, if you care.

The Thetford is available in four colours: blue, breen, black and a hi-vis Neon Yellow. There's some genuine science behind colourful feet being very visible to motorists, so the yellow is a great option for commuters and roadies. For the other colours, there's a small retro-reflective Sealskinz logo on the side.

Sealskinz claims the fabric of the Thetford is 100% windproof and waterproof, with a slightly fluffy cotton mix interior for insulation. You treat it like any other sock, just over the top of your shoe. It does take a bit of manoeuvring to get the two holes properly aligned with your heel and cleats, but nothing major.

What the Thetford is lacking is any reinforcement around the contact areas at the toe, midsole or heel, and after a few rides involving even short amounts of walking there were small holes worn in the fabric around the toe, and the stitching around the edge of the cleat hole was starting to fray. Hike-a-bike or serious off-road overshoes these definitely are not. Likewise, if you're a gravel rider who regularly has to stop to open gates or get over fences, chances are the Thetford isn't the overshoe you're looking for.

Out in 2°C for a few hours wearing normal merino socks over normal shoes, the Thetford definitely upped the warmth game. I was apprehensive that such a relatively thin additional layer would make that much difference, but my qualms were unfounded. Usually at that temperature I'm in my thickest, longest socks and a full-on winter waterproof boot, but my feet stayed warm and happy.

> Suffering cold feet? Find out how to keep your feet warm cycling through the winter

They were dry too – until I stopped to take a photo on some rather squelchy ground. That's when reality hit home: these are waterproof oversocks, but they don't make your normal shoes waterproof. The two huge holes in the bottom should have been a giveaway. Anyway, I finished the ride with warm-ish but definitely wet feet.

Out again in some hard rain for a few hours, things started off well enough, but over time the repeated drenching of my lower legs and underneath the soles eventually resulted in wet feet.

So what type of riding is the Thetford Waterproof All Weather Cycle Oversock for? Not off-roading, that's for sure. And not for long days in pouring rain either.

Value

At £40 they definitely aren't cheap – you can get a proper waterproof sock for that money, that will actually keep your feet dry and warm – but compared with other oversocks and overshoes, the price isn't that bad (as long as you look after them).

Ed found the longer GripGrab Flandriens similarly warm and not waterproof in the fabric, and they are £66.

George really liked the Spatz Roadman 3 Super-Thermo Hi-Viz Reflective Overshoes with Kevlar (say that three times fast), but they have looks only a mother could love and cost a relative fortune (£94.99).

Probably the closest comparison is with the Giro Xnetic H2O Shoe Covers that Leon liked when he reviewed them in 2022 – but again, at £69.99 vs the Thetford's £40, it seems Sealskinz wins the value game.

Conclusion

In summary, I'd say the Sealskinz Thetfords are good for colder days when you need a bit of extra warmth setting out, as a visibility tool for commuting, and maybe as a way to improve – but not redefine – water resistance in light or short periods of rain. If you have one pair of cycling shoes and you need to occasionally ride in the cold, or in a modicum of rain, or someplace you need more visibility, the Thetfords are a decent choice at a fair price.

Verdict

If you need extra insulation or a little bit of rain protection, these are decent value, if not the most robust