The Sportful Fiandre Booties are pretty particular overshoes geared toward offering safety from wind and rain, or street spray in milder temperatures. Sportful goals for them to be breathable, waterproof and windproof overshoes, rated for a temperature vary between 0C/32F to 10C/50F.
Specs: Sportful Fiandre Bootie overshoes
Worth: £70.00 / $110.00 / €89.90
Supplies: Predominant Cloth: 100% polyester, Cuffs: 50% polyurethane, 44% polyamide, 6% elastane; Overlays: 47% polyurethane, 36% polyester, 17% cotton
Out there sizes: S-XXL
Colors: Cedar (yellow) / Black
The Fiandre is an overshoe you need to use for spring and autumn in addition to milder winter days when the temperature is not too low. They carry a retail worth of £70 / $110 which is fairly costly inside this class, however you possibly can typically discover them on-line at almost half worth when you store round.
All through the previous six months, I’ve spent numerous hours utilizing the Sportful Fiandre Bootie overshoes alongside dozens of their opponents. I’ve examined them for his or her safety, equivalent to heat, waterproofing and wind resistance. I’ve judged how simple they’re to reside with, testing how shortly they are often placed on and brought off, and the way simply they clear. I’ve additionally saved an in depth eye on their sturdiness. Learn on to see why I included them in our information to the greatest biking overshoes.
Design and aesthetics
Firstly to keep away from potential confusion, you will for probably the most half discover the Fiandre listed as a bootie and that is the time period Sportful makes use of by itself web site. A bootie is simply an alternate phrase for an overshoe that’s typically utilized by some manufacturers, however it serves the identical function as an overshoe in case you have been questioning if the 2 had a distinction.
The Fiandre Booties are skinny, pretty light-weight overshoes which can be designed to supply foul climate safety however at milder temperatures. They don’t seem to be lycra time trial overshoe skinny however are round 2-3mm thick. For probably the most half, they use Gore-Tex Infinium cloth which has a DWR (Sturdy Water Repellant) impregnation and as we perceive it, is barely completely different than the identical materials used within the Castelli Perfetto 2 jacket which has a further DWR coating. The Infinium materials offers wonderful windproofing, breathability and good water resistance. It is not waterproof however will stave off an honest little bit of moisture. The safety and heat within the Fiandre come from the windproofing properties of the Infinium cloth, not a thick neoprene or fleece layer that you will see that in bulkier or extra heavy-duty winter overshoes with a concentrate on outright heat.
The Fiandre Booties can be found in cedar (appears to be like like hi-vis yellow to me) and black, although a navy blue possibility (which is probably going now discontinued) may be discovered on-line at discounted costs. My black pair function reflective Sportful logos on the ankles which replicate effectively. Heel pull tabs additionally function this reflective strip and are completely positioned to supply some added visibility to motorists approaching from behind. The left overshoe contains a purple diagonal rubber strip with ‘Fiandre’ in raised letter on it and a Gore-Tex Infinium emblem. This purple rubber Fiandre strip and lettering additionally options on the matching Sportful Fiandre bib tights and Sportful Fiandre gloves which helps tie within the vary visually when you prefer to match.
The Fiandre Booties prolong round 15cm up the leg from the ankle which is an efficient peak. It’s topped with a silicone leg gripper that’s 5cm broad and does a very good job of stopping the booties from slipping down. The zip is offset to 1 facet that will help you get them on, is sealed when closed and has a neoprene guard on the within to forestall water from getting in. This guard additionally covers the highest of the zip the place it ends on the ankle once more to assist cease water ingress. A seam does run down the center of the physique of every overshoe, which may very well be a possible weak level, however that is sealed on the within and I observed no ingress throughout my testing.
The underside of the Fiandre Booties covers your sneakers effectively and it is a neat match. There’s a bolstered materials across the heel and alongside the size of the only real to forestall scuffing when strolling or whenever you put your foot down at lights and so on.
The Fiandre extends round 15cm up the leg from the ankle which is an efficient peak and contains a good silicon leg gripper which is 5cm broad, this helps stop the booties from slipping down which isn’t a very good look. The zip is offset to 1 facet that will help you get them on, is sealed when closed and has a neoprene guard on the within to forestall water from getting in. This guard additionally covers the highest of the zip the place it ends on the ankle once more to assist cease water ingress. A seam does run down the center of the physique of the bootie which may very well be a possible weak level however that is sealed on the within.
The underside of the booties covers your sneakers effectively and it is a neat match. There’s a bolstered materials across the heel and alongside the size of the only real to forestall scuffing when strolling or whenever you put your foot down at lights and so on.
Efficiency
On the entire, I loved utilizing the Fiandre Booties. They match effectively and look trendy, however they may carry out greatest round a reasonably particular set of circumstances.
Sportful charges them to be used right down to 0C/32F, however for my part, utilizing them under round 5C/41F will lead to a wrestle with chilly toes until you might be using fairly arduous for a reasonably quick size of time. In my testing, I famous my toes and toes getting fairly chilly at round 6C/43F. I did not persevere in testing them in any decrease temperatures as this gave the impression to be at odds with the general use case of the Booties. Under 5C/41F and I’d attain for a bulkier overshoe with extra of a concentrate on outright heat.
They’re simple to drag on and the zip extends proper right down to the underside of the ankle which helps this. The underside of my overshoes and toe areas are scuff and tear-free after months of use. The fabric there is not tremendous robust however I really feel the Fiandre hasn’t been designed with lots of strolling round in thoughts so that you should not anticipate this space to be bulletproof. These are efficiency street overshoes and can take care of mild strolling duties on the cafe and clipping out and in at lights simply tremendous.
In the end, they work greatest in milder circumstances or are good for more durable rides and classes with efforts the place your working that little bit more durable and need a bit much less bulk. They’d even be a very good possibility for races or fondos when you needed lighter-weight safety. They saved my toes heat and dry on milder autumn and winter rides with lots of standing water and spray, and I could not fault their efficiency in these circumstances. If you happen to have been in a continuing downpour for hours you do find yourself with moist toes however that is true of just about each overshoe available on the market.
Verdict
If you happen to’re in search of an overshoe that may maintain you snug and fend off nearly all of street spray and showers in milder circumstances, the Sportful Fiandre Bootie overshoes are a strong possibility. They supply a superb shut match and there are lots of well-thought-out particulars of their design.
The retail worth is excessive and you’ll have to resolve whether or not this price is price filling this comparatively area of interest hole in your overshoe arsenal or whether or not you possibly can simply make do with a pair of heavier-duty all-rounders to take care of all circumstances. Nevertheless, as talked about, strong bargains may be discovered on-line when you store round.
| Design | Trendy effectively executed design with premium Gore-Tex cloth | 8/10 |
| Efficiency | For his or her meant use they carry out very effectively | 8/10 |
| Consolation | Snug, with no rubbing or irritation wherever | 10/10 |
| Safety | Good safety from rain and floor spray, wonderful wind blocking, however will get soaked in heavy, sustained rain | 8/10 |
| Worth | RRP Is somewhat costly, purchasing round could produce extra aggressive pricing | 7/10 |
| Total | Row 5 – Cell 1 | 82% |
