VeloToze Helmet Cover and Tall Shoe Cover

Tech analysis and long term review for these light and useful latex covers, created to protect from rain and cold. Helmet cover can be easily put on and off, whereas tall shoe cover requires more indented rigging. Nevertheless both of them assure an outstanding protection.

Light rain and wet roads are the reasons why we usually choose not to ride. On a day with little ride time available and a coming rain we know that going out riding means wetting the shoes, and pedaling with socks turned in puddles is not pleasant. Even the cold morning breeze makes uncomfortable the first leg of spring/autumn rides.

It was a Californian surgeon, a passionate cyclist, accustomed to solving major emergencies than these small discomforts, who realized that a simple, practical, and economical solution was there at hand, indeed on his hands, every time he entered the surgery room.

After having found collaborators who can turn his idea into a real product, he created VeloToze. Now, to protect yourself from bad weather, just click on www.velotoze.com.

Like the surgeon gloves, the material that all VeloToze products are made with is industrial latex – in fact natural rubber and water (natural latex) – to which the processing industry adds other materials and the vulcanization process. If you are allergic to latex, however, you should avoid direct contact and choose other products.

VeloToze Helmet Cover
The VeloToze Helmet Cover is the easiest and most useful accessory that hit the editorial desk in the last year. Simple because it takes just a moment to wear on any type of helmet and even less to take it off. It also occupies very little space in the back pocket when not in use. Useful because, with a simple gesture, turns your helmet full of ventilation holes into a closed helmet, improving both aerodynamics and head temperature.

It is available in 5 colors, 2 of these are high visibility: red, black and white, yellow hi-viz and green hi-viz.

We tested the Helmet Cover during our spring and autumn rides when, in the morning, the air is still cold. Immediately you have a distinct feeling of warmth on your head. The Helmet Cover does not obstruct every air vents, so the helmet maintains in part its functionality. When the strain becomes more intense or the outside temperature rises, you can easily remove the cover and place it in the back pocket with just one hand. At the end of an ascent and during a descent the Helmet Cover is essential to maintain head temperature. Even in winter, the protection provided by the helmet cover increases the comfort and maybe it will help to avoid some colds.

Riding uphill with the Helmet Cover on, several drops can fall down from the helmet, it doesn’t mean you are sweating more than usual. What happens is that moisture formed up on the inner side of the Helmet Cover makes drops falling from the helmet while moving your head.

Under the rain, the VeloToze Helmet Cover seals the helmet openings and keeps the head dry, the water flows over the helmet instead of entering the air vents and dripping along the head or into the eyes.

The Velotoze Helmet Cover is a product studied for rainy conditions which proved to be very useful also as a protection from the cold. For its ease of use, small size, weight (only 38 grams detected) and affordable price (22 $) deserves the maximum marks of our test. A must-have accessory.


VeloToze Tall Shoe Cover
Together with the Helmet Cover we received the VeloToze Tall Shoe Cover. Among three shoe cover versions (Tall to cover the shoe and the ankle, Short only cover the shoe, Toe to protect only the tip of the shoe) we choose to test the tallest one that combines the total protection of shoes and feet from the weather with an aero effect that can be useful to those who ride against the clock as well as rain.

VeloToze shoe covers are pretty common in the pro’s peloton, though with no brand mark due to sponsor regulations. We saw a considerable number of cyclists wearing them during Road World Championship 2017 in Bergen (N).

The procedure for wearing the VeloToze Tall Shoe Covers is different from the others we are used to: starting with socks on, tuck your foot into the Tall Shoe Cover and pull it up well over the ankle, the foot exiting trough out the main aperture. Put on road bike shoes. Lower the Tall Shoe Cover by inserting the heel into the smaller hole and then stretching it on the shoe to cover the tip then adjust around ankle and cleats.

During our test we noted that a good squeeze of talcum powder is a great help to slip the latex on the skin. The excess powder can be easily removed.

If you use the VeloToze Tall Shoe Cover to protect yourself from cold air, you are ready to go. The edge of the main opening around the cleat remains at a good distance from the catch area and does not interfere with the engagement and closing of the pedals. If, however, we are in the rain, it is important to check that the latex perfectly adheres to the skin in the upper edge, so that the water flows outwards. Thus it is necessary to close the openings under the shoes, air vents and cleat screw holes. As for air vents, just cover them with adhesive tape, while for screw holes better remove the inner sole of the shoe and insert a sticker.

Once riding the Tall Shoe Covers generates a pleasant warmth around the lower extremities, it also seems that the drag is reduced and the pedals rotate more easily. For the waterproofing test we used the garden hose but for aero test, in the absence of a home wind tunnel, we can only bring sensations.

Obviously weather conditions and air humidity influence the microclimate inside the shoe. Cold air has a low humidity level and under these conditions the foot remains dry. Under the rain or when the sun comes out and the temperature rises, it is not difficult to end up with wet socks.

With a bit of attention to climate change, you can take full advantage from the VeloToze Tall Shoe Cover. It is enough to remove them when the temperature rises: this way they occupy very little space in the rear pockets. They have become our inseparable companions when riding with uncertain weather. If you put them in the pocket where you hold the smartphone you can use them to separate the delicate technology from the sweat of the back and the plastic envelope containing them can be reused to protect the phone when it rains.

During our test we found Tall Shoe Cover perfect for cold temperatures and on high mountains descents. On the Dolomites in the last spring the Tall Shoe Covers allowed us to high speeds with warm feet and a greater comfort than usual. Designed for rain the Tall Shoe Covers do not let a drop in, for those who have raced in wet conditions being able to ride with dry, warm feet, besides the intrinsic pleasure, it is a great energy saving.

The life span is good. We started using them in the spring and we are still using them in fall. After every single ride it is important to always wash the covers and, when dry, sprinkle with plenty of talcum powder. In this way the latex lasts longer.

By now we can state that the first season ended with showing a minimal wear, but the VeloToze Tall Shoe Cover are definitely usable for another season and more.

They surely are a very versatile accessory that adds a touch of style to your rides.

The Tall Shoe Covers are available in four sizes, S (37-40), M (40.5-42.5), L (43-46), XL (46.5-49) and eight colors (3 high visibility): red, black, white, pink, blue, yellow hi-viz, green hi-viz, orange hi-viz. Weight detected is 44 grams each (size L). Quotation price is 18 $.



– Web site VeloToze


Article and pictures by Sergio Doria

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