Make Your Own Rain Shoe Covers

Plastic bottles are no stranger to bike hacks.  The most common use is probably for fenders or fender modifications  but thanks to innovative riders out there we have featured a cool iPod cover and a water bottle wind shield as well. 

Reader Ray contacted us with a link showing how to make your own rain shoe covers.  At Bike Touring Tips Ray writes:

While I don't particularly enjoy riding a bike in the rain, it is something every bicycle tourist has to be prepared to do. I always carry rain gear when I tour. In addition to a thin, yellow, non-breathable rain shell, I also carry rain pants and a shower cap to cover the holes in my helmet, should it really start coming down.

The unsolved problem for me is my shoes. I hate riding when my feet are soaked. I’ve tried neoprene booties, but they weren’t waterproof. I’ve tried waterproof socks but find that I never seem to have them on when the rain is at its heaviest. In addition, the socks do nothing to keep my shoes dry.

I’d been considering this for some time and the main problem was the part that covered the front of the shoe. It needed to keep the top of my shoes dry and to stay on while I pedaled but not be attached across the bottom of the shoe, so that I could still clip into my pedal and to prevent it from wearing out when I walked on it. In a flash, the idea of using a slit plastic, disposable water bottle as the front of the bootie came to me.

Plastic bottles solve all the above problems. When sliced on one side and cut to the right length, they not only cover the top of my cycling shoe, but they “hold” on without needing attachment across the bottom. What’s more, since these bottles are disposable, reusing them is environmentally beneficial, they are easy to find and usually free.

Ray not only used a bottle to cover the toe, but also created a gator to help keep water out of the back of the shoe.  This picture shows the final product -

Check out the full article on Bike Touring Tips for all of the details.  Thanks Ray!

If readers have other hacks to help fight the rain please feel free to contact us.

 

Comments

[john]

I dont ride in the rain, and only recently started riding in below 40 degree weather, but this gives me ideas on keeping my toes warm from the wind-chill. Thanks for sharing.

[Dainius]

Why is that guy going the hardest way? Best rain overshoes ever - puting on plastic bags and then big size socks over your shoes.