The Shimano SM-SH45 cleat covers snap over SPD-SL road cleats to protect the plastic cleat body from wear when you need to walk off the bike. Road cleats protrude from the shoe sole, which means walking on pavement grinds directly against the cleat material and wears down the engagement surfaces that mate with your pedals. The rubber covers shield the cleat from contact with the ground while providing a grippy walking surface that's more stable than the slick plastic cleat. Without covers, even a short walk across a parking lot or through a café can create visible wear on the softer plastic engagement points.

The covers fit snugly over all three SPD-SL cleat types—the SM-SH10 red, SM-SH11 yellow, and SM-SH12 blue models. The grooved rubber construction grips pavement, tile, and other hard surfaces, which improves traction when you're navigating a coffee shop or restaurant in stiff-soled cycling shoes. You snap the covers on by aligning them with the cleat body and pressing until they lock into place. The snug fit means they stay secure during walking and won't pop off unexpectedly. To remove them, peel from the corner rather than pulling from the center, which makes them easier to pop off before you clip back into your pedals. Once you develop the technique, installation and removal takes just a few seconds per foot.

The covers snap together when not in use, which keeps them paired and makes them easy to stash in a jersey pocket or saddle bag. They add minimal weight and bulk, so you can carry them on every ride without noticing them until you need them. They're practical for any ride where you'll spend time off the bike—group rides with coffee stops, touring routes with lunch breaks, or events where you need to walk through transition areas. The covers extend cleat life by preventing premature wear on the engagement points, which is particularly useful if you're riding cleats with less durable plastic like the yellow SM-SH11 model that comes standard with most Shimano pedals.