Giro
Picked these shoes up for the start of cross season which has been cancelled due to covid. My current Fizik mtb shoes worked great but were a half size too big so i opted for something a little more comfortable.
The good:
These shoes are VERY comfortable. i could wear them on a daily basis for long endurance rides. The two-boa system is nice to get that snug fit and make for easy adjustment on the fly.
The bad:
They aren't the stiffest pair of shoes. For reference, i picked up the 2019 s-works shoes for the road. those are like ski boots perfectly molded to your foot and in a hyper-lightweight chasis. Comparing those s-works ($450 retail) to these Giro's you instantly notice these are not s-works shoes in the flex through the upper padding of the shoe. The sole still feels stiff and provides a good amount of power transfer.
I don't remember the specifics, but i believe these were about 30 grams lighter than the Fiziks i was replacing. A pretty negligible difference IMO.
The price is fair. You're not getting a top of the line shoe fit for pros that spare no expense in design or material, but you also aren't getting crap either. If i were borrowing these from a friend in a pinch i would be satisfied.
To conclude, if you are due for an upgrade and don't want to break the bank, these fit the bill. If you are looking to get an edge onto that elite podium, these MIGHT not be for you.
I am very pleased with these shoes! I do not have a wide foot (in general) but my Sidi mtb shoes (same size 43) felt cramped in tow area - perhaps the Sidi 43.5 would have fixed that. These 43 Giros fit really well! Sole is plenty stiff for my use (so far just indoor stationary classes). The look great. I have had a few inquiries. I can walk several hundred yards to a store or my car with no major problems. I like the lace up design and room for my toes to wiggle. I do not think I would get "hot foot" from all day touring with these!
I bought these shoes after pouring over reviews for weeks. There were no negative reviews, and this one won't be either.
I'm always looking for an aero advantage and lace up shoes have been shown to be the best. They take a little longer to get into-- so tri-guys might want to keep that in mind.
The biggest and best surprise was how comfortable these shoes are! I usually worry about enough short rides to break in new shoes before an ultra event, but these were so comfy right out of the box that my first ride turned into 150 miles. And I didn't regret it.
The venting in these shoes is also great. Shoe covers will be needed a little earlier this year
