1 of 1 customers found this review helpful.
Meh. Another brick in the wall for not going back to Shimano.
The shoe is built like a cinnamon roll, where the waist side of the upper/tongue, slides under the Vamp part of the upper, where the tightening system is mounted. The Search for Anatomy of a shoe.
The inner part of the upper, has a thin elastic fabric strap to pull the inside inner half of the upper tighter. While possibly making it slightly easier to secure the Vamp upper, it tends to pull on the sock which can make it bunch up. This can create pressure/irritation issues on a long ride. On the positive note, once tightened, I couldn't sense the strap. (Grabbing your finger after closing a door on it?)
Adjusting your socks takes slightly longer to put on, definitely not for swim/bike biathlons or iron man competitions where seconds count.
Also, the elastic is a weak point in the design, part one in decreased longevity, leading to...
PLANNED OBESLECENCE:
The shoes require tightening at least two times after donning the shoe: Once after walking a bit, and second or third during the ride. You definitely should perform the ski boot maneuver where you tap the heal of your foot against the floor to seat your heal. Otherwise, you'll get rubbing at the heal.
This also concerns me as to how long the shoe will last, as appears the upper stretches over time. I hate to admit that I watch GCN, but one of their videos detailed how the uppers were the weak part of cheap biking shoes, and this is NOT a cheap biking shoe.
The sad part is that they already have the solution.
POSITIVES
First, the shoe did solve one of my alignment issues, bringing my pressure point on my Garmin Rally pedals closer to the center line, something my previous Shimano shoes couldn't master, even with the shoes adjusted to the extreme.
Second, they look good.
Be aware that the soles are purported to be carbon fiber, and are not at all flexible, when compared to the mountain biking shoes I've used. Possibly better for power transfer, but it does affect your walk. This may be a consideration for the size of the "gravel' in the terrain you bike on.
Good Luck!
Thank you for your feedback.