Sidi
I've been using Dominator 5's for years but they don't make them anymore. These seem to be the replacement show. They are pretty much the same but the leather seems stiffer than my 5's. Could be that my 5's are old, but really it seems like the leather itself.
Otherwise, they are comfortable, stiff and great to ride in.
I use these as road shoes because I just can't deal with real road shoes and the inability to walk. They are fairly comfortable to walk in also.
I was using my MTB shoes, which were like hiking shoes with stiffish soles with SPD cleats for my gravel bike rides. But yearned for something lighter and with more power transfer. Sidis have always fit my foot like a glove and have maintained good sizing consistency through the years, so I went for the Dominator 7s in the same size as my road Sidis.
I am so glad I did. The construction quality is excellent. The ratcheting mechanism works great. They're light. They fit well. But what I like most about them: POWER TRANSFER. True enough, their stiff soles make them less than ideal for walking great distances or clamoring around on slippery rock surfaces. But they are quite easy to walk in nevertheless with their pontooned soles.
Not cheap but worth every penny. Just a super comfortable shoe that delivers pedaling efficiency like a dedicated cycling shoe should.
Sidi makes an excellent shoe. Provides stiff sole which will allow increase in power. Do yourself a favor and measure your foot carefully and then look on sidi website to get the right shoe. Generally about a shoe size larger then normal. Which allows for swelling, and breathing. Customer service and shipping was excellent. Highly recommend bike tires direct. Best price by far.
Love Sidi and this is probably my 5th pair. I upgraded from the Dominator 7 to the 10 specifically for the Boa closure system. It does a really good job of micro-adjustment and ensuring a proper fit. The problem is two-fold. It does not like getting dirty/gritty. The adjusters stick when trying to remove from even a dusty ride, much less if it gets wet/muddy. Also, the grit gets under the loop and causes the lace to frey. That said, Sidi warranty dept was on it! Sent me replacements without question.
