This is actually the second release of the Nimbl Urano shoes. Previously released in the winter of 2024, after testing and feedback from professionals, Nimbl shelved the shoe so that they could fix some issues. Now, it's back with the Italian brand hoping that the Urano will set the standard for high end gravel race shoes.

Construction

The Urano are built upon the same monocoque carbon fibre sole as the rest of the Nimbl line of shoes. This results in the same incredibly low stack height of around 2mm, with the rear of the sole extending up to create a stiffer heel cup. The main differences are the two-bolt cleat mounting for Shimano SPD cleats, and the inclusion of rubber treads. A TPU toe guard, front and rear treads, and mid-sole protective piece have been added for off-road walking traction and sole protection, a feature you see on many of the best gravel shoes.

As with other Nimbl shoes, retention comes via the two Boa Li2 dials. These allow for micro adjustments for tightening and loosening, with a pull to release system. These are the plastic topped version rather than the metal ones on the Ultimate and Ultimate Glide shoes. A grippy exterior is still included on the dials, in rubber this time, to allow for easy grip and retention adjustments.

On the upper, the structure is the same as the Ultimate shoes, with a conventional tongue design. However, the microfibre upper has been redesigned to be more resilient, and easier to clean given the off-road design of these shoes. For ventilation there are multiple perforations across the sides of the upper material.

A size 43 is quoted as being 254g per shoe, the size 45 on test was 248g per shoe including all the parts and insoles. Sizes range from 39 to 47, with half sizes from 41 up to 47. Black and white colour options are available.

The Ride

In terms of performance, I have been mightily impressed by the Nimbl Urano shoes. Using them on the road with Shimano SPD pedals, the power transfer and light weight has meant the setup feels.as good as the usual Speedplay setup I use for road riding. Power transfer for sprints and higher capacity efforts feels planted and direct, while the low weight does feel better at higher cadences when the shoe is moving faster.

To really test these shoes, I used them for the Gralloch UCI gravel race. They clearly didn’t slow me down, after 3.5 hours of racing I had averaged 291 watts and set plenty of power PBs. In essence, they felt like road racing shoes, providing impressive stiffness as a platform to launch watts from.

Comfort wise, these have taken less breaking in time than the Ultimate Air or Glide shoes I’ve tested. The upper is stiff, but not unforgiving and the low entry to the shoes means there is very little chance of any upper material rubbing on ankles. This low entry also does not result in any lack of retention around the heel. The rear of the shoe cups the heel nicely with a fit that is narrow enough on my heel and ankle, but not constricting.

Of course the Boa Li2 dials play a big part in the retention. I personally prefer the tongue-less design of the Ultimate Glide and I find that dial setup does lead to better pressure distribution when really clamping down the dials. However, on the Urano, the two dial setup with tongue can still be tightened down enough to secure the foot well for most high capacity efforts without being overly tight on any section of the foot. The Boa Li2 dials have been praised enough in many shoe reviews I have done, as well as by others, and remain the standard bearer for retention dials on cycling shoes with both the micro-adjustments for tightening and loosening, as well as the pull to release for easy foot release.

After 3.5 hours of racing, the outside of my right foot was aching, due in part to the stiff carbon sole. I have a high arch, so even with arch support I can get a pressure buildup on the outside of my foot, but after this amount of time on rough terrain, there was certainly some aching.

The main difference between the Urano and the rest of the Nimbl lineup is of course the gravel element of them. The sole uses two two bolt attachment points for Shimano SPD cleats rather than the three or four bolt road options. The upper is also more rugged and easier to clean, with dirt wiping easily off them after a day of racing.

On the sole of the shoe there are also more rugged tread elements for walking off-road and maintaining some grip. These are effective, and have proven useful riding on bridleways and requiring a fair bit of walking in some cases, but these are race shoes and these are not as grippy as more adventure focussed gravel shoes.

There is one glaring issue with these shoes though, and that is the quality of the finish. On the front tread section especially, a good amount of it is visibly glued on, and can be lifted quite easily by hand. It’s not the quality I would expect for a pair of shoes that cost more than half a grand. I have seen far better quality of the tread fitting on shoes that are a third of the price. They appear secure enough, with sections that fit into the sole itself on some small openings, but it’s still a little bit tardy in terms of finish quality.

The insoles are the same basic ones that come with all Nimbl shoes, and I am in two minds when it comes to criticism of these. On the one hand, if you spend £550 on cycling shoes, you are likely performance focussed and use custom orthotics. If you don’t, you should, it’s a far greater performance gain. On the other hand, the insoles that come with the QUOC M3 shoes with adjustable arch are fantastic and I use them instead of the custom insoles I have, as with the high arch support they work well for me. Regardless, with the Nimbl Urano you will likely need to buy insoles, or use whatever pair you already use, as the supplied ones don’t offer much support for anyone with any form of arch in their foot.

Value

As with previous Nimbl shoe reviews, value is an area where the price tag does just mean they struggle comparatively. £550 / $649 is a huge amount to pay for cycling shoes, regardless of how good they are. The simple fact is at this price there is certainly a case of diminishing returns on investment.

I have previously been racing in a pair of Specialized S-Works Recon Lace shoes, which retailed for £300 / $325. They are lightweight, fit well, and offer a great level of power transfer, for nearly half the price. Spending my own money, I could not justify spending £250 more on a pair of shoes for what is a small increase in performance based on statistics.

Even the new S-Works Recon Evo, based on the Ares 2 shoe, are £399 /$549, and feature a broader spectrum of sizes. On the face of it some of the finish of those is slightly better than the Urano as well. However, the more convoluted path of the Boa dial lace is ripe for damage from mud and grit ingress over time.

The new Sidi Aeron is another consideration, again £399 / $570 and carbon soled, dual-dialled, and with good levels of tread. The carbon sole is also less exposed for longevity, but this will add weight even if that figure is not disclosed.

But then this is a high-performance race shoe. Compared to most dual-boa-dial equipped shoes the Urano are around half the weight. That’s often around 500g saving which at a higher performance level is not insignificant. The power transfer is also exceptional, so much so that I can happily use these shoes for fast paced road rides on SPD pedals. For those seeking every advantage, there may be value to them in these shoes. For most of us, I’d say you are far better buying in the £250-300 price point for performance gravel shoes. They will be mostly as good, likely feature greater longevity features, and cost far less.

Conclusion

The Nimbl Urano shoes are quintessentially Nimbl. They are extortionately expensive, exceptionally lightweight, wonderfully stiff, secure and comfortable, and lust worthy in their style and desirability. If you want the fastest gravel racing shoe option for SPD cleats, you’ll likely struggle to do better than these. If you want almost all of that performance but for significantly less cash and potentially greater longevity, look elsewhere.

Launched over six years ago, the Giro Gauge was designed to merge Giro's Rumbler VR’s versatility with their own Terraduro’s off-road shoe credentials.

I was keen to see if they delivered where versatility is concerned. Could they be a do-it-all shoe for a multi-day bike trip? They needed to perform on the bike, on a multitude of walking terrains, and still be comfortable and discreet enough for functional wear in the evenings. It’s fair to say they didn’t let themselves down, providing it didn’t rain…

Construction

The aggressively lugged rubber sole is designed for durability off the bike, while still offering sufficient stiffness for power on the pedals; indeed, they are compatible with the best gravel bike pedals. An EVA midsole is intended ‘to disperse pressure and absorb shock, enhancing comfort and stability over rough terrain’.

A supple synthetic mesh upper, combined with a Boa dial, provides a snug, breathable fit.

Reinforced heel and toe boxes - protected with Giro’s Rockprint material - shield against impacts, scratches and abrasions.

Inside, the insole is simple, offering no extra arch support. The Gauge comes in three colours - Black, Sky Blue and Dark Sage Green - and in sizes 39 to 50, though half sizes aren’t offered. A traditional laced version is also available.

Performance

For years, Giro’s Rumbler VR were my go-to shoes for everything from long tours to casual rides. They logged countless miles across multiple countries and coped admirably with some brutally gnarly hikes. So when they were discontinued, I was devastated. I tried a few other brands in search of a replacement but never found that sweet spot: on-and-off-bike performance in a shoe that was actually comfortable. After weeks of testing the Gauge shoes in a variety of scenarios, I can confidently say they hit all the marks the Rumbler VRs did, and exceeded them on some levels. They’re not perfect - indeed, a hardened mountain biker may scorn them - but for anyone after a versatile, discreet, well-made shoe, there’s much to like.

It’s worth noting that the Gauge doesn’t come in a women’s-specific version. That said, I’ve often found female-specific shoes to be too narrow anyway. I tested a size 42 - my go-to across most brands - and the fit was spot on. Fit is always subjective, but for me there was plenty of width and a generous toe box. There was no pinching or rubbing at the heel cup either, something I’ve experienced with a few other ‘touring-focused’ shoes, particularly when walking.

I swapped out the fairly basic insoles that come with the shoes for my custom orthotics and a more supportive insert. The supplied insole feels like a cost-saving choice from Giro and, unless you have very flat feet, it’s something you’ll probably want to upgrade.

Dialling-in the right position for the SPD cleats was straightforward. There’s plenty of adjustment range and, unlike a pair of Shimano shoes I recently tested, it was possible to run the cleats relatively far forward.

Compared to traditional laces, the Boa dial makes getting out on the road quick and easy; this a win over my old Rumbler VRs. With only a single dial on the Gauge and no additional fastener lower down, I found myself giving the dial occasional extra turns at the start of rides as the tension settled. That might irritate some riders, but given I was using these mainly for touring, functional rides and off-road forays, it never really bothered me - I’m not chasing high-end performance here.

The sole strikes a great balance: stiff enough to feel reasonably efficient on the bike, especially when putting the power down on drags or climbs, but not so rigid that walking feels clunky and awkward. The lugs are impressively durable too. On one of the test tours, I spent time walking sections of the South West Coastal Path. The rubber sole proved reliably grippy - even on smooth, sloping rock faces and seaweed-covered surfaces. I felt confident scrambling around off the bike, then clipping back in and having a sole that still transferred power effectively on steep climbs out of the Cornish bays and coves I’d just explored on foot.

The toe cap and heel cup stood up well to brushes and scrapes with rocks while I was hiking. When I got home I gave them a quick clean and they look remarkably like new - Giro’s own ‘Rockprint’ is robust stuff.

The synthetic mesh upper is surprisingly breathable. Admittedly, my rides haven’t been in scorching temperatures - low twenties celsius was the best I got - but at no point did I sense that my feet were overheating as can often be the case in black shoes. While the mesh works brilliantly where ventilation is concerned, it’s a complete fail when it comes to protecting your feet from even the lightest of road spray. Indeed, the Gauge’s will offer zero protection when it starts to rain, and Giro don’t claim otherwise. This is certainly worth bearing in mind if you are considering investing. On a rather more positive note, they dry out much quicker than the Rumbler VR’s ever did.

Assuming it has not rained, the Gauges transition well to casual use after a day’s touring. They are discreet and neutral, making them perfect for off-the-bike use… I’d be as happy strolling into a pub wearing them, as I would be tackling a gravel climb or rocky hike.

VALUE

Similarly specced shoes include Fizik’s £159.99/$179.99 Terra Atlas Shoes and Ride Concept’s £159.95/$176 Acomplice. I haven’t tested either of these, so can’t draw comparisons when it comes to fit or performance, but they are both priced significantly higher than Giro’s £119.99/$129.95 Gauges. If you’re happy with laces you can get the Gauges for £104.99/$99.95.

If you prioritise comfort, grip and clipless compatibility over a super stiff, performance sole, the Gauges are definitely worth considering. They are an ideal shoe for tourers, bike packers, gravel riders and commuters alike. The only serious negative I can speak of is the lack of water repellency - at this price point you can't have everything.

Lake shoes consistently receive high ratings in our reviews; their mix of width options, well-chosen materials, and overall comfort have always been well-received. However, these are the first we have tested that utilise laces.

The CX20R is just one of fifteen different models in the Lake Road shoe range, which covers all bases, from budget offerings to boutique, heat-mouldable kangaroo skin race shoes. I tested the MX30G gravel shoe late last year, which features a similar mesh construction but with larger microfiber panels, Boa dials and a grippy outsole. I liked them and got on well with the fit, so I was keen to see how a similar design translates to road use and what difference going back to laces made.

Construction

The laces are the first thing that caught my attention; it's been a long time since I've used a shoe that isn't closed using a Boa (or similar) dial or Velcro straps. Laces do have some inherent benefits; they are lightweight, offer more adjustment potential, and are more aerodynamic than a Boa dial. The six lace holes feature eyelets, which bodes well for longevity, and an elasticated band is built into the tongue to keep the laces secure when riding.

The upper is a mix of Clarino Microfiber and large sections of mesh, which make this one of the most breathable shoes on the market. It's a very minimal build, with the microfiber sections joining the uppers to the sole in key places to ensure there's enough support and stiffness to prevent foot roll under hard efforts. The heel cup is well-supported and utilises a combination of materials to maintain its stiffness and position on your foot.

Lake have paired this lightweight upper with its handmade CFC 3K carbon fibre sole, which is stiff, but without a stiffness rating. However, these ratings are meaningless when comparing different brands, as each has its own rating measurement range. They only come in a three-bolt fitting for Look or Shimano SPD SL cleats, so Speedplay users will need to use the four-bolt adapter supplied with their pedals. They also have a replaceable yet minimal heel section to provide you with a bit more stability when walking. I managed to avoid any café stop calamities, so it works as it should.

One of the reasons Lake shoes perform well in tests is that it offers shoes in both male and female options, three widths and even have different lasts (internal shape of the shoe) depending on their intended usage. After consulting Lake's own sizing guide, it recommends measuring the length of your foot and adding 7mm and measuring the width at its widest point. Mine measured up at 270mm long and 105mm wide, which means I'm a 44 in a regular width. The guide is very easy to use, and it made the online process much less of a worry than usual. However, you can buy Lake shoes in bike shops, where you can try them out in person if you're unsure of the sizing. The CX20R is available in nineteen sizes, with half sizes offered up to 47, so finding the right one should be easy enough.

Lake also offers ten different lasts across their complete range, and these use the CX/TX race version with a slightly narrower toe box, a tighter heel, and less overall volume than the sport version. This provides a slimmer fit and more support, with increased pressure over the foot. The wide range of sizes, widths and lasts can be daunting at first, but it is easy to navigate using Lakes' sizing guide, and means you should end up with a shoe that fits you correctly.

The ride

The MX30G shoes I previously reviewed used a similar last, which I really liked, and there was no change in this regard. Of course, shoe fit is subjective, but the reduced volume of these worked well for my slim and reasonably low-profile feet. One thing that was noticeable was how these shoes were instantly comfortable, whereas the gravel shoes required a break-in period of a few rides before they softened up.

Setting up the cleats was straightforward, and there are plenty of marks in eight directions around the three holes, which made measuring up easy.

I'm sure you are all familiar with how laces work, but I found it beneficial to be able to fine-tune the fit on the top of my foot. It did take me a few rides to get used to not being able to adjust easily on the fly, though, and setting off in a rush wasn't as easy as it would be in a dial or velcro shoe. However, if I'm honest, I didn't miss my Boas as much as I thought I would.

The CX20R’s party piece, though, is its mesh construction, which, had I tested it in 2024, I'm not sure I would have been as enthusiastic about. However, given our unseasonably warm spring and red-hot summer, these have been brilliant. My usual shoe is the Shimano S-Phyre, which is extremely stiff but has normal levels of ventilation, and the difference between the two is stark. Even at slow speeds on a climb, you are aware of airflow into the front of the shoe. Whether or not that's a good thing depends entirely on the temperature you're riding in, of course, but for those in warmer climates or those who struggle with hot feet, these could be the solution you're looking for. As it's been so warm, I've not switched my turbo trainer on in ages, but I expect these would make a great indoor training shoe too.

Without any cleat hardware, these shoes weigh 470g per pair. For reference, the DMT KR SL lace-ups weigh 500g for a pair of size 45, while the Specialized S-Works Torch Lace-ups weigh 400 g.

They are a little tighter to get on than a dial shoe, as the laces come further up the foot. However, these were easy to put on and only needed the top two eyelets loosened when first putting them on. The laces are made of cotton and do get grubby but are easily cleaned and can be replaced cheaply too.

The combination of a light upper and stiff sole gives the shoe a slightly old-school feel, reminiscent of a pair of Sidis from years past, where you can feel the upper flex and give slightly. I actually quite like this feeling, especially on longer, more relaxed rides. I feel I have a better connection to the bike and pedals than I do in super-stiff shoes with a more wraparound sole design, particularly when cornering or descending at speed. I'm sure that comes at the expense of efficiency, and if you're looking for a pure racing shoe, you would be better served elsewhere. However, I found these supremely comfortable on long rides, yet stiff and supportive enough for the occasional summer chain gang, too.

Lake uses a Syksol insole or footbed and I found these very comfortable. I prefer a mid-to-high arch design, and these fit the bill nicely. Of course, insoles are a matter of personal preference, but I had no complaints here and no need to change anything else during testing.

Value and Conclusion

At £200, they are in a relatively crowded marketplace when compared to dialled shoes, but are far cheaper than other high-end lightweight lace-ups from DMT KR SL at ($519.99 / £369.99) or the Specialized Torch SL, which sells for $350 / £300. There aren't many other lace-up variants available once you start looking, with Giro seemingly no longer producing the Empire, which was very popular for a brief period. This makes the CX20R stand out when compared to the near-endless choice of Boa-dialled shoes in this segment.

Although not expensive, my love for them has been primarily shaped by the weather, and I'm not sure I'd be quite as pleased with them in a traditional Yorkshire spring or autumn, though Lake does offer a more conventional Microfiber lace-up shoe should you not need the ventilation.

The fit works for me, and thanks to the wide range of widths and size theres a fair chance Lake make a size for you too. I think the range of sizing is a real plus point, and though the guide is simple to follow being able to try the on and buy them in an actual shop takes out a lot of the guesswork surrounding fit and comfort.

I have loved riding in these and would recommend them to anyone who rides in hot climates or struggles with heat in general. However, I'm not sure I'd be brave enough to have these as my only road shoe, especially in inclement weather.

The Sidi Shot 3 represent Sidi’s brand new halo offering, sitting right at the top of the brand’s range of road shoes and are raced in by the likes of Isaac del Toro.

Construction

The basic template of the shoe remains similar to the Shot 2S, with a carbon fibre sole, a microfibre upper, and two dials on the top of the shoe on the tongue. But that is where the similarities end.

The redesigned upper is now a monocoque upper with no seams and an internal net structure to provide a far stiffer upper system than before. It still features plenty of perforations for breathability. The only separate part of the upper is the tongue, as would be expected. That tongue also features a Velcro section on the external side to better sit in place.

Another brand new feature are the dials, now the NUUN 001C made from aluminium rather than plastic. They still flip up for tightening, and there is still a release catch on the top of the top dial and base of the lower dial. Central positioning has been maintained for better aerodynamics as well as reducing the contact risk in a bunch or a crash. Remember MVDP ripping a dial off his shoes on his way to winning the World Title?

On the heel the adjustment system has been heavily updated. No longer are tool required, simply pinch in and tighten. It is also removable for those that deem it unnecessary and want to remove some weight.

Meanwhile the sole of the shoe now extends the carbon up the heel to create a stiffer heel cup. This is part of the new DUO-FIT carbon chassis. This combines the R1FC carbon sole with the heel cup, while the Nexus Bridge section of the sole, which is the thicker and narrower section in the centre, helps boost stiffness and reduce weight. A stiffness index of 12 is given, the highest of any Sidi shoes.

Cleat bolting is a 3-bolt pattern, with a more rearwards setup possible than the Sidi Shot 2. This is part of the new Millenium fit, first introduced on the Ergo 6 model. This widens the toe box significantly while also increasing the volume of the shoe to better accommodate a range of foot shapes and bring the last into the modern era. Sidi also maintains the ability to replace many of the parts such as heel retention, dials, and heel pads. There is also the same memory foam insole from the Ergo 6.

At present there are three colour options, and sizes from 38-48, with half sizes available up to 46.5. Weight for a size 45 shoe is 283g (566g for the pair).

Performance

I’ve reviewed the Sidi Shot 2S, and my overriding impression of that shoe was that unfortunately it just lacked the total system stiffness, and the shape of the shoe really didn’t suit my foot and therefore to maintain some level of comfort I could not tighten it down properly. It was also surprisingly heavy for a £400+ performance shoe.

The Sidi Shot 3 however addresses many of those issues impressively well. First and foremost, the new Millenium fit is far superior to the old Sidi race fit. I praised the Sidi Ergo 6 for this new last, which includes a wider toe box, less curved foot shape, and higher volume offering. It is far more suitable for a range of foot sizes and shapes and means the Shot 3 genuinely do fit my feet whereas before they just didn’t.

I’m still not a massive fan of the insole, which offers no arch support, but that is because I have a higher arch so need something bespoke or adjustable like QUOC or Shimano offer. If you have flatter feet, the Sidi one will serve you well.

The length of the shoe does not feel as roomy as the Ergo 6. Especially under hard efforts, there felt to be a bit of my toes ramming against the front of the shoe. In fairness, this is again more likely a personal fit and geometry issue, but it does appear ‘smaller’ inside than the same size of Sidi Ergo 6 shoe. As with any shoe, I would recommend trying on carpeted floors before committing to cleat fitting and the outdoors to ensure the size is correct.

I was impressed by the new sole chassis system. Having the sole extend up the heel as a support cup gives a very planted and locked in sensation, which I am a fan of. The previous Shot 2S frame was stiff, but it never felt as connected, you had your foot on-top of the sole rather than planted into it. A big part of this greater connection is the inclusion of the new dials. Far more rugged and sturdy than the old version, they offer the same one-way adjustment but the 'hold to release system' works well to remove your foot or adjust enough to give some more room.

The better fit, stronger dials, and stiff platform together make for a greatly enhanced system stiffness. I can use this shoe for maximal efforts now and races whereas the Shot 2S just did not allow this level of stiffness overall. I have though experienced the dials giving way slightly during fairly ragged sprint efforts. I don’t feel confident knocking out 1300w efforts in these shoes, but below that 4-figure watt range there were no issues.

Another area of improvement, for the most part, is the upper. I like just how cushioned and supportive it is. This results in it being very comfortable for longer rides, as well as having some give when your feet warm up and expand slightly. The perforations help to regulate temperature, while the microfibre material is very easily wiped clean.

One element I am not so keen on is the rear clamp system. Personally, I find it superfluous. I have fairly narrow ankles, but I didn’t need it adjusted at all. It is removable, but that isn’t obviously apparent. I found as I loosened a shoe to remove the shoe, pushing on the heel could dislodge the system. Personally, I think it would be better off without this similar to the Ergo 6. But this is subjective and there may be riders who would benefit from this additional ankle support. I find the extended chassis and sole does a good job at this by itself.

Value

With updated features and technology, comes an updated price. £449 is the cost of the Sidi Shot 3, up there with the likes of the Specialized Ares 2 (£479), Giro Imperial II (£399.99), and Fizik Vega (£400). It’s still somewhat below the new ‘Super Halo’ offerings such as the Nimbl Ultimate Glide, Q36.5 Unique Pro, and Specialized S-Works Remco, all at ~£550. But it is a far heftier price than the likes of the Specialized S-Works Torch and Shimano S-Phyre RC903 which are both £350.

The issue still for the Sidi Shot 3 as a performance road shoe is the weight. The previous Shot 2S were chunky at 651g for a pair, but 566g is still significantly heavier than the QUOC M3 Air, Shimano S-Phyre RC903, or any other shoe around this price tag. I will vouch that the Sidi are potentially more comfortable from a cushioning perspective for longer days in the saddle, and do have a certain premium feel around them that others struggle to match. No loose threads or stitching in sight! But for a performance road shoe it is hard to justify opting for these over many other options that arguably offer better value for money.

Conclusion

The Sidi Shot 3 are a vast improvement over the Shot 2S. The new last, the upper materials, dials, and the sleek design are all a vast departure from Sidi of old, but propel these shoes and the range into a more sleek and modern aesthetic and functionality.

Everything about these shoes exceeds the previous model, and these are stiffer, more comfortable, and lighter. The problem however, is that there are plenty of shoes that match the performance for a significantly lower cost. These are not great value, but if you want a pair expertly crafted premium Italian cycling shoes, they are very good. If you want performance paired with value, look elsewhere.

The Quoc M Pro Lace shoes are built upon the same carbon fibre sole that has been used across the M3 Pro and Air shoes. Given we've rated these as some of the best road cycling shoes available, this bodes well. This sole features unidirectional carbon fibre, with a toe-guard, replaceable heal pad, 3-bolt cleat pattern, and additionally two small vent holes.

Construction

The big change is to the upper, which is still a TPU laminated mesh. The previous Quoc M3 Pro and Air models featured a tongueless design, where one half of the upper wrapped around the other half with the help of two adjustable dials. Now, a tongue is present, and the adjustable retention is gone in favour of laces. This has been done to reduce weight and improve aerodynamics.

The laces are non-stretch in terms of material, but there is some give due to the weave construction of the fabric on them. There are 14 eyelets, with two at the top for a secure fit. A neat feature is a fabric tab, to allow any excess lace to be tucked away.

Construction wise the same TPU toe box guard is used to avoid scuffs and damage to the shoe from tyre rub. The heel also has a reinforced cup design to offer greater retention and avoid heel slip during high power efforts.

Finally, the same vibration dampening insole has been used. This is fairly rigid, but aims to reduce road buzz and associated fatigue. There are also three different inserts to place under the arch support area to cater for a low, medium, or high arch.

Colour options are limited to white at present, with sizes available from 38 to 47 EU sizes, there are no half sizes. The claimed weight is 245g for a single EU42 shoe, while my EU45 with insole and laces was 269g per shoe.

Performance

I’m a big fan of the Quoc M shoe last. It has a fairly roomy toe box and a shoe shape that is similar to the Specialized S-Works 7 shoes, which also happen to fit me very well. Fit is always going to be subjective, but a supportive heal, good level of arch support, and a toe box that is more accommodating than most is an ideal place to start when it comes to a shoe that should suit a good array of feet.

The adjustable arch insole, featured in the M3 Pro and M3 Air shoe, remains fantastic at reducing road buzz without affecting the stiffness of the shoe platform. Meanwhile that supportive arch is stiff but in a way that provides a good level of support that I personally find a bit better than that offered by Shimano, and not far off custom insoles.

Externally the outer remains consistent in structure and design to the other shoes. It wipes clean reasonably easily, but over time some marks can appear from oil or a tyre scuff. A toe guard helps reduce the chance of this as that is more easily wiped clean. Additionally, the mesh of the M3 Air is not present, which was the area that got the dirtiest on my test shoes. Instead there are loads of perforations in the upper which work well to dissipate heat and allow some airflow in. Sole vents also help this a little further as the holes in the insoles allow air in strategically.

Other consistent features are the replaceable and nicely grippy heel pad, as well as the same 3-bolt cleat mounting with a good level of fore and aft adjustment allowing for a rearwards cleat position, something many shoe brands are moving towards more for greater ankle stability. The same carbon fibre sole is also used, and remains incredibly stiff and very able to transfer power exceptionally.

A stiff sole is only part of the system stiffness equation though. As mentioned in our Sidi Shot 2S review, the upper and retention system need to match the sole. With the Quoc M Pro Lace, there is one big change from the previous models. As the name eludes to, the dual dials are gone in favour of laces. This has been a common trend in the UCI WorldTour, both for reduced weight, and also reduced drag with or without overshoes. Even Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) has forgone his own namesake shoe in favour of lace-ups, while Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) opts for lace-up Nimbl shoes and Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) DMTs with laces.

The laces on the M Pro are an interesting one, as they sit on a middle ground between laces that are stiff with no give, and something with a bit of flex. There are 12 main eyelets for lacing, with two additional ones at the top for added support. These laces have a certain amount of stretch, whereas the Specialized S-Works Sub 6 lace-ups, which I still love, feature laces with no elastic properties or stretch. This give does result in the upper not feeling quite as stiff, but I’m not yet sure this is a bad thing. With the aforementioned Sub 6 shoes, it was easy to tighten these so much that they would pinch. With the Quoc shoes, you can really clamp them down, and then there is a natural element of slight give that allows the shoe to cradle the foot rather than clamp it down in a straitjacket.

I do find that I can feel my foot move a minuscule amount during the hardest sprint efforts, but aside from that, the support is exceptional and even very low cadence push and pull efforts did not result in my foot moving around. There was less pressure on the upper of my foot and consecutive long days on the pedals was comfortable.

Of course, laces can’t be adjusted on the fly. The reality with dial shoes though is that I hardly adjust them. I also like how easy it is to wear overshoes or oversocks with lace-up shoes. They weigh less, too, are more aero in almost every wind tunnel test I’ve conducted, and generally come in cheaper than Boa dial equipped equivalents.

Being only offered in white is a slight gripe, as I would avoid venturing out in wet weather as even the best overshoes will let some mucky water in to stain the laces grey over time. But the shoes look smart and sleek. I also love the lace holder feature, with its fabric fold that means it’s far easier to grab. It’s a tiny detail that serves one purpose, making life that little bit easier for you, and that’s great in my books.

Value

At £290 /$400, the Quoc M Pro Lace manage to undercut the rest of the M3 range by £30 thanks to dropping the dials for laces. They also manage to undercut other top-end lace up competitors, in the UK at least, such as the Nimbl Ultimate Air (£499 / $549), DMT Pogi’s Superlight (£370 / $499), Giro Empire SLX II (£329.95 / $400), and Specialized S-Works Torch Lace (£300 / $350).

They are of course by no means cheap, but for a top-end road shoe they are one of the few to drop below the £300 / $350 mark, especially given the number of WorldTour professionals that ride in these. They’re not the lightest though, at 269g per shoe; the Nimbl lace ups are an astonishing 179g per shoe, while the Giro are around 200g per shoe in a 45. However, I have to be honest and say that I didn’t really notice the weight difference. In terms of feel and retention, the Quoc are a similar level to the Nimbl, perhaps a bit less stiff for maximal efforts but a touch more comfortable for longer rides. A £200+ saving is also hugely significant.

I’d say for what the Quoc M Pro Lace offer, they are one of the better value performance lace up shoe offerings. Of course, they will need to fit your feet, so as with any cycling shoe I would recommend wearing it indoors on a carpeted floor for a good while. Get your feet warm so they expand a bit, put some solid pressure through them with some squats to feel if your foot spills at all over the sides, and make sure they feel comfortable before committing to them. If you get on with the Quoc M3 Pro or Air, the last is the same and the fit will feel identical.

One issue with them worth mentioning however is a somewhat limited size offering. If you fit into a full size that is available, you will be fine. If you are a half size or on the larger or smaller end of the spectrum, you will miss out.

Conclusion

The Quoc M Pro Lace are an impressive addition to the M line of shoes. As with all lace-up shoes, there are pros and cons to be balanced against each other. Although the M are not quite as locked in stiff or lightweight as the Nimbl Ultimate Air, they are more comfortable for long days in the saddle and the weight difference is not exactly perceivable for a lot or riding.

Where these shoes really shine are the insoles, which dampen vibration and provide great levels of arch support, and also the value of the shoes. The performance is up there with many of the best road cycling shoes, but for a price that undercuts most of the comparable competition. If you want a pair of lace up performance road shoes, these are an exceptional choice. But be sure your size is available and avoid using them in the rain.

I came into the review of the Giro Gritter gravel shoes with high hopes. The Giro Imperial II was my favourite road shoe last year and remains my go-to after a year of riding and racing. Unfortunately, the Gritter doesn’t generate the same affection.

The Gritter is a solid performer with several notable strengths. Power transfer is strong, and despite my moderate arches, I didn’t experience any hot spots or pressure points that sometimes plague me. It’s also surprisingly capable during hike-a-bike sections, offering more versatility than expected.

Where the shoe fell short for me was in the fit. One of the standout qualities of the Imperial II was its snug yet flexible feel: secure without being restrictive. The Gritter, unfortunately, lacked that same balance. Its long platform, narrow toe box and relatively structured upper made it feel less dynamic than its road counterpart, and I struggled to find the same comfort and connection.

That said, for riders with the right foot shape and the right use case, it could be a dependable and capable option.

Specs:

• Use case: Gravel racing, mountain bike racing, bikepacking
• Materials: Carbon composite and rubber sole, with a Syncwire fabric and “film” upper
• Closure: Li2 Boa Dials
• Cleat compatibility: Two bolt spd compatible
• Weight: 331 grams (size 45.5 European)
• MSRP: $435 USD/ £ 384.99

Construction, features, looks

The Gritter, as with so many other gravel shoes like the Shimano RX910, Specialized Recon, and the Quoc Gran Tourer, is a stripped-down, dual dial shoe. The tongue straddles the two rigid side panels, offering the bulk of the shoe's flexibility and adjustability.

Like the Imperial II road shoe, the Gritter uses the newly refined Li2 closure system from Boa. The Li2 uses lightweight aluminium dials with dual-direction micro-adjustments and a quick-release for a refined adjustment system. Beyond the dials, the shoe has a robust rear build, with a high heel and ankle support. The side construction is also fairly rigid, but doesn’t impact ankle mobility on the pedal stroke.

The highlight of the shoe is its sole construction. The strong carbon composite delivers excellent power transfer, while a neutral arch provides a flexible platform for most foot shapes. Adjustable insole inserts make that even more customisable. Additionally, the rubber tread along the bottom of the shoe is more robust than most other performance-driven off-road shoes on offer, providing a great platform for hike-a-bike occasions. There are plastic toe spikes as well, but I removed them because they made walking on my sleek apartment floors a bit too treacherous.

In terms of colour scheme, the Gritter comes in Light Sharkskin (an off-white), Trail Green and Black. All of the shoes have the same black rubber sole and silver dials. I tested the Light Sharskin in size 44.

The Light Sharskin is an off-white that is closer to a stone than a tan. The Giro logo is a flash of gold that complements the shoe's metallic accents, while the toe is reinforced and painted black. That makes the shoe's overall design look less cohesive, but it allows it to withstand a bit more dirt and tyre rub.

Fit & Feel

For me, the fit issues I experienced had to do with the shoe's front end and the lack of adjustability there.

Giro tries to address the fit challenges of many different foot shapes by offering shoes in half sizes, but even so, I found it lacking. For the Imperial II, I went through a few different sizes before settling on 43.5. I thought it would be the same with the Gritter. It was close, but ultimately the 43.5 seemed short. Sizing up ultimately worked better, with less toe bang overall, but the dimensions were still difficult for the front of my foot.

Ultimately, the fit issues were two-fold: 1) regardless of sizing, the toe box pinched in and was restricting; 2) with that size restriction, I had to run the larger shoe, which created wiggleroom. That wiggleroom was not just in length but also in height, and I found myself curling my toes and holding more tension in my feet than I would have preferred. I played with different sock combinations and found one that worked well, but I suffered a couple of toe blisters first.

If you have a narrow or long foot, the shoe might be a great fit, but the pinched toe box is a fairly specific design choice that some riders may find hard to work around.

Value & Verdict

With an MSRP of $425 USD, the Gritter is a high-end shoe. That price puts it in the same general range as the premium offerings from Specialized, Shimano and Fizik. Materially, the shoe is certainly on par with those, offering excellent power transfer, versatility and clean aesthetics.

Ultimately, the big variable that will determine the overall value is fit. For premium shoes, it is a big investment for a fit that I foundto be far from broadly compatible.

The Ultimate Glide are the Italian brand's most expensive offering and among the priciest road shoes you can buy. They feature many of the elements you'd expect from the best road shoes offering - stiff carbon soles, hand-made upper, Boa Li2 dials - but how did they fare out on the road?

Construction

The Nimbl Ultimate Glide shoes build upon the same carbon fibre sole platform that all of Nimbl’s road shoes use. This has been updated to a new monocoque chassis which aims to improve the power transfer and stiffness while maintaining the low stack height and fit geometry of the previous generation.

A stack height of less than 2mm is still claimed, however this new sole is not compatible with 4-bolt Speedplay mounting, something now limited to the standard Nimbl Ultimate as used by the Visma Lease-a-Bike team. That does mean the lowest pedal platform stack height combination is not available with these shoes at present.

A 3-bolt cleat attachment is still used with generous fore and aft adjustment potential, while there is both a toe tread and replaceable heel tread.

An interesting thing about the carbon sole is that it wraps up around the foot, mostly at the heel, and partially across the whole length of the sole. This is to give a 'tub like' structure to hold the foot well in place.

The largest update compared to the Ultimate is to be found in the upper. It’s a microfibre design which promises to be easy to clean while being stiff yet pliable. Whereas the Ultimate uses a classic shoe tongue design, the Glide is more akin to the Shimano S-Phyre range having the two sides wrap over each other to remove the tongue and with it the additional weight. The upper also features many small perforations to assist in temperature regulation.

Retention of the shoes is done using the latest Boa Li2 dials, which offer micro-adjustments for both tightening and loosening, with a pull to release for easy removal of your foot from the shoe. They feature a textured metal dial which is easy to grip and rotate with relatively strong amounts of force. This tightens the non-stretch laces which have one pivot point on the upper to adjust the opening size, and three pivot points on the lower section to adjust the volume of the shoe.

Claimed weight is 190g for a size 43 shoe, while the 45s on test actually came in lighter at 185g for one shoe and 368g for both, including insoles.

Sizes available are 39 to 47, with half sizes all the way across this range. Colour options are black, or white with silver dials and white with gold dials and details.

The ride

I appreciate that Nimbl has taken quite a progressive view on cleat mounting as there is a lot of fore and aft adjustment available; it’s possible to fit the cleats more towards the rear than on many shoes.

Something I’ve come to enjoy about Nimbl shoes is that they have a particularly low opening for the foot that does not extend far up the ankle. This means that getting them on is incredibly easy. Not really a performance gain outside of triathlon, but it’s nice not to need to un-lace them too much or get a shoe horn involved.

Once on, there is a slight element of unforgivingness in the stiffness of the upper, however this disappeared after about three hours of total riding time and did not reappear.

Even with such a low and open foot opening, the shoes grip on to the heel impressively well. There are no silicone dots or other gripping devices at the heel to keep it in place, rather the upper dial pulls the opening closed a touch. I found that I tended to tighten the upper dial far more than the lower one, which gave a secure fit but not a constrictive one.

Nimbl does use a wider last than many shoe offerings, but this suits me very well. The sole of the shoe extends up and wraps around the foot. This is most pronounced on the heel, while at the front it is far less. I’m a big fan of this design element as I used to use Bont shoes, but the sole extended further up the front and led to toe rub on my little toe. Nimbl use an upper that has some pliability meaning this was not an issue here.

A major benefit of this carbon sole is found in the performance. It’s incredibly light, stiff, and has a very low stack height. Low stack height has been quoted as resulting in a figure of 1% performance gain for every 1mm of stack height lost due to closer interaction between the foot and the pedal. These are very small margins, smaller than the margin of error for most testing, so I can’t confirm that. What I can confirm is that these shoes are brilliantly stiff.

Tightening the lower dial down to the max, the shoe does become a bit constrictive, but for sprinting it’s an absolute dream. Mashing the pedals in big gears at low cadences or attacking at high cadence ragged sprints, the shoes felt wonderfully connected to the bike transferring every ounce of energy to the pedals.

This sensation carried over to more prolonged efforts either seated or out of the saddle. There was no give in the shoes at any point and they always felt ready to attack. This is also likely helped by the low weight given that the feet rotate and rotational mass requires a decent amount of force to move. Spinning at a light cadence felt easy, and high capacity efforts at above 105 rpm felt almost effortless. They’re not quite as featherweight as the lace up counterpart, but they beat most of the competition when it comes to dual-Boa equipped shoes.

Initially I was cautious about the white colour of the shoes. However, the upper is very easy to wipe clean, with only the fabric inserts around the Boa laces being susceptible to lingering dirt; the black option removes this potential issue further. I also appreciate the practical aspects of toe and replaceable heel guard. It makes walking in the shoes easier and boosts longevity, especially important in a shoe that costs this much.

The shoes do lack ventilation. There are zero vent holes on the sole of the shoe, while perforations on the upper don’t do much to let cool air in. Rather, these allow some excess heat to escape, but it is a touch limited. With the wraparound design of the shoe as well, there is an overlap of fabric which can get toasty. It’s still preferable to a traditional tongue design personally, but for properly hot weather having more mesh is essential for comfort.

As with the Ultimate Air shoes I previously reviewed, I also had to change the insole out straight away. The provided one is lightweight, but offers very little support. Having a higher arch in my foot I used custom insoles, and this changed the platform stiffness and comfort massively for me.

Value

These are far away from being a value set of cycling shoes; the Nimbl Ultimate Glide are firmly in the halo category along with the likes of the Q36.5 Unique Pro and Specialized S-Works Torch Remco which both sit at the same price point. What that means is that these shoes are among the lightest, stiffest, and highest performance of cycling shoes. However, as with many items, the return on investment becomes smaller the higher you go.

In the same way that mid-range groupsets have more performance than lower end ones, they are often very close in performance terms to the top-end offerings even though the price increase is the same, or larger from the low to mid-range. That fact applies with these shoes as well, they are, objectively, a better performance road shoe than something that sits in the £300 price range.

However, the performance gap between a £200 shoe and a £300 shoe is possibly larger than the gap between a £300-350 and a £550 shoe. But that performance gap is still there. For the majority of people, a more high-end shoe, even if not halo, will offer them enough performance for most situations.

However, if you're in search of the extra percentages the Nimbl Ultimate Glide shoes are up there with the best shoes that I have had the privilege to use. Would I buy them myself? I would consider it if I was still racing at the level I once was and I had the money. But in my position now, I would likely opt for a 'cheaper' shoe that offers 95% of the performance but saves you £200. If you have the cash to splash though, you will not be disappointed with these shoes.

Nubes, the Italian word for ‘clouds’, is an entirely appropriate name for this winter shoe from Treviso-based brand Sidi. You could wear a pair when the skies are clear, the sun is bright, and drifting snow lies deep on the gravel tracks, but you’ll probably end up with frozen tootsies. They’re very low on insulation, which doesn’t inspire confidence in the face of bitterly cold weather.

Instead, these are the shoes to reach for when the weather gods deliver a thick layer of cloud cover that traps a little winter heat. You know, the murky, temperate grey days that define the UK and, increasingly, much of North America too. Days that are miserably wet and cold, yet too warm for full-on winter booties – there’s nothing worse than starting a ride feeling toasty only to end up unpleasantly sweaty.

Sidi does make a PrimaLoft-enhanced version, called the Algor, for proper cold-weather riding, which my colleague Tim Russon reviewed favourably. I’m reviewing the two-bolt SPD version of the Nubes here, but there’s also a three-bolt road version. Confusingly, Sidi and its UK distributor refer to the two-bolt shoe as both the Nubes MTB and Nubes XC, but they’re the same thing. Despite these ‘send it’-inspired names, they’re just as capable as a winter gravel shoe, as well as a marginally flexible road shoe.

Construction

The latest Nubes MTB/XC shoes have a truly minimalist aesthetic. Until recently, the shoes were dominated by a large reflective brand logo on each heel, but thanks to a recent rebrand, there’s now just a subtle Sidi logo on the upper forefoot. While I never found the previous iteration offensive, the new design does look more premium. Are they winter shoes, boots or booties? Your choice – I’ll use the terms interchangeably.

The upper is a matt-textured thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) laminate that’s branded ‘waterproof’ and feels suitably thick and durable to the touch. This is reinforced from the toecap to the heel cup with a thin yet tough rand. There’s very little stitching in evidence, with just two visible seams, one at the heel and the other just rear of the toecap. This near-seamless design should increase the likelihood that the upper remains weatherproof over the long term.

The TPU upper extends quite high over the ankle before being capped with a soft neoprene cuff. This contrasts with similarly priced rivals, such as Shimano’s MW502 and MW702 models, which have a more shoe-like upper bonded to a much taller neoprene cuff. Neither design is superior; both are a trade-off between comfort (flexibility) and weatherproofing.

The upper is sealed with a smooth-running, high-quality YKK waterproof zip that travels diagonally from forefoot to ankle. Once zipped up, the zip slider is enclosed at the top of the shoe by a hook-and-loop tab that also fastens the neoprene cuff.

The sole is a nylon-carbon composite, with chunky rubberised lugs at the heel, forefoot, and toe. The toe section is replaceable and has fixings for a pair of studs should you need more grip on super slippery CX, XC, or gravel hike-a-bike sections. Sidi awards the sole 5/12 for stiffness, which is its lowest (most flexible) rating. However, take this rating with a pinch of salt – I can barely flex the sole in my hands, neither laterally nor torsionally, so it’s far from floppy.

Unzipping reveals a fabric, shoe-like internal structure that feels as if it could be pulled from the TPU outer, but it’s actually fixed firmly in place. The entire interior is lined with micro-fibre cloth, backed with what feels like slim foam; strictly speaking, these booties are insulated, but not substantially so. The included insoles are comfy enough but fairly basic. Sidi does not include arch support pad inserts, which is a shame.

The Nubes feature a simple speed-lace system, fastened with a sprung-loaded toggle. You won’t find any Boa or Sidi Tecno dials here, but that’s no great loss. The lace channel is, however, incredibly short; a detail my co-reviewer Tim also noticed. The tongue is soft and well-padded, preventing the lace cord from biting into the instep.

Sidi has attached two nylon webbing loop straps to the front and rear of the neoprene cuff to help pull the Nubes on. The rear strap, about 12mm wide, is printed with four small reflective triangles, an essential touch now that the large reflective logo has been removed. Just below the front strap is a decent-sized patch of reflective material, but otherwise the shoe is as stealthy as it gets. Not necessarily a good look on a winter shoe.

Cleat adjustment is good, with fore-and-aft adjustment via a standard sliding metal plate integrated within the cleat channel. Unlike Sidi’s of old, there’s plenty of scope to position cleats further back if you prefer to get well behind the pedal.

The Ride

The Nubes were my go-to shoes during December and January, months cursed with plenty of rain and a little snow but also blessed with the occasional fine day. Daytime temperatures here in the Cotswolds varied from about -2°C to 11°C (28.4°F to 51.8F), so quite a range. Overall, both months were characterised by mild, wet weather with above average rainfall. Perfect conditions for the Nubes.

I try to avoid riding in temperatures below 2°C (35.6°F) because my narrow local lanes, often shaded by high hedges and tree cover, become cruelly booby-trapped with numerous patches of black ice. This low limit is a perfect test for the Nubes; cold but not severe enough to worry a brass monkey.

Pulling the boots on is easy thanks to the webbing loops and short lace channel; the latter provides a cavernous hole in which to slip a foot. Unfortunately, the limited run of laces only really secures the forefoot; they have very little purchase on the upper mid-foot. The zip closure does a great job of sealing the TPU outer shell, but that’s all it does; it doesn’t provide any tension, and neither does the hook-and-loop on the neoprene cuff. This means there’s no way to adjust the fit around the upper mid-foot and ankle; it is what it is.

When reviewing the closely related Sidi Algor, Tim Russon found this a real issue because the cuffs refused to seal around his ‘skinny ankles’ – his description, not mine. My ankles must be as slender as Tim’s because I’m also left with a sizeable gap around the top of the boot. This is not a problem when riding in fair weather on wet roads, when all the boots have to do is fend off spray. However, in downpours, rain runs directly into the boots. Layering the hem of my riding trousers or bib tights over the top of the shoe will ordinarily fix this problem – at least in light showers – but the oversized width of the neoprene cuff makes this hard to accomplish. What’s more, after a dozen pedal strokes, the hem inevitably rides up, breaking the makeshift seal. Trying to ease a tight latex gaiter over the top of the boot is more effective, but still feels precarious.

This isn’t necessarily a design fault; it’s a trade-off. Layering bibs over the top of a shoe like the Shimano MW502 is much easier because it’s essentially a winter shoe with an attached tall neoprene gaiter that fastens tightly around the ankle. However, the neoprene gaiter isn’t as robust or weatherproof as Sidi’s extended TPU upper. Both designs have their pros and cons – so, in the end, it comes down to personal choice. I don’t commute and can generally choose when I ride, which means most of my winter miles are on wet roads, ridden on rain-free days. If you commute or train hard in all weathers, you’ll probably want a shoe that’s less bulky over the ankle and seals more effectively at the cuff. Let’s be realistic, though – no shoe will ever be totally rain-proof.

Tim also commented that the lack of security at the midfoot promoted heel lift during sections of hike-a-bike. I haven’t found this to be an issue. If anything, the short lace run and loose cuff liberate my ankles, enabling a more natural gait, which is a good thing both on and off the bike.

In my experience, the Nubes are very comfortable to walk in, with just enough flex to allow the foot to roll naturally. The rubber lugs inspire confidence on damp babyheads, as well as on wet café floors, and are spaced generously enough to clear mud well. In the saddle, it rarely occurred to me that the soles felt a little less stiff than I’m used to with my super-stiff carbon-soled summer shoes. I can’t provide comparative power numbers (life’s too short!), but I can tell you that the soles on my giant size 48s are stiff enough to spread the load evenly across the entire metatarsal area. When wearing soft-soled shoes, I can easily feel where the small SPD pedal interfaces with the sole, which, on longer rides, can lead to a hotspot. That’s not the case with the Nubes. Talking of comfort, these shoes feature Sidi’s ‘Millennium’ last, which means they’re not only true to size – quite a departure for Sidi – but also wider in the forefoot and toe box. So, there’s no need to size up a full size, as you may have done in the past.

That said, even if you prefer your summer shoes on the tight side, I recommend choosing a slightly more relaxed fit for winter riding. Looser fit improves circulation, keeping your feet warmer. Everyone is different, but I found the Nubes perfectly serviceable at 2°C (35.6°C), so much so that I wouldn’t hesitate to wear them in conditions a few degrees cooler. At the other end of the scale, my feet were getting pretty warm while climbing hills at 7°C (44.6°F), but not uncomfortably so. I suspect they would have been unbearably hot in insulated boots.

Value and conclusions

It’s easy to chase the numbers when choosing cycling gear, yet we should focus on the relevant use case. At a glance, ‘stiffer’ and ‘more insulated’ seem like positive attributes, but both qualities will work against us in the wrong conditions. In the UK and other temperate regions, there’s little call for super-warm shoes that will keep you toasty down to -5°C (23°F) and below. Most of us rarely see that kind of weather, and few of us will venture out in it on two wheels. I believe 2°C to 7°C (35.6°F to 44.6°F), give or take, is a much more realistic weather window for most riders, and a sweet spot for the Nubes.

Unless you're racing, I see little need for ultra-stiff winter shoes. Gravel trails in January will be wetter, muddier and altogether more technical than in June, which means more hike-a-bike for most riders. You’re going to want a pair of shoes you can walk in.

On that note, I recommend SPDs for winter road rides too, unless performance is absolutely critical. Café stops tend to be more frequent in the colder months, as are mechanicals and punctures, so you’re likely to spend extended time on your feet. It’s dull, I know, but SPDs are just more practical in horrid conditions. SPD pedals are usually better built to withstand abuse, and their cleat/pedal interface clears mud and road grime more easily.

The Nubes cost £174/$219, which isn’t small change, but, sadly, these days it’s considered inexpensive for a winter shoe. Shimano’s entry-level, but very good MW502 shoes are in a similar ballpark at £149.99/$225. The Nubes feel a little more robust, but the MW502s seal better around the ankle.

Lake makes some of the best winter shoes on the market, but its most comparable shoe, the MX146 is considerably more expensive at £225/$. It’s a fine shoe though, with a much better closure system than the Nubes or the MW502.

The obvious alternative is Sidi’s own Algor, which is near-identical but features Thinsulate insulation, which I’d argue limits its usefulness. To extend the Nubes’ operating range, you can always add warmer socks and a Thinsulate insole, but if this solution appeals to you, consider sizing up.

Finally, winter shoes are heavily discounted in the New Year, so you may be able to pick up a pair for as little as £100/$140, which is great value.

Humility is a key part of transparency, so I’ll start with a confession: I’m very picky about how my cycling shoes look.

I’ve long suspected I’m a bit of a sneakerhead when it comes to bike footwear, though I never really examined why until I began digging deeper into cycling shoes as a journalist. Before that, I simply bought what fit and, whenever possible, chose white, without ever articulating a solid reason.

Once I started scrutinising shoes professionally, I realised just how much aesthetics mattered to me. I’d catch myself glancing down mid-ride, oddly preoccupied with the shoes spinning beneath me, feeling surprisingly strong opinions about what I saw.

That fixation finally felt justified when I began testing Quoc’s gravel and mountain bike race model, the Gran Tourer XC. That’s not to downplay performance; power transfer and comfort are fundamental aspects of a cycling shoe. But thankfully, the Gran Tourer XC delivered as a performance shoe, and not just a good-looking shoe.

Still, I can’t escape the central takeaway I keep returning to: I think it’s incredibly beautiful. And in this case, that feels worth leading with. Now, onto the gritty details.

Specs

• Use case: Gravel racing, MTB XCO and Marathon Racing, and Ultra-distance
• Materials: Carbon composite and TPU sole with a microfiber upper
• Closure: Proprietary dials
• Cleat compatibility: two bolt
• Weight: 327 grams
• MSRP: $ 310 USD/ £ 240 UK/ € 275 Euro

In use

The Quoc Gran Tourer XC is the newest iteration of Quoc’s long-running Gran Tour shoe line. That model preceded most people’s relationship with the Quoc brand, but for many bike packers and gravel adventure riders from the early days of the gravel wave – read 2020 – the shoe was a very popular do-it-all shoe.

At its origin, the Gran Tourer prioritised adventure capacity over high performance, with big rubber lugs for hiking and a robust construction that offered a mix of comfort and support at the expense of breathability and weight savings.

In the intervening five years, the demands of a gravel shoe have changed significantly, and the Gran Tourer XC is the brand's answer to those changes, with some pretty significant influences from its innovations on the road side.

Quoc still has the Grand Tourer II available with its more classical configuration. That shoe's sole has a bit more flex and a more robust rubber tread. The Gran Tourer XC takes the adventurous spirit of that shoe and pairs it with a stiffer carbon-composite sole and a lighter overall construction.

The Gran Tourer XC is available in both a laced version and one featuring Quoc’s proprietary dials. The upper is on the robust side of the spectrum, but it is flexible enough to wrap around a variety of foot shapes. There are also several inserts to accommodate high, low or neutral arches. Additionally, the heel is tall enough to provide a secure heel cup, but doesn’t run so high that it cuts into my ankle, which is a problem I run into fairly frequently.

In terms of colours and look, the Gran Tourer XC is available in six colourways, and I tested the sand and pink option. The black-and-white rubber sole, in particular, is a bold swing that frames the upper's light colour. Altogether, that colour scheme is the one that put this shoe’s fashionable quality to the forefront of my takeaways.

Beyond the construction and the look, the Quoc Gran Tourer XC is a rock-solid performance gravel race shoe. Finding the right balance of structure and breathability for the upper of a gravel shoe is tricky. I have found that to be a real challenge in the off-road shoe market, but Quoc does a really great job making it very comfortable and decently breathable.

It might not be the best Arizona summer shoe, for instance, but for now it pairs very well with a variety of socks, all while offering a nice, roomy toe box and a snug 360-degree fit when pedalling.

Stiffness is also a line the Gran Tourer XC walks deftly along, with a stiff sole that doesn't cause discomfort on bumpy roads and trails. It isn’t the most still off-road shoe I have used, but then again, for everyday riding, I find that to be a pro, not a con. For part of my testing, I paired the shoes with the Wolf Tooth DEL gravel pedals, which made the overall system feel more connected to the pedals.

Value & Verdict

Unfortunately for the consumer, the $310 USD price tag struck me as a pretty good deal. Yes, at $310 it's still an expensive shoe, especially given that I’ve found cycling shoes tend to have a two-year lifespan at most with consistent riding. But the shoe market, in particular, has become expensive fairly quickly.

Nevertheless, the Gran Tourer is a premium shoe with premium, high-fashion looks. In that regard, it still feels like solid value.

All things considered, I’ve loved the Quoc Gran Tourer XC, and there’s a strong likelihood they’ll remain my gravel race shoe until something truly better comes along. For racers, whether you’re lining up for gravel or cross-country mountain bike events, this is a standout option at a price that, while high, feels justified.

Lake is the cycling shoe brand for riders who take fit seriously; the North American marque is fanatical about matching shape with sport, and the CX239 is a road going option for those who want performance, but not at the expense of comfort.

Having worn the competition ready CX403’s during my racing career, I opted to try the CX239 after experiencing foot pain following the birth of my second child. Whilst my feet needed time to recover and become stronger in the long run, the shoes provided a soft enough platform in the interim, without shocking the system by sacrificing the solid hold required for harder efforts.

Design and specification

Lake is a brand that loves to talk about fit, and more importantly, lasts - the ‘last’ effectively being the template used to design the shoe around. The CX239 uses what Lake calls its ‘CX/TX Competition Last’, this centres around a roomier fit than the ‘Race’ last used on the CX403 I’ve tested in the past, giving a greater degree of wiggle room at the toe box, but without going to the level of unconstrained comfort you might find on an all out endurance shoe, where the heel cup and toe box will provide a more relaxed hold.

As mentioned, I was looking to swap my cycling shoes having developed foot pain after my second pregnancy, more specifically, a morton’s neuroma which is the thickening of a nerve between two toes. The condition is exacerbated (and sometimes even caused) by narrow shoes; whilst mine was caused by a combination of pregnancy weight, relaxin hormone and high arches, I was seeking a shoe that would let my toes move to avoid aggravating it. I was measured up for the shoes by bike fitter Paul Drake at Maison du Velo, a Lake dealer based in Reigate, Surrey, visiting a few weeks later to pick up the shoes and have some custom Sidas insoles moulded.

Sliding my foot in, I could feel a greater amount of depth immediately. Lake does also offer wider fit shoes, if required, too, but these weren’t deemed necessary at my fitting. My research into morton’s neuroma cures has led me to explore “foot shaped” and “barefoot” shoes, where the toe box is the widest point of the shoe; the CX239 is absolutely not that, the barefoot revolution is yet to truly take hold within mainstream cycling brands, but the shoes did still provide enough space to avoid flaring up the condition, for me. My new test for shoe fit is to wiggle my toes, if they can’t freely flutter about, they’re no good - and these just about passed. Feet being the very beginning of the power transfer journey, it’s important both for injury avoidance and speed that they’re not compromised, another reason I chose to bolster the fit with custom insoles as an add-on.

The latest version of the longstanding CX239 utilises an integrated tongue, creating a "firmer foot hold” according to Lake, and also reducing possible hotspots or areas for chafing. Lake makes the shoe with a choice of either a Premium leather or a Clarino Microfiber and mesh upper; I had the leather which felt extremely soft and supple.

The heel features a fibreglass reinforcement, thus a strong hold to avoid movement and slipping. In the past, I’ve worn the custom moulded CX403 shoes, which use carbon, and the fibreglass of the CX239 provides a nice middle ground between the very sprint friendly carbon of the CX403 and a standard heel cup.

The outsole is entirely carbon, as you’d expect at this price, with particularly detailed markings to aid cleat fitment. Lake has used Boa’s Li2 dials which offer micro adjustment in both directions. The heel pads are replaceable, with Lake selling these on its website for £12.

In the past, Lake shoes have suffered slightly for being a little ‘dumpy’ looking, for want of a kinder more eloquent term. This aesthetic is probably born of its focus on fit and thus wider lasts - there’s a reason fashion shoes are shaped very differently to natural, human feet. However, the brand has been working hard on this shortcoming. Whilst visuals come down to personal preference, I reckon these pass the aesthetics test, but aren’t quite as slick as competition from the likes of Specialized S-Works Torch’s and Shimano’s S-Phyres. Personally, after months of pain and rehab, I’d opt for greater fit over beauty, any day.

The CX239 shoes dropped onto the scales at 262g each in a size 39. That’s more than the average, and for comparison my S-Works Torch shoes came in at 225g. However, again, fit overcomes weightweenism for me at the moment, and that’s likely the case for many other recreational riders.

Performance

I’ve tested the CX239’s both indoors and out on the road. Having been a competitive road racer in the past, being now mum to a toddler and an 8 month old, I’ve not found the time, energy or motivation to return to this level, and a lot of my miles take place within Zwift’s virtual worlds, but chance outdoor rides have offered the opportunity to test the likes of breathability.

The most standout characteristics of the CX239 have to be the blend of soft upper, roomier toe box and more supple heel cup, when compared with the top end race option. These features might give the picture of a shoe which won’t provide a stable base for high powered efforts, but that’s not the case, with the carbon sole and heel cup providing plenty of opportunity for power transfer during interval sessions and outdoor sprints. Unlike the CX403 race shoes, I found these comfortable off the bike, too, thanks to that little extra slackness around the heel and mid foot.

The shoes come with a standard, flat insole with no added support. However, this is mirrored across the competition, and there’s not much alternative as any added support needs to be suited to the rider’s foot; it’s a bit like handlebar width, pedal and saddle choice always being an upgrade on any bike purchase.

Value

Lake is a performance brand, and its prices reflect that. The CX239 comes in at £300/$359.99. Whilst evidently a considered purchase, this is pretty much in line with similar offerings from other brands on the market. I found seeking an obvious comparison quite difficult, Specliazed’s S-Works Torch costs £350/$499.99, but is a race shoe, and Bont (often a favourite amongs those after a wider fit) jumps its line from £179.95 to £379.95. Most offerings in this realm are the brand’s ‘top end race’ choice, whilst Lake has the custom moulded CX403 for that, at £450/$599.99 As long as you don’t mind the slightly higher weight vs competition, Lake’s price point is fair within the market.

Verdict

The best cycling shoes for you will be dictated by your goals on the bike as well as the shape of your foot, and your budget - but I can see why these are Lake’s bestseller, hitting a middle ground that will appeal to riders who want to win the club run sprint, but aren’t prepared to forgo an easy walk at the coffee stop, either. If you’re after a shoe that feels fast but doesn’t sacrifice comfort at the altar of competition, you could be on to a winner with these.

Sidi is one of the best-known shoe brands out there, and there was a time when it was the only footwear to be seen in. Times change, however and in recent years it has started to be overtaken by others, in part due to its polarising narrow fit

This is now changing, with a new last in use and the Hiemx is part of this 'comeback'. We have previously tested the Sidi Nix, a similar shoe designed for road use in winter, but could the mtb version make for the ideal all-season gravel boot?

Construction

The first thing you notice is the styling; it's far from the usual Sidi formula and features a mix of subtle, earthy green tones and a very modern-looking matte finish. They are ankle-high boots and feature a flap covering the tongue and retention system section, made from robust rip-stop material, which is joined to an ankle cover. All of this is designed to keep mud and water out of the shoe. I had the black and green olive colourway on test, though they come in three other colour options.

The upper combines a mix of reinforced textile, TPU, and a Gore-Tex ePE membrane. The membrane is designed to be both waterproof and breathable, and it’s paired with a soft, fleece-lined Gore-Tex liner to help keep your feet warm. Much like a waterproof walking boot, there are no gaps between the tongue and the rest of the shoe, though it is a flexible and reasonably soft material, so it shouldn't bunch up and cause discomfort when you tighten up the retention dial.

Regarding retention, the Hiemx utilises the Italian brand's long-established high-density dial System with Dyneema cables, which provides a precise and secure closure. It’s easy to adjust the fit, and the dials hold tight even when the shoes are muddy or wet, and though it looks similar to the ubiquitous Boa system, it works in a slightly different way; you turn the dial to tighten, and press the two side buttons to release. There's no way to make minor adjustments with the release mechanism, so it's a case of releasing the pressure and retightening as required, which is easy to do, even in full finger gloves, thanks to the little flip panel, which makes closure easy to do on the move.

The X2NC sole blends nylon and glass fibre for stiffness, which Sidi gives an arbitrary rating of seven. I say arbitrary, as there's no standard for shoes, but it provides a good indication of where it fits in a range that goes up to 12. The outsole is much grippier than older race-style Sidi mtb shoes, with a soft-feeling material and replaceable toe caps. The boot also features a reinforced toe section, making for a robust boot that should stand up to plenty of off-road hammer.

Weight, fit and sizing

My shoes weighed in at 482g each in size 44, making them mid-weight for a winter mtb shoe and lighter than the Sidi Algor, which has more insulation and is designed for colder temperatures. To be honest, though, weight isn't one of the key criteria for me in a boot designed for dealing with the elements; still, the fact that they aren't super heavy does make them a more versatile option compared to heavier-duty winter boots.

Sizing is an area that Sidi has often been criticised for in the past, offering shoes in long, traditional Italian-style narrow lasts, which were efficient and very supportive, but only if, like Cinderella, you could get them on. The Hiemx features its latest Millennium fit, which means they are wider with a roomier toe box. I found them to fit well with no unwanted movement or rubbing, and the fleecy lining gives the boot a snug feeling. Although there is only one closure, it closes up nicely and provides ample support, not quite as locked-in feeling as a pure race shoe, but much better than other winter boots I've used.

Sidi offers the Hiemx in sizes ranging from 40 to 48, but not in half sizes, unlike its racier offerings or different widths, such as those from brands like Lake. They came up true to size, too. I'm generally a 44 in most brands, and that was the case here as well. The insoles were well-shaped for me, with a medium arch height that suits my feet. However, if you have particularly flat feet or high arches, you may want to invest in something more tailored to your specific needs.

The ride

When first putting the shoes on, they feel a little stiff, but they soften up nicely after a few rides. They aren't as easy to get on as a normal shoe; the higher ankle makes it a touch more difficult, but not enough to be a problem and pulling on the loop at the back really helps. In fact, I'd take the extra second or so to get them on if that means warm, dry feet anytime.

The retention system does a good job of closing the boot around your foot, creating a snug fit. On the first few rides, I was aware of slight bunching on the tongue section, but this eased off after time. The velcro cover does a good job of keeping mud and water out, and tightens down well, though it's worth making sure you press the velcro closure down along the length of the flap to ensure it stays in place. The high ankle is pliable and comfortable, and fits ok. The Velcro flap tightens it up a little when you close the main flap, but I would prefer it to tighten a bit more to achieve a closer fit and keep water out.

Out on the trails, the HiemX is instantly comfortable. The fit is secure and supportive without feeling overly tight, and the fleece-lined upper keeps feet warm up to around 12-14°C, making it ideal for autumn, winter, and early spring UK rides. The shoes handle damp or frosty conditions well, though, as you would expect, they are less suited to hot summer days.

The combination of a stiff sole and snug fit gives a confident pedal feel, with efficient power transfer and minimal foot movement. Over nine months of testing in all sorts of weather and trail conditions, I found them to be durable and comfortable across a surprising range of temperatures and weather.

It's the versatility of the Hiemx that I really like, especially for early morning or evening rides, or for when the trails are a bit damp. The extra height on the ankle and the Gore-Tex lining keep most of the water out (Some will always come down your shins in a downpour and into the shoe), and for splashing through puddles and general off-road riding, they keep you warm and drier than you would be in a racier shoe. They feel efficient and not too heavy either, which means they feel much like a regular shoe on the bike, too.

Value and Conclusion

At £299.99 / $344.99, the Sidi HiemX MTB shoes are priced at a premium, but the quality of build and the versatility of performance justify the cost for me. They offer a great fit, durability, and comfort across a broad range of temperatures, making them a solid choice for UK riders who encounter varying weather conditions. I've found that I use them a lot more than I expected, and for much more of the year than a really heavy-duty winter boot.

Overall, the Sidi HiemX shoes are ideal for riding in cooler to mild temperatures and will comfortably see you through most of the year’s riding, excluding the hottest summer days. If you're the sort of rider who likes to get off-road, whatever the weather, year-round, then these could be the shoes you didn't know you needed.

Super-lightweight and the best cycling shoes come loaded with some heavyweight claims and price tags. Sporting the catchy marketing slogan ‘The world’s lightest for the world’s fastest’, a pair of Specialized S-Works Torch Remco cycling shoes can be yours for the princely sum of £549/$699.99. Shaped with input from the great man himself, each shoe weighs just 148.2g (size 41), making them, according to Specialized, ‘the new benchmark for performance in the high mountains’.

Pity poor Pogačar. His £531/$759.99 special-edition DMT Pogis Superlight TDF Limited kicks weigh in at a comparatively elephantine 195g, albeit for a slightly larger size 42. I’m joking, of course. That’s still very light, but does shoe weight really matter? Do these staggering prices buy measurable performance gains, or are the claims as lightweight as the shoes?

To discover whether I’d be just as fast in more budget-friendly road shoes weighing 200 grams more and costing hundreds less – a pair of DMT KR4s or Specialized Torch 2.0s, for example – I enlisted the help of Steve Haake OBE, Professor of Sports Engineering at Sheffield Hallam University. For this exercise, we’re concerned only with weight, assuming that fit is optimal and sole stiffness is uniform across the board. First, let’s look at how a reduction in system weight influences performance before moving on to the effect at the crank.

Flat out

If you ride in the low-lying English Fens or the flatlands of southern Florida, your progress is unlikely to be troubled too much by gravity. “Pushing down on the pedals allows you to accelerate and reach your cruising speed after a few seconds,” says Professor Haake. “Push down harder at the beginning, and you accelerate faster, either reaching a higher speed in the same amount of time, or the same speed in less time. This is the essence of Newton’s Second Law, which says that the acceleration of a mass is proportional to the force applied to it, i.e. the greater the force, the greater the acceleration.”

The Law also establishes that acceleration is inversely proportional to mass, which means that a 7kg climbing bike will accelerate twice as easily as a 14kg commuter stalwart.

“Halving the mass doubles the acceleration,” confirms Professor Haake. “If we assume that the total mass of you and your bike is 80 kg, then dropping 200 grams (0.2 kg) is a reduction in mass of 0.25%. For the same force, you should accelerate 0.25% faster.”

If, like me, you find it challenging to visualise the real-world impact of small percentages like these, don’t worry. Dr Richard Lukes, one of Professor Haake’s PhD students, has developed a time-trial model that reveals the only metric most of us care about – how many bike lengths a lighter pair of shoes will move us closer to the podium.

“The model begins with a standing start before proceeding 2 km or 4 km around a velodrome track¹,” explains Professor Haake. “Dr Lukes has included everything in the model: the aerodynamic drag, the mass of the rider and the bike, the frame’s efficiency, even the banking and the scrubbing of the tyres as the cyclist corners. The combined mass of the rider, bike and all components was 80 kg; and a power profile from an anonymous Olympic cyclist, delivered via an SRM crank, was used to estimate the propulsive force of an elite cyclist over time.”

At 80kg, the modelled cyclist took 2 minutes 11.56 seconds to ride 2km. Removing 200 grams reduced this time to 2 minutes 11.53 seconds, a difference of only 0.03 seconds. Why such a small difference? Surely there should be a 0.25% improvement in performance?

“The key here,” Professor Haake points out, “is that only a small portion of the ride has acceleration – the 10 seconds or so at the beginning. After this, the rider is at a steady state with their propulsive force counterbalanced by wind resistance and the rolling resistance of the tyres, plus a little energy lost in the frame, bearings and crankset. These forces are unaffected by a change in mass.”

Because the acceleration phase was only about 7% of the ride, and the mass changed by only 0.25%, it’s little surprise that this modest weight reduction changed the time by a mere three hundredths of a second.

“Bear in mind,” reminds Professor Haake, “that this elite athlete was travelling at around 35 mph (15.6 meters per second), so three hundredths of a second was actually equivalent to 18 inches (45 cm) on the finishing line - still enough to win Olympic gold rather than silver.”

Uphill battle

As cyclists are well aware, the world is not flat, and many of us are more likely to find ourselves climbing Lakeland fells and French Alps than orbiting level velodromes. Put bluntly, cycling uphill kills speed because a small proportion of your weight pulls you back down the slope.

“A slope of only two degrees (equivalent to a 1 in 30 gradient) produces a backwards force equivalent to around 3.3% of your weight,” explains Professor Haake. “We can add this slope to our track model so that the rider goes up a gently sloping helix that rises about 20 feet (6.7m) each lap, like the on-ramp of a car park. The time for 2 km is now 2 minutes 57.01 seconds, 45 seconds slower than on the flat. Taking 200 grams off our weight reduces our time by 17 hundredths of a second to 2 minutes 56.84 seconds, equivalent to around 9 feet (2.6 m) at the finish.”

That’s a significant distance, a couple of bike lengths or more. When cycling up hills, mass is clearly important for cyclists with Olympian levels of skill and fitness.

A bit of a letdown

So, what happens when you cycle down the other side of the hill? The small component of force that was dragging you back down the hill on the ascent also acts to pull you down the hill, albeit in the desirable direction.

“If we have the same two-degree slope but downwards,” says Professor Haake, “our virtual 2 km time trial that took 2 minutes 11.56 seconds on the flat now takes only 1 minute 45.91 secs, 25 seconds faster.”

Hold on, if cycling up a two-degree slope costs us 45 seconds, why is it that riding down the same slope doesn't gain us the same amount of time?

“It’s because aerodynamic drag is proportional to velocity squared, so that increasing speed by a third, say, increases the aerodynamic drag by 77%,” says Professor Haake. “Basically, you don't get back going down the slope what you put in going up it. If we now take off our 200 grams, we don't go quite as fast down the slope because the component of weight down the hill is smaller. This adds two hundredths of a second more to do the 2 km.”

When cycling down hills, reducing mass has less of an effect because aerodynamic drag is dominant, as you are going so much faster. If we make our hilly track model an out-and-back course, losing 200 grams still yields an overall performance gain, but this is slightly diminished by the downhill penalty.

Shoes are expensive, torque is cheap

What about the rotation of the crank? Ah, that old chestnut. There’s nothing quite like the seductive sensation of slipping on a pair of featherweight cycling shoes before stepping towards your bike. They feel as light as silk slippers. Surely, the lower mass at the end of the cranks will make it easier to turn the pedals?

“Well, there is an equivalent version of Newton's Second Law for rotation that applies in this situation,” explains Professor Haake, “where linear acceleration becomes rotational acceleration and force becomes torque. It says that rotational acceleration is proportional to the torque, with torque defined as the force down at the pedals multiplied by the distance from the axle. Applying more force at the pedal increases the torque, which in turn increases the rotational acceleration of the pedals. As before, the rotational acceleration is also inversely proportional to mass: doubling the mass halves the acceleration.

“However, all of this only matters when the rotation is accelerating. Once up to speed, the continued input of just the pedals and cranks is only counteracted by a little bit of air resistance and energy losses in the bearings, which isn't affected by mass. The acceleration phase is really short, possibly only a few rotations, as we tend to ride at the same cadence if we can. This means the overall effect will be small.”

In fact, the effect is so negligible that Professor Haake predicts the influence of a 100-gram drop in mass at each pedal will be barely measurable. To demonstrate how quickly your chainset reaches and sustains speed, he suggests removing the chain and turning the pedals by hand.

“They get up to speed pretty quickly and stay rotating for quite some time because well-maintained bearings are really efficient. You can strap heavy weights to the pedals, such as a bidon of water, and try again. It's more difficult to accelerate the pedals, but you still get up to speed after just a few revolutions, and if you take your hand away, they rotate for even longer. The acceleration phase is very small.”

So, if the effect at the crank barely registers, the only advantage of super-lightweight pedals is the reduction in overall system weight.

A small piece of the puzzle

Although some brands are guilty of shouting about shoe weight when, for most cyclists, it barely deserves a whisper, I’m happy to concede that there’s more to premium shoes than less mass. Greater development time and expertise will have been invested into a pair of Specialized S-Works Torch Remco shoes than into its budget stablemate, the Specialized Torch 2.0. It will be better made from finer, high-tech materials and will be entirely focused on performance – adding lightness is just part of the story, it just happens to make a great headline because competitive cyclists are obsessed with weight.

“Cycling is somewhat unique in that we are all able to access the cutting edge of technology, the exact same products that the professionals are racing with that season,” says George Huxford, Senior Marketing Manager, Fizik. “Weight is only one of the performance goals that pros and teams set for us – stiffness for power transfer, breathability, fit and anatomic function are all factors that our top-end footwear seeks to maximise. It’s these pro-level performance pieces that we then make available to riders and that you see at the top end of our product ranges.”

Huxford has a point. Regardless of how many competitive cyclists need top-end footwear, there’s plenty of demand from amateurs who want to look and feel the part. Cutting 100 grams from each side of the bottom bracket may not provide the kind of performance advantage many of us are capable of exploiting, but the confidence boost it provides may be enough to power a broad grin on every ride, if not a podium position.

“We believe that cyclists and designers share the view that great design is the effort to remove anything that is not required to support performance,” Huxford continues. “The removal of any excess weight, detail or distraction is key to how we evaluate our products. Unnecessary weight materially holds riders back from achieving their maximum performance, and any Fizik product is built to do the exact opposite.”

Conclusion

“The mass of cycling shoes does have an effect on cycling performance,” concludes Professor Haake, “although it's pretty negligible. This is due to changes in the overall mass of the bike rather than the rotation about the crank axle.”

As it happens, Specialized’s marketing slogan – ‘The world’s lightest for the world’s fastest’ – couldn’t be more apt. If you’re not among the world’s fastest riders – I’m happy to restrict that further to just sprinters and climbers – then super-lightweight shoes should hold little appeal. Frankly, there’s a long list of other performance enhancements to invest in first, including the less glitzy stuff that often gets overlooked, such as nutrition, sleep and coaching.

However, if wearing the very best – the absolute pinnacle of current cycling shoe goodness – brings you joy, then I get it. I’m all for choice, provided these hero products don’t drive costs up for the rest of us. It does, of course, go without saying that shoe fit and comfort must trump weight, no matter how much you’ve convinced yourself that you need the lightest shoes available.

References

1. Richard Lukes, John Hart and Steve Haake, An analytical model for track cycling. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part P: Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology, Volume 226, Issue 2, June 2012, Pages 143-151

Let’s get one thing out of the way first. Sidi promotes this shoe as mountain bike attire – XC to be specific – but it’s just as capable as a gravel shoe, which is why you’ll find it gracing both sections of the brand’s website. So, if you see it elsewhere, described as the MTB Aertis, don’t worry; you’ve found the correct shoe, despite the ambiguous name.

In fact, Sidi also makes a near-identical shoe for roadies, called the Prima. The only difference is the sole – smooth and three-bolt ready on the Prima, vs knobbly and SPD compatible on the Aertis. If your road cycling is focused more on coffee stops than celerity, this shoe is the more satisfying solution for frequent café raids and the inevitable comfort breaks that follow. It’s the shoe I chose to wear when I crossed France earlier this year, which gives some insight into our itinerary.

Construction

Sidi has a reputation for making elaborate-looking shoes – its flagship Shot 25 model, for example, features a multitude of fabric panels, dials, and an externally adjustable heel retention system. In contrast, the svelte Aertis is noticeably minimalist.

A single large swath of suede-effect Politex material envelopes the top of the foot, augmented only by a Politex reinforcement patch on the toe box and a rubber backstay strip at the heel. The upper, which bears a single Sidi logo and a series of subtle stripes on the wrap-over closure, is perforated from heel to toe box for ventilation. Other than these modest embellishments, it’s completely unadorned. To further aid ventilation, the tongue is made from soft, cushioned, open-cell mesh.

A lightly padded collar and heel counter are upholstered in microfibre cloth of contrasting colour, in my shoes' case, a lemony yellow, which gives the relatively sombre khaki Politex upper a visual kick. It is, of course, the broad, vivid lime-coloured, mesh-like hook and loop strap that really pops. It’s a chief component of Sidi’s Firmor closure system, which the brand says provides superior lateral support and foot stability.

The upper closure features a rotary dial, not Boa’s ubiquitous Fit System, but Sidi’s own, proprietary Techno 3 alternative. Sidi’s tech, which first appeared in the late 1980s, predates Boa’s by at least a decade, and has advanced through several iterations since then. It differs from Boa’s dials in that it’s ratcheted closed via a little pop-up flap, and released by pressing two tiny tabs on each side of the barrel. Pressing each tab in turn micro-adjusts the closure tooth, by tooth. Additionally, Sidi’s laces are made from Dyneema, rather than coated steel, for lightness and flexibility.

The gloss black nylon sole has large sticky rubber tread blocks located at the heel and either side of the cleat channel. There’s also a smaller, replaceable, rubber tread block at the toe, and a large, rubberised Sidi logo running through the midfoot. Sidi rates the sole as six out of a possible twelve for rigidity, with five being the least stiff. I know, it doesn’t make much sense to me either, but suffice to say that while it’s quite possible to flex my size 48 shoes with my hands, flip-flops they are not.

The four two-bolt cleat mounting points have generous fore and aft travel, providing plenty of adjustment options. Sidi once had a reputation for setting cleat plates too far forward, but there’s ample opportunity here to get as much behind the pedal as you need.

Weight is a respectable 415g each in size 48. That’s a large size, so to bring some perspective, my similarly sized carbon-soled Shimano RX8 gravel race shoes weigh 325g each. However, they aren’t as comfortable or stable off the bike.

The Ride

The Aertis has been my go-to shoe for endurance and gravel rides this summer, both long, multi-day escapades and short evening dashes before sundown. All-in-all, I must have covered well over 2,500 miles wearing them, including the majority of outings on my XC bike – they really are that versatile.

Historically, Sidi’s fit has been notoriously short and narrow, issues addressed by its recently introduced Millennium last. Unfortunately, the Aertis’ last predates the Millennium, but I tend to size up by default, so, under normal riding conditions, my size 48s fit snugly, but comfortably enough. I did experience tightness across the forefoot as my feet swelled in the oven-like conditions of southern France, so a smidgen more space would have been welcome. Strangely, despite the discomfort, I don’t remember my feet feeling ridiculously hot during those 38°C Provençal afternoons, so the perforations in the upper and the mesh tongue must have been doing their job.

The sole is far from rigid, but that’s no bad thing for lively, explorative gravel rides, where a bit of unforeseen hike-a-bike is, in hindsight, rarely a surprise; and for long endurance rides that inevitably include at least one extended break for refuelling (aka lunch, for the non-cyclists among us). A little bit of flex helps tremendously with walking because it enables the foot to roll naturally and, more importantly, reduces the risk of suffering painful blisters induced by heel lift.

That said, my large feet don’t care for excessive flex because SPD pedals are too small a platform to support them unless the sole provides a stiff enough base to distribute the force on the downstroke. I believe Sidi has struck the right balance with the Aertis. I wasn’t overly aware of the small outline of the pedals pressing into my feet; I suffered no hotspots and never felt that the outer metatarsal area, which extends beyond the pedal body, was unsupported.

Grip from the soft rubber tread blocks is simply superb, whether negotiating sticky mud, wet stone slabs or polished café floors. Like most cyclists, I try to put a foot down as little as possible, but the odd stretch of walking is unavoidable. After more than six months of use, wear to the blocks is minimal. The front block has taken the brunt, but it’s easily replaceable. If you need more aggressive grip, two studs can be fitted as an option.

Adjustment is good, but not stellar. Perhaps it’s just me, but I find Sidi’s Techno-3 rotary dials fiddly, especially when wearing gloves in colder weather. They are every bit as adjustable as Boa’s dials, but the process of tightening and loosening them is more of a faff. It’s not impossible on the move, but it’s slow and rarely a joy.

Velcro-style hook and loop is what it is. In this case, the wide, wrap-over strap brings stability to the upper and offers a level of micro-adjustment and simplicity that Boa and the like can only dream of. Again, it takes time to adjust, but I value the support it offers and love the visual character it brings to the Aertis.

The insoles are fine, but it would be nice to have a variety of arch support inserts included at this price point.

Value and conclusions

The Aertis is a great all-rounder. It’s no great surprise that an XC shoe makes for a decent gravel shoe, but because it’s so similar in build and features to Sidi’s Prima it’s also a fabulous endurance/all-road/bikepacking shoe.

Like most pre-Millennium last shoes from Sidi, it takes no prisoners if the fit isn’t right. Ideally, I would have liked the toe box and mid-foot to be a little wider, and I have regular-shaped feet. If you’re wide-footed, you may struggle.

The Aertis, which is made in Romania, appears to be very well put together. My pair is now a bit grubby, but holding up well, with no real signs of wear other than a slightly roughed-up sole.

At £175/$239 they represent good, if not exceptional, value when you consider their versatility, features and build quality. That’s about the same price as a pair of Specialized Recon 2 shoes, and slightly more than the Terra Powerstrap X4 and Terra Atlas models from Fizik. They sit comfortably in the mid-range, provided you don’t have wide feet!

Specs

• Available in both men's and women's versions
• Sizes: M 36 – 50. W 36 – 43
• Weight (size 48): 415g per shoe
• Cleat standard: 2-bolt SPD
• Upper: Politex
• Sole: Nylon
• Stiffness rating: 6 out of 12 on Sidi's scale

Yes, I know. I’ve already given away the review's conclusion in the headline. But truth is: I don't love this shoe, and I’m relieved. Could you imagine if I’d fallen in love with a pair of $700 cycling shoes? I’d be doomed. A new bar would be set, I’d start rationalising the price, convincing myself it was “an investment,” and my bank account would suffer.

Instead, I can appreciate the Specialized S-Works Torch Remco for what it is: a pair of super shoes with an undeniable pedigree and impressive bit of tech, but also a few quirks that keep me firmly on the “admire from a distance” side of the fence.

I've loved Specialized shoes for years and will happily continue to wear the 'regular' S-Works Torch shoes without having to shell out even more money.

Meet the Specialized S-Works Remco

Topping the Torch line, the S-Works Torch Remco is a featherlight race shoe co-developed with the Belgian phenom Remco Evenepoel.

At 148.2g per shoe (size 41), Specialized says it’s the lightest shoe currently being used in the WorldTour peloton and, to our knowledge, only Giro’s Prolight Techlace comes close at roughly 150g.

The shoe's creation came at Evenepoel's request. In October 2023, Evenepoel WhatsApp'd his Specialized contacts asking for a lighter, faster shoe for his Tour de France debut the following summer. In past races, Evenepoel appeared to be favouring the S-Works Torch Lace, presumably because it’s lighter than the BOA-equipped version, indicating that weight was top-of-mind for the young star.

With just eight months to deliver, Specialized pulled from its product history, 100,000+ 3D foot scans and Remco’s specific demands to build something special for the fastest man against the clock. He was hands-on throughout, testing prototypes in and out of races (not without our notice!) and sending notes back to the team.

To meet the brief, the Torch went on a ruthless diet. Off came the second BOA dial, out went the heel liner, and even the glue was trimmed. The result is a race-day shoe 65g per pair lighter than the standard S-Works Torch. And one that barely resembles it.

The upper is now a thin, Dyneema-reinforced mesh with minimal reinforcements; a single BOA handles tension up top, with a velcro strap replacing the mid-foot dial. Most of the remaining structure comes from the pared-back carbon sole. Any real structure comes from the carbon sole, which has also been trimmed down.

Despite the aggressive gram-shaving, Specialized says the Remco stays true to its Body Geometry principles of alignment, fit and long-haul comfort.

Evenepoel’s verdict? “Super light, great foothold, comfortable — it’s everything I need for races and stages with a lot of climbing. It felt good to race and the weight of the shoe enabled me to carry more water without weight penalties, helping me attack in the mountains like never before.”

For Evenepoel, these shoes might be a marginal-gains necessity; for everyone else, they sit firmly in “you don’t need them, but you want them anyway” territory.

Specs

• Brand: Specialized
• Model: S-Works Torch Remco
• Claimed weight: 148.2g in a size 41 per shoe (296.4g for the pair)
• Actual weight: 287g for a pair in size 39
• Sizes on offer: 39through 46 with half sizes
• Colourway: white/peloton orange
• Price: $700 / £549 / €599 / $800 AUD

The Ride

I’ll preface this review by stating the obvious: I’m neither a lightweight nor do I push Remco-esque watts. And it didn’t take long for me to realise that whatever advantage these featherlight shoes offer the world’s elite is quickly overshadowed by their shortcomings for us mere mortals.

Marginal gains are, after all, precisely that: marginal. Noticeable only to those who’ve already turned over every other leaf in pursuit of speed and performance. The Torch Remco exists because a top-tier racer demanded it, because the UCI requires all gear to be commercially available, and because, let’s be honest, a shoe like this will sell on hype alone.

That’s not to say it isn't worthy of hype. It is, but only for a very specific audience. This is an unapologetic, purpose-built race shoe. More specifically: a climber’s shoe. (As opposed to the S-Works Ares 2, which is targeted at sprinters). It serves the rider who, like Evenepoel, is having to make the choice between a few grams of footwear weight or an ounce of hydration. If that’s not your reality, then the Torch Remco feels less like a performance tool and more like a beautiful statement piece. And that's totally fine, if you have the means.

From the moment I pulled them out of the box to several hundred miles later, the same impressions kept resurfacing.

These are so light.

My size 39 pair weighed in at just 287 grams for the pair, which is impressive by any measure. And that lack of weight is noticeable the instant you start pedalling. It genuinely feels as if the rigid carbon sole is the only substantial part of the shoe left. In that sense, the Remco model behaves almost like a sandal or water shoe: the contact platform is solid and efficient, and everything else is designed to disappear around your foot.

They look like triathlon shoes — and slip on like them, too

In general, I quite like the aesthetics of the shoe. It's an exercise in minimalist design with a sleek silhouette. I personally like the pop of colour in the orange velcro strap, though I appear to be in the minority, judging by how many people asked me about the 'orange safety tab.' The shoes do have a bit of a triathlon vibe due to the lack of a tongue. Similar to the Ares, you pull the shoes on like a sock. It makes them very easy to slip in and out of.

No break-in period, no hotspots

Despite the pared-down construction, Specialized’s hallmark Body Geometry Fit still comes through loud and clear. Specialized has refined this system over years, and the latest generation of its Body Geometry last, first introduced on the S-Works Ares 2, is shaped using data from more than 100,000 RETÜL 3D foot scans. The result is a natural-feeling fit with a wider toe box and more anatomical support through the arch and forefoot. Even if the Remco model doesn’t provide the same support as its siblings do, the fit felt familiar and comfortable. Even on longer, hotter rides, I didn’t experience hotspots or pinch points.

And as an added benefit of the thin yet supple upper, there was no break-in period. The upper wraps the foot like fabric, not footwear, and with no tongue or overlays to contend with, nothing rubs, digs, or needs “settling in.”

The trade-off: structure

Of course, all that gram-shaving had to come from somewhere, and in the Remco’s case, the compromise is structural integrity. There’s barely any of it.

The upper is so thin and unstructured that it borders on flimsy. The carbon outsole provides all the real support; everything above it behaves more like cloth than a cycling shoe. Off the bike, the shoe barely holds its shape. On the bike, the upper tends to rest on top of my toes, a sensation I never fully got used to, no matter how many miles I logged.

Unlike the standard S-Works Torch’s rigid heel cup, the Remco model forgoes the plastic exterior, leaving just the reinforced fabric, almost like a running shoe. To get a semi–locked-in feel, I have to really crank down on the upper BOA dial. The BOA closure does all the work here as the velcro strap contributes more to aesthetics than security. Luckily, the BOA has been tried and tested on other Torch models and works well.

Even then, I still experienced some movement and never achieved the sprint-ready confidence I get from the standard Torch.

Inside, the shoes are as bare-bones as it gets. Just the backside of the outer fabric, with some lightly brushed fabric backing at potential abrasion points. Minimal, but effective, as I haven't experienced any sore spots.

The real bummer, though, is the insole. It's barely more than a textured piece of stiff styrofoam. At $700, one would expect more, especially from a company that makes some excellent Body Geometry insoles. Of course, this would have added weight, and people tend to be particular about their insoles, but still.

Value & conclusion: A race-day-only slipper

I’ve logged thousands of miles in the regular S-Works Torch shoes and expected the Remco model to feel like a lighter, more breathable version of a shoe I already love. Instead, it feels like an entirely different product.

The overall sensation is that the Remco is a race-day-only slipper. The pair you save for long, mountainous days where sprinting is limited and every gram matters. For everything else, and for the vast majority of riders, I’d be more inclined to steer you toward the regular S-Works Torch, or the laced version if you’re chasing weight savings (200g in a size 42 and $250 less expensive).

Yes, the Remco is undeniably light. Decently airy, too. And the weight trimming didn't cost any power as the new, hybrid sole appears as efficient as any S-Works plate. But where are the gains to justify the compromises or the $700 price tag?

Once the low-weight novelty wore off, I found the compromises distracting. I missed the locked-in confidence or the ability to wiggle my toes without the constant contact with the shoe's upper.

If anything, I felt less powerful and less comfortable, which, for a rider not making equipment choices based on every single gram, is a steep trade-off.

For the gear-obsessed climber who counts every gram, the Torch Remco may feel like forbidden candy. But for most riders, a slightly heavier, more supportive shoe delivers more: more comfort, more confidence, more durability, and arguably more real-world speed.

Aimed at off-road riders who want top-notch performance (and are prepared to pay for it), the Physis sits towards the top end of Sidi’s range.

Although the official name is the Sidi Physis MTB Shoe, it is, in fact, suitable for both mountain bike and gravel bike riders, as well as road riders who prefer a more walkable sole unit than three-bolt cleats allow.

Sidi claims that the Physis is ‘built for XC racing and off-road adventures’, but more of its suitability for those two quite different genres later.

Construction

The foundation of the Physis is its XC2FC full carbon sole. Rated as 11/12 on Sidi’s own stiffness scale, the sole is very, very stiff. The rubber tread is relatively minimal in terms of coverage, with just a few centimetres at the rear and another few centimetres of lugs around the cleat area, although the tread is reasonably deep. The very front of the shoe has a small area of rubber that is more textured than lugged. The shoes also come fitted with plastic toe studs to aid grip in very muddy situations, such as CX racing.

The upper consists of a lined synthetic material with perforations for breathability and reinforced sections over the toe and around the heel. The Unum Ergo tongue is stitched in place on one side, so there is no annoying slippage, and the top of it has small cuts in it to prevent ankle irritation. Fastening is accomplished by a combination of Sidi’s own Boa-style dial and a Velcro strap, with the Velcro also housing a toothed plastic insert for added security - a system Sidi calls Plustrap Closure.

Internally, there is a fairly basic footbed and a textured heel area to help hold the foot more securely.

Perhaps most importantly, the Physis is made on Sidi’s new Millennium last, which is noticeably bigger and roomier than Sidis of old. I previously needed a size 45 in Sidi, but now my usual size 44 fits me just fine.

The weight on my scales was 750g for a pair of size 44, without cleats. It is available in Matte Violet, Matte Sand, Black and Ice White, with sizes from 40 to 48, including half sizes in some colours.

The ride

Cleats fitted and clipped in, off I toddled on my first ride. I hadn’t even ridden the few hundred metres to the bridleway before the stiffness made itself apparent; even on a fat-tyred gravel bike, the rigidity of the pedalling platform was immediately noticeable, with every pedal stroke eliciting an instant response from the bike. I have ridden SPD pedals off-road for more years than I care to remember, and used many pairs of clip-in shoes and have never thought that the shoes felt too soft or flexible, but the Physis highlighted the difference between standard shoes and more performance-oriented ones.

This performance is also helped by the grippy, textured material inside the heel of the shoe. This grips the heel very securely, preventing any lift or movement and maximising pedalling efficiency.

Of course, there is a downside to this incredible efficiency, and that is when you aren’t pedalling; the stiffness is just as noticeable when you are walking around in them. On the odd sections of hike-a-bike that I encountered, the Physis were not as comfortable to walk in as other, less stiff, shoes and resulted in me skittering about a bit on rocky climbs. This ungainliness wasn’t helped by the plastic toe studs (or ‘crampons’ as Sidi calls them), which interfered with the natural roll of the foot. Luckily, one fell out at some point, and I just unscrewed the rest and taped over the holes (I failed to find any blanking studs online).

On softer cyclo-cross type terrain, this wouldn’t be an issue, and the shoe’s stiffness would prove very beneficial in a race scenario.

I was a bit bemused by the Physis’ fastening system. Almost every shoe I’ve used that only has one Boa-style ratchet uses it at the top of the shoe and relegates the Velcro strap to lower section duties, but the Physis does things the other way around. This makes on-the-move adjustments more awkward, and on a shoe this expensive and so performance-biased, it seems a little cheap not to use two ratchets.

The Velcro does include the nifty Plustrap Closure toothed insert, so that the Velcro doesn’t slip, but to me, that just highlights that Velcro isn’t ideal at this level.

Even in the pale Sand colourway, the perforated upper was easy to keep clean after mucky rides with just a quick wipe. The synthetic material doesn’t feel like it is going to be very breathable, but I had no issues on warm summer rides, thanks probably to the multiple small holes over the forefoot doing their ventilation job. Of course, they aren’t going to do a very good job of keeping rain and puddles at bay in the winter, but you can’t have everything.

Overall comfort for me was good, within the parameters of a stiff race-style shoe. I was happy to pick them off the shelf and wear them on rides that I knew involved no walking, and even chose them for a two-day road bike trip around the Yorkshire Wolds as a good compromise between road shoe stiffness and MTB shoe convenience.

Aside from that, I used the Physis on lots of local gravel and mountain bike rides over the summer, and I very much enjoyed the road-shoe-like efficiency of them; having a rigid platform when pedalling really does have a noticeably positive effect on power transfer.

Value and conclusion

If you want no-holds-barred off-road performance for racing or setting PBs, then the Physis should be on your shortlist. Stiffness and pedalling efficiency are superb, and the new Millennium last brings Sidi’s fit in line with most other cycling shoe brands, although it's a shame that Sidi couldn’t spring for two ratchet fastenings per shoe.

However, for the rest of us, the Physis is probably overkill as it is far better suited to full-bore efforts at the head of a gravel race than it is to tottering into a mid-ride cafe for a flat white and slice of cake or hiking up an unrideable section of trail. Furthermore, with a £329 price tag, there is a heavy price to pay for that off-bike inconvenience, which many will find unpalatable enough on its own.

Fizik’s Vento Powerstrap Aeroweave is the brand’s lightest, most ventilated performance shoe. Save wearing a pair of flip flops, or going barefoot, it’s unlikely your ‘dogs’ will ever feel more airy than they do when cycling in a pair of these feather-light best cycling shoes. Which can be distinctly advantageous or downright uncomfortable, depending on the riding conditions. More about that later.

As well as being lighter than hydrogen and better ventilated than a gazebo – I exaggerate, but only slightly – these shoes are among the priciest in Fizik’s range. Originally launched about five years ago, Fizik recently gave the Powerstrap Aeroweave a modest reboot. The changes are slight; the Aeroweave fabric has a subtly different weave, and the R3 outsole, which replaces an R2 unit, now features an additional vent and is marginally lighter.

Fizik products enjoy a characteristically minimalist aesthetic, so, true to form, the Powerstrap Aeroweave displays exceptionally clean, uninterrupted lines that flow particularly well in the dazzling white-on-white colourway reviewed here. If that looks too boring for you, the shoe is also offered in a couple of more ‘out-there’ colour options – coral/orange and light violet/neon green.

Is it worth dipping a toe in? Let’s find out.

Construction

Even the briefest glance reveals how the Powerstrap Aeroweave earned its name. Its most striking features are the two wide Velcro ‘power strap’ fasteners and its mesh-like woven upper. If you hadn’t already guessed, this is a shoe designed for properly warm conditions. Tepid, balmy, or temperate weather won’t cut it; to wear these, it needs to be sweltering, scorching, or sizzling. Preferably all three.

The upper fabric has more holes than a rusty sieve. It’s a very open weave, but one that’s denser in areas requiring more support, such as the heel cup and toe box. In the midfoot and metatarsal regions, where your feet are more prone to sweating, the gaps between the threads are easily a millimetre or more across – you can quite literally see straight through the fabric.

Of course, a loosely woven fabric isn’t ideal for a race shoe because a stretchy upper that doesn’t securely lock the foot in place will sap watts, which is why you often see sprinters tighten their shoes immediately before they put the hammer down. Fizik’s Aeroweave may be open, supple, and relatively soft to the touch, but it is also very taut with little to no noticeable stretch. Fizik achieves this by weaving fine-gauge nylon fibres with filaments of thermoplastic polymer to create an inelastic knit.

The tongue is made of perforated polyurethane (PU), as are the heel cup liner and the modestly padded cuff. As expected with such a lightweight, highly ventilated shoe, the Powerstrap Aeroweave’s interior is spartan. Both the heel area and the toebox are lined and sturdily reinforced, providing structure to an otherwise very open upper, but that’s about it.

Fizik says its Powerstrap closure system does more than simply pull the two sides of the upper together like a suture. The forward strap, which zigzags across the opposing sides of the shoe, from the MTP joint (big toe) to the rear of the midfoot, envelopes and supports the entire front of the foot. The slightly wider second strap travels from the upper midfoot to just forward of the heel cup.

The R3 sole, in common with its R2 predecessor, is super rigid, rated 10 out of 10 on Fizik’s stiffness scale. It feels silky smooth to the touch, with no visible carbon weave and minimal detailing, apart from a small Fizik logo.

For obvious reasons, larger, longer soles tend to exhibit more of a tendency to flex than petite sizes. Nevertheless, there’s no way I can persuade my giant size 48s to budge a millimetre, torsionally, laterally or vertically.

Two large vents in the metatarsal area, up from one in the R2, direct a substantial flow of air to the soles of the feet, keeping them as fresh as their dorsum counterparts. No exhaust outlet is necessary because the airflow readily vents through the mesh of the upper.

The recessed three-bolt threaded base plate is set fashionably rearward to reduce pressure on the metatarsal area, calves and knees. Additionally, the plate adjusts approximately 10mm fore and aft for fine-tuning your cleat position. The sole, even in the cleat area, is very low profile.

These are not shoes you’ll want to spend any time walking in, but to save you the embarrassment of skating across tiled café floors, flat white precariously in hand, Fizik has installed a token rubber heel patch and a slim toe guard/bumper.

The Ride

Initially, I was concerned that the mesh upper would either be too loose or too unforgiving, but I need not have worried. It turns out that stretch and malleability – the propensity for the fabric to conform to my feet – are two completely independent qualities.

I’ve reviewed Fizik shoes in the past and have always been impressed with their fit, which tends to suit my large but regularly proportioned feet. The Powerstrap Aeroweaves are slightly narrower than my usual go-to pair of Fizik Tempo Decos Carbon shoes, but only by a millimetre or so. I’ll happily go slightly wider but refuse to entertain riding with anything narrower, because my feet tend to swell on longer rides.

Once I accepted that adjusting shoe fit mid-ride isn’t going to happen, I started to fall in love with Velcro fasteners again. No, they aren’t as convenient or as instant as Boa dials, and they don’t look as premium. However, they are infinitely more adjustable, provided you take the time to tighten them optimally before you begin your ride. Fizik’s implementation of the Powerstrap system really does a great job of cradling and supporting the foot securely. It also offers a wide opening, making it easy to put them on – with some shoes, often the hardest part of the ride!

Talk of fit is, of course, nonsense because the perfect shoe for me might be insufferably uncomfortable for the next rider, but I’ve consistently found that Fizik’s fit is true to size. Certainly, they’re not a narrow shoe by default, which I find many Sidi and Shimano shoes to be. Fizik offers a good range of shoes in a wide fit as well, but unfortunately, the Powerstrap Aeroweave is not among them.

As expected, the sole is super stiff, which suits my preference for longer rides that require zero walking. Not only do stiffer shoes feel more responsive, but as long as my feet are evenly supported, I find I’m less prone to hotspots with a rigid sole. Potential heel lift, which can be an issue with shoes that have very rigid soles, is effectively prevented by the shoe’s deep heel cup and Fizik’s distinctive silicone micro-dot grippers, which cling tenaciously to the base of the Achilles tendon.

They are beautifully light to wear. When I first tried them, after snugging down the Velcro, I remember the peculiar sensation of them almost not being there as I took a few tentative steps to my bike. Once in the saddle, however, basic physics dictates that any weight saving – Fizik’s least expensive shoe, the Vento Omna, only weighs about 100g more per pair – will result in negligible performance gains.

So far then, thumbs up from me, I found these shoes near faultless. That is, provided I cycled in the blinding white heat of a sunny mid-summer’s afternoon when every other sane person has retreated inside, shades drawn until the cool of the evening. I’m exaggerating, but these are not shoes for mild weather, which poses a problem in temperate regions like northern Europe.

I find that, below about 20°C (68°F), my feet quickly become miserably cold due to wind chill when wearing these shoes. Mid-twenties (77°F) are tolerable, but it’s not until the mercury rises to at least 28°C (82°F) that my feet start to feel, well, normal.

So what? Even in the UK, we experience plenty of summer days that see temperatures above 25°C (77°F). The issue is that, although most morning rides may eventually peak under the warm midday sun, the temperature at the start is more likely to be below 15°C (50°F), which is too cold for these shoes.

Once up to temperature, they work beautifully. The open weave around the midfoot and the two gaping inlets in the sole excel at cooling the hottest, sweatiest parts of my feet. It’s not that my feet necessarily feel exceptionally comfortable, but rather that I simply don’t think about them at all. The feet, and the hands for that matter, serve as key regulators of core body temperature, which is why it’s important to keep them happy.

So, if you live or frequently holiday in sunnier climes, great – whip out your credit card now. Similarly, if you’re more tolerant of the cold (or less tolerant of the heat), they’ll make a great purchase. But for me, they have limited use during our variable and unpredictable summers here in the UK.

Counter-intuitively, they’re a fantastic winter shoe, not for freezing jaunts on icy tarmac but for the more civilised pursuit of indoor training. For those in the UK and Europe, this could be the justification you need to shell out on the rather hefty price, by getting year-round use as some of the best indoor cycling shoes. As we begin to progress through autumn, my pair of Powerstrap Aeroweave shoes has regained favour, helping me to power through FTP tests on Zwift while trying to stay cool.

Value and conclusions

Let’s not beat around the bush. If I had to choose just one pair of cycling shoes to wear for the rest of my life, the Powerstrap Aeroweave would be very near the bottom of a lengthy list. This doesn’t make them a bad shoe, far from it. For highly specific applications – hot weather riding or as an indoor training shoe – they’re hard to beat.

Fit is true to size, the materials used are top rate, and they successfully shift a lot of air to exactly where it’s needed. They are also astonishingly light, but that’s unlikely to provide anything but marginal gains for most of us.

Fizik’s shoes are premium products with prices to match, yet the Powerstrap Aeroweave at £334.99/$419.99 compares favourably to its rivals. Trek’s knitted RSL retails at an eye-watering £399.99/$549.99, and the highly ventilated DMT KR0 is slightly more expensive in the UK but considerably dearer in the USA at £369.99/$519.99. However, if you’re working within a budget, DMT offers a broad selection of shoes with knitted uppers, including the KR30 at £239.99/$339.99. Another bargain, if you can find a pair, is the Specialized S-Works Vent, which is currently £200 in the UK but only available in limited sizes on Specialized’s store site.

If the concept of the Powerstrap Aeroweave appeals to you but the execution is too drafty, it’s worth considering Fizik’s latest road shoe, the Vega Carbon. It features a slightly wider fit, a lower drop height, and is well-ventilated at the forefoot but more enclosed elsewhere.

In a nutshell, the Vento Powerstrap Aeroweave is definitely worth considering, but only if the sun’s shining or your indoor trainer is fired up and ready to go.

Specs

While the revised Powerstrap Aeroweave is available in a wide range of sizes and three colourways, the original version is also still in stock on Fizik’s website in black and dark blue. The price is the same.

• Price: £334.99/$419.99
• Sizes: 36 to 48, including half sizes from 37.5 to 46.5
• Colours: White – White, Light Violet-Neon Green, Coral-Orange
• Upper: Nylon/Thermoplastic
• Sole: Carbon fibre. Stiffness rated 10/10 on Fizik’s scale.

When it comes to cycling, Shimano is omnipresent. There aren't many of us who won't have owned a Shimano groupset, set of wheels or don't instantly recognise the blue and white branding of Neutral Service at one of the major classics or tours.

But there's another side to Shimano that doesn't get nearly as much coverage. It's ability to make some of the best cycling shoes on the market.

What, however, it doesn't do quite so well is create headline-grabbing range names, so let me introduce you to the catchily titled Shimano SH-RC102 road cycling shoe.

Construction

As with all cycling shoes, the SH-RC102 has three key elements: the sole, upper, and footbed.

The sole is the core of the shoe, similar to a frame on a bike, and it supports the rest of the shoe. At the high end of cycling shoes, it's common for the sole to be made from carbon to keep the shoe light and stiff.

However, Shimano has chosen a honeycomb-patterned glass fibre and nylon sole with a three-bolt cleat system for this model. This combination of materials, along with a low midsole stack height that reduces the distance between your foot and pedal, aims to create a shoe that is stiff and stable for efficient pedaling while remaining comfortable by allowing some flexibility in the sole.

This flexibility also helps with off-bike walking, supported by a rubber heel pad for better grip on hard surfaces. However, these are not full dual-purpose shoes for off-bike use. The only additional feature on the sole is a reinforced toe tap zone for when you unclip at junctions. The three-bolt cleat system provides most of the ground contact, and the choice of system greatly affects your ability to handle off-bike maneuvers safely.

The upper is made of synthetic leather with perforation holes and features a three-strap closure system. This design helps keep the shoes lightweight, weighing 242g per shoe or 484g for the pair in size 40. For comparison, the top-tier Shimano S-Phyre RC903 shoes, which cost about three times more, weigh approximately 225g each in size 42.

However, Velcro straps can degrade over time due to dirt and use, and they can also be tricky to use with overshoes, as they often catch or peel when pulling on.

It's worth noting that I was reviewing the women's version of the SH-RC102, which Shimano states is designed for lower-volume feet. According to the brand, 'DYNALAST women's fit features decreased volume around key areas of the foot, providing a consistent, optimal fit for a slimmer foot shape.' They also come in smaller sizes down to a 36EU.

The ride

Getting your cleats positioned right on shoes can be tricky, and while one can't assume our feet require them in the same position on both sides, it's a good starting point in setting them up.

My attention was therefore immediately grabbed when I discovered the detailed crosshairs and measurements on the sole of the Shimano SH-RC102 road shoes. Even the wildly expensive Rapha Pro Team Powerwave shoes don't have anywhere nearly as many reference points.

The swift set-up meant I was out on the road in no time, and it was only now that I realised that this was my first pair of black road shoes. I'd become accustomed to wearing black gravel shoes, but always shied away from lighter coloured socks for obvious off-road reasons. But as an avid white sock wearer on the road, my gaze was immediately drawn to my feet and the contrasting shoes, which made me feel like I was committing some cycling faux pas.

I tried to ignore it and pretend I was going for a classic retro look, but it was certainly not something I was mentally prepared to anguish over. While black is arguably a more practical colourway than white shoes, and they do include a hint of reflectivity, you may need to rethink your cycling wardrobe as a consequence, especially if you're on the women's version, as there's only black or violet grey on offer.

Once over the wardrobe crisis, I began to enjoy my rides in the SH-RC102 road shoes. So much so that I threw caution to the wind and took them on a trip to the southern German Black Forest, where I was gifted another realization that it's A: incredibly undulating and B: it can get up to 30 degrees/86°F.

Fortunately, under this level of performance pressure, the SH-RC102 road shoes became my diamonds. Over the six-hour 100km ride and 1500 meters of climbing, they were superb.

I can suffer with numbness on rides this long and hilly with very stiff shoes, but with plenty of cushioning and toebox space, I was able to keep wriggling my toes all day. The mix of climbing, descending, and heat also meant my foot size changed throughout the day, so having the ability to dial the size by a swift tug on the velcro at either the top, middle, or toe area of the shoe was a real blessing.

The central strip is a little short, exposing a centimeter or so of the hook element of the Velcro when on. This won't impact the shoe performance, but will attract any rogue detritus, making them look a little scruffy quicker than they would without it on display.

A lot of people note that Shimano shoes come up small size-wise, but for me, these were spot on, so it's worth checking the size guide before ordering.

There were times when I felt a little overheated in them; they were the first things to be removed at café stops to help cool my feet down, but I suspect a better choice of ventilating socks would help no end here.

When I left my shoes on to walk from the bike to the café and around, I felt safe and supported. I do use the Keo cleats rather than Shimano, though. The downside is that the rubber shoe heel will wear out in time, and unfortunately, it's not replaceable.

Value and conclusion

The Shimano SH-RC102 road cycling shoes are a great option for anyone starting their road cycling journey or riders seeking a more relaxed pace and valuing comfort over pedal performance.

That's not to say they feel like slippers, but if you have a strong kick in a sprint or generate a lot of power, you might find them a little too flexible.

The velcro will degrade and isn't replaceable like a Boa dial, but for the price, I thought they offered excellent value. The only downside is that the women's fit is limited to just black or violet (which is more like a grey).

When it comes to off-road performance footwear, there is a delicate balance to strike. Comfortable and rugged, yet lightweight and sufficiently stiff to press on.

The best gravel shoes for you will enable you to do just that, so the Rapha Pro Team Powerweave gravel shoes could be your perfect pair.

Construction

As with all gravel shoes, the Rapha Pro Team Powerweave can be divided into three key elements: the shoe upper, the sole, and the footplate. The footplate is similar to a car's chassis; it is the load-bearing framework of the shoe, serving as a platform to which the rest of the material is mounted.

According to Rapha, the Pro Team Powerweave's footplate is made of one hundred percent carbon fiber with a reinforced toe support area. The brand states that this allows for efficient power transfer and durability.

On top of the footplate is the woven upper. Rapha says that this 60% recycled polyester, high-strength 3D 'Powerweave' design enables the shoe to be comfortable and breathable, containing 40% TPU yarn (a type of thermoplastic elastomer), which should provide a decent level of abrasion resistance.

Sewn into this upper is a one-hundred percent recycled collar and 'sock,' which effectively replaces a traditional shoe tongue. Rapha believes that sock construction will ensure a stable and locked-in fit, eliminating possible tongue movement and hotspots. It's worth noting that Rapha is doing well in reporting its impact and has published its Synthetics Sourcing Policy, meaning that we should be assured that the percentage of recycled polyester stated (as well as manufacturing methods) is traceable and transparent.

We've seen the dual Boa closure option fitted to several gravel shoes, such as the Giro Sector and Lake MX 238, both offering similar setups. However, the details matter: only Lake's now feature the same Li2 Boa closures as the Rapha Pro Team Powerweave, which enable a multidirectional fit, whereas the Giro's only have the L6 for tightening.

At the bottom of the footplate, an EVA (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate) lightweight and flexible foam midplate is positioned, complemented by a Vibram Megagrip outsole for off-bike agility and grip, with a twin bolt cleat system.

This all adds up to a rather lightweight package for gravel shoes, with my test size 40.5 EU (6.75 UK/7.75 US) weighing 266g each, and 523g for the pair. Using a more common size of 42 EU, Rapha claims they weigh just 16g more—282g per shoe, 564g per pair—making these, in my reckoning, the lightest gravel shoes on the market.

The ride

Having recently ridden a pair of old Northwave off-road shoes on a family cycling holiday to watch some of the Tour de France, which involved a lot of walking and standing around, putting on the Rapha Pro Team Powerweave shoes again was a shock for my feet and legs.

I'd already worn the shoes for local rides in the Peak District. However because I was using lightweight shoes on the road at the time meant I hadn't appreciated just how light the Pro Team Powerweaves were.

However after my trip to France I'm now acutely aware of just how heavy many off-road bike shoes are. My hip flexors had been working overtime in the Northwave shoes, which at 484g each were nearly double the weight of the Powerweaves. Putting on the Rapha shoes meant my legs were very thankful for the significant reduction in mass each pedal revolution.

The stiffness of these shoes compared to regular off-road platforms was also noticeable. I don't have power pedals to measure this more precisely, but the feeling is that there is limited flex in the sole, especially on climbs.

The downside to this stiffness is felt significantly when off the bike. While the Northwaves had been bulky, they were bearable for a full day of wear; the Rapha shoes, however, were not. A challenging four-hour ride, which involved multiple dismounts where the trail was not rideable, left me wishing I could take them off. The Vibram Megagrip feels soft and rubbery, but due to the inflexibility of the footplate, there was little feedback from the ground, leading to a peculiar gait when walking over uneven ground.

The multidirectional Boa Li2 dials are easy to adjust on the move, although they can be a bit noisy when loosening and clicking back through the ratchets. Having two dials is very beneficial, as they can both tighten and loosen independently, providing a significant difference in fit around your foot.

The sock plays a significant role in the specific fit feature, although I found that because I needed to tighten the lower dial more than the upper, the fabric ruched. This then pressed uncomfortably on my metatarsals.

The sock could also do with being a couple of centimeters taller. While it was tight enough around my ankle to prevent small stones from entering my shoes, it was an awkward height for a heel cup and foot collar, and rubbed my ankle, especially when off the bike. This made it almost unbearable to walk any reasonable distance.

Value and conclusion

The Rapha Pro Team Powerweave gravel shoes feel like the closest crossover shoe between road and off-road riding. They deliver great power transfer, a high level of adjustability thanks to the Boa dials and foot arch options, and are probably the lightest off-road shoes on the market.

However, with this level of performance comes a lot of compromise in comfort and compliance. These are not the shoes for you if your riding typically requires even a small level of hike-a-bike or the off-bike requirements of a bikepacking trip.

The performance also comes at a price. At £350/$480, they are among the more expensive gravel options. This may not seem wild when you stack them against road shoes; notably, they are exactly the same price as the Rapha Pro Team Powerweave road shoes. However, it's a hefty price tag considering there is way more to off-road riding than purely power-to-weight ratios.

The Q36.5 Unique Pro cycling shoes are the brand's latest flagship model and as with everything in the Q36.5 range, the aim is a blend of comfort, performance, and maintaining an optimal working temperature of 36. 5 ° C, which is reflected in the name.

Construction

Everything about these shoes is built around the new carbon fibre outer shell, proudly branded with 'made in the Dolomites'. This reflects Q 36.5's commitment to sourcing most of their materials within a small radius of its factory, thereby helping, somewhat ironically, to reduce its carbon footprint.

The carbon sole extends well up the heel and slightly around the sides of the foot, creating a carbon tub for extra security. The sole, as a headline feature, is at most 4.4mm thick in terms of stack height where the cleats are attached, with 2.2mm for the rest of the sole.

Q36.5 claims that for every 1mm reduction in stack height, there is a 1% improvement in power output, as referenced in scientific literature, although the brand fails to specify which paper.

To assist with temperature regulation, the sole features three open vents at the front for airflow. The upper part has large perforations across the inside of the shoe to further improve ventilation, while the central part omits a traditional tongue in favour of a perforated sock liner. This liner is highly breathable and stretchy, accommodating changes in foot shape as temperatures fluctuate. Feet tend to swell in warmer weather, so Q 36.5 included this feature to improve comfort when the temperature rises.

Alongside the raised heel cup for stability and the carbon sole for stiffness, two Boa Li2 dials are used to secure the foot and ensure system stiffness. These dials allow micro-adjustments for tightening or loosening, with a pull-to-release system. The top dial features a standard single loop, while the lower uses three loops to increase tightening via the pulley system.

The fit has been designed to offer a wider metatarsal area, a trend seen increasingly in high-performance cycling shoes. This has been paired with brand-new Solestar insoles, designed to position the foot neutrally for improved comfort, stability, and power transfer.

With the insoles, the shoes weigh 253g in size 45, with the claimed weight for size 42 being 225g. They come in a black and white colourway, ranging from size 37 to 48, with half sizes from 39 to 46.

The ride

Although I may not have a formal validation process for the low-profile sole efficiency claims, I can confidently confirm that these deliver a supremely stiff carbon sole.

The shoes are also quite progressive in terms of the design. Cleat bolts are mounted further back than regular offering, and have a good level of adjustment available.

The Unique Pro shoes have also widened the metatarsal area, the zone at the front of the shoe. We've seen this grow more and more, with the new S-Works Ares 2 taking this to a new level in mainstream road cycling shoes. Even in the heat, and with the slightly raised sided carbon sole/tub, my feet never swelled to anything that rubbed or became uncomfortable.

The raised side to the soles also enhances the locked-in feeling that these shoes provide. It's far less pronounced at the front of the shoe, but at the rear, the sole rises to provide a very secure heel counter.

Stiffness is clearly the aim of this shoe, as internally, silicone dots are placed across the heel to keep your feet secure. When paired with the two Boa Li2 dials, which, in my opinion, are still the best retention dials around, and this metal-finished version is even better, the shoe offers incredible grip around the foot.

Even with the dials tightened, there is no discomfort, which is something I can often experience. Part of this may be the lack of tongue and the use of a sock liner, similar to the old S-Works Ares 1. This means there is no overlap of harder material and a shoe upper that fits your foot exceptionally well.

Impressively, even with the dual Boas, sock liner, and standard upper, the size 45 shoes came in at 253g per shoe. Not quite as svelte as the Nimbl Ultimate Air at 179g, which uses laces, but these are the lightest dual Boa dial-equipped shoe I have tested, which is no bad thing.

Another benefit of this sock liner is the breathability. Q36.5 prides itself on aiming to achieve thermal stability with all its products, be that jerseys, socks, or shoes. Large vents at the front of the sole, side vents on the inside of the upper, and the perforated sock line all work in harmony to create a shoe that does not overheat, even in mid-30˚C temperatures. Even more impressive given I have been testing the black colourway. I suspect that fabric sock liners will be very prone to dirt, and while not an issue for this black version, it does make me weary of the white colourway.

While the Solestar insole offers more support than some top-end racing shoes, I found them a bit too forgiving, especially when sprinting, which detracts from the high stiffness performance aim. It does provide great vibration reduction, but for maximal efforts I was far more comfortable in my stiffer custom insole.

I am still a big fan of Shimano and QUOC for the adjustable insoles that they offer, but Q36.5 does provide a far more refined insole than the likes of Sidi or Nimbl at present.

The other gripe I had with these shoes, and something that I don’t think is acceptable on a pair of shoes this expensive is the quality of finish. It's minor stuff like loose threads, which are likely to degrade over time due to the requirement of the supplied a shoe horn to get the shoes on, and sharp finishes to the edge of the carbon. Theses are small details granted that don't affect immediate performance, but a shoe this price demands nothing short of perfection.

Value and conclusion

To be honest, £550/ $600 for a pair of shoes is frankly obscene. The Specialized S-Works Area 2 was deemed overpriced at £475 while Nimbl hovers between £425-450 for its Ultimate line.

It pales in comparison to the old Mavic Ultimate carbon frame shoes, which hit the £1000 mark, but compared to most shoes, the Q36.5 Unique Pro are the new most expensive readily available road shoe on the market.

I would say that when it comes to total system stiffness, the Unique Pro shoes outperform the S-Works Ares 1, the Shimano S-Phyre RC903 PWR, and any other shoes I have tried on the market. What's more impressive is that they do this comfortably, while also being one of the most breathable and airy shoes available for summer riding.

However, for this price tag, I expect perfection, not the finishing detail snags. It's a shame, given that from a performance point, they are as close to perfect as I have experienced. Nevertheless, I can't in good faith call them good value.

While the Quoc M3 isn't a brand new offering from the British shoe brand, this collaborative effort with MAAP has a few subtle differences from the original, which make them an interesting proposition. Let's see how they shape up.

Construction

The foundation of the MAAP x QUOC M3 shoes is the same unidirectional carbon sole that is used across the now expanding M3 range. From the M3 sport, up to the M3 Pro and Air, the same hand laid carbon fibre sole is used. This MAAP edition has the Australian brand's logo etched into it, but that is the only difference.

Cleats are fitted via the industry standard 3-bolt system with fore and aft adjustment while lateral and vertical lines are present for cleat placement guidance. The toe guard is non-replaceable, but the heel guard is, while both are designed to aid traction when walking.

The upper of the shoe is where the M3 Air and Pro differentiate from the more budget friendly Sport version. This upper is made from a laminated mesh TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) which is finely ribbed, according to QUOC to improve aerodynamics.

The MAAP x QUOC M3 features small triangular holes with an open mesh underneath for ventilation across the toe, tongue, and sides. An additional vent is present on the toe of the outsole. This positions it between the M3 Pro and Air designs with this regard, with the Pro using smaller perforations, and the Air featuring an open mesh for ventilation.

Rather than using a standard tongue design, the M3 shoes feature a wraparound structure where the tongue is a part of the upper material itself. This is similar to the Shimano S-Phyre RC903 range, and is designed to tailor the fit without pinch points. A welcome update on the M3 Air is now greater reinforcement around the stitching of the two upper pieces together. For adjustments, QUOC uses its own dials which for micro adjustments when tightening, and a twist to release mechanism. Two dials are present on both shoes.

Inside, again similar to Shimano, QUOC uses an adjustable arch support for low, medium, or high arches which are attached simply via double backed tape. This insole is also vibration dampening aimed to improve comfort over longer durations without impacting system stiffness.

The MAAP x QUOC M3 is available in both a white colourway with accents, or this pinkish Musk option. It holds a £20 premium over the standard M3 Air and Pro, and comes in sizes 38 to 47 in no half sizes. Claimed weight is 242g per shoe, but came in at 263g per shoe on our scales.

The ride

Fit wise, the MAAP x QUOC M3 share the same geometry as the rest of the M3 line, being somewhat wider than the standard used across most performance road shoes, but a touch narrower than the likes of the S-Works Torch range. They sit really between the Torch shoes and Shimano’s Wide Fit options, which is quite a good middle ground for me personally. Of course fit is rider dependent so it’s always worth trying on before you buy, or walking around on a carpeted surface before attaching the cleats.

Comfort wise the M3 can take a little while to really bed in. I’ve found with both these and the M3 Air that the wraparound tongue can dig into the top of the foot at the sides a little bit on the first couple of rides. However after this bedding in period that was no longer an issue.

In terms of length the shoe is spot on, while at the widest part of my foot there was no discomfort whatsoever. Where there was a slight difference with the M3 Air was more noticeable in warmer weather. There are not quite as many vents, and as a result there was a bit of foot expansion over longer rides in warmer weather. Something I appreciated about the M3 Air was the open mesh used across the inside of the shoe at the widest point which allowed for a bit of expansion. In the MAAP x QUOC M3 I did find that there was a bit of pressure across the outside of my right foot around the little toe as there was not this expansion room, but this was isolated to warmer weather rides over 3 hours long.

The insoles proved to be really effective . Vibration damping is a useful element which does nothing to detract from the power transfer, but over longer duration rides does reduce any incidence of numbness in the feet. This is a rare occurrence, but I have encountered it over long rides on broken road surfaces with particularly stiff shoes. Having the option to switch out the arch supports is also great, as often with testing shoes I have to use my own insoles in them and hope they fit. With the QUOC the standard insoles with a high arch insert fit pretty much perfectly for me.

This perfect fit of the insoles also does wonders for enhancing the overall system stiffness. The carbon outsole is fantastic when it comes to power transfer, really giving a connected feeling to the pedals when pushing down. But of course the overall stiffness of the shoe is a lot more than just the outsole, it’s about the entire system together. QUOC has done a great job with this, combining a stiff carbon sole with a secure upper and a heel counter that does not allow for any slip. This means that even when mashing the pedals trying to squeeze out every single watt the shoes feel secure on the foot with no wasted effort.

The use of two dials combined with the wraparound tongue also boost this overall system stiffness. The dials are great for clamping down, as tightening is done with small increments for genuine micro-adjustability. However there isn’t any option to loosen them at smaller increments. Rather it's simple 'twist to release', which does allow the foot to escape easily, but means a case of loosening, then retightening if you want to tailor the fit mid-ride. I prefer them to Sidi’s own proprietary retention dials, but the Boa Li2 are still the standard setters when it comes to retention dials.

There are a couple of practical elements where the MAAP x QUOC M3 falls a touch flat. First and foremost, the size range is somewhat limited thanks to the exclusion of any half sizes. When spending £350 / $450 on a pair of shoes, you want to get the fit spot on, and having only full sizes does limit that slightly. QUOC is a smaller scale brand than the likes of industry giants Specialized and Shimano, so there can be some leniency there.

The other practical element is the colour choices, as both are lighter options, which over time will show the dirt. White is definitely a popular choice when it comes to cycling shoes, but a darker colour option like black would be ideal for year round use without becoming dulled by rain and mud.

However, these are balance by some practical features that I do really like. The replaceable heel counter is great, as it is rugged and gives good traction when walking in the café. I also think the toe guard is brilliant as it extends nicely forwards so that when putting a toe down at the light or junction the guard takes the brunt of the road protecting that precious carbon sole.

Value and conclusion

This is a bit of a difficult area for the MAAP x QUOC Pro shoes, as this version comes with a £20/$20 price hike over the standard M3 Pro. Indeed at £320/$430 the shoes offer reasonable value in my experience, as the M3 Air shoes I have tested are still going strong showing good longevity while the M3 Pro and MAAP versions have some features which should enhance that further. The extra £20/$20 really is just for the MAAP design and styling, and doesn’t really bring anything functional to the platform beyond what the M3 Pro already offers. However that can be argued for a lot of higher end named brands which have higher prices purely because of the name. Ultimately £20/$20 is not a huge increase and the design of the shoes is, in my opinion, both eye catching and stylish.

Price-wise they do undercut the likes of the Specialized S-Works Torch, Shimano S-Phyre RC903, Sidi Shot 2S, and many other similarly equipped dual boa dialled performance road shoes. The Sidi Ergo 6 do undercut these at £300 /$400, but personally I prefer the fit and performance of the QUOC M3 shoes. Interestingly one of these shoes main competitors are the cheaper QUOC M3 Sport shoes which use the same carbon sole but for £220 /$270 . The upper is plusher and more comfort focussed though, so does lose some of the overall system stiffness.

The MAAP x QUOC M3 shoes are not a pair of shoes that fall foul of style over substance. They offer great levels of total system stiffness, which makes them a superb high intensity effort shoe that has some great practical features such as the adjustable insole.

However, compared to the standard QUOC M3 Pro, that extra £20/$20 doesn’t bring any additional performance benefits, and is purely an aesthetic update. Add to that the dials being solid but not quite at the same level as Boa Li2 dials, and the value of this collaboration is not quite as appealing as the standard M3 Pro. But for those looking for a distinct style paired with great performance, these shoes are a solid choice if your size is available.

Nimbl has become a thing of desire over the last five years since their shoes were spotted on various WorldTour riders such as Wout Van Aert and Jonas Vingegaard. All Nimbl shoes are handcrafted in Italy and designed for flat-out high performance. The Ultimate represents the top of the range offering from the brand with the stiffest and lightest materials, while the Air denotes the use of laces to drop the weight even more.

Nimbl Ultimate Air: Construction

New in is an updated monocoque carbon sole, first introduced in 2024, which is less than 2mm thin, meaning a very low stack height for improved power transfer and small aero gain. This new sole is only available in three-bolt cleating rather than the three or four-bolt offering previously, it also loses the ventilation holes drilled in.

The underside also features a replaceable heel tread and a toe tread. This new sole has been designed to be both stiffer and lighter than the previous iteration. It also extends quite high up the heel to provide a more secure fit, while it also extends up slightly across the whole foot.

Using laces means adjustment can be made across the six eyelet pairs, with the laces having a slightly tacky touch designed to allow tightness to be tailored across the length of the shoe. The top 6 eyelets on each shoe are reinforced to avoid damage to the upper over time. This upper is a microfibre with many perforations for improved ventilation.

On the tongue of the shoe is a lace holder to prevent the laces from flapping in the wind. In fact one of the main reasons for laces is that it makes the shoe more aerodynamic both with and without an overshoe. The other benefit is the weight, with a size 45 pair coming in at 358g. Sizes are available from 39-47 plus half sizes, while white is the only colour option at present.

Nimbl Ultimate Air: How they performed

Unpacking the Nimbl Ultimate Air itself is a bit of an experience, with a smart and rugged cardboard box. In there, you’re met with a black and white backdrop of Strada Bianchi, a nod to the brand’s Italian heritage and the fact they make all their shoes handmade in Italy. After that, you pick up the shoes and should frankly be quite shocked by just how light they are.

Without any cleat hardware, these shoes are a svelte 358g for a pair. For reference, the DMT KR SL lace ups are 500g for a pair of 45s and 484g for the Specialized S-Works 7 Lace ups. I also appreciate that in the box are a spare pair of laces, given the tendency for white laces to discolour very quickly and easily when ridden in anything other than dry sunny conditions.

Setting up the cleats, the latest series of Nimbl shoes have a new sole, which ditches the ability to choose between three or four bolt cleat patterns. I run Speedplay pedals, so a four-bolt option would have been appreciated, but nonetheless the three-bolt still works well.

There does appear to be a very small level of asymmetry to the cleat holes from left to right shoes, and with no grid for the cleat mounting it can be tricky to tailor cleat fit from shoe to shoe. However, I was able to match it to my current fit without much difficulty.

Putting on the shoes, the opening for the foot appears to be quite large by lace up cycling shoe standards. It makes getting the shoes on far easier and only requires two eyelets of laces to be undone rather than three or four I sometimes encounter. With six eyelets each side, there is a huge degree of tailoring for retention, and the slightly tacky laces help the laces stay in place well.

This, combined with a stiff sole and secure heel cup, results in an incredibly stiff overall platform, rivalling even the Shimano S-Phyre RC903 PWR. However, the insole is an area that is lacking, being mostly flat with a small scoop at the rear for the heel. I chose to switch them out with a pair that offered more arch support for me, and this made a huge difference to the overall feel and performance. To be fair though, for most shoes, a dedicated or tailored insole is often needed to maximise fit and performance from person to person.

With this setup refined, using the shoes out on the road is quite something. The combination of low weight and very high stiffness gives a perception as close to being bolted into the pedals with just your feet. It sounds like hyperbole, but it really does feel like every watt of effort is being transferred through to the pedals.

This is also helped by the carbon sole extending up the shoes slightly, like a carbon bathtub. It’s not as pronounced or extreme as Bont, where I find the sole comes up too high and can lead to pressure zones. But this extension does help keep the foot more planted in place. Meanwhile, the light weight feels like it’s easier to spin your feet around. Certainly compared to some shoes that are almost double the weight, this is genuinely noticeable.

For high power sprints, longer threshold or FTP level efforts, or low cadence high torque, these shoes feel superb and like an out and out race shoe. There are no aero details, but laces do generally test faster in a wind tunnel, hence why several World Tour pros are making the switch from Boa dials to Laces.

There is one slight compromise with these shoes though, and that is when you really clamp the laces down for that no compromise stiffness, there is a degree of comfort that is lost. Being laces, there is no option to adjust the retention while on the move, so it takes a while to work out what level of tightness you should set the laces to maximise power and comfort.

Another issue with laces, white ones mainly, is that they are dirt magnets. Fortunately the shoes themselves are easy to wipe clean of any dirt, with the lack of dials meaning those don’t require any maintenance. Another slight dent to the comfort is the relatively low level of breathability.

With an upper covered in vent holes, this is a touch surprising, but the underside features no ventilation and is often where breathability in a shoe is felt most in my experience. It’s only really noticeable during very hot weather, or doing longer or tougher indoor sessions where ventilation is limited.

A couple of bonus points for the shoe are the inclusion of a toe guard, which actually does a good job against potential toe tub on the front wheel and also putting your foot down when waiting at lights. Add to that a replaceable heel tread rather than opting for a more lightweight but non-replaceable option, and it boosts the longevity of the shoe. Especially appreciated given the price.

Nimbl Ultimate Air: Value

This is where the Nimbls start to suffer a touch. Compared to the likes of the Boa dial equipped Nimbl Ultimate Glide at £465, or Specialized Ares 2 at £479, these actually present reasonable value. They are also the same price as the Sidi Shot 2S but personally I far prefer the Nimbls for both comfort and performance.

However, there are other stiff lace up shoe options out there for significantly less money. Specialized have the S Works Torch Lace at £300, while the latest DMT Pogi lace ups are £369.99. I personally still use the S Works 7 Lace, and admittedly it is not as stiff a platform, or as lightweight, but it is supremely comfortable.

Where the £499 Nimbl Ultimate Air slot in, is if you want a top-of-the-range, absolutely featherweight pair of high performance road shoes that have the stiffness to transfer every bit of power to forward momentum. The Shimano S-Phyre RC903 PWR also does a super job on the power transfer front, but is not as lightweight by quite some way. These are an absolute Halo shoe that may not offer the best value, but offer some of the best overall performance.

Conclusion

The Nimbl Ultimate Air are an absolutely performance focussed race shoe. Incredibly lightweight, supreme stiffness, and likely aero performance gains to boot. They offer an exceptionally stiff platform that allows for maximum power transfer and great foot support.

Laces are love hate, and I sit on the love side of things thanks to the sleek design and tailored adjustment. However, lack of on the fly adjustment, tendency to get warm in hot weather, and not the most refined cleat fitting holes do take them down a notch. The price is also high, but for those looking for peak performance, that may well be a price worth paying when compared to what else is out there.

Named among our North American Editor's favourite products of 2024, the Shimano S-Phyre RC903 PWR builds upon the standard RC903 platform, refining the design specifically to aid higher power riders and efforts such as track racers, sprinters, and time triallists. Let's see how they stack up compared to the original model.

Construction

The sole is the same semi-covered carbon used on the original model, with Shimano's higher stiffness rating of 12. Most of the sole is not visible from the outside as it is wrapped by the same material as the upper. Cleats are attached via a 3-bolt system that has fore and aft adjustment, as well as a mapping system to ensure accurate cleat placement.

The same heel cup is also used, which features what Shimano calls 'anti-twist stabilization' to maintain optimal foot position and prevent any twisting. It also features a fairly narrow heel point to provide additional security.

This heel counter and the underside hard coating now feature a colour-shifting finish, a feature not available on the standard RC903 shoes. Shimano also utilises the same insole with adjustable arch support, providing a more tailored fit.

Another new feature is the use of a separate tongue, which features multiple perforations designed to improve breathability. Multiple holes across the upper and vents in the sole are designed to further assist with this.

The PWR uses the same Boa Li2 dials for adjustment, but has reduced this to one metal dial; on the RC903, this was only an option available to professional riders, such as Mathieu van der Poel.

This single dial features seven turn points to create a powerful compound pulley system designed to allow for increased levels of retention and force application. A Velcro strap is also used for retention on the forefoot, allowing for the use of track straps, which a lower dial would not permit.

The shoes are available in sizes from 36-48 with half sizes from 39.5-46.5, plus the same range of wide fit options. The white colourway is presently the only one available. Our size 45 wide fit came out at 546g for a pair.

The ride

First and foremost, these are shoes that are designed to grip your feet and not let go. This does make the initial process of putting them on a slight faff admittedly.

The now no longer tongueless design means that slipping the shoes on can fold the tongue down into the shoe. This is made all the more likely by the fact that, with just a single dial to open the shoes, and one that has so many pivot points, the opening is difficult to widen and requires some manipulation of the wires.

Once these shoes are on, however, they are impressive. The single Boa Li2 dial might seem like a downgrade from the two-dialled version of the RC903 shoes. However, with seven turn points along the retention wire, this results in a mightily effective compound pulley system.

What this essentially means, with a bit of help from Archimedes, is that more force can be applied across the retention system with smaller tightening increments. This allows for an incredibly tight maximum retention that is significantly better than any other shoe I've tested.

The closest competitor is the S-Works Ares shoe, which uses four turn points on the upper dial. I also appreciate the new metal Boa dial, which looks more premium. With its textured finish, it is easy to grip and provides massive retention.

Being a Li2 dial, micro-adjustments are possible in both directions, with a 'pull to release' mechanism making the shoes easier to take off than get on.

Adding to this overall retention is the same heel cup as used in the standard RC903 shoes. This is rigid to provide anti-rotation so when really putting down the power there is no twisting around the ankles. These shoes also have a narrower top around the ankle, which suits me well to allow zero heel slip when pulling up on the pedals during sprints.

The Velcro strap is another interesting addition, as personally I never really adjusted it. However, it has been added in lieu of a second dial for track sprinters. A Boa dial does not allow for the use of toe straps easily, while a Velcro strap accommodates this. For 2500+ watt sprint efforts, this is a vital addition, although maybe superfluous for most road cyclists, and especially myself. It takes nothing away from the shoes though.

The final piece of this monster power transfer platform is the carbon fibre sole. This is the same sole as the standard RC903 shoes and has a stiffness rating of 12, the stiffest Shimano offers. However, in conjunction with the upper retention system, the overall system stiffness is far greater than any other shoe that I’ve used. The likes of Nimbl do appear to have a stiffer carbon sole when comparing the Ultimate platform with the standard RC903, but the enhanced retention capacities of the RC903 PWR make for a total system that feels significantly stiffer and more planted. For maximal efforts and out of the saddle attacks, the RC903 PWR are truly unmatched.

It's not all about power though. The increased level of adjustment for the retention makes for an impressively comfortable shoe; I would say more so than the standard RC903. Aiding this is the perforated tongue and increased breathability of the shoes, making them more pleasant in warmer environments.

The same arch adjustable sole is also used, which is nicely supportive and stiff. Another great addition is the broad size range with half sizes and all sizes available across the wide fit model. A single colour option is a tad limiting, but the white with iridescent accents look superb to me.

At 546g, these are 30g heavier than the standard RC903 shoes, but that weight is not noticeable. Only ultra featherweights like the Nimbl Ultimate Air feel noticeably lighter when pedalling at a higher cadence, but even then at higher power outputs the increased system stiffness outweighs the perception of lightweight. For a race day shoe, these are truly exceptional.

Value & conclusion

At £349.99 / $525, these are an expensive pair of cycling shoes, but they pack a lot of high-tech features into them. They are the same price as the standard RC903 shoes, and offer better value to me as a race day shoe with the enhanced retention. They also undercut the likes of Specialized with the S-Works Torch (from £350/ $449), Sidi Shot 2S (from £425/ $524), Nimble Ultimate Air (from £425 / $549), and DMT KR0 EVO (from £350/ $409).

There are cheaper options, the Specialized Torch lace starts at £219/ $349, but using laces means zero on-the-fly adjustment, while the Canyon Tempr CFR is £319.95/ $329.95 and a touch lighter. The Canyon is likely the most similar shoe in design and features, but the sock-like upper is tough to clean, and the heel is a little more roomy, making for a lower system stiffness.

There is also an element of how you aim to use the shoes. If you are a sprinter or track racer, there is likely nothing else off-the-shelf that will rival the RC903 PWR shoes. If you are a more relaxed type of rider, not as focused on peak power efforts, then there are lower specification shoes that may suit your needs better. If weight is the sole focus, again there are more suitable options. I think for maximal power transfer, and the psychological feeling that every ounce of effort is transferring to forward momentum, then the Shimano RC903 PWR shoes are an exceptional piece of kit and justify the higher price.

The Shimano S-Phyre RC903 PWR shoes have been designed specifically for high-power efforts like time trials, sprints, and track races. To that end, they deliver exceptional performance and have probably the highest system stiffness I’ve ever experienced. A very clever retention system, secure yet comfortable fit, and improved breathability, all for the same price as the standard RC903, make these a no-brainer if you're choosing between the two models. They are not the most featherweight, but the stiffness makes a more noticeable impact on performance than the additional few grams. Add to that the great adjustment allowing them to be comfortable enough for long, easier rides, and these are a superb pair of shoes that I struggle to find any real fault with.

Specialized has long established itself as a leading brand in the bike industry, known for its extensive and diverse range of high-quality bicycles. Yet, the brand’s slate of components and accessories may just be more popular than the bikes themselves. The brand's tyres, shoes, helmets and saddles are everywhere — I dare you to show up at a group ride just about anywhere in the world and not find Specialized-branded items. Thus, when Specialized updates its top-end shoe range, it's worth noting.

The brand's latest release is a refined version of the previous Ares shoe — Specialized's top-of-the-line road cycling shoe, worn by the likes of Primoz Roglić, Demi Vollering and Tim Merlier.

The updated Ares aims to enhance comfort and ergonomics—factors Specialized identifies as crucial for maximising power transfer and reducing localised pressure on key areas of the foot. To achieve these improvements, Specialized says it analysed more than 100,000 3D foot scans to optimise the foot-shoe-pedal interaction and boost overall system efficiency.

“With a complete suite of ergonomically designed, scientifically proven Body Geometry innovations—including the all-new Body Geometry Last—the S-Works Ares 2 eliminates pedal lag and maximises power transfer,” Specialized said in the press kit for the new shoe.

This emphasis on “Body Geometry” has yielded a shoe with a 20% increase in contact surface inside and 44% less forefoot pressure in practice. All things considered, the new shoe provides a claimed seven-watt increase to the rider’s functional threshold power if the rider also uses other Body Geometry products and innovations like refined cleat position and custom footbeds.

Yet, arguably, the most talked-about aspect of the Ares 2 isn’t its construction or updated materials; it is its steep price, which ranges from $450/£375 to $600/£479.

The price of gear is a somewhat touchy subject in gear reviews. On one hand, reviews are an assessment of quality, not necessarily value. Value is, after all, highly subjective. However, when prices are raised by such magnitudes that they potentially shift the cost of the entire product market, it is impossible to ignore. The Ares 2 is a clear-cut example of that.

From the onset of the test, the balance between the shoe's performance and cost was at the front of my mind as I tried to parse through my ultimate verdict. Fundamentally, the question that kept coming to my mind, and the one that has guided my review, is: What is the cost of a seven-watt gain?

Specs

• Model: S-Works Ares 2
• Intended use: road racing
• Outsola: Unidirectional carbon
• Closure: BOA® Fit System featuring Dual-Dial Li2
• Weight: 263g (size 43)
• Size tested: 43
• RRP: $599.99

The Body Geometry of it all

As was the case with the Specialized Torch released last year, Specialized has doubled down on its Body Geometry philosophy, which is based on the brand's ergonomic research and biomechanical testing to optimise rider fit and performance.

Body Geometry heavily influenced the shoe's updates, particularly around the potential to maximise power transfer through body alignment and ergonomics.

Specialized breaks it down into four general elements: the Varus Wedge, Metatarsal Button, Longitudinal Arch and Body Geometry Last. These four elements each touch on a different adjustment the shoes make.

Varus Wedge refers to the shoe's 1.5-degree tilt towards the outside of the pedal. This rotation allows the rider's knee to track vertically throughout the downstroke of the pedalling motion, allowing for more direct power transfer to the pedals.

Similarly, correcting the engagement of the Metatarsal Button allows the shoe to have a tight fit without pinching the rider's toes, as a “button” elevates and separates the Metatarsal bones. The “Longitudinal Arch” is the shape of the shoe meant to counteract its tendency to act as a spring, once again increasing power transfer.

Lastly, the increase in the footbed size creates more room for the toes to splay, which increases comfort and diminishes the pressure on the rider's feet.

All these four elements work together to create what Specialized says is a formula to increase the wearer’s power at lactate threshold by 7 watts. Allegedly.

The Ares 2 tension is controlled by a dual Boa Fit System that incorporates the Boa’s Li2 multidirectional dials. This new and improved system, which is also on the new Giro Imperial II and Fizik Vega Carbon road shoes, provides precise tension adjustment in a two-part system that allows for the upper to contour specifically to different portions of a rider's foot. The dials themselves have also been upgraded with a new alloy construction, giving the system more durability and a nice silver aesthetic.

This, paired with a much broader and squared toe box, gives a lot of flexibility in where the shoe tightens around a rider's foot. The Boa dials themselves have also been redesigned to provide more precise tension control while retaining the easy-to-use elements that make the BOA system usable on the go, even in race environments.

Ride feel: strong power transfer versus the ankle problem

My first ride in the Ares 2 came a few weeks before the launch in March, and I have been riding consistently in the shoes since, covering everything from long road rides, hill intervals, light gravel rides and even a criterium race. Across the different uses, the shoe was best suited for shorter efforts where acute power transfer is key, especially in sprinting. What I found was that the use cases where the shoe matched what I was looking for were much more limited than I anticipated.

One of the main design elements of the Ares, along with other Specialized shoes, is a high, rigid ankle cup intended to lock the heel and ankle of the rider in place for improved power transfer to the pedals, similar to the goal of the “Longitudinal Arch.” The problem with this design element is that the heel profile results in a unique fit that is a challenge to my anatomy. With the Ares 2, my normal shoe size was unwearable. The impingement was so severe that in the first four rides I attempted with the shoes, I had to stop within the first 45 minutes to release the boa dials to reduce the pinching sensation that made it difficult to pedal.

I ended up swapping sizes down from a 44 to a 43, which alleviated most of the discomfort around the ankle/heel area, but it did create a much tighter fit in the front of the shoe. It was workable with thin socks, and my foot felt very secure. However, the feeling of the shoe's construction was always on my mind when pedalling.

Every time I changed my cadence or stood up out of the saddle, I would be reminded of the tight heel or the cramped toe box. For shorter rides, the locked-in feeling and solid power transfer would outweigh the fit restrictions. But anything over three hours began to feel like a chore, and I would find myself loosening the Boa-dials at different points to offer a reprieve for different parts of my feet.

As for the seven watts added to my threshold power? Who’s to say? What I can tell you is I was not suddenly adjusting the power zones ascribed to my workouts.

Lastly, the cleat attachment was also strange and limiting, with only minor forward and backwards adjustability. The sliding bolts, which are standard on three-hole cleat designs, did not slide easily. After a while of working on the shoe to get the cleats back in the position I normally use, I was able to find the right location, but it was a challenge and not a task I hope to do again. Beware if you have similar fit demands.

Finding the footing of a new aesthetic

The Ares 2 does shine in its aesthetic improvement. The shoe's overall shape was redesigned to suit more foot shapes, and the result is a striking design.

The pair I tested came in white with silver accents. The white body of the shoe is complete with rubber toe reinforcements, which create a blunted, built-up yet not bulky look that is unique in the market of top-end road shoes, where narrow and sleek designs are ubiquitous. Capping that design off with the “S-Works” logo outlined in silver that matched the Boa dials creates an undeniably striking shoe that matches the bold performance claims of the Ares 2.

While white road shoes are the dominant colour these days, if you plan on making these your everyday shoes or live in a rainy area, these shoes also come in black, green and the “team issue” colourway, which has a bigger “Specialized” logo and black trim. If you do go with all white, the material is easy to clean and has held up well after regular riding, so fear not.

Verdict

A simple litmus test I use when evaluating gear is whether using it feels natural or like a chore. Some products seem to have a gravitational pull, and I find myself reaching for them repeatedly, even when other options also need testing. Others I use selectively and with care, making sure their quirks don’t interfere with the kind of ride I want to have.

More often than not, this divide comes down to cost. Cheaper gear is usually not as refined as its more expensive counterparts. But that comparison can be revealing. If I don’t hesitate to use a more affordable option, it’s likely a good value. On the other hand, if I find it hard to set aside the premium version, it might just be worth the upgrade.

What was surprising about the Ares 2 was that:

1) The shoes are significantly more expensive than the alternative shoes in my lineup, even other high-end road performance options, and

2) They're the shoes I always avoided wearing.

With that said, my experience with the Ares 2 should come with all the appropriate caveats: Ride feel is subjective as everyone’s feet are unique, and value is in the eye of the beholder. Still, my feet are far from abnormal. I have shoes from many different brands that have distinct pros and cons, but they are all wearable. The Ares 2 is the only pair that I fundamentally struggled with. What’s more, they cost over a hundred USD more than most of their direct competitors, and have experienced a massive price hike between iterations.

To me, it feels like Specialized is using the claimed “seven-watt” performance gain both as a marketing tool and as justification for the shoe’s steep price increase. Naturally, achieving those claimed watt-savings required the engineering and design teams to invest time and resources, diving deep into the complexities of shoe construction. The result is a product that is, presumably, very effective for some but completely ineffective for others.

Ultimately, that is a valid approach, as no product will work for every rider. But in this case, a market leader has raised the price of its flagship model so sharply in pursuit of a specific—and for many, imperceptible—performance gain that consumers may be asked to spend considerably more without necessarily experiencing the promised benefits. That shift risks not just diminishing the value of one model but skewing perceptions of value across the entire high-end shoe market.

Giro has released an update to its top-tier road shoe offerings. Six years since the original Giro Imperial shoe was released, the update features a sleek new BOA Fit System, a supple and breathable upper and a stiff sole optimised for high-performance road riding.

The Imperial II builds on the legacy of the first iteration of the shoe, which was released in 2019 as a lightweight, breathable racing shoe. Much of the design elements remain the same, with thin translucent cutouts running along both sides of the shoe and two aluminium BOA dials functioning as the tightening mechanism.

Giro claims the new model has better power transfer, adding 20Nm of stiffness to the sole while keeping weight low. The claimed weight is 220g for a size 43.

While some of the design elements are new, the pricing for the new Imperial II remains consistent. This range-topper costs $449.95 MSRP (£399.99 RRP), compared to its predecessor's $424.95 MSRP. The available colourways are limited to white and black.

While the improvements might seem marginal on paper, they do add value to an already solid product, which places the Giro Imperial II as one of the premier road shoes for summer performance.

Specs

• Forged UD carbon fibre sole 
• Super breathable SYNCHWIRE™ knit upper
• Dual BOA® L2 dials 
• 3-bolt cleat compatibility
• Weight: 220g (size 43)
• Size tested: 43.5
• RRP: $449.95 / £399.99 / €449.99

Fit notes: neutral foot shape design

Every shoe has its own design quirks, and while no two shoes fit the same, the Imperial II is about as neutral as they come. The heel cup is built up, but low enough to stay out of the way mechanically, while the toe box is firmly middle of the road in terms of width. What’s more, the breathable fabric that makes up the shoe’s upper also offers flexibility that allows for the shoe to contour to different foot shapes more effectively compared to other, more rigidly built footwear options.

One area where the fit might not work for everyone is arch support or lack thereof. The insoles are thin and the built-in arm profile is on the low side. Luckily, Giro shoes do run fairly true to size, and third-party insoles should fit to make amends to that lower profile.

The Imperial II’s fit is aided by the use of a dual Boa Fit System that incorporates the company’s Li2 multidirectional dials. This new and improved system is a popular option among higher-end models, as it can be found on the latest offerings from Specialized and Fizik as well. The system provides precise tension adjustment, helping the shoe upper to contour specifically to different portions of a rider's foot. The dials themselves have also been upgraded with a new alloy construction, giving the system more durability as well as a pleasing metallic aesthetic.

On the Imperial II, these two Boa dials sit on the outside of the shoe, slightly lower than the previous model, and the wires criss-cross over a separate inner tongue of the shoe. This design works together with the breathable upper to secure the foot, unlike the Fizik and Specialized models, which use an upper dial to wrap the material over the top of the foot. While the Giro design provides slightly less security, it uses less fabric, which helps reduce weight and maintain a more streamlined, symmetrical structure on both sides of the shoe.

The shoe’s breathability comes from a one-piece woven TPU fabric. TPU, which is short for thermoplastic polyurethane, is a synthetic material that has the characteristics of rubber and plastic. In recent years, TPU has become the go-to material for lightweight inner tubes, but in the case of these shoes, the TPU fabric is a thin weave that runs around the front half of the shoe.

Ride feel: the right companion for a long day, both on and off road

A good shoe is at its best when it goes unnoticed. With the Imperial II, the power of the shoe to disappear jumped out immediately.

I have been riding in the shoes regularly for around a month now on rides ranging from short intensive road rides, to long hot endurance rides on mixed surfaces. The shoe has excelled in each of the different use cases, but in particular on the long, hot days. The ability for the feeling to fade into the background has been striking, especially compared to other shoes I have in for testing. While it might lag behind those other, more built-up options in terms of raw power transfer, the comfort difference is massive.

This comfort has encouraged me to try to squeeze more out of the shoe in terms of use cases beyond simple road rides. As the testing went on, I felt pulled to put road pedals on my gravel bike for gravel rides where I was unlikely to have to step off the bike and scramble over rocks. Once this started, I found my mind wandering, as I cruised down bumpy gravel roads, about gravel races where I could get away with wearing these shoes over the other two-bolt off-road options I have.

Not only would some power transfer efficiency be gained, but sheer comfort would also be a big benefit. The shoe's upper's breathability and material flexibility make it dynamic enough to meet the demands of racing for many hours over tumultuous surfaces.

The one true downside of the shoe's off-road capacity is that its material holds a lot of dirt and dust and is difficult to clean fully. A month of mixed-surface riding has added a brown tinge that is hard to get rid of, but there is always the black colourway if you don’t fancy the clean white aesthetic.

For road riding, I struggle to find any real flaws. As I'm entering another long, hot summer in Arizona, the Imperial II is a great companion that will certainly remain in the shoe rotation.

The verdict

The Imperial II doesn’t seek to reinvent the road shoe, and that's okay. Instead, it builds on its predecessor's success, refining key elements, reinforcing smart design choices and enhancing the subtle details that matter. The result is a high-performance, versatile road shoe that excels in everyday use.

Across hard climbs, light gravel, and hot, long road rides, the Giro Imperial II has quickly become my go-to option. With its light and airy upper, the shoe handles the heat of the late Arizona spring incredibly well, while still providing enough support for an interval session or race-type rides.

As road shoes, they cover all the bases that a top-of-the-line shoe should provide. And for those veering off-road as well, the flexibility of the upper allows for a tight shoe that still has some give during the bumpy moments, though the fabric is tough to keep clean.

Well, this is an intriguing proposition. Two Italian brands join forces to develop a shoe that’s plenty stiff enough for racing, yet comfortable enough for a casual coffee ride and stylish enough to get nods of approval from the fashionistas who promenade along the shores of Lake Como.

The two protagonists are the Italian shoe brand Sidi, which brings artisanal expertise and desirable racing heritage to the coffee table, and the Como-based bike shop, café, and clothing brand Sartoria Ciclistica, poised to inject a double shot of espresso-fuelled sartorial elegance.

The Laghèe Sprinter, with its clean, sneaker-esque lines and multi-hued tongue, does look undeniably cool. But is it desirable, or even feasible, to produce a super-stiff sole married to a slipper-like upper?

Construction

Let’s start by deconstructing the name. ‘Sprinter’ is self-explanatory but think playful town sign sprint rather than Cav going full-gas at Saint-Vulbas. ‘Laghèe’ translates as ‘of the Lake’, a reference to Como’s locals and the affectionate term Sartoria Ciclistica uses to address its devotees.

Working from the bottom up, the Laghèe Sprinter has a ‘C-boost aerolite’ carbon sole with a stiffness rating of 12/12 on Sidi’s rigidity scale. It’s the same sole as found on Sidi’s top-tier Shot 2 race shoe. I take size 48 shoes, which tend to exhibit more flex than shorter lengths, but trust me, there’s absolutely no give in this sole when I try to flex it in any direction by hand.

Embedded into the sole at the toe and heel are two replaceable silver/grey nylon inserts, each attached with a single crosshead screw. Both feature tiny raised black nylon tread blocks and house small vents – one at the front, three at the rear – that are protected from small pebbles and other road detritus by fine stainless-steel mesh.

Most of the sole, with its slick carbon weave boldly visible, is silky smooth to the touch, except for the area around the adjustable cleat holes, which is roughly textured for grip. The three bolt holes have 6mm of fore and aft adjustment, and there are guide rules etched into the sole to make setup and replacement easier.

The faux leather upper has a microfibre backing that makes the inner feel very plush and readily regulates sweat absorption. This dual-layer material feels beautifully smooth on its outer face too, extremely soft to the touch yet not as supple as a lightly woven fabric or mesh.

Unfortunately, the insoles aren’t adjustable for arch height – no wedge inserts are included – but they are good quality, dual-density products, with thicker, firmer, perforated foam beneath the metatarsal area. The right insole is emblazoned with the Sartoria Ciclistica slogan: We Ride For Coffee.

The lightly perforated synthetic upper has a lean, clean aesthetic, accentuated by the long down-to-the-toe lacing channel that promotes a precise, tailored fit. The shoe is almost entirely devoid of stitching, other than the retro toe bumper and black heel strip, which has the Sidi logo picked out in the same colours as the tongue.

Ah, yes, that multi-coloured tongue, the most striking feature of this shoe. Apparently, the four hues – muted shades of blue, red, yellow and green – are the house colours of Sartoria Ciclistica, a combination that looks stunning. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I think Sidi has successfully navigated the fine line that teasingly meanders between alla moda and cattivo gusto.

The tongue, which is made from the same microfibre-backed PU fabric as the rest of the upper, is both padded and perforated. It’s hard to spot at first glance, but it’s actually a continuation of the toe bumper, a testament to the craftsmanship that’s been invested in this shoe. Unusually, the tongue is held in place by a row of stitches that also secure the mid-lace guide on the arch (inner) side of the foot.

The rear inner, including the deep heel cup and generously padded collar, is lined with a soft, black microfibre mesh fabric that’s proudly stamped ‘Made In Italy’.

Where most brands use Boa dials, Sidi favours its own unidirectional rotary closure system that relies on a flip-up latch to tighten and two squeezable side paddles to release. The Laghèe Sprinter features one of these dials on each shoe, aligned with three pairs of symmetrically placed lace guides (including the guide incorporated within the dial). The laces are Dyneema, which is softer than the plastic-coated steel wire used by Boa. Both dial and laces are replaceable.

The Ride

The Laghèe Sprinter uses a traditional Sidi last, which is quite narrow both at the heel and forefoot. This, together with the deep heel cup, provides a ‘locked-in’ sensation that divides opinion. My large feet fall between narrow and wide – I hesitate to call them normal or even regular – which means I can usually get comfortable in most shoes. Yet I prefer a roomier toe box for longer rides as my feet tend to swell a little.

Very recently, Sidi has developed a ‘Millenium’ last with a wider toe box that works particularly well for me, but sadly, it’s not been adopted for this shoe. No matter, I found the slim fit secure but reassuringly comfy, even when putting the watts down.

Which brings me to the character of these shoes. The sole is super stiff, and despite the luxurious fabric, the upper remains on the unyielding side of pliant. This may not be an uncompromising race shoe like the Sidi Shot 2, but make no mistake, it’s no everyday commuter either. So, is the marketing promise of café-ride comfort disingenuous?

As always, it depends on your individual tastes and circumstances. If you prefer your caffeine and cake raids to be enjoyed at pace with a group of sharply dressed buddies, then this may just be the shoe for you. However, if you cycle at a more leisurely speed, happier to devote more time to slow-passing scenery than fast fashion, then it may be a little too hardcore. However, it’s worth remembering that personal preference plays a significant role in shoe choice. Some leisure-oriented riders will choose a stiffer sole over a more flexible shoe every time, purely because they find it more comfortable. There’s nothing wrong with that.

As well as being ultra-stiff, the slim carbon soles have a low stack height. I can’t say whether this quality made my riding more aero and efficient, but it certainly made me feel more connected with the bike.

Despite having only a single rotary closure dial, the long lace channel and stable tongue enabled me to tension the Dyneema laces conveniently, consistently and comfortably. The dial is so well made it feels bullet-proof in operation; I’m sure it will outlast the shoes. However, I found it slightly more fiddly to use than a Boa and, because it is unidirectional, making any subsequent adjustments on the move felt cumbersome.

Most of my riding for this review was completed at the tail-end of winter into early spring, with an initial burst or two on the turbo to ensure I’d positioned my cleats correctly. Excluding the turbo rides, temperatures ranged from around 5°C / 41°F in the early mornings to 16°C / 61°C at midday, with the upper figure being most representative. Within this temperature range, I found my pair of Laghèe Sprinters exceptionally comfortable. The microfibre-lined uppers and the limited number of perforations meant that my feet remained cosy, helped by a lack of cold air flushing through the body of the shoe. The vents in the sole are apparent on the move, but again, the airflow is relatively subtle. How this low level of venting plays out during the summer months remains to be seen.

Value and conclusions

At £350/$429 the Sidi Laghèe Sprinter is clearly an expensive shoe, one that’s only slightly cheaper than the brand’s cutting-edge race shoes, such as the Wire 2S and the Shot 2S. But that’s the point – this is essentially a top-tier race shoe that’s been detuned for fast café rides. Any marginal downturn in performance is compensated by an uplift in comfort and style.

What you get for your money is a quality, handmade European shoe with a top-notch carbon sole and removable, replaceable consumable components. Plus, of course, a generous sprinkling of Italian flair.

Build quality is simply superb, the materials used are of the highest quality, and there’s not a panel or stitch out of place. Just bear in mind that these aren’t the lightest shoes – mine weighed in at 365g per shoe but, to be fair, that is for a size 48.

The closest competitor I can think of is the Mechanism PNS x Fizik shoe, a special edition collaboration between Fizik and Pas Normal Studios that retails for an even pricier £390/$490.

Remove the fashion element, and it’s easy to find cycling shoes with comparable features selling for significantly less than these two examples. However, love it or hate it, style has been inextricably linked with cycling for decades, and few, if any, do it better than the Italians. If you’re an aesthete blessed with regular to narrow feet and a craving for espresso, you’re going to love this shoe.

Specs

• Stiffness rating (Sidi’s own): 12/12
• Sole: C-boost aerolite carbon sole
• Closure: Single rotary dial closure with Dyneema lace
• Consumables: Replaceable consumable parts
• Country of manufacture: Handmade in Italy
• Sizes: 40 – 48
• Weight: 365g per shoe in size 48

Let’s start with some positives: the Omna Vento is Fizik’s least expensive shoe, and it’s available in a wide fitting, which is the version I’m reviewing here. With an RRP of £164.99/$169.99, it’s hardly cheap, but it compares favourably to the competition from other high-end brands, and it shares the same price as the regular Vento Omna. So, there’s no penalty for rocking pancake-sized feet, which is to be commended.

These shoes bear a remarkable resemblance to Fizik’s higher-tier Tempo Decos Carbon model. To all intents and purposes this is a cut-price version of the same shoe, so I’ll be exploring the key differences to help you decide which is the best buy for you.

A quick note about my own feet. I’ve been blessed with large – size 48 – feet that, depending on the brand, fall between regular and wide. With many brands, including Fizik, I’m comfortable in both regular and wide fittings but I tend to prefer wide for long, summer rides as my feet can swell in the heat.

Construction

The two primary differences between the Omna and the Decos are the outsole material, and the fabric used to construct the upper. Sizing appears to be the same - I cannot feel much difference in terms of fit or volume, and both shoes use identical insoles. Somewhat counterintuitively, the less stiff Omna falls within Fizik’s Vento racing line, while the Tempo Decos is marketed as a performance endurance shoe. I’d say the Omna is a comfortable all-rounder, so ignore Fizik’s marketing on this one.

The Omna features Fizik’s R5 nylon outsole, which the brand gives a stiffness rating of 6/10. Grabbing the shoe at heel and toe, I can easily flex the sole a few millimetres in my hands, though I found it very resistant to twisting. Movement was most evident at the centre and ends of the shoe, with the metatarsal area – where the cleat holes are – remaining reassuringly rigid.

Basic physics dictates that longer shoes, like my size 48s, will probably exhibit more flex than smaller sizes, so experiences will vary. By contrast, the super-stiff 10/10 carbon sole found on the Decos is impossible to budge by hand in any direction.

Venting is fairly basic, there’s a single, small port beneath the metatarsophalangeal joint (big toe joint) that feeds directly into the toe box. Unlike the Decos, there’s no channelled exhaust port.

Two, soft, rubberised tread blocks, one at the heel, the other at the toe, provide grip for short walks. It’s a shame the toe block doesn’t wrap around the front to form a modest protective bumper to save scuffing during toe-down moments. The Decos has this feature, and I miss it here.

In common with many lower-priced shoes, the three-bolt cleat position is fixed as opposed to being adjustable for fore and aft fine-tuning. I guess this is to differentiate it from the more expensive Decos, which is a shame because I hesitate to consider £164.99/$169.99 as entry-level. Fortunately, your cleats – Shimano or Look Keo – will allow some adjustment, and Fizik has placed the bolt holes in this relatively new shoe further back than used to be the norm. So, obtaining enough set-back for a comfortable, powerful pedal stroke shouldn’t be a problem.

The upper is made from fabric-backed, high-density polyurethane, which has a subtle faux-leather grain. It’s quite thick, but very soft and pliable. The tongue uses a heavier-weight, thicker, cushion-backed polyurethane that features an industrial-style diamond grid pattern and a generous number of perforations to aid breathability.

In contrast, the Decos’ upper is much lighter, made from a fine mesh that’s laminated with a very thin layer of polyurethane.

In keeping with Fizik’s signature aesthetic, this shoe has extremely clean lines with minimal stitching and no visible joins. The upper is made from a single piece of fabric with a dozen or so diagonal rows of perforations throughout the mid-foot.

The fabric cuff is soft and deep – externally, it’s significantly more prominent than the very subtle cuff on the Decos, but internally they are near identical.

Both shoes have a very similar closure system that comprises a single, side-mounted Boa that equally tensions both sides of a traditional central lace channel (slightly offset on the Decos). There are no fancy burrito-style wrap-over shenanigans in evidence here, and I believe both shoes are all the better for it. This is a simple shoe, with a simple, attractive aesthetic. Why complicate things?

The only obvious difference with the lacing is that the Omna uses fabric lace guides versus the plastic guides on the Decos. Arguably, fabric is better because it’s even less likely to bite into the foot, but the cable laces may not run as freely.

Just like its pricier cousin, the Omna benefits from premium, low-profile, micro-adjust Li2 Boas, which can both tighten and loosen on the fly. An impressive feature to find at this price point.

Claimed weight for the Omnas, size unspecified, is 240g per shoe, which is only 22g heavier than the claimed weight for the Decos. Actual weight for my size 48 Decos is 307g per shoe versus 346g for my Omnas, a 39g saving.

The Ride

The best way to ensure a shoe is going to fit correctly is to try a pair at your local stockist, rarely an option these days because many of us, for better or worse, purchase online. This was my experience too; the review pair was delivered by post.

Fortunately, Fizik provides a decent shoe fit chart on its website, together with detailed instructions for measuring your feet. For example, Fizik maintains that if your feet measure 270mm in length, then you’re a size 8 UK, 42 EU and 9 US. If your metatarsal width is less than 105mm then a regular size should be most suitable. If you measure up bigger, then opt for a wide fitting.

Fizik also says on its website that its wide fitting offers ‘slightly more generous sizing’, which I believe sums up its broader offering perfectly. Neither the Omna nor the Decos are built for extremes, it’s a matter of degree.

As a wholly unscientific test, I offered up an insole from a regular fit Fizik Mechanism PNS race shoe against the Omna wide, both size 48. At the metatarsal area, the Omna provided another 7mm of room at the widest point. I also compared the more leisure-oriented Fizik Tempo Beat and found barely any difference, perhaps a millimetre. This is, of course, size-dependent but it’s a useful comparison. Essentially, if you find Fizik race shoes a little too snug then the wide fitting will feel a little less so.

The wide-fitting Omnas and Decos feel much the same in terms of width and volume. Fizik doesn’t appear to have increased the heel cup widths much, if at all, so the back of my foot felt securely locked in wearing either shoe. If anything, the Omna felt like it had more volume, but the difference was so slight, this could just be my mind playing tricks on me. As expected, both shoes are measurably wider at the forefoot than the Mechanism PNS, but the heel cup feel isn’t dissimilar.

Stiffness is, of course, a different story. The nylon sole is more flexible, which is especially noticeable when doing the penguin walk to a café table. On the bike, the difference is undeniably there, but the cleat platform remains plenty stiff enough for it not to be a concern.

There is a trade-off here. Yes, it’s possible that a slightly less stiff shoe will hinder power transfer – the jury is still out on this one – but it will also better conform to the foot, minimising the likelihood of heel lift and reducing the risk of painful blisters. During my rides, I wasn’t troubled by a lack of torsional or lateral stiffness, whether cruising the distance, putting the hammer down or enjoying short, sharp but fun town sign sprints.

Remember, it’s not all about sole stiffness. The secure heel cup, excellent lace tensioning system and ‘stiff enough’ sole work in combination to provide the best footing for a comfortable, efficient ride.

I tested the Omna Wide throughout the early spring, when we were blessed with dry, sunny but chilly weather conditions in the UK. The mercury rarely rose above 15°C/60°C, with early morning lows down to 2°C/35°F. These shoes, with their relatively thick uppers, peppered with a modest number of perforations, kept my feet comfortable in the mid-to-upper temperature range but I’m concerned that they’re going to be a little warm for hot summers.

Value and Conclusions

There are lighter, stiffer, more vented shoes on the market – the Fizik Tempo Decos for a start – but you’ll have to pay top dollar for them. There are also plenty of budget shoes with nylon soles, but very few are available in a wide fitting. So, though I’d love the Omna Wides to be cheaper, I must concede that Fizik has pitched the price about right.

They have some worthy competition. Shimano’s SH-RC502 Wide is a single Boa shoe, with a carbon-reinforced midsole and adjustable cleat holes, retailing for £139/$170. The CX177 Wide from Lake, a brand with an enviable reputation for wide-fitting shoes, is another similarly specced single Boa shoe priced at £150/$179. Other brands, such as Bont and Specialized, do offer shoes with a wider fit, but not at this price point.

The Fizik Omna Wide successfully offers a wider, higher volume solution that doesn’t deviate too much from a snug race fit. Stiffness is more than good enough, if anything the nylon soles add versatility that carbon-soled shoes will struggle to match. The price may be high, but so is the quality.

Specs

• Colours: Black or White
• Sizes: 36 to 48. Half sizes from 37.5 to 46.5
• Perforated high-density PU upper
• Li2 BOA® Dial C Fit System
• R5 nylon outsole: Stiffness index 6
• Weight: 240 g claimed

The Sidi Shot 2S are the latest top of the range model from the Italian stalwart in shoe manufacture, taking over the mantle of the Sidi Shot 2.

The big change to the new shoes comes mainly in the form of a new upper, designed to be lighter and better ventilated, as well as more environmentally friendly being constructed from a Bio Veg microfibre. This planet conscious approach is a line Sidi is taking with its full range, also making many of the parts on the shoes replaceable to improve longevity. But will it add up to a shoe that rivals those featured in our best cycling shoes buyers guide?

Construction

Power transfer is delivered via the C-Boost SRS sole, rated grade 10 on the brand’s rigidity scale, the stiffest possible. It features electro nanofibre interlaminar reinforcement, with the toe and heel being replaceable.

This sole features a 3-bolt cleat attachment system, with greater fore/aft adjustment giving a more rearwards cleat option than Sidi usually offers. This is great, as a more rearward cleat position can help with foot stability, and for time trialists or triathletes, it can help increase muscle recruitment in the posterior chain. Taking the load off on longer efforts where consistent power is important.

Other Sidi staples are the proprietary Tecno-3 Push Flex dials. These are mounted centrally on the tongue and work by pushing the button to open the turn latch, and twisting to tighten. To release press the metal paddles at the top and base of the dials, and lift your foot up.

Dyneema thread is used here, useful because it stands up to attacks from road grime, it won't wear like normal thread, and doesn't stretch over time. It's reportedly 15 times stronger than steel in terms of it's tensile strength and more commonly found in bullet proof vests. The rear ankle adjustment is adorned with traditional reflective detailing and the essential Italian flag. This allows for an adjustable heel fit while being unmistakably, Sidi.

Sizes range from 38-48EU with half sizes all the way up to 47, while five colour options are available.

The ride

The fit on these shoes is quite narrow. I do have wide feet but it was noticeable when I first put them on. For context, Specialized shoes seem to suit my foot well. The Shimano wide fit is also very passable, and QUOC has another suitable one.

Italian shoes tend to, in my experience, come up narrower – much like Italian sizing in general which always seems to be a little smaller.

The likes of DMT, Fizik, and Sidi are consistently narrower by design, and Shot 2S are not an exception. If you suit a narrower fit, these will be absolutely fine. I’m not going to mark them down for not being the same shape as my feet.

Where these do suit me brilliantly though is around the heel. Sidi’s heel adjustment is great for giving a really locked in feel, especially if you have narrow ankles like mine.

I also love how supple and fresh the new uppers feel and look, with the added bonus of being easy to clean despite their white colour. However, the mesh panels on the fore-foot can get dirty more easily though.

The new upper feels more comfortable and pliable the more you ride in these shoes. Initially they didn’t provide a massive amount of give around the sides of my feet, which is where I get tend to get hot points. I didn't find this to be a big problem with this shoe and after only 15 hours of using them, they had broken in somewhat and the comfort improved, so I think you can expect them to break in like a natural leather upper, over time.

An area I couldn’t get to grips with though were the dials. These Tecno-3 Push Flex dials have been a staple on Sidi shoes for a long time now, but they are in my opinion quite a way off the ease of use you expect with Boa Li2 and S3 dials. Boa hold a lot of patents on this type of fastening and there's only so many ways you can do it, so manufacturers have sourced their own alternatives over the years, and few are better than the Boa closure.

The design of the push the button which releases the dial is easy to use when wearing thick gloves. That's welcome of course, but I'm not sure you'll be wearing your best (white) Italian shoes in the depths of winter. Tightening is easy enough and the Dyneema cables won’t ever stretch. However the placement did result in a fair bit of pressure being placed on the top of my foot, which I wasn’t a fan of. I couldn’t clamp the shoes down as fully as I like to, especially for flat out efforts. I did move the tongue slightly to the side to try and alleviate this, but it still left imprints on the top of my foot. This may have been related to the fit of course – but it may be down to the design also.

The other press-to-release switches at the top and bottom of the dials were not the easiest to use. In part this is because the Velcro on the tongue wasn't easy to lift and release. In contrast, the new Sidi Ergo 6 doesn't suffer this problem and seems to have a far easier to use set-up.

This brings me on to power transfer. The C-Boost SRS sole is exceptionally stiff, offering no flex at all but not in a way that becomes uncomfortable as you ride. The cleat mounting is also further back than other Sidi shoes. Italian shoes have historically delivered a quite forward pedalling position.

However the sole is just one part of the stiffness equation, and the uppers let it down a little for me. As mentioned, when clamping down the dials, my foot was not at all comfortable, so I had to ride with settings somewhat looser than I might have otherwise used. This was great for comfort, but for sprints or short hard efforts I do want more foot security, and it wasn't comfortable at all when cranked up. When looser, the excellent ankle retention couldn't make up for it and my foot did occasionally lift. Again, if the shoes fit your foot shape I suspect you won't have this problem.

There is one area where Sidi products shine, and that is in the fact that almost every part can be replaced, and like Trigger's infamous Broom, you could eventually end up with a completely new shoe. Without the needless waste associated with buying a new pair. With so many competitors offering little to no replaceable parts, it's great to see Sidi leading in this area, with an extensive range of spares. They're not cheap, so it's good to know that you're not going to have to replace them because one small part wears out. This is also in keeping with their shift to conscientious materials choices, in this case.

For a performance shoe, the Sidi Shot 2s, is not a lightweight. Especially not for a shoe at this price point. My pair of 45s came in at 651g without cleats. For reference the QUOC M3 Air are 506g, while the Shimano RC903 in 45 wide are 512g. As we go up the pricing scale, the problem gets worse for the Sidi because at £425 the Nimbl Ultimate Air are a featherweight 358g. Given your feet are rotating at the end of a lever, this weight is noticeable especially compared to the Nimbl shoes.

Value & conclusion

For those that want one shoe for all conditions and riding, where parts are readily replaceable and comfort is a key consideration, then the Sidi Shot 2S are great and will likely last an age.

If you like that clamped-in feeling, then there are a good number of alternatives that offer better foot security. The price is also very high at £425, putting it well into the 'halo shoe' category. That's where it struggles a little, as even in Sidi’s own range, I would consider the Ergo 6 a more practical option for many people.

My personal feeling is that the weight and slightly impractical design of the dials compared to something like the Boa Li2, might mean you could get better value shopping elsewhere, however if you can cope with it's Italian foibles, then the Sidi Shot 2S's certainly are flashy, high performance and Italian.

No, they're not the most practical shoe out there, but like all Italian classics with performance intentions, if you really want them, that won't matter. If you have a narrow foot with lower volume, these might be the 'Lamborghini' shoe you've been looking for.

Mavic’s Crossmax Boa is marketed as an XC or cross-country mountain bike shoe, and while I’m not particularly fond of the notion that gravel riding is merely a throwback to '90s mountain biking, many products do overlap significantly. That being said, Mavic offers another shoe, the Cosmic Boa SPD, which bears many similarities to the Crossmax I had on test, with identical uppers but a smoother sole designed for touring if your gravel riding rarely requires any time walking.

They looked great when I saw them at the Eurobike show, but given that most of my gravel riding is either wet and muddy or rocky in the Peak District, with a few hike-a-bike sections, I thought the Crossmax's grippier outsole would be a better fit for most of my riding. So, how do they compare to the best gravel shoes?

Construction

The Crossmax Boa’s perforated synthetic leather upper gives the shoe a solid and robust look. They appear built to last with no mesh panels and a honeycomb-style pattern embedded in the material. Though it has no separate panels for breathability, it does have sections on the toe and the sides with holes in the outer material to let your foot breathe. Compared to some shoes, the upper feels quite stiff at first, but it has a surprising amount of give and flex once broken in, offering a good mix of support and comfort.

I've used Mavic shoes in the past and always found the shape worked well for me as they offered a more 'European style' narrower fit. These are similar, though they have a larger toe box area than previous offerings. The insole is an unremarkable memory foam affair with no adjustments or compensations for different arch types.

A single Boa L6 dial, and a Velcro strap handle closure duties. While dual Boa systems and the more expensive IP1 versions offer more options for fine-tuning, using the L6 dial combined with a velcro strap is a welcome addition at this price point and works perfectly well, ensuring a secure fit without excessive pressure points.

The sole is a nylon and fibreglass mix, which Mavic gives an energy transfer rating of 50 out of 100. As there is no standard for shoe stiffness, this is an arbitrary number, but it does help give you an idea of its intentions. It is stiff enough for strenuous efforts and accelerations but lacking that solid feel you get from a race-orientated carbon sole. For the gravel riding I tend to do, this can be more of a benefit than a hindrance as some super stiff shoes can be uncomfortable over long periods off-road.

My size 44 shoes came in at 316g on the scales, which is reasonably light at this price point. They offer two different locations for the standard two-bolt SPD fitting, which is handy if you have an extreme cleat position. For those who fancy a bit of cyclocross, studs are included; I didn't use them as the standard lugs offered plenty of grip for occasional walking and cafe stops.

The ride

My first impressions were excellent. The shoe's shape fitted me well, with no obvious pressure points or uncomfortable sections. The toe box did feel roomier than I'd like, but it's easily adjusted using the velcro strap, which pulls the upper closer without causing any creases in the material. There is plenty of support around the heel, too, though not as snug feeling as something like a Shimano S-Phyre or Bont there is adequate support that makes these shoes feel more forgiving and comfortable for longer rides.

Adjustment with the L6 Boa dial is as good as you'd expect. Although it doesn't have the two-way fine-tuning option of more expensive dials, it worked perfectly during testing and made adjustments on the move easy.

The shoes are very well made, and the robust outer material has meant they still look great, even after an autumn and winter of wet and muddy trails. There is no sign of excessive wear or damage anywhere. However, the insoles let them down because the flat, soft memory foam wasn't comfortable. The correct insole can make or break a shoe and is, of course, a personal preference but on my first few rides I experienced numbness and pain around the balls of my feet, which surprised me as the general shape fitted well.

I suspected this was due to the insoles, but I persisted with them for a few rides. After tweaking and experimenting with different levels of tightness of the Boa and strap, I decided to fit a Giro Insole, which I've used on many shoes. This insole offers three levels of support for arch heights and is made from a firmer material that doesn't compress as easily. It transformed the shoe for me.

Value and Conclusion

The Mavic Crossmax Boa represents a solid option for riders seeking a supportive but comfortable shoe that will last and have a subdued but classic look. Though they lack the stiffness of a true race shoe, they make for a better all-around off-road shoe, especially for those who value comfort over longer rides than marginal gains in efficiency.

At £155/$180, they are on the money for a Boa-equipped shoe from an established mainstream brand. There is plenty of competition offering similar specs, such as the Shimano XC 502 at £139, which is a bit lighter and shares a lot of features with its range-topping S-Phyre shoes, and the Boa L6 equipped Lake MX177 that retails for £150.

As mentioned, the only real gripe I had with the shoes was the insole, which was too soft with little support. Insole issue aside, these are well-made, robust shoes leaning towards the more comfortable end of the gravel spectrum and are worth checking out.

DMT has had a recent resurgence, in part thanks to a double Grand Tour winner from Slovenia. Obviously, Pog's dominance isn't just due to his choice of footwear, but I was still curious to test their KM30 off-road shoes to see how they compare to the best gravel shoes.

I say off-road, as these are actually listed as XC and Marathon shoes, but for me, their light construction and stiff soles better fit the bill of a decent gravel shoe. DMT also says they offer exceptional breathability, which hasn't been a key criterion here in a very wet Yorkshire recently. Having said that, the lack of material should mean they dry reasonably quickly.

With their 3D knitted uppers and single Boa dial, they are a very clean and slick-looking shoe. It's all too easy to roll out Italian-style tropes and cliches, but I must admit I loved the aesthetic. They got more positive comments from other riders than any other footwear I've worn recently, too, so it wasn't just me. Though if the Camel and Black I had on test aren't to your liking, they also come in Grey and Black or a simple black option.

Construction

The KM30's most striking aspect is its 3D knitted upper, which uses technical yarns and specifically engineered structures to create a material similar in construction to carbon fibre. Different weaves and thicknesses in critical areas develop a very soft and supple shoe in places, yet one that's stiff and robust enough in others for off-road use. The lack of overlapping materials and bulkier hard areas also helps keep the weight low at 334g, adding to the sock-like feeling you get when wearing them.

As the upper is one piece, it doesn't have a separate tongue and needs to be pulled on when fitting, which is a little snug, especially if you have wet feet, but I didn't find it too much of an issue, especially with smoother summer-weight socks. A solitary L6 Boa dial handles retention, which does an adequate job rather than the more expensive Li2 version used on similarly priced footwear from other brands. It only lets you adjust the tension for tightening the shoe, and not micro-release adjustments, which can be very helpful for fine-tuning the fit on longer rides.

The shoes have a wear-resistant black coating on the toe and sides, with extra protection around the toe box and heel areas. Both coatings are thin but have held up well over a summer of testing. The thin material complements the minimal aesthetic, giving the shoe a smooth, sleek outline.

As a shoe earmarked for MTB XC racing and marathon, it's no surprise to see it has a light and stiff sole. However, there is no arbitrary stiffness rating here (which is mainly pointless, as there is no overall standard, just a brand's definition). DMT says the sole is aerated, though bar the cleat holes there aren't any vents I could see or notice when riding. It also features replaceable rubber sections around the cleat area and the heel cup for off-the-bike sections, which offer just about enough grip when walking unrideable portions. However, I wouldn't recommend using them for long treks or technical rocky climbs, as the sizeable exposed carbon area can be slippier than a more predominantly rubberized sole.

Fit-wise, they are on the narrower end of the spectrum, but they are still not super narrow. DMT's site has an in-depth interactive size guide that lets you compare like-for-like sizing with other brands, which I found helpful. I went for the 44, which, with my feet measuring 270 long and 105mm wide, was a snug but not restrictive fit and similar in feel to the regular-width Lake MX30G shoes I had on test at the same time.

The ride

The first thing you notice with the KM30 is how the lack of a moveable tongue can make getting the shoe on a bit trickier than one with a separate one. It's not crazily hard, but it needs more wiggling to get into place, especially if you have thick or rougher woolen-style socks on. Once on, that's quickly forgotten. The MK30 felt unlike any other shoe I've worn, with a feeling closer to a heavy-duty waterproof sock than a traditional cycling shoe.

The upper has a very fluid feel, and it moulds very quickly to the shape of your foot. It fits me perfectly off the bike, though the choice of a single L6 Boa dial becomes apparent once you are riding. The last (internal shaping) of the shoe worked well for me, so I didn't need to adjust much, but it was clear when I did there is a limit to how much you can tighten the shoe before the fabric pinches, which can be felt on the top of the shoe. The single closure also means there's no way to fine-tune the fit, so if you find it a bit loose in the midfoot region, there's no way to tighten that section without squeezing the rest of your foot. This would be easily solved with a second dial, which, to be fair, they do offer on the pricier MH10 shoes (£249.99/ $369).

The soft and flexible upper contrasts with the stiff sole. This might be unsettling if you are used to a fully supported shoe like the Shimano S-Phyre range or any Bont shoe. When sprinting or pushing hard, it can feel like your foot wants to roll outwards. This was particularly apparent on fast group rides, where I was aware of the shoe moving under load, but it wasn't an issue for more gentle-paced rides, which luckily make up most of my gravel riding.

Insoles can be a very personal thing, and I often like to go for mid- to high-arch support. However, the standard version supplied in the KH30 worked well for me. The rear of the shoe also features an internal silicone section that helps heel retention, which keeps the shoe in place, even on longer hike-a-bike sections on rocky trails. However, there is no adjustability, and they lack the close, supportive feel I got from the Lake MX30g and the Shimano RC903 I had on test at the same time, which both had a more solid feeling cup section that went further up the heel.

Value and conclusions

At £239 / $339, these are at the higher end for gravel shoes, though not crazy for a premium European brand. I would strongly advise trying before you buy if you can, though. The shoes are very well finished and made to a very high standard, but the limited adjustment range means the shape will either work for you or it won't.

I was lucky enough to be like a cycling Cinderella and found they fitted me perfectly. However, with the Boa's lack of range and single location, they could easily have been too tight in places, and not being able to adjust specific areas of the shoe would be irritating at such a price point.

If you are looking for a super solid shoe and tend to move about on the pedals a lot when putting the power down, these won't be for you. But if you want stylish and comfortable shoes for covering distances off-road with a touch of Italian style, then these could be just what you're after.

The MW502 - aka the MW5 - is Shimano’s second-tier winter shoe, an existing model that’s been rebooted for AW24/25 with a raft of upgrades. It’s no coincidence that they look a lot like Shimano’s premium MW702 shoe, the feature set is almost identical despite the execution being more economical. Shimano, it seems, has chosen to cut the non-essentials rather than corners.

Frankly, the best way to keep your feet warm and dry during winter is to hop on a budget airline and fly somewhere warmer. Andalusia or the Balearics receive my vote for escaping the chill, damp British climate, but unfortunately, this solution is rarely affordable or realistic, and it’s certainly not sustainable.

Taping up the perforations on your summer shoes to decrease airflow and increase weather resistance is the worst solution by far. Trust me, I’ve been there, it’s completely ineffective for anything other than brief mid-season rides. However, gaiters and overshoes have their place - more on this later.

The only viable fix for frozen feet is to bite the bullet and buy some proper winter cycling shoes or booties, like these MW502s. However, winter shoes are notoriously expensive – often more than the aforementioned airfare to the sun – but fortunately, at £149.99/$225, these are a little more pocket-friendly.

Construction

The MW502’s most obvious features are the large wrap-over flap, which weatherproofs the tongue and laces, and the short, flexible neoprene cuff that keeps your ankles warm and helps to stop water ingress.

The rugged XC3 outsole is designed to receive a two-bolt mtb-style cleat - Shimano doesn’t make a three-bolt version of the MW502 or MW702. It’s made from soft, grippy rubber with deep lugs that, despite looking business-like, lack the aggressive tread pattern of the MW702’s UItread compound version.

The midsole is glass fibre-reinforced nylon, with a stiffness rating of 5/12, so it’s slightly more supple than the MW702, which is rated 7/12.

Waterproofness and breathability come courtesy of a Dryshield membrane, a step down from the Gore-Tex liner found in the MW702, while the fleecy lining and insole promise warmth.

The MW502 lacks the MW702’s L6 Boa dial closure, substituting speed lacing instead. In theory, the MW502s will be the more aero of the pair, though that’s hardly a consideration for this sort of shoe.

Build quality appears to be very good, all the stitching is neat and the reinforced rand that expands around the toe cap and heel cup suggests durability. The aesthetic is very minimal, and very dark but at least Shimano has thoughtfully added some reflective detailing at the heel and on the front edge of the weatherproof flap.

The Ride

Let’s get cleat compatibility out of the way first. If you insist on only riding three-bolt systems, such as Shimano’s SPD-SL or Look’s KEO, then these shoes clearly aren’t for you. However, while I ride KEO's on the road in the warmer months, I use SPDs during winter for two reasons. First, aggressive soles with recessed cleats offer better traction off the bike on slippery winter tarmac, and second, you can pick up seemingly bullet-proof Shimano M520 SPD pedals for under £30/$50. As a cyclist for whom athletic performance isn't critical, I’d much rather be riding wet, gritty roads with these than an expensive pair of road pedals.

Similarly, the stiffness rating isn’t a biggie for me. Sure, it's easy to flex and twist the MW502's sole, but I also appreciate that this slight flexibility makes the shoes grippier off the bike and less liable to induce heel lift. In theory, at least, the potential to bring movement to your feet and toes should enable these extremities to remain warmer too.

Pulling some winter shoes on with cold hands on can be a challenge, but once the wrap-around flap is opened and the speed lacing relaxed, my feet slip into the MW502s with ease. Fit appears to be to size but the width is quite snug, which isn't a surprise as these shoes have inherited the Dynalast last from the MW702s, a shoe known for being narrow. However, the MW502, like its more expensive sibling, is available in wider width options across all sizes from 38 to 48.

The fleece lining within the shoe and covering the insole is fairly minimal but it does feel suitably luxurious and, thankfully, doesn’t interfere with the already close fit. Tugging on the speed lace tab snugs the shoe up evenly, ready for the wrap-over flap to be secured via a long strip of Velcro that runs along the side. Usefully, there's a small Velcro 'lace garage' to keep any excess lace in place to stop it interfering with the flap closure.

The neoprene cuff is soft and relatively short, so it doesn’t hamper my pedalling action. Additionally, both the cuff and wrap-over flap do an excellent job of keeping the cold wind out, enveloping the foot with satisfying cosiness.

But, how cold is cold? The lowest temperature I’ve ridden in is 4°C, and my feet felt warm enough wearing medium-weight socks. Importantly, the Dryshield membrane, which works in conjunction with the two rows of perforations on the outer, lets my feet breathe, stopping them from getting clammy and cold.

While the winter in the UK has been mostly mild, it’s also been very wet. These shoes have shrugged off road spray, splashes from occasional pothole mishaps and light rain without complaint, and my feet have remained dry.

Do they remain waterproof in torrential rain? Let’s get real. No shoe that relies on a neoprene cuff will remain watertight for long in a heavy downpour, the material isn’t sufficiently waterproof and the seal isn’t secure enough. Fortunately, additional gaiters from brands such as Velotoze, Aquaseal, Gribgrap and Spatz will likely fix this. However, for those of us riding in more typically benign weather, the MW502s are a great choice on their own.

Value and conclusions

Cycling with cold feet is an immeasurably vile experience that’s not going to be cured by taping up the perforations on your summer shoes. Unfortunately, winter cycling shoes can be quite an investment, but I believe Shimano’s MW502s hit the sweet spot in terms of price vs performance. At £149.99/$225, they offer 95% of the functionality of Shimano’s more expensive MW703 for less than 75% of the cost. Shop around and they can be picked up for even less.

Specs

• ​​SPD-Compatible
• Dryshield membrane with fleece liner
• Speed Lace Closure
• Rubber gravel pattern outsole for increased traction
• Standard Sizes: 38 – 48
• Wide Width Sizes: 38 – 48
• Weight: 391g (Size 48)
• Price: £149.99

Whilst overshoes and normal summer cycling shoes work OK for many people when road riding through the winter, this is a less suitable combination when it comes to off-road riding on a gravel bike in cold weather. The problem is that the worse the weather, the less rideable trails might be so there may well be sections of walking. Pushing your bike along a rough, muddy or snowy track is a surefire way to trash your overshoes.

All of which is a long-winded way of saying that winter boots are much better than overshoes on a gravel bike.

Sidi has a large selection of road and off-road cold-weather footwear, and the Algor sits towards the less expensive end of the range. This part of their offering is a bit confusing though; there is the Nubes Road shoe, the identical-apart-from-the-sole Nubes MTB shoe and the Algor MTB which also looks exactly the same as the Nubes MTB but has some Primaloft insulation in it. The Nubes MTB and Algor are svelte enough to make ideal winter gravel boots as well as mountain bike shoes and benefit from Sidi’s move to their new Millennium last which moves their sizing more in line with other brands.

I had the Algor and the Nubes MTB to test, and were it not for the word ‘Primaloft’ on the side of the Algor, I would not be able to tell them apart. For an extra £30, I don’t know why you wouldn’t choose the theoretically warmer Algor though. For this review, everything I write applies equally to both shoes unless specified.

Both the Algor and the Nubes MTB (and the Nubes Road) are only available in black and in sizes 40-48. The size 44s weighed in at 1,008g.

Construction

As you’d imagine, Sidi’s off-road shoe has a chunky, grippy outsole. It’s a simple design with three large lugs at the back, raised grips around the 2-bolt cleat area and two triangular lugs at the front. These are made from a harder material than the rest of the sole as they are in a high-wear area, but there are also two holes behind them to add spikes or studs if you are struggling for grip in mud. These are not included with the shoes though.

Sidi rates the Nylon/carbon sole as 5 on their stiffness index, which is at the softer end of the scale - I only managed to illicit a tiny amount of flex by hand though, so they certainly aren’t slipper-soft. Getting cleat alignment right should be made a bit simpler by the multiple markings on the sole.

The upper consists of a low, internal shoe wrapped with a burly, waterproof TPU fabric, joined together at the junction with the sole unit. This shell is closed using a waterproof zip up the front whilst the inner shoe has a Quicklace Closure; basically a thin lace with a cord lock. The top of the ankle has a short Velcro tab and there are two tabs to help put the boot on and take it off. A small patch of reflective material on the front and a reflective Sidi logo are nods to nighttime visibility.

As mentioned, the Algor also has a thin layer of Primaloft synthetic insulation in the shoe which is missing in the Nubes MTB and Road versions. The insole is maybe a little thicker than the norm for warmth, but nothing too noteworthy.

The ride

The long zip and low shoe make the Algor easy to put on, and the new sizing seemed spot on - my usual size 44 fitted me as I’d expect. They still aren’t the widest shoes though, and there are no wide-fit versions available so the Hobbit-footed may need to look elsewhere.

A period of snow and sustained cold gave the perfect opportunity to test the Algor on rides where the temperature was still down at -5° mid-afternoon and conditions dictated periods of walking through the snow. Four hours later, my feet were still warm and dry, which is very impressive, so although a product's warmth is pretty subjective, the Algor’s get a big tick in the ‘warm feet’ box from me.

Less impressive though was the heel fit. I do have narrow heels, but given the slimness of the shoe as a whole, I can’t imagine many wide-heeled riders fitting the boot anyway. The main issue is that the lacing system stops very short, probably at least one hole less than you’d expect. Coupled with this, the zip merely closes the outer cover rather than taking in any slack and the Velcro tab does little more than enclose the zip. All of this resulted in a less secure heel than is optimal.

Clearly, these aren’t shoes that you are likely to be winding up for a sprint finish in, but equally, it is quite probable that you will end up walking a little in them and this puts a lot of pressure on heel security. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t a huge issue and didn’t cause me any problems, but it was something I was aware of to the detriment of the feel of the shoe.

My second criticism is related to the first - the fit around the ankle wasn’t great on my skinny ankles, with no way of cinching the top of the shoe in. This wasn’t a problem in terms of fit, but did leave a bit of a gap at the front of my ankle which was perfect for catching mud and snow flicked up from the front wheel. Maybe I just I need to work on getting fatter ankles!

I am also a bit dubious about the use of a zip on an off-road shoe, particularly one that is located right in the spray zone of the front wheel. It is a quality YKK waterproof zip, so should be up to the job, but filth-encrusted zips tend to cause problems in the long run - for the record the Algor zips have worked fine for me so far though. On the subject of zips, I wasn’t too keen on the relatively small plastic pull tabs either. Doing up a sturdy waterproof zip requires a bit more effort than normal (particularly if dirty) and I wouldn’t fancy trying to grip the tabs with cold, wet fingers. I think I’d add a small loop of cord for this eventuality.

Ultimately though, the Algors kept me warm and dry for hours in some pretty hostile conditions, enabling me to enjoy the views rather than complain about cold feet, so that is the main thing.

Value and conclusion

Some of my criticisms are based on fit and my foot/ankle shape which feels a little unfair - of all clothing, footwear is the one where fit is most important and subjective. Another rider might find them the perfect fit. As it was, the Algors didn’t cause me any actual problems and were warm and comfortable in cold conditions, which is their primary job.

The Algor retails at £230, and you pay £30 less for the Nubes without the Primaloft layer. This is at the lower end of winter footwear prices, yet they performed admirably in keeping my feet warm. This means that they must be considered reasonable value - there are many times when I would have paid a lot of money for warmer feet whilst out riding!

I feel a bit guilty only giving them 4 stars as a couple of my criticisms might just be my particular foot and ankle shape and they generally did their job very well. However, it is certainly worth being aware of these potential issues when trying them on.

Nike Poobahs are back! Well, not really, but the pastel colours and prominent ankle strap of the Sidi Nix reminded me of my first, slightly garish MTB SPD shoes. The Nix are part of Sidi’s comprehensive range of winter road, gravel and MTB footwear and are billed as "A performance road shoe primed for cold weather”, although they are clearly more of a boot.

The decision whether or not to take the plunge and buy a pair of dedicated winter cycling shoes is one that a lot of committed riders face at some point - extra warmth, protection and comfort paired with less faff than overshoes makes them an attractive proposition if you spend a lot of time riding in cold and wet conditions. Furthermore, you won’t be getting your shiny summer shoes grimy and you can size up the winter boots to allow for nice thick socks. Although there can be a significant cost involved, this is offset by the reduced wear on your summer shoes.

Typically, winter cycling footwear will have a higher-cut ankle, waterproof membrane and some form of insulation, along with a roomier fit and slightly less stiff sole than a summer race shoe. It’s hard work keeping feet warm on cold days; they are stuck out at the furthest extremity from the body and are largely immobile while riding. Warm winter tights and long socks help to keep the warm blood at a higher temperature on its long journey to your feet, but the more insulated your shoes, the better. The trade-off is weight, bulk and ride ‘feel’ - big, padded boots can feel clumsy and sloppy on the bike.

Construction

A passing resemblance to iconic 90s footwear aside, the Nix has a few other interesting things going on. The Gore-Tex membrane is part of the new wave of waterproof fabrics necessitated by the ban on PFAS and it features Sidi’s new ‘Millennium’ last, which seems to be about one full European size larger than previous Sidis.

The 3-bolt sole unit is made from nylon and glass fibre, with lots of markings to help get your cleats nicely aligned. The grips are pretty shallow though (the front one particularly) and are not replaceable, which is a big shame on a shoe at this price. Sidi gives it a stiffness rating of 9 (out of 12), so a few notches down from their full-on race shoes but still plenty stiff enough for winter miles.

Lovely, cosy fleece from Primaloft lines the boot, and even the insole has a warm, brushed feel to it. On the outside, potential wear areas get tougher TPU reinforcement, while the remainder of the upper is made from slightly lighter, perforated microfibre. Whether these perforations are for breathability or aesthetics on a shoe like this is debatable.

The BOA-style dial laces finish roughly where a normal shoe’s laces would end with the softer ankle cuff secured by a wraparound Velcro strap. This strap runs almost 360° around the cuff and is only secured by the ‘S’ of Sidi to provide better heel retention.

In addition to this blue option, the Nix is also available in a chic, if ridiculously unpractical, white colour and a rather more sensible black with full sizes from 36 to 50. Weight, for a pair of size 44 was 784g.

The ride

First off, as mentioned above, these are very different size-wise to Sidis of old. The size 44 fitted me fine and is the same as I’d wear in Quoc, Specialized and Giro summer shoes or Northwave winter boots. Previously I’d have needed a 45 in Sidi, although these are still on the narrow side with no wide fit option available. The thick pile fleece lining makes them feel snug too, particularly when new, but I know that this packs down a little after a few rides to leave a bit more wriggle room. The fleece has the added advantage of being quite grippy, so it helps to hold your foot securely in the boot which can be an issue with roomier, more comfort-orientated winter footwear.

When wearing summer shoes with thick overshoes, the extra bulk can sometimes cause rubbing on the crank arms and chainstays, rubbing off any anodising or paint and wearing through the overshoes. This is less of an issue with specific winter boots and even less of a problem with the slim and neat Sidis - there was a decent gap between my boot and any metalwork or carbon.

The level of sole stiffness was not discernable when pedalling, or at least not with the kind of steady winter miles I did in them, but they were definitely less wooden off the bike with the section in front of the cleat exhibiting visible flex when under pressure (such as when kneeling down). In a winter boot, this is a good thing as the small movement helps keep your toes warmer.

Sidi’s dial lace system is very similar to the ubiquitous BOA design, with a rotating knob spooling in a thin Dyneema cord. Releasing it involves pinching the sides of the dial to release tension fully, so there is no micro-adjust available, but again, on a relatively bulky winter boot this doesn’t really matter.

The cuff isn’t particularly high, and whilst the ankle strap does a reasonable job of securing the heel, it doesn’t entirely snug the opening of the boot up to the front of the ankle. Thus, in very cold or wet weather I was aware of a bit of a draughty gap at this point (but I do have quite skinny ankles). This was particularly noticeable when worn with the Castelli Sorpasso RoS Wind tights which could have done with a couple more inches at the bottom in my opinion.

The combination of slim fit, grippy fleece inner and decent retention system translated to a very secure feel when pedalling, whether in or out of the saddle. Heel lift was non-existent as was any foot movement, making the Nix feel much racier than they have any right to be. Given this, I can see them being of use in quite a wide range of conditions rather than just being reluctantly worn when the mercury dictates. Wearing them doesn’t feel like the performance compromise that some sloppier winter boots can.

It is hard to comment in any meaningful way about a boot's warmth as there are so many factors involved; fit, temperature, other clothing, effort levels, tiredness and metabolism, but I happily wore these for rides of three or four hours in low single digit temperatures and I would imagine that they would work for a couple of hours on below zero rides too - anyone sensible has stopped for a coffee by then anyway I’m sure!

Value and conclusion

There is plenty to like about the Sidi Nix; the new last is more in line with other brands, the Gore-Tex membrane promises reliable protection and the fit is very neat and secure. The warmth of the cosy fleece inner is slightly compromised by the low cuff though, so make sure that your bib tights are long enough to make up the shortfall. It is a shame that the sole lugs aren’t replaceable.

£300 is up there for a pair of cycling shoes, but you are getting branded Gore-Tex and Primaloft fabrics along with Sidi performance, and if the outlay encourages more winter miles then it sounds like a reasonable deal to me.

Purchasing a dedicated pair of winter shoes marks a certain point in a cyclist’s life, showing commitment above and beyond the norm to riding in sub-optimal conditions. Whether you are a stalwart commuter or a resolute winter trainer, the move from cycling shoes and overshoes to winter boots puts you in a small subset of riders.

Reasons why you might wish to make the shift include warmth, comfort, quicker to put on and not wanting to get your best summer shoes wet repeatedly. If you do ride a lot in cold, wintery weather then buying a dedicated pair of shoes (boots) makes a lot of sense.

Despite their large cycling shoe range, Lake’s winter footwear offering is pretty simple. Unless you want a very chunky off-road boot or a low-cut winter shoe, then the CX146 is the only choice (2-bolt aficionados can choose the MX146 instead with a grippier sole, but the upper is the same). These replace the CX145 shoes which we gave 4.5 stars to, so the CX146s have some big boots to fill…ahem.

Interestingly, Lake’s website says "The CX146 is the answer for those fall or spring chilly road rides. Developed for mild, damp weather, the CX146 is just the right shoe for those days when your race shoes are not warm enough.” To me, this suggests a slight lack of ultimate warmth but a higher level of pedalling performance than most ‘winter’ boots, and ‘mild damp weather’ sounds like pretty much any season in the UK. Officially though, Lake suggests a temperature rating of -4°C, which should cover most sensible riding conditions!

There is a Henry Ford-esque choice when it comes to colour, although you can opt for regular or wide-width fittings, and Lake recommends sizing up 1-1.5 sizes above your normal fit. Full sizes from 36 to 50 are available and my size 45s weighed 935g.

Construction

The upper is made from a water-resistant Clarino microfibre that looks a lot like leather, giving the boots a slightly old-school vibe, backed up by a no-name waterproof membrane. Lake recommends treating the material with a DWR spray to maintain its water resistance and to prevent it from wetting out and impeding breathability. For warmth, there is a thin layer of 200g Thinsulate.

The cuff is taller than most boots, a welcome feature when it comes to road spray, and there is a single BOA M4 dial on the front for closure. This doesn't offer any on-the-go micro adjustment - the only way to dial it back a bit is to undo it completely by popping it out and retightening it, although its position keeps it a bit safer from crash damage than side-mounted BOAs. The final lace attachment before the BOA is a clip which can be undone completely to aid in putting the boots on or off. The whole of the lace system and tongue is covered by a large Velcro flap which should prevent any water or spray ingress.

There is a decent-sized heel tab to aid in pulling the boots on and some large reflective sections on the side and the front for improved visibility in low light.

The outsole is Lake’s Road Sport Fiberglass injected nylon, with a 3-bolt mounting and protective but non-replaceable bumpers front and rear to protect the sole and offer a modicum of grip when off the bike. The insole is worth mentioning too, as it has a deep waffle pattern on the underside to trap air and aid insulation - it's good to see that this area of high heat loss is protected.

The ride

After taking a measurement or two Lake advised me to go with the regular width size 45s (I’d usually expect to be a 44 in summer cycling shoes from Giro, Specialized, Quoc etc, and I have size 44 winter boots from Northwave).

The boots were easy enough to get on, with the side clip concept allowing them to be opened pretty wide. As with most of these types of shoes, a few moments to make sure that the tongue, tabs and other flaps are in the right place while sat at home is well worthwhile, as it saves any awkward roadside readjustment when you realise that something isn’t quite right.

My main concern when first trying the CX146s on was the tall cuff. Not only is it quite high, but it also feels quite stiff and I was worried that it would prove uncomfortable through the pedal stroke. Luckily, it seems that Lake does actually know what it is doing when it comes to shoe design, and it was simply a non-issue; I didn’t notice it at all when on the bike.

On the other hand, I would have preferred a double BOA setup, giving the potential to have different tensions around the ankle and over the instep. The CX146’s predecessor, the CX145, had this feature so I assume that perhaps cost or maybe weatherproofing put paid to it. I found that the best way to get a comfortable tension was to do them up quite tightly, release the BOA and then re-tension them less tightly. This seemed to secure the forefoot and still allow some flexibility around the ankle.

Luckily (?), the boots arrived just as the first snows of winter fell in the Peak District, giving ideal testing conditions. The CX146s felt neat on the bike, not as close-fitting as race shoes of course, but less bulky than some more padded winter boots. Stiffness was fine - again, not race carbon stiff, but plenty stiff enough that there was no sensation of wasted effort.

As I mentioned, the high cuff was not an issue at all in terms of comfort and in fact gave greater protection from road spray. They also mitigated the slight shortfall in leg length of the Castelli Sorpasso RoS Wind bib tights that I was testing at the time, preventing cold, draughty ankles.

I would have liked the heel and toe grips to have been either replaceable or slightly deeper - the main wear area under the big toe has a pretty small rubber lug that doesn’t look like it would offer much longevity. Even in winter, I am frequently off my bike; taking photos, peeing behind trees and even occasionally stopping at cafes, so I do seem to wear out grips more than most.

Value and conclusion

At £200, the CX146s are good value, assuming that you ride frequently in cold conditions; most winter-orientated boots cost more and feel clumsier on the bike. Perhaps the trade-off is ultimate warmth, BOA count and lack of brand name membrane, but none of these things seemed to matter during the test. Furthermore, the high cuff and large reflective patches offer worthwhile points of difference and I liked the classic, leather-like aesthetic too. I also suspect that the CX146s will ‘break in’ nicely over time, further improving comfort and wearability.

Lake has built its reputation on crafting high-performance cycling shoes in a wide range of sizes, widths, and lasts compared to other brands, and the MX30G is one of their latest designs. We have reviewed the top-of-the-range MX333 before here at Cycling Weekly, and we rated them highly. So how do their more cost-effective siblings fare against one of the best gravel shoes?

I used these over the summer and autumn months on a mix of riding, from fast-paced chain gangs to a multi-day gravel tour across Ireland and plenty of rides on my local Peak District trails. I went for the blue version with large vented mesh sections at the toe and side panels. This was probably not ideal for the wettest summer in recent memory, but I was hopeful the weather would match my optimistic footwear choices. The white versions feature a complete microfibre construction if you want more warmth and a more traditional-looking shoe.

Construction

The MX30G upper is crafted from lightweight mesh and microfiber fabric, providing excellent breathability and plenty of solid reinforcement in high-wear areas. Lake says these excel in hot and humid conditions. I agree, but don't be fooled into thinking these are only for when the mercury rises. Though very breathable, there's still enough material to be comfortable (for me at least) down to around twelve degrees without overshoes and down to around 6-8 degrees with a neoprene style overshoe.

The airy mesh build has another counterintuitive benefit: when it's wet, it actually works better than expected. Water can drip out quickly, so it won't stay soaked and dry much quicker than a standard construction. I found this especially beneficial on multi-day rides. Putting on wet shoes is a pet hate of mine, so this was a welcome bonus after being caught in a brief but heavy downpour midway into a bikepacking trip.

Twin low-profile BOA Fit System Li2 dials deal with closure. These are multi-direction dials, which allow you to micro-adjust when tightening or loosening the shoe, which is very handy for mid-ride tweaks and a noticeable benefit over the cheaper L6 versions with a single directional release mechanism. The lower dial adjusts straight across the lower section, with the upper crossing over the rest of the shoe. It's a pretty standard style, and although not quite as good as the side-mounted version on the MX333, it's more than enough and spreads the pressure well over the top of the foot. The way they hide the loops on the opposing side of the dial looks cool, too.

The Lake Race 100% Carbon Fibre Sole is the heart of the shoe's performance, offering exceptional stiffness for an off-road shoe. Durable TPU lugs on the outsole provide adequate grip on loose and technical terrain, though due to the stiffness and low-profile tread, there are better shoes for extended periods of walking. The shoe also comes with screw-in studs, should you fancy some cross-action or think you'll encounter muddy walking sections.

The last, or the internal shape of the shoe, is one area that Lake excels in, offering more options and widths than anyone else. This can make picking the right one a bit confusing, but they have plenty of helpful info on their site. If you need more in-depth help, they also sell them via bike shops, so you can try them on and speak to a real person. The MX30G uses the MX Race Last, which is slightly narrower than Lake’s Competition Last, offering a tighter heel and lower volume fit and is available in a narrow, regular, or wide fit.

The ride

On the bike, the MX30G excels in power transfer thanks to its stiff carbon sole. Whether climbing steep gravel inclines or sprinting on flat sections, the solid platform ensures none of my meagre power output is wasted. Generally speaking, I prefer more flexible shoes for off-road endeavours as some other race-orientated shoes can feel harsh, especially over longer distances, but I have no such issues here, with no hot spots or points of discomfort.

I know looks are a subjective thing, but I love the style of these. The navy blue and white flash combined with the white dials look great in my eyes and strongly remind me of a vintage sneaker. Like all Lake shoes, they have a different aesthetic to other brands, too, more in keeping with a handmade shoe than a mass-produced item, and it's something I'm a fan of. It's hard to get across in pictures, but they look and feel noticeably different in the hand from other shoes out there.

The twin BOA dials offered easy adjustments on the bike, allowing for fine-tuning on the move. I tend not to fiddle much when on the bike, but having the ability to make micro-adjustments for both tightening and loosening is helpful to make sure my feet are comfy. There was a bit of a break-in period with these for me. For the first few rides, the upper and tongue section felt a little stiff, and I could feel a pressure point where the top dial sat, but after 4-5 rides, they softened up, and it was no longer an issue.

The MX race last worked well for me. After consulting the size chart and following Lake's instructions, which involved drawing around my feet and taking measurements, I opted for a 44 regular, which is generally the size I go for in most brands, but they are also available in narrow and wide versions should you need them which I think is a great option. The heel cup was snug without being restrictive, and the slightly smaller toe box worked well for my feet. Generally, I get on well with slightly narrower style shoes, with my foot measuring 105mm wide as a reference.

Lake uses a Syksol insole or footbed; again, I found the one used here very comfortable. I prefer a mid-to-high arch, and these fit the bill nicely. Of course, insoles are a personal preference, but I had no complaints here and no need to change anything else throughout testing.

Value and Conclusion

The Lake MX30G Gravel Cycling Shoes are a premium option at £250 / $250, but they are significantly cheaper than the range-topping MX333. The upper isn't as supportive as those, and the more common Boa setup might be marginally less snug, but honestly, I was more than happy with the MX30G, and £145 / $150 is a considerable saving.

Around the £250 pricepoint isn't the busiest section of the market, flying just below the ultra-premium offerings yet slightly higher than midrange. However, similar options are still available, like the Specialized Recon 3.0 with its carbon sole and double Boa arrangement at £230 / $297 or the stylish Sidi Dust with a single Techno 3 dial at £260 / $324. Both of these are good shoes in their own right with similar features, but neither comes with different width options as standard or a choice of upper materials.

Styling is subjective, but I love the way these look. They're a welcome change from the standard white or black options and have a timeless look that is different without being garish. A white version is available if you're after that, too.

I was worried the mesh construction would limit their appeal and useability, but they aren't as cold as you'd think and strike a better balance between warmth and breathability than their construction would suggest. The white microfiber versions will be a better option for year-round riding, though.

These are supremely comfortable and have been better than I expected for anything I wanted to do on a gravel bike. As with all shoes, the fit is a personal preference, but thankfully, Lake has enough options to keep most riders happy, and I would definitely recommend trying these.

The Shimano RC703 road cycling shoes are designed for those seeking a level of performance similar to the range-topping S-Phyre model but without the price tag. Consider these shoes the second tier, or the Ultegra level in Shimano’s road cycling shoe lineup.

Being part of such a lineage means these shoes are intended for keen amateurs looking for fast-ride performance. During my time testing these shoes, they have performed well. There have been a few niggles, which I’ll get onto later but as second-tier products go, these shoes are a worthwhile addition to Shimano’s lineup and provide a strong choice for riders looking for one of the best cycling shoes at a lower price.

The construction

The shoe is constructed with a ‘high rigidity, hollow carbon midsole’ mated to a synthetic leather upper, with two BOA L6Z dials as the fastening system of choice.

The upper material partially wraps around the carbon sole which Shimano claims ‘reduces overlap and provides a glove-like fit’. I can’t say I entirely agree with this statement. While the shoes are comfortable, they are still shoes designed to deliver for those seeking performance. To me, ‘glove-like fit’ suggests a soft, comfortable, supple fit, whereas I found these shoes offer a firm, sturdy, locked-in feel. What the wrap-around upper does provide, is a sleek-looking shoe as it cloaks the carbon sole and creates the illusion that the majority of the shoe is one uniform colour, much like the range-topping S-Phyre model.

The insoles offer little arch support and are quite flimsy. I would recommend buying an aftermarket insole that offers a little more support and is tailored to your feet.

On the outside of the shoes, the toe box area plays host to a small plastic bash guard, which takes the brunt of tyre scrapes when clipped in, and any bumps which result from walking around. I like this feature a lot and it’s something you can see on other popular road cycling shoes. It protects the material from being cut up by abrasive surfaces and makes cleaning tyre scrapes much easier.

The BOA dials are no-nonsense; simply twist clockwise to tighten and pull out to release the tension. BOA dials are close to being an industry standard for cycling shoes and work well for those who favour on-the-fly adjustment. Aside from the mechanics of the closure system, I do like how the shoe features a tongue that sits on your foot and then a cushioned strap is pulled over the top of the tongue by the BOA, meaning pressure distribution is kept nice and even.

The ride

I first used these shoes when training indoors. I find this a nice way to check I’m happy with the cleat position and get used to how they feel in a more controlled environment. The first thing I noticed was how stiff the soles were. Rated as a ‘10’ on Shimano’s stiffness chart, the RC703s are only bested by the range-topping S-Phyres at ‘12’, and it left me wanting for very little. I felt connected to the bike in a non-squishy or flimsy way. I was locked and ready to go.

After my initial indoor rides, the shoes joined me on a trip to Spain for further testing. One small issue prevailed after my first couple of rides - a pinch point on the upper right side of my left foot. The edge of the tongue was pushing into my foot and creating a fair bit of pain, which led to me loosening the shoe to relieve the issue.

The discomfort continued until I used the shoes to the point where the uppers softened and became more malleable, better accommodating my foot. My feet may have swollen in the heat further contributing to the issue; now I’m back in the chilly UK, either the shoes have worn in or my feet are no longer a little bloated. The fact is, whatever has stopped the issue, the shoes now fit much better than they did initially and are no longer causing me any pain.

Value and conclusions

The Shimano RC703’s cost £220, or $250. The easy comparison to make is against the range toppers, which is where Shimano claims the trickle-down tech these shoes benefit from originates. The RC903s cost £349 or $450, which is a big leap in cost. The RC903s are lighter, feature better ventilation, offer more stiffness and are shod with fancier BOA dials, but the cost to get there is significant.

If you are looking for a pair of shoes that perform at a level that is almost incomprehensibly close to the RC903’s, then these won’t disappoint. The range of sizes available in both standard and wide fits is comprehensive and the comparative value is hard to ignore.

Of course, be sure to wear them in, because they get better the more you use them. I'd also suggest getting some insoles that provide the correct amount of arch support too. Finally if you, like me, love a white pair of shoes, then select your riding days carefully based on the latest weather forecast.

Specs

• Price: £220.00 / $250.00
• Weight: 488 grams
• Fastening: BOA Fit System with two L6Z dials
• Material: Synthetic leather upper
• Sole: Carbon, stiffness rating 10
• Colours: Black, White, Sage Green

The Tempo Beat is like no other cycling shoe I’ve ever seen. For a start it looks, dare I say it, fashionable, and by that I mean it has a vibe that even people who know nothing about cycling will find attractive. With its sleek, low-profile lines, brightly coloured laces and funky, vibrant gel soles it looks every inch the must-have, minimalist sneaker.

White is the most outrageous colourway available, not least because the fabric upper will start collecting grubby marks from the moment you slip it on. To my eye, at least, it’s also the most desirable. The way the gel sole transitions from bright orange at the toe to deep purple at the heel is eye-catching enough, but I love the way that Fizik’s designers have mirrored the gradient on the upper with orange laces and a purple collar. The effect is hardly subtle but thankfully Fizik has exercised some restraint - any more colour and the Beat would have ended up looking like a complete dog’s dinner.

You can buy a pair in two other colourways, solid Black and Sage Green, neither of which will dirty up as readily as the White version, making them the more practical, if less dazzling, choice for most rides, especially mid-season gravel.

Fizik describes the Beat as a road shoe, yet it’s only compatible with gravel and mtb-style two-bolt SPD cleats rather than the three-bolt cleats that roadies favour. However, it doesn’t share the chunkier build that characterises most off-road shoes and its relatively smooth soles lack a defined tread. So, what’s going on?

“When we developed the Beat, we wanted to provide a shoe as versatile as possible, both design-wise and functional-wise,” says Alex Locatelli, Senior Product Manager at Fizik.

“For this reason, we choose a simple lace-up closure system that helps to achieve a more casual look, while we opted for a sleek outsole compatible with SPD cleats to improve versatility on the bike and walkability during off-bike moments.

“Beat combines a clean, more fashionable silhouette with the convenience of a two-bolt cleat track for riders who enjoy exploring both on and off the tarmac.”

I ask Alex whether this shoe has been developed to appeal to Fizik’s existing customers, or whether the brand is searching out a whole new market.

“Many new cyclists are approaching the sport, and social rides, often with a cafe stop, are becoming more popular,” he says. So, we’ve introduced a road shoe with a more versatile outsole to suit the needs of cyclists new to clip-in riding. It’s for people looking for a more comfortable shoe during the ride but one that’s also easier to walk in during off-bike moments. Beat is simple, comfortable, a more flexible shoe that’s easier to wear than traditional road cleat shoes.”

Construction

Outlandish colourways and gel soles aside, the Temp Beat has a very clean look; the construction is pretty conventional. The upper, which is crafted from finely woven mesh fabric is entirely seamless, other than the external, branded heelstrip. For protection, there’s a thin, barely visible, self-coloured bumper around the toebox, and another around the heel.

The traditionally executed, padded tongue is made from perforated polyurethane laminate, the only nod to ventilation in the entire shoe. The mesh upper is too fine to allow much airflow, and there are no inlet or exhaust vents in the sole. So, it’s not a shoe you’d choose to race in 30°C+ temperatures, but as Fizik will rightly point out, that was never its intended purpose.

A dozen hidden webbing eyelets hold the relatively thin laces securely in place, yet allow them to run freely enough for easy adjustment. An elasticated lace garage is located halfway down the tongue, a nice touch that will stop an errant loop to two getting tangled between chain and chainring.

Fizik has widened the toebox slightly and increased the overall volume for a touch more comfort. Not that you’d know it by looking at the Beat, externally it appears very svelte.

On to that gel sole. Of course, it’s not really gel but TPU, a material that combines the properties of hard plastic and pliant rubber. Fizik’s R&D team invested months in formulating the best compound, one that’s actually harder to the touch than it appears. Nevertheless, it’s pretty easy to flex and twist the sole in your hands, which explains why it’s rated just four out of 10 on Fizik’s stiffness scale. In order to maintain pedalling efficiency, Fizik has placed a stiff nylon insert in the cleat area.

The sole is almost slick, with no pronounced tread or lugs, though the SPD cleat channel does offer some grip in muddy conditions.

The claimed weight is 355g, though Fizik doesn’t reveal the size. As a comparison, the Tempo Deco carbon-soled road shoes I usually wear have a claimed weight of 230g. Again no size is given.

The ride

Ordinarily, I like my cycling shoes – road or gravel - to be as unrelentingly rigid as possible, preferably dialled up to 11 on the stiffness scale. After all, I generate so few watts that I hate to think of them being sapped away by softly cushioned soles.

Of course, this strategy often backfires on me, particularly when cycling off-road on technical trails that demand more ability than I’m able to muster. I was recently invited to cycle some mountainous Swiss single track that was, as the local guides proved, perfectly rideable for those with the chops. For me, though, that day was filled with more sections of hike-a-bike than I care to remember. Wearing my super stiff Shimano RX8 shoes, which are comfortable enough on the bike, it didn’t take too much walking before their lack of flex induced my heels to lift, causing painful blisters to form.

If I’d worn the Beats, I could have comfortably walked the entire trail, and they would have been grippier on the smooth rock sections, terrain where the carbon-soled RX8s have a tendency to skate.

It’s a similar story for casual cafe rides, where my riding buddies are unified in their focus on coffee, cake and camaraderie rather than out-and-out performance. It’s rarely enjoyable testing a three-bolt road shoe’s limit of grip of on a polished cafe floor while carrying a tray laden with carrot cake, frothy lattes and a couple of flat whites.

The Beat is a shoe for those rides when you're more concerned about a bit of walking than losing a handful of watts. The laces are easy to adjust, the expanded toebox enables your toes to spread, the soles are very grippy on hard surfaces, the softly padded collars keep both heels in check, and that bit of flex makes walking feel human again.

The area directly around the cleat is well-supported for pedalling by the stiff nylon insert, so I mustn’t give the impression that the Beats are squidgy soft, they’re really not. Instead, there’s just enough give to make these a versatile shoe that’s suitable for everything from urban commuter rides to relaxed cafe forays beyond the ’burbs. Throw in a bit of gravel? Why not?

Placing a size 48 Beat on the scale - yes, I have large feet - gave a reading of 494g. A single Tempo Decos read 374g, and my Shimano RX8 shoe revealed 352g. To keep it real, all had standard cleats installed - either Shimano or Look. So, both carbon-soled shoes are considerably lighter, but they don’t offer the same level of comfort or versatility.

After riding with the Beats for a few months, I still stand by my choice of colour but only just. The fine white mesh fabric really does dirty up quickly, but thankfully it also wipes fairly clean.

Value and conclusions

When it comes to kit, cyclists are often guilty of taking themselves a little too seriously, myself included. Well, the Temp Beat is the antidote to all my macho posturing - fresh, fun and fabulous the Beat is enough of a dandy to receive admiring looks without ever being the butt of jokey banter from my ride buddies.

The Beat is flexible enough for commuting, yet stiff enough to tear up a bit of tarmac or gravel when the desire takes me. I’d go as far as to say it’s probably the shoe I should be wearing for a good 40 to 50 percent of my rides.

As for value, Fizik is a premium brand, which is reflected in the build quality and materials used. So, while £/$/€179 doesn’t strike me as a bargain, it doesn’t seem at all unreasonable either.

The best business ideas, so they say, come after identifying a need and coming up with the solution. That, says CHPT3 founder and head honcho David Millar, is the premise of the new Transit cycling sneakers.

The former Tour de France stage-winning pro does his fair share of urban riding these days – as evidenced by his numerous collaborations with Brompton. And as anybody who has ever ridden the few miles to the pub or to the shops knows, footwear is one of the eternal bugbears of local riding.

Millar had tried and even owned a raft of different cycling-walking shoes, he says, but found them all lacking – too great a compromise in one direction.

You can wear your cycling shoes for a comfy and efficient journey on the bike – but be prepared to skid through the door of the first establishment you visit and spend the rest of your off-bike time wishing you'd brought your trainers.

Or pull on those pumps and arrive with skinned ankle bones and your cranks missing swathes of paint. It can sometimes work – as my colleague and brother Steve Shrubsall, who once cycled from Land's End to John o' Groats in his Reebok Classics, will attest. But it's not ideal.

While Millar made his name winning Tour de France stages and still commentates on pro cycling for ITV, the Transits are rooted firmly in the urban. CHPT3 calls them 'the future of urban mobility', and as well as getting from A to B, style was also placed high on the checklist when it came to the design.

The look

Let's start with the obvious. If the idea was to produce some good-looking shoes, that brief has been nailed. These are, without doubt, some of the coolest looking items of footwear I've ever worn, on bike or off.

It's clear the aesthetic is founded in the 'urban' – these don't look like cycling shoes at all.

As you can see from the pictures, I was sent the black version of the shoe, but they also come in white. Both look just about as good as each other, I would say, though the white obviously has the potential to look grubbier sooner – especially if you're one of the 'adventurous explorers' mentioned in the launch bumf who might wish to use the shoe. Gravel riders who prefer a more casual look. If so, the black version would probably suit you better.

The black leather upper on the items I used is complemented by a touch of suede around the toe-box, colour-matched laces and a deep, white sole that features a waffle tread on the underside.

The CHPT3 branding is subtle and might even make your admiring buddies wonder if you've found a new boutique trainer brand they've not heard of.

They are stylish enough to fit in on any night on the town, with the only faintest hint of their cycling roots visible on the upper in the form of a slender reflective strip on the heel, and of course, on the underside where either the cleat, or the twin bolts securing the blanking plate will be on show.

Construction

Dig deep and you will find, at the heart of the shoe, a nylon plate buried in the midsole that takes up much of the forefoot area. This is what offers cycling-compatible stiffness to the Transit and, if you choose to use them, supports your cleats.

The plate is supported by the EVA moulded midsole, with the rubber outsole featuring that waffle pattern treat bonded to the bottom.

All this is what you might term the business end of the shoe, and it's topped off by an upper in 'luxury grade' leather, says CHPT3, with suede around the outside of the toebox. The tongue is mesh for ventilation, while the lining is textile and padded for comfort.

In use

Visually, the Transit 2.0 does an uncanny impression of a fashion trainer, but the acid test for any cycling/walking shoe is how they feel in use. Riding shoes designed to be worn off the bike too can often betray their cycling roots too obviously, making for clumsy and uncomfortable walking.

Not so the Transits. In what might be the sternest test I could've dreamed up in this respect, I took the shoes away on a non-cycling trip and spent a few days walking around cities and driving an unfamiliar rental car (manual gearbox at that).

They were pretty much ideal for the job, offering the feel of a standard leather trainer and all but indistinguishable from a dedicated non-riding shoe. There's a supportive and sturdy feel to them that you'd expect from a leather shoe with a deep sole like this, but it's a comfortable sturdiness and the textile inner cossets the foot too, adding to the comfort.

I used the Transits on the bike with both flat pedals and SPD cleats – the fitting of which is mercifully straightforward and doesn't involve cutting about your lovely new shoes.

When it comes to riding on flat pedals they were spot-on, with plenty of support and plenty of grip. The SPDs worked well too, but revealed the only chink in the Transits' armour, in that I was aware of the cleat through the sole when standing up out of the saddle. It wasn't unpleasant, but I wouldn't choose the Transits for a hilly, multi-hour trip. Flat pedal riding – and styling in out in the bar – is where they are most at home.

Value

At £195 or $235 the Transits are a premium purchase, but they look, and feel, worth that outlay. Clearly, a lot of thought and expertise has gone into the design, which has taken place from the ground up.

The market isn't exactly brimming with rivals for the Transit, which is probably part of the reason Millar was unable to find something up to the job.

Options might include the Adidas Velosamba, which is considerably cheaper at £120 ($158). The Quoc Weekend is currently on sale at £75 ($99) and is visually similar to the Transits, though chunkier and rather more cycling-esque. While the Chrome Industries Kursk are a canvas-style offering for £128 / $129

The Quoc M3 Air shoes build on the brand’s existing Mono II, adding some interesting new updates and refinements. The same very stiff, hand-laid unidirectional carbon fibre outsole is used to maximise power transfer, while the tongueless wraparound design is carried over, as is the replaceable heel grip. 

The M3 Air increases the size of the toe box to better fit more foot sizes, while also reducing hotspots on the foot. More additions to aid comfort include a ball-of-foot pressure release point in a vibration-damped insole. This new insole also includes adjustable arch support for low, medium and high arches. 

The uppers are made using a polyurethane leather substitute, with several mesh panels to improve the ventilation and breathability of the shoes. Two retention dials provide a parallel lacing across the foot, and are used to provide a secure fit with the dials offering micro-adjustments for tightening, and a twist-to-release function to remove the shoes easily. The cleat bolting pattern is a three-bolt. with fore and aft adjustment. Claimed weight for a single size 42 is 242g, while the size 45s on test came out at 253g per shoe. 

Quoc - the skinny on the brand

Quoc was founded in 2009 as an independent British brand, balancing performance and comfort with its shoes. It is environmentally focused, uses eco-friendly materials and works with Tree Nation to plant a tree for each shoe made. 

Quoc paints itself as a maverick brand that operates outside of the mainstream, both in terms of marketing and product development.

The ride

Opening the box to the Quoc M3 Air shoes I was pleasantly surprised to see the adjustable insoles. A gripe I have with many shoes is that the supplied insoles are often quite flat, so the opportunity to fit higher arch support out of the box – there’s a choice of three arch inserts - was ideal. Without decent arch support, I often find my knee collapses in during the pedal stroke. 

Fitting the cleats was easy, and I was able to get the same position as I do on my regular shoes. The tongueless design is another nice touch as it makes getting the shoes on very straightforward. The two dials offer a good level of micro adjustment when tightening the shoes up, and a twist to release function is great for easy removal. However, I prefer the BOA Li2 design which allows adjustments in both directions and features a pull to release function. 

Given the recent horrid weather and the shoes being a brilliant white, I gave them their first outing indoors on the turbo. Mixing between easier rides and some Zwift races let me experience their general comfort, as well as the power transfer from their stiff soles.

On the steadier, easier rides, the shoes were incredibly comfortable. With enough pressure release at the ball of my foot and the generous arch adjustment, they provided a great mix of support and comfort, especially around my toes.

The mesh panels also did very well at keeping my feet cool, even with fairly limited venting on the sole of the shoe. Ramping up the intensity with some races, the shoes performed brilliantly when it came to power transfer. Pushing down on the pedals there was no point when I felt I needed more stiffness in the shoes. The only issue came when sprinting, because the dials don’t clamp down quite as hard as I like, and the heels were not the most secure around my ankles (which are quite narrow to be fair). For flat out sprinting I prefer something a bit more clamped down.

Riding with the shoes outside, performance is similarly impressive. For big power efforts they are brilliant, though out of the saddle the heel security is not as locked in as I’d normally like. For the most part, though, the heel cup performs well enough.

The vibration dampening insole is useful when out on the road, and for steadier efforts the shoes are really comfortable. However, for extended periods of pushing hard on the pedals and rougher road surfaces, the stiff insole and carbon outsole can feel hard on the foot. This is where some micro adjustment to loosen the shoes could be useful.

Of course, most race shoes are super stiff, so there’s always going to be a compromise between comfort and performance. The fit is wider than a lot of shoes I’ve tried, from brands such as DMT, Shimano, Fizik and Sidi, however not quite as wide as the Specialized 7 last that I’m used to.

Value

At £320 the Quoc M3 Air shoes are not cheap, a price point that places them firmly in the premium cycling shoe bracket. However, they are less expensive than much of the competition, including the Specialized S-Works Torch (£350), Shimano RC903 S-Phyre (£349), Fizik Vento Infinito (£350), Sidi Shot 2 (£395) and DMT KR0 (£369). Given that weight and stiffness between all of these are fairly similar or pretty much unnoticeable, it really comes down to design/style preference and fit. The Quoc M3 Air shoes are wider than the likes of Shimano, Fizik, DMT and Sidi, but offer a bit less heel grip than the Shimano and DMT. The Specialized are a bit wider in the forefoot but similar on the heel. 

Based purely on specs alone, the Quoc M3 Air shoes, although expensive, offer decent value compared to their direct competitors. However, the best cycling shoes you’ll ever buy are the ones that fit.

Conclusion

The Quoc M3 Air shoes are great high-end race shoes with superb stiffness and power transfer, with pretty good comfort and foot support too. The price is high but fair when compared to the competition, making these an attractive option if you’re in the market for a pair of high-end cycling shoes. 

Specs

Three-bolt cleat pattern with fore/aft adjustment

Adjustable insole with low, mid and high arch support

Vibration absorbing insole with ball-of-foot pressure point release

Two retention dials for closure

One piece tongue to reduce pinching

Wider fit than many competitors

Mesh panels for cooling

Tongueless wrap design

White only colour available

Sizes 38-47 (full sizes only)

Weight: 506g for size 45 pair (464g claimed for size 42 pair)

A few weeks ago, Canyon unveiled its first ever shoe line-up, with the all-new Canyon Tempr CFR range. The new shoes join an incredibly competitive market, going ‘toe to toe’ with the likes of Fizik, Specialized and Giro.

Canyon’s Tempr CFR shoes boast a multitude of features, such as an adaptable stretch tongue, an ultra stiff carbon sole, and custom insoles developed with Solestar. The German bike giant has certainly gone all in with its first pair of kicks - but can they really compete with the best cycling shoes on the market on their very first attempt?

Construction

The foundation of any good pair of shoes, regardless of whether or not you'll find cleats attached to the bottom, is a good fit. Being self aware of its previous experience, Canyon drafted in Eric Horton as a product design and development consultant for this project to ensure that this area was fulfilled.

Horton, it's fair to say, has a wealth of experience in this area, working previously as a Senior Industrial Designer for Specialized, and more recently as a creative director at Giro - both brands are renowned for their cycling shoes.

The Temprs feature Canyon's new Purefit360 fit system, tech that started out with the development of a brand new 'last' in collaboration with Solestar. This is the model foot which the shoe is designed around. Canyon claims this fit system caters for a super wide range of feet, thanks to some cunning shoe upper design.

Firstly, and perhaps most obvious to the naked eye, is the 'stretch fit tongue' design on the front of the shoe. In a very similar fashion to the Trek RSL shoes released earlier this year, Canyon's stretch fit tongue features a woven sock construction.

Canyon says this part of the shoe is far more flexible than a traditional design, and as someone with a very high instep, I found myself more than catered for here.

Another area of the shoe that can often cause hot spots and discomfort is the toe box. In order to keep the shoe comfortable for both narrow and wider footed riders, Horton explained that the shoe has built in areas of much thinner fabric around the outside of the foot, dubbed pressure release zones.

Moving inside the shoe, lies what I think is perhaps the trump card in the Tempr CFR's design - the Solestar custom insole. As mentioned before, Canyon has collaborated with one of the world's leading experts in insoles, Solestar. The Berlin-based company already supplies Lidl-Trek with insoles, but Canyon has opted to introduce its technology to the masses.

Among the internal tech is a metatarsal bump. This slightly raised pad falls beneath the ball of your foot and helps your toes to spread out naturally - something I found to be brilliantly comfortable.

The sole of the shoe is, as you would expect for a range topping shoe, carbon fiber. It's also 'stiff' and 'lightweight' of course, though Canyon has laid much more emphasis on other parts of the shoe. I did quiz Horton on exactly how stiff the carbon plate was, to which he replied "stiff enough for any human!"

I am most certainly a human, and as I'll come onto, I had no issues!

Finally, tying all this together - if you'll pardon the pun - is the retention system. The birth child of another collaboration, this time with Boa, Canyon has developed the PerformFit Wrap retention system.

Put simply, this is how the boa laces wrap around your foot and therefore how your foot is held into the shoe. But it turns out there is rather a lot of science behind getting this right...

Where more traditional shoes simply pull  the two halves of the upper together, Canyon builds its shoes in such a way that the Boa laces coax the synthetic material into enveloping the foot from the sole up.

In theory, this means the shoe should better wrap around your shoe, decreasing pressure points across the toes, and on your instep. Practically speaking, its best described as the shoe being pulled up against the bottom of your foot, rather than your foot being pinched between the two halves of the upper fabric. Either way, as I will come onto, it works!

The ride

Real world use has been nothing short of thoroughly impressive. I put a lot of miles into the new Tempr CFR shoes, and they have been both comfortable and relatively easy to live with.

Initially I was riding a size 42.5, which I actually found to be a little too small, however this did teach me a lot about them. Remarkably I was still relatively comfy, which is a testament to how well the PerformFit Wrap system spreads pressure around the foot.

Once rectified, I felt much more at home in the size 43.5, which is a size larger than my long term Bontrager XXX shoes, which size up slightly large. With my narrower foot, and high instep taken into account, I would say that these shoes fit pretty true to size, but I certainly wouldn't describe them as a particularly wide fit shoe.

First impressions I must say were strong, however it did take me a few kilometers to get used to the metatarsal bump in the Solestar insole. At first I couldn't quite make out whether it was a good feature to have or not, but now I can say with conviction that it makes the shoe much more comfortable. Along with the wider toe box, I found that my feet were able to spread out in the shoe, which is particularly useful when climbing out of the saddle.

The retention system was great too. I found that I was able to get nearly all of the support required around the heel and across the front of the foot without having to tighten up the Boa dials too much. This is a testament to how well the back of the shoe supports the heel, as well as the PerformWrap fit. 

Of course, if you're racing, or just taking that town sign sprint too seriously (the camp I'm in), then tightening up the shoes further does improve power transfer, but for normal riding I don't think it is necessary.

As mentioned before, the carbon plate is described as "stiff enough for any human," and I completely agree. There was absolutely no flex in the shoe at any point during my testing, whether that was me trying to bend the shoe manually, or during riding.

Off the bike, I was able to test the shoes' grip on tarmac - not exactly essential for a road shoe, but I have found the Vibram pads on the heel decently hard wearing. Should you burn through these, they are replaceable, but no complaints so far - even with a large number of trips to the cafe...

With the onset of summer, heat management has finally been something I have been able to test in the last couple of weeks here in the UK, and it's another box ticked for the Tempr CFR. They are well ventilated, and decently breathable, though they won't keep you quite as cool as something with more breathable fabric material such as the Specialized S-works Ares.

Value and conclusion

Overall, I think Canyon has done incredibly well to take a giant leap straight towards the top of the pile in the shoe market - and I don't say that lightly. The shoes have a great aesthetic, are abundantly comfortable, and perform well too - but they aren't quite the best out there.

Firstly, they are still a few grams heavier than the competition. My size 43.5 shoes tipped the scales at 266g per shoe, which is ever so slightly heavier than equivalents from the likes of Specialized. Then there's the stretch tongue - it's brilliant, but it is rather hard to keep clean. Yes, this is arguably the case with most white cycling shoes, but it does for me point them in the direction of a summer shoe, if you want to opt for that fresh white colour scheme.

Cost-wise, I think the retail price is fair. The shoes retail for £319.95/$329.95 and I think that represents fairly decent value for money against the competition.

While they are not to everyone’s taste style-wise, Lake shoes have been the go to shoe for the wide of foot for years. These MX333s are the company’s top off-road shoes, an evolution of the 332s and, like their predecessors, have a road version with the CX333 also released at the start of this year.

I tested the CX332 road shoe as part of a three-way wide fit test a few years back and rated them very highly for performance and comfort. However, even then the 332s were looking dated. The 333s have received a comprehensive makeover, with a new closure system further improving comfort and fit. And I think they look pretty good too.

Construction

To achieve their goal of providing riders the ‘perfect trilogy of power, performance and fit’ Lake has redesigned the 333 line from the pedal up.

The upper bears little resemblance to its predecessor, and for me, the most significant change is the new closure system. The Boa dials have been moved to the outside of the shoe, with a flap passing over the top, enveloping the foot and negating any pressure points. The Li2 dials are adjustable both ways, so if you over-tighten them you don’t have to undo the shoes to loosen them. More of that later though.

Lake have also added the woven ‘carbitex’ fabric medial support panel concept. It’s designed to stabilise the foot, not only increasing all-day comfort, but ensuring no power goes to waste. Fit around the heel is aided by a small, heat mouldable carbon fibre counter helping you customise the heel cup’s shape to your feet.

Available only in black or blue, the colour dictates the material used for the upper, the black shoes constructed form Helcor leather, while the blue shoes I tested are made from microfiber, which Lake says is less stretchy and may feel smaller.

Somewhat obviously, Lake asserts these 333s are best used on, rather than off the bike, suggesting they may not be best suited to cyclocross. However, if the ground is too slippery you can add spikes, and while the soles aren’t overly chunky, improving looks, the TPU lugs should allow plenty of purchase.

Lake’s ‘Sport’ last is new too, and designed for performance. Constructed entirely of carbon fibre it’s stiff and comes in three widths, which is where the wide of foot should take note, especially if you’ve used Lake’s 332 model shoes before. To bring the 333 series in line with the company’s other models, what was Standard fit is now Narrow, the old Wide is now Regular, with the previous Extra Wide now just Wide.

The ride

I’ve been using Lake shoes on and off since finishing a long, hot 100 miler with my old shoes undone to ease the excruciating pain in my overly wide feet. I’ve used the CX332 road shoes extensively, and bought their cheap-ish MX177 for winter off-roading, so I had a reasonable idea of what to expect when the MX333s arrived.

Some Lake dealers will provide a comprehensive fitting service, but after a chat with Lauren at the UK distributor I selected the Standard fit in blue, which looks better in the flesh than in photos. I didn’t expect them to feel quite so plush when I first slipped them on; they cosset my feet, fitting beautifully however thick my socks.

The side opening looks good and is a game changer for comfort and fit. It gently spreads pressure all over the foot but still firmly enough to hold the shoe in place. 

The heel cup is well padded, but grips the foot to such an extent you wonder whether to bother doing them up. However, I found they slip a little when walking, which encourages me to over-tighten them, even if I’ve never experienced similar slippage on the bike.

On the move I’m an inveterate shoe fiddler, and even when my feet swell in the heat I often find myself over-tightening, causing me discomfort. This isn’t helped when fastenings loosen, and the Boa Li2 dials on these shoes occasionally work loose, like all dials I’ve used.

However, these 333s are the best fitting cycling shoes I’ve owned and I’m learning not to be so aggressive doing them up. Over-tightening aside, they are wonderfully comfortable, though simultaneously resolutely stiff. There is zero compromise and no detectable flex whatsoever. Much more comfortable than my Lake road shoes, they are easily as stiff and direct, which, of course, maximises what power I have.

You can heat mould the heel cup of MX333 for better fit, and though I was happy with the fit out of the box, I did it anyway to ensure my research was complete. It made no difference for me, so if you’re happy with yours as they are l wouldn’t bother.

Value

To some extent value is dictated by one’s bank balance, but £395 is a lot for a pair of shoes. We have seen certain sizes as cheap as £355, but they are currently Lake’s most expensive off-road shoes and £140 more expensive than the company’s other new arrival, the MX30G gavel specific model.

Specialized’s Recon S-Works are around £25 less expensive, and Shimano’s new S-Phyre XC903, which are marketed with wide options, are listed as cheaper than the Lakes, though remain as rare as hen’s teeth.

The big question is, do other brands offer the same variety of fit or the MX333’s comfort? Unfortunately, as most who have suffered with foot discomfort can testify, it is often necessary to pay a premium for no pain.

Good for pottering about in or racing, with the MX333 Lake have once again produced supreme comfort and performance in one package. So good has been my experience I’m thinking of putting SPD pedals on my road bike.

The Mechanism road shoe is a collaboration between insta darlings Pas Normal Studios (PNS) and the Italian shoe and saddle brand Fizik. They’ve called it Mechanism because it slots directly into PNS’ performance line of the same name, identifying it as a lightweight racing shoe with a heavyweight price tag.

Yes, that price. At a smidgen below £400 - at £390 - this is about as much as you’ll pay for a pair of the best cycling shoes, a similar amount can bag you a racing icon, such as the feature-laden Sidi Wire2S or Shimano’s slightly pricier but battle-proven S-Phyre RC903. Only the handmade in Italy Nimbl Ultimate makes the Mechanism look cheap.  

The trouble is, Fizik already has a near identical shoe in its range, the excellent Vento Infinito Carbon 2, that fulfills a similar purpose but costs £50 less. Surely, the Mechanism is just an exercise in style over substance for well-heeled (forefoot and toe) fashionistas? As a man of principle, I knew I was going to hate it.

Pas Normal Studios x Fizik Mechanism Road Shoes: construction

My principles held firm until I flipped open the Mechanism’s silver shoebox. B’Jesus, this is one good-looking shoe. PNS has pulled off the impressive feat of delivering maximum bling in an ultra-minimalist shoe. There’s no overload of gimmicky features, splashes of primary colour, curious tongue wrap-overs, or quirky Boa placement. 

In fact, in many ways, the Mechanism is a very conservative-looking performance shoe. The tongue is traditional, and the two silver Boa dials are placed where you’d expect them to be, on the outer forefoot and instep. The most noticeable design feature on the uppers, other than the bright, two-tone silver fabric and brace of Boas, is the strip of chevron-style perforations that’s reminiscent of diamond plate steel flooring – very industrial chic. However, they extend solely across the midfoot, and feature only on the tongue and the outer side of the shoe.

The fabric is a fine, flexible mesh coated in a polyurethane laminate so thin that it’s possible to make out the weave. This material is reinforced at the heel and toe but is otherwise supremely flexible. 

Inside the shoe, everything is oh so neat and tidy with barely any seams to cause chafing. The removable insole is a lightly padded affair, and beneath that there’s just the thinnest of felt liners glued directly to the carbon outsole for maximum power transfer. 

The heel cup is deep and well-rounded to stop your foot lifting and twisting during efforts and Fizik’s has added its signature sticky silicon microdots at the Achilles for added security. The entire heel area, including the lightly padded cup, is upholstered in super-soft, grey microfibre cloth. 

The outsole is Fizik’s R2, which is also used on the brand’s Vento Infinito Carbon 2 shoe and the single Boa budget(ish) Tempo Decos. It’s the stiffest outsole that Fizik makes, runs the entire length of the shoe and features a large inlet air vent just forward of the ball of the foot, and an exhaust outlet at the arch.

Pas Normal Studios x Fizik Mechanism Road Shoes: the ride

I take a size 48, the largest available for the Mechanism, and I’m blessed with standard-width feet. I found our sample pair moderately oversized, which suits me because my feet swell slightly on long rides, but your mileage may vary. 

One disadvantage of having large feet is that the outsoles can exhibit more flex. The R2, however, remained uncompromisingly stiff along both longitudinal and lateral axes. 

I’ve been running a pair of Fizik Tempo Decos for a while now, which share a similar construction including the same outsole, so I felt right at home wearing the Mechanisms. They feel precise – power transfer is superb, and the deep heel cup really locks the back of your foot into position whether you’re dancing on the pedals on a steep incline or going hell for leather on a town sign sprint.

These aren’t the lightest of shoes but, damn, they’re comfortable. The Boas are low-profile bidirectional Li2s that allow micro-adjustments in either direction, so I appreciated being able to fine-tune the forefoot fit, which is a bit hit-and-miss with my Decos. My first ride out approached 80km, but even fresh out of the box I experienced no chaffing or rub from the supple mesh fabric, and no hotspots from the soles. These are performance shoes that aren’t limited by distance.

Pas Normal Studios x Fizik Mechanism Road Shoes: the bottom line

It’s hard not to fall in love with the Mechanism shoe, but I have some reservations. Firstly, if you run hot, you may find that, despite the outsole vents, there are not enough perforations in the uppers to keep you cool.

Secondly, value. A pair of Vento Infinito Carbon 2s will serve you just as well for less, and a pair of Tempo Decos will serve you almost as well for a lot less. You’re paying top dollar to look fashionable – whether that excites or repulses you, only you can decide.

Spec

• PU laminate over mesh upper
• BOA® Fit System featuring dual-dial Li2
• R2 outsole, full carbon unidirectional, stiffness index 10
• Weigh from: 235g
• Sizes: 36-48 (37 to 47 also in half sizes)

Nimbl is not a large company—as of early 2024 it had fewer than 20 employees. Its size has not limited its impact, however: the company sponsors over 100 riders in the men’s and women’s World Tours. This is in part due to its relationship with team Visma-Lease a Bike, which began in 2022 and peaked in 2023 when the team won the men’s Tour, Giro and Vuelta with three different riders, all wearing Nimbl shoes.

How did this partnership come to be? We spoke with Nimbl’s sales director, Wietske Zwart, to find out more. Nimbl was founded in 2019 by Francesco Sergio, an industry veteran, who was previously head of sports marketing for Cervelo. As a result of his relationships with riders, he was able to quickly start outfitting pros with Nimbl footwear. This put Nimbl on Team Jumbo-Visma’s radar (now Visma-Lease a bike). The team reached out to say that “they were interested, as Nimbl came out of multiple tests as the best shoes for the team (in stiffness, durability, weight, delivery, flexibility of the company). Ultimately they made an agreement to support the team with Nimbl shoes [with] full support and exclusivity.”

Design and Construction

The Ultimates, like all of Nimbl’s shoes, are handmade in Italy. The construction is quite traditional: a carbon sole is sewed to a microfiber upper, with two Li2 BOA dials serving as the retention system. The BOA wires go over a padded tongue that rests on top of the foot in the familiar crossed silhouette of standard shoelaces. What makes Nimbl shoes unique is the design of the sole—instead of being entirely underneath the foot, it comes up around the edges to create a tub or trough shape. This shaping is slight around the forefoot, but is much more significant at the heel where the carbon sole rises almost halfway up the shoe.

This design allows for the seams connecting the sole to the upper to move from beneath to outside of the foot where there’s more available overlap. This makes for a better connection between the two components and removes material from underneath the foot, allowing for better power transfer and reduced stack height. This shape also allows the soles to be very thin, since the edges add stiffness. At 360 grams for the pair (size 41), this is one the lightest shoes on the market, and the Nimbl Air Ultimate model, which has laces, is even lighter.

Because of this design and the added width of the edges, the forefoot of the Nimbl Ultimates looks wide, but inside it feels like a standard width racing shoe.The heel is cut fairly low and is not particularly narrow. The shoe fits low to medium volume feet best.

Specifications

Weight: 360 grams, pair (size 41)
Sizes: 36-48, including half sizes 39.5-47.5
Price: $549
Website: nimbl.cc

The Ride

Unfortunately, I wasn’t transformed into a Grand Tour contender overnight when I rode in the Nimbl Ultimates; it seems there’s slightly more to it than that. I did get along very well with the shoes, however. The low weight is immediately noticeable when you try the shoes on—they feel like slippers. On the bike this is less apparent, though the reduced mass rotating around each pedal stroke should result in fresher legs at the end of a long day.

I was most impressed by the power transfer. Because the soles are so thin, I felt extra planted on the bike and connected to the pedals. The shaped edges of the carbon soles keep your feet locked in, which translates to more efficiency of movement. I have a feeling this is what attracted Visma-Lease a bike to Nimbl in the first place. The team is known for its exhaustive testing methods, and it makes sense that they would look at shoes as a place to gain a competitive advantage. Also notable is the fact that Nimbl makes a special sole for Speedplay pedals. This means no adapter is needed to use Speedplay’s proprietary four bolt cleats.

With that said, the shape won’t work for everyone. Because the soles come up around the edges of the foot, there is zero flexibility in terms of width. You either fit or you don’t, and Nimbl only offers a single width.

The microfiber uppers aren’t particularly breathable, and the wraparound sole also inhibits airflow, so if you get sweaty feet then these may not work well. There are a few holes drilled in the soles. I was also not very impressed by the insoles. For such a high-end product, they should be more refined than just a thin foam insert. 

The Ultimates are available in three different color options, all of them white. The differences are in the accent color. My test shoes had gold accents, but they are also available with silver or black. I received a lot of compliments while wearing the shoes. They seem to elicit a positive response.

Off the bike, the wide heel pieces make the shoes very stable to walk in. It is surprising how often walkability doesn’t seem to be considered by cycling shoe designers, but Nimbl has done a good job here.

Finally, Nimbl has just released a new shoe model, the Exceed Ultimate Glide that supersedes the Ultimates as its top end offering. The Ultimate Glide has an updated sole design (it retains the same cupped heel that is Nimbl’s signature) and an upper with a design more similar to Shimano’s S-Phyre shoe—instead of a standard tongue in the middle of the foot it has a wrap around design of two halves that overlap. I would imagine this would improve power transfer even more, but we’ll just have to wait and see how they perform in the Grand Tours in 2024.

Value and Conclusion

In terms of value, it’s very hard to argue a case for $549 shoes. They may be very good, but there are also excellent shoes available for half that amount. If you want to wear the shoes that Wout van Aert and Jonas Vingegaard wear, then expect to pay handsomely for them. Trek’s new RSL Knit shoes are in the ballpark at $500 as are Sidi’s Shot 2S at $525, so the Nimbl’s aren’t a complete outlier. 

Because the company is so small, it doesn’t have distribution set up everywhere yet. Nimbl has only recently started working with stores in North America, and there aren’t many with shoes in stock. Ordering directly from Nimbl’s website is an option, but this doesn’t help if you want to try them on first.

With all three Grand Tours conquered, the next challenge for Nimbl seems to be one of distribution and scaling up production. The company has already demonstrated that its products work for athletes at the pinnacle of the sport. Also, me.

The Rapha Pro Team Lace Up Cycling Shoes are the British brand’s road shoe offering. They are lightweight and a lot of thought has clearly gone into the ‘Speedlace system’ which not only allows you to, well, lace up speedily, but means that also pressure is spread across the whole top of each foot to avoid painful ‘hotspots’.

They certainly hold their own against the best cycling shoes. 

Rapha Pro Team Lace Up Cycling Shoes: Arrival

The shoes arrived in an attractive purple box; the high-quality attention to aesthetics we’ve become used to from Rapha. The shoes were accompanied by a cloth bag for transporting them to your next event or posed cafe stop.

In the box were some 'high arch' inserts for people with high arches. These were not needed for me, at all.

As is standard, the shoes did not come with cleats – how would Rapha know which pedals every customer uses? – so I added a pair of Look Keo cleats, admittedly far from new and already fairly worn.

Rapha Pro Team Lace Up Cycling Shoes: Fit

Rapha suggests sizing at least half a size up when ordering as the shoes come up narrow. I went with size 44, which I wear in other brands, but I was once told by a bike fitter that I’m actually a size 43.5, so by habit or default, I sized up by half a size.

I found the size 44 ‘true to size’, insofar as they fitted comfortably, but they do have less wiggle room than my old faithful Specialized Torch shoes, again pointing to Rapha’s assertion that the shoes come up small. You do have to wonder if that note was made on the webshop once the brand started receiving feedback, rather than a fact that was known from the off. Otherwise, you’d just make them true to size, wouldn’t you?

Regardless, when you’ve got the correct size on – even when the number printed inside is different to the shoes you’re replacing from other brands – they do fit and they are comfortable. For the most part.

Rapha Pro Team Lace Up Cycling Shoes: Comfort and construction

For short to medium length rides (it’s all relative, for me this means 20-70km), the shoes were comfortable and I was happy to have them on my feet. 

However, for anything over 80km, I did start to feel a bit of discomfort down the outsides of my feet, as the slightly-narrow body and stiff soles took their toll on my feet. A bit of toe wiggling and a loosening of the speedily laced fastening will help with this, much the same way getting out of the saddle every now and again when ‘winning’ a Zwift race will do your undercarriage all kinds of favours.

For anyone with wider feet who’s intending to ride an audax in these shoes, it might pay to even go a full size up to ensure there’s the wiggle room to relieve any side foot pressure over much longer distances.

But it should be kept in mind that these shoes are for ‘racing and training’, so stiffness will win out against comfort whenever there’s a clash, and most of us aren’t likely to be racing a 200km Grand Tour stage.

Somewhere, happily, that the pressure isn’t a problem is across the top of your foot – and it’s by design, not just luck.

As laid out by Rapha, there are three elements of the design and manufacture that contribute to this dispersal of pressure: “a pioneering 3D woven Powerweave upper for a flexible fit and superb breathability; the Speedlace closure system for a pressure-dispersed fit at a minimal weight; the padded tongue, which disperses pressure from the laces across the top of the foot.”

I found this to be borne out in real world testing as the comfort across the top of my foot was never in doubt. ‘Hotspots’ of pressure on the top of my feet is something I have suffered from with other cycling shoes, trail running trainers and hiking boots previously – no doubt I had them done up too tight as well, but even when over-fastened the tightness is spread out with the Rapha cycling shoes.

While the ‘Speedlace’ fastening is good overall, there is a lot of it and even with the elasticated loop and lower little pouch to respectively secure and hold the lace loop once pulled tight, there did seem to be more than enough; maybe even too much lace.

Working in unison with this earlier-explained upper and main body of the shoes is an ultra-light, full-length carbon sole, which “transfers every watt of power to the road.” I’m not sure I’ve got that many watts to transfer anywhere, but it did feel like all the power and effort I could muster were being sent through the drivetrain rather than being lost to a sole reminiscent of a holiday flip flop. 

While this was an excellent feature, and suits the ‘training and racing’ vibe, it’s arguable that the stiffness of the sole may have contributed to the diminished comfort found on longer rides.

To top off the construction, the outer material of the uppers has been given a durable water repellent (DWR) treatment “for comfort in inclement weather” – not particularly relevant to me as I ride in shoe covers of varying thermal ratings about 11 months of the year, but a good feature for anyone wanting to both show off their pricey shoes and ride through puddles.

Rapha Pro Team Lace Up Cycling Shoes: Value and conclusion

At $315.00 / £245.00 / €315.00, value is always going to be pretty subjective. The shoes are very good: they look really nice, they fit well, they ride well – but lower costs alternatives might save you more money than they proportionately cost you in performance. 

The Veloce Extreme is Northwave’s new top-end road shoe. It’s already had a year on the Grand Tour upon Fillipo Ganna’s feet and now available to the non-world record riders amongst us. How will it compare to the rest of our best cycling shoes?

Construction

Aside from being Ganna’s footwear of choice, the headline features of the Veloce Extreme are the stiffness of its unidirectional sole (the stiffest carbon sole that Northwave has ever produced), its ‘high tail’ which wraps over the heel cup giving the shoe more stability, and its greater arch support.

Northwave's testing on a range of different cyclists showed the new sole produced an 'increase in foot stability', a whopping 15 per cent decrease in ‘effort’ as measured by Rate of Perceived Exertion, and an increase in power of four per cent (in comparison to its previous model).

The tongue is integrated into one side of the upper which allows it to wrap over the top of your foot for a snug fit. The two Northwave SLW3 dials tighten with rotation and loosen either with a single click or by lifting the tab for a full release. Final fit adjustment comes through the insoles, both 3mm and 5mm thickness are included.

Other features include small ventilation holes in the upper and vents in the sole. Heel pads are replaceable and the shoes come with their own neat bag.  

The shoes are available in either black or white in sizes EU 36 – 48.

The ride

The Veloce’s are expectedly a little stiff to get on but the two dial adjusters and a laterally offset tongue open up to give plenty of space. The tongue and innersole have just enough give in them to provide plenty of comfort and I haven’t experienced any areas of the shoes that have felt unduly firm against my foot or caused any hotspots. 

Northwave’s dial adjusters cinch up easily and the release catch makes toggling them tighter or looser really easy, even on the fly. I know some users aren’t so keen on needing to hold the catch open to fully release but I get on well with them and find the mechanism really intuitive.

Before you start riding, the stiffness of the shoe isn’t hugely noticeable - certainly it’s not to the detriment of fit or comfort or even the ability to walk to your bike. But once on the pedals, the support and direct feel of the shoe is incredible; the pedal, crank and bike just immediately responds. I’ve been wearing fairly high end shoes up to now, but the difference in sensation and reactivity is akin to spinning on my commuter compared to jumping on a stiff race bike.

But what’s impressed me most about the Veloce is that its incredible stiffness doesn’t seem to come at the cost of comfort; if it wasn’t for the bike feel I wouldn’t think I was wearing really stiff shoes. In fact, they’re probably the most comfortable shoes I’ve ridden in recently. It’s with this comfort in mind that Northwave’s claimed reduction in effort makes sense.

The value and conclusion

The price tag of the Veloces is hard to ignore, $429.00 / £359.99 is a lot of money. But they’re not the only shoes at this price point, Bont Vaypor S ($415.00 / £325.00), Specialized S-Works Ares ($484.00 / £390.00) and Sidi Wire 2 shoes ($499.99 / £390.00) are all similarly priced.  

If you’ve got this kind of money to spend on shoes, it would be well spent on the Veloces. They seamlessly combine understated style with performance and comfort. Despite their stiffness, they are incredibly comfortable and ones you can happily wear for all day social rides and crit races too.

Specification

• EU 36 - 48 with half sizes in 39 - 46 range
• Available in black or white
• Weight - 576g as tested (size 40)

Cafe du Cycliste is a French company conceived on the Cote d'Azur in 2009. Their brand is centered around exploration by bike, be that on road or off-road. 

They have a wide range of on-bike and off-bike products -including items such as cycling specific button shirts to combine style and function - and this year they’ve stepped into producing cycling footwear. How does their first foray stack up against the best cycling shoes on the market? We slipped on a pair to find out...

Cafe du Cycliste Road Shoes: construction

The Cafe du Cycliste Road Shoes are built upon a lightweight unidirectional carbon sole to provide maximal stiffness and power transfer. The sole has rubber lugs on the front and rear to provide traction while walking and also protect that carbon sole. 

There are two vents integrated into the shoes, providing a degree of airflow underneath your feet. The cleats fit to the standard 3-bolt pattern on most road cycling shoes, but there is no fore-aft adjustment - although there is some medial and lateral adjustment for the bolts.

The upper starts from the sole with an abrasion protective surface to prevent any damage to the shoe in the event of scuffing them. Next up, is the microfibre upper which is easy to clean and includes perforations at the front and along the side of the shoes for heat dissipation. 

A 'fishgrid technology' heel is used to reduce your ankle slipping out of the shoe even during maximal efforts. Retention is done via lacing with 14 holes while an elastic loop that holds the laces in place to prevent them failing around when riding. Inside, there is a Solestar insole to provide full support for the feet and arch.

Cafe du Cycliste Road Shoes: the ride

One of the first things I noticed when putting these shoes on, was that unfortunately they are quite tight. Depsite the length matching up well to the size of my feet, the width around the front portion of the shoe is quite narrow and tapers uncomfortably for my toes. Beyond that, the upper itself is simply quite low volume, meaning the tops of my feet felt pinched as well.

I found when I removed the insole, they actually became a lot more comfortable in terms of initial fit. However, they then didn’t provide the arch support which I prefer, especially as the insole provided actually fits my foot very nicely for support. 

Lacing was super easy and I could adjust the tension quite easily to get an even pressure across my feet. I also appreciated the use of black laces. Although I love a white shoe - difficult though they are to keep them that way - white laces are just another level of fussy and discolour so much more quickly. Black laces, on the other hand, look a lot smarter for much longer.

In terms of the ride, I tried them out both with the insoles removed and with them in place. With the insoles removed, there was more room in the shoes for my feet - and after a bit of initial rubbing around the toes, the material seemed to loosen a bit and things became more comfortable. 

However, with no arch support, the inside of my ankle was being supported by the edge of the shoe, which became uncomfortable after 30 minutes or so. But with the insole back in place, there just wasn’t enough room for my feet.

Comparing them side by side with the Specialized S-Works Lace (my go-to shoe this year) they look a similar profile, albeit the S-Works are a tad wider at the toes and have got more volume up top. 

I think it’s likely down to the material on the Cafe du Cycliste shoes being a bit thicker than the S-Works, so internally there is less space. The laces are also closer together at the top, so there is less scope for widening the top volume of the shoe. As a result, most riding I did was without the insoles.

When it came to efforts, I was surprised how well the laces retained their tension, as they don’t appear to be non-stretch. In-the-saddle efforts and not super high or low cadence felt really good - as I often find with laces compared to BOAs. The sole was plenty stiff enough for all efforts. However for sprints, even the grippy heel texture wasn’t enough to stop my feet slipping around a bit.

I do think these are a good pair of shoes. They look great, the sole is really stiff, and the laces do their job very well. My only gripe is that they just don’t quite work for my feet, which is something I’ve had before with other high performance road shoes. If they were a bit wider and with more volume across the foot, they’d be a very good fitting pair of shoes for me. But if you have narrower feet with less volume, these will likely work well for you.

Cafe du Cycliste Road Shoes: value and conclusion

At $377.00 / £290.00 the Cafe du Cycliste Road Shoes sit right at the expected end for high end carbon road shoes that use laces rather than BOA dials. Similar competitors are the Specialized S-Works 7 Lace ($325.00 / £300.00 and 242g) and the Giro Empire SLX ($370.00 / £329.99 and 256g size 46). Both of these shoes are lighter and only marginally more expensive. I also know for a fact that the Specialized fit my feet better, and that Giro fit similarly to the Cafe du Cycliste. So there are, in value terms, fine. A little cheaper, but also a little heavier.

The Cafe du Cycliste Road Shoes are a solid first entry into cycling shoes for the brand. The performance of them is up there with other lace up shoes thanks to a super stuff sole and good lacing - plus they come in at a lower price point. However, the fit is certainly a narrow and lower volume one, so won’t suit wider feet. They are also not quite as lightweight as other top-end carbon lace up shoes.

Like the latest wheels and tires, Specialized decided that the best cycling shoes needed to be wider if they're to be both comfortable and fast - so it created the S-Works Torch, launched in May 2022.

The Torch is a ground-up design based on a brand new, wider carbon sole that's 4mm wider than the outgoing S-Works 7's and also comes in a wide fitting that's 7mm wider. Despite being wider, the sole is 20g lighter with the size 42 shoe weighing a claimed 225g, the same overall as the old S-Works 7.

The size 45s I tested were a measured 249g per shoe.

The new Torch also has a softer, more comfortable upper with "zonal reinforcement" and an asymmetric heel cup that supplies more targeted foot support.

The three Body Geometry pillars of wisdom - varus wedge, longitudinal arch and metatarsal button - are still at the heart of the shoe.

Specialized S-Works Torch: construction

Specialized says it refined every detail of the S-Works Torch’s upper for improved fit and performance. The lower Velcro toe strap of the S-Works 7 has gone and the lower BOA cable has been shifted down and angled, preventing lift on the ball of the foot, negating the need for a strap while supplying a power-enhancing structure and eliminating unwanted pressure or pinching, according to Specialized.

There’s more space between the two dials as well as a relief zone in the tongue that is designed to avoid that ‘red spot’ on top of the foot when you take your shoe off after a long ride.

As with the Specialized S-Works Ares, the placement of the top BOA dial is more central in order to make room for the tendons coming from the front of the ankle, but the Torch allows the toes to wiggle whereas the Ares is more about forefoot lookdown and anchoring the foot all the way down in order to squeeze out the last few watts in a sprint.

New, more supple materials for the upper are used, with layers of material sandwiched together to create a mix of adaptive stretch zones with no one or two-week break-in period necessary. Over the top is a layer of TPU that is intended to preserve the clean look and performance for a longer time - and it does.

As for the BOA S3 dials themselves, Specialized has carried them over from the S-Works 7. These are all metal with a metal spring on a metal post on a clutch. They look high end, and are durable, but they don’t pop up - to remove the shoe the cable has to be slackened off and the cable unhooked.

Specialized says the S-Works 7’s heel hold worked for some riders but not all, especially those who had an inflamed or a wider Achilles attachment, so taking out the hard plastic from the outer heel cup left more room for more expansion, and Specialized says it was able to lower the shoe’s lateral collar by 4mm, meaning at the bottom of the pedal stroke with maximum flexion it’s less likely to interfere with the ankle bone and tendons underneath it. 

The ride

The last S-Works shoes I reviewed, the S-Works Ares, as worn by Remco Evenepoel, were anything but my favorites. I tried really hard to like them: the right shoe felt amazing, locked in, powerful and comfortable but my left foot felt like it was treading on a hard lump towards the rear of the arch.

They just didn’t suit the shape of my feet - or the left one at least - whereas the new S-Works Torch feels like it was made for my feet. Not just one but both.

I was fortunate enough to go to Specialized HQ in Dorking for a Retül custom footbed fitting. I learnt a lot from the session and came away with custom footbeds that I wish I’d had 20 years ago.

I’ve always sized down for cycling shoes and accepted the shoe touching the end of my big toe. Having been into rock climbing and skiing in my younger years I thought putting up with the discomfort of slightly too-small shoes was the sacrifice you had to make for good power transfer and a locked-in feel.

The S-Works Torches have shown me I was wrong. The Retül fitting said I needed a 45 instead of a 44 - the cycling shoe size I’ve always worn -  and the moment I tried the 45s on I was sold. You can have comfortable toes and good power transfer with no heel lift at the rear.

Just to check that it wasn’t all down to the custom footbeds I’ve tried them with the standard insoles and, although of course not quite as glove-like, they’re still the most comfortable and simultaneously efficient cycling shoes I’ve ever worn by a very long chalk.

I’m coming up to a year of riding in them now and I haven’t changed my mind. I’ve used them for everything - time trials, chain gangs, clubruns, solo training and Zwifting. Every time I put my feet into them I still marvel at how amazing they feel, and it’s never a relief to get them off at the end of a ride.

Of course what works for one person doesn’t work for everyone. Remco, for example, clearly loves the S-Works Ares while I was in agony after five miles. CW’s North American editor, Anne-Marije Rook, found the S-Works Torches perfect for long endurance rides, but said the front of the heel cup and the toe box were a tad too wide for her, finding that she ratcheted down the lower BOA because she missed the “locked-in and secure feeling that I’d want for more explosive efforts and maximum power transfer.”

As for aesthetics - that’s another thing that’s personal or subjective. I’m not keen on the Ares’s cutaway straps and mesh, but I love the sleeker, more elegant look of the Torches, and the lack of mesh means they stay looking new for much longer. If you spent this much, you don’t want your shoes to look secondhand after one ride. 

To make doubly sure, I’ve been wearing overshoes if the road isn’t absolutely bone dry - but on the rare occasions when I have misjudged the state of the lanes and got them mud spattered, they’ve come back to pristine surprisingly easily with just a few passes of the kitchen sponge (don’t tell anyone). 

The little fabric BOA loop guides and the stitching underneath are the only bits that have discolored slightly, but apart from those the Torches look boxfresh after a whole year.

If I was being ultra picky about their aesthetics, there is a small crease just below the bottom BOA when they’re cranked up. I can’t feel it but I can see it. This is probably unavoidable if you make a wider shoe, you want to achieve a locked-in forefoot and wiggle room for toes at the same time, and you want to use a supple material for the upper. However, I have no doubt that somebody with a wider foot than mine wouldn’t get the same crease.

Value and conclusion

Priced at $450 / £385, these are very expensive shoes. They’re $25 / £10 more than the S-Works Ares and a lot more than the older derivations of the S-Works 7 (Exos and Vent) which are now being discounted - though to be fair those two were originally more expensive at their full price. 

The latest Shimano S-Phyre RC903s are the same price in the US ($449.95), but undercut them at £349.00 in the UK. But the Sidi Shot 2s are even more expensive at $524.95 / £395.00 and the Lake CX403 are even pricier at $549.99 / £450.00.

So the S-Works Torches are at the upper end of high end but for a flagship shoe from one of the top shoe brands it’s what you have to expect.

The Suplest Edge+ 2.0 Road shoes are the most expensive pair of cycling shoes I've worn, which admittedly raised my expectations. To compete with the best cycling shoes out there they'd need to perform well to justify the high price tag.

My first impressions were good, they arrived with a nice pair of socks and with a neat little travel bag with Suplest branding on. I put some new cleats in and headed out the door on a ride. These shoes are designed for those who ‘love long distance riding’ and they stood up to most of my personal cycling shoe demands. 

Suplest Edge+ 2.0: construction

The sole is made of carbon. Suplest give it an 8/10 on the stiffness scale and I didn’t notice any flexing even at my full (but slightly unimpressive) sprint. There’s protective rubber on the forefoot and heel for a little bit of added protection when walking from your bike to the table at the cafe. 

The insole is impressive and part of the reason the shoe feels so stiff. Suplest’s ‘solestar’ insole was developed with the aid of pro cyclists and your foot feels locked in and supported. I popped the insoles into another pair of shoes and took them out for a ride and they transformed the feel of the other shoe.

The upper is a mixture of a plastic feeling material and a thin layer of carbon which wraps around your foot. It’s comfortable and deals with a range of temperatures well - tested between -4 and 27 degrees, this is by no means a ‘summer only’ shoe. The heel is slightly reflective and the wire for the BOA fastening is held in place with a carbon feel extension to the upper that appears relatively robust. 

The single BOA system, which comes with a lifetime warranty, is the only real weakness of this shoe. It can lead to feeling tight on the upper foot and looser on the lower foot - especially if you have to tighten the BOAs a little harder due to having narrow feet. This is alleviated a little by the layer of carbon on the upper which redistributes the pressure from the BOA wire a little more evenly but it’s not perfect.

It all adds up to a shoe that weighs 253g in a size 42, which isn't super light but certainly competitive against similar shoes in this price range. 

Suplest Edge+ 2.0: the ride

The first thing you notice when you slide the Suplests on is the insole. It’s well shaped and quite thick, taking up quite a lot of vertical space within the shoe. It feels supportive and happened to fit my feet very well though I fear riders with differently shaped feet might find this much support uncomfortable. The size of the insole most definitely contributes to the impressive stiffness of these shoes.

Out on the road they feel secure and stiff, really giving you the feeling of being an extension of the bike itself. I also tested the shoes during a couple of hard turbo sessions. Typically, the primary issue one faces with shoes on the turbo is overheating but the Edge+ 2.0s dealt with this comfortably. There’s plenty of ventilation on the upper and the holes in the sole also allows heat to escape out the bottom. 

Suplest Edge+ 2.0: value and conclusion

Coming in at €289.99, you would expect the Suplest Edge+ 2.0 road shoe to be almost perfect and they are. The only slight hiccup is the single BOA system might prevent issues for riders with narrow feet that find they have to tighten their BOAs a little tighter than others. Other than this, the temperature regulation is excellent, the fit is good in most cases and the sole is stiff enough for all but the strongest of sprinters who might want to go up a model. 

For comparison, the Fizik Tempo Decos carbon shoes retail at $300 / £280 and also only use one BOA dial and feature a similar uncluttered and refined look. Elsewhere the Giro Regime shoes utilise two BOA dials and, like the Edge 2.0s deliver a stiff sole but also plenty of comfort over longer distances.

If you've just spent over $400/£300 on a pair of bike shoes you might be a little dubious about putting them in your oven. 

We checked our thermometers and steadied our nerves to test out the heat mouldable Bont Vaypor S road shoes to see how they compared to the rest of the best cycling shoes. 

Bont Vaypor S: construction

Forget the heat moulding, the most striking thing about the Bont Vaypor S is its rigidity. It is an incredibly stiff shoe, both the sole and upper. These are not shoes you want to wear on a social ride with many a café stop.

There’s a unidimensional carbon chassis which forms a bathtub shape for the sole and lower sides. Small replaceable heel and toe guards offer a modicum of protection for the shiny sole. The upper is a soft anti-stretch fabric, perforated for ventilation. There’s asymmetrical fastening courtesy of two BOA Li2 fastenings -these are high quality shoes. 

As if featuring in the pro peloton isn’t enough, the true USP of the Vaypor is that the shoe chassis is heat mouldable in your home oven.

Bont Vaypor S: the fit

There’s an excellent range of sizes. In total the Vaypors are available in 19 lengths (EU size range 36-50) and four different widths as standard, with an additional two as special order. This choice does add a challenge to your size selection. There’s a seemingly simple measurement system using a print out from the website but what’s simple in theory is rather more tricky in practise. I found it hard to be consistent using the template and I measured the length of my foot a good 10mm different across many attempts. In the end my choice was limited to what was available for testing which took the pressure off a bit. It’s well worth getting yourself to a dealer and trying a few sizes to be sure.

The bathtub design of the bottom of the shoe makes the Vaypor appear pretty huge but they’re not as voluminous as they appear. I have skinny feet and the pair I tested were larger than I would have chosen so I had to tighten the BOA fastenings as far as they would go. Even though the shoes resembled a sack of spuds my feet held in the shoes incredibly well, the anti-stretch fabric and BOAs did an excellent job of holding my feet, the fine adjustment of the Li2 dial is really incredible.    

Bont Vaypor S: cooking

Expectations high, I was rather underwhelmed by the heat moulding process. This isn’t because it doesn’t do what it promises, it just promises less than I had hoped. As Bont state “heat molding is only designed for small changes to fit, 1-2mm at most”. It took a good few turns in the oven to make the changes I was after as I found it hard to see the deformation. After a few attempts I realised I was better off wearing the shoes for a while until they were fully cooled and then go by feel. What I really wanted to do was to cinch up the higher portion of the heel cup to stop my skinny heels lifting out the shoe on each pedal stroke. In truth this is probably more in the realms of sizing than the fit adjustments the moulding is designed for. I certainly had more joy relieving a couple of pressure points than I did getting looser bits to sit a little better.

Bont Vaypor S: the ride

After a few times through the oven to mould I was ready for cleats and pedals. In all the playing about with fit I wasn’t convinced that I’d get on with the Vaypors, I hadn’t thought I had got close to the fit I wanted. On the bike everything changed. These shoes are incredible, given the price and reputation this perhaps isn’t the biggest surprise but the stiffness and comfort is phenomenal (my usual road shoes are a pair of S-Works so a reasonable comparison).

Although they’re incredibly rigid they’re not uncomfortable, that will be that clever bathtub design and heat moulding. I did have a bit of heel slippage but that’s more about my feet than it is the shoe (cringes at memories of hours shopping with my mother for school shoes I didn’t walk out of).

The low stack height is noticeable; your foot feels completely ‘on’ the pedal but the stiffness of the sole means that the hotspot you expect never materialises.

Bont Vaypor S: value and conclusion

The Bont Vaypor S are high end road shoes and at $415.00 / £325.00 have a price to match. But they’re not out there on their own, Specialized S-Works Ares are priced similarly and at $484.00 / £390.00 the Sidi Wire 2 shoes will set you back even more. 

If you’re looking to splash out on a high-end pair of road shoes then you want them to fit. The huge range of sizes in which the Bont Vaypor S is available as well as the mouldable chassis gives your feet the best chance possible to benefit from the incredible stiffness of the shoe.

Specification

• Sizes: EU 36 - 50
• Widths: Four standard, two special order 
• Colors: White, Black, Reflex Ghost, Reflex Havoc (tested)
• Weight: 230g per shoe (claimed for size 42), 245g for size 41 as tested 

Based the design on the recently relaunched Road Shoe, the Adidas Gravel Cycling Shoe has a two-bolt cleat box, a walking-friendly sole and ankle cuff to keep out the stones.   

In designing the Gravel Cycling Shoe, there’s no doubt that Adidas have given at least as much thought to the modern gravel riders’ fashion needs as their riding ones. All important stuff when it comes to choosing your best gravel bike shoes.

Adidas The Gravel Cycling Shoe: construction

The Gravel Cycling Shoe upper is made from a single-piece of lightweight ripstop fabric. In a positive step from Adidas, the upper is made from 50 per cent recycled materials. The ankle-cuff is a thicker, more flexible knitted fabric. Adidas describe it as an “inner sock” which seems quite a stretch given it’s only around the top of the shoe rather than a full internal lining.

The synthetic sole has a two bolt cleat mounting and enough flex for walking. There are TPU “pods” on the heel and forefoot for walking grip which are rather are reminiscent of my 1990s astro-turf football boots.  

The shoe has a lace closure and slightly elasticated cuff-top. Color choice includes stereotypical gravel khaki, full football boot black, fluro pink and white. At time of publication, the coral and lilac colour-way of our review pair is not available.

Adidas The Gravel Cycling Shoe: the ride

Sizing and fit was what I expected on my UK 7 / EU 42 foot. Adidas has a sizing chart on its website that includes foot length which is pretty useful given the variation in fit between brands. On our scales the pair weighed 23.5oz / 670g.

The eyelets run a good length of these shoes so you do have plenty adjustment whatever the size / shape of your foot. The laces are quite long though so even using the tongue loops they still do flap around a fair bit. The moderate stiffness of the sole and fabric upper means there’s plenty of chance to wriggle your toes which makes them they’re comfortable on longer rides. 

The ankle cuff sits fairly loose (on my skinny ankles) but at the same time there weren’t any noticeable gaps around the top. Like all non-adjustable cuffs they are a bit fiddly to get on, not because the cuff is too tight or thick like on many-a winter boot, but because the pull-tabs are anchored firmly to the shoe itself rather than the top of the cuff which means the cuff isn’t pulled taut when you tug on them. The other downside of the cuff is that it plays havoc with your sock game; there’s both length and colour to consider here. For someone who doesn’t have a strong record in this area it’s been quite a challenge to contend with.

The ‘ripstop’ upper material has more rugged than I expected during this review period but I can’t see these holding up particularly well overtime. The toe does have a little reinforcement but it’s not great and so unlikely to be much of a match for the inevitable hike-a-bike rock kicks. The material isn’t water resistant so if your rides are puddley then you will get soggy toes.

The extrusions around the heel, forefoot and toes provide plenty of grip when walking on hard packed ground. However, this design is also absolutely brilliant at retaining mud if you have put your foot down on anything remotely damp. Or, put another way, you don’t want to be treading in dog poo in these shoes.

Jesting aside, this really limits the shoe to riding on premium gravel or dry conditions. If your gravel riding involves an occasional trudge across a muddy path or field, then these aren’t going to be the shoes for you. As well as the grips holding a lot of mud it also packs in around the recessed cleat making it awkward to clip in and equally awkward to clear when riding. It took me a good ten minutes with a nail brush and running tap to clear the soles after these pictures were taken.

Adidas The Gravel Cycling Shoe: value and conclusion

At $170 / £160 Adidas’ Gravel Cycling Shoe sits somewhere in the middle of gravel shoe pricing. Features of similarly priced gravel shoes vary; some like the Fizik Terra Atlas ($160 / £155) have BOA fastenings, others such as Giro Privateer ($170 / £140) are laced.

The Adidas Gravel Cycling Shoe is a stylish shoe well suited to those long, hot dusty ‘grammable days. For the rest of the year when riding is more muddy and less glamourous, then you’d be better leaving them in the dry and warm of home.

The Vento Stabilita Carbon sits at the very top of Fizik’s shoe hierarchy, surpassing the Vento Infinito Carbon 2 and edging out the Transiro Infinito R1 Knit triathlon shoe.

As such, it’s pitted against the very best cycling shoes on the market, and with such strong competition the bar is set pretty high. But the Vento Stabilita - as its name hints towards - has its own unique selling point, equipped as it is with Fizik’s latest iteration of its arch support system. 

Is this enough to distinguish it in such a crowded field? We put a pair to the test to find out…

Fizik Vento Stabilita Carbon: construction

Before we get into how they felt to ride, let’s first run through the basics of the shoe and then have a look at that ‘Dynamic Arch Support 2.0’ system.

Like pretty much all shoes at this price point, the Vento Stabilita Carbon utilizes a carbon outsole which - again, like most flagship shoes - is claimed to be the stiffest in the entire range, achieving a rating of ‘10’ on Fizik’s own stiffness index.

There is an air intake at the front for some ventilation inflow, and although there isn’t an exhaust vent at the back as such, the mesh material around the arch is a pretty open weave and very breathable itself.

Across Fizik’s range, the cleat bolt holes have been shifted backwards towards the heel slightly, to allow for a further setback position which is a current trend. The benefits are supposed to include a decrease in the recruitment of the calf muscles (which in turn is supposed to reduce fatigue) and aerodynamic gains from being able to lower your saddle height. 

But if you prefer having your cleats set further forward, there should still be enough adjustment to get them where you want. Personally, I prefer having my cleats really quite set forwards, right underneath the balls of my feet, and I still didn’t reach the end of the adjustment space.

At the heel and toe of the shoes there are rubber inserts for added grip and protection of the carbon sole, but these aren’t particularly large and aren’t particularly tacky. 

The upper is a polyurethane-laminated material and feels robust as well as having many perforations for increased air flow. It’s not as well ventilated as some models which utilize much more mesh, but then it is much easier to wipe down and clean - so it’s horses for courses.

The retention system is handled by two Boa Li2 dials, which are low profile and allow for both tightening and loosening in millimeter increments.

Fizik Vento Stabilita Carbon: the ride

In the hand, the Vento Stabilita Carbon shoes feel light, but not super light. And their weight of 270g in a size 43.5 EU bears this out. But weight-weenism isn’t the purpose of these shoes, with the material of the upper feeling - and having proved to be - a lot more durable than ultra-lightweight models which use a lot of mesh.

On my first ride, I was initially sceptical of just how stiff these shoes could be, considering the quite slim - and offset - shape of the middle portion of the carbon outsole. But after a few gauging sprints, I couldn’t detect any difference in stiffness between these and the Specialized S-Works Ares shoes, which are my benchmark for shoe stiffness.

That said, I weigh around 68 kg and my peak power is around 1,200 watts - so heavier and more powerful riders might have a different experience.

In terms of the ventilation, I found the balance to be spot on for UK riding. Naturally, they’re a bit chilly for winter riding, but it’s nice to have a little bit of protection from the spring chills - and they’re still plenty cool enough to avoid overheating when riding indoors. Those in hotter and drier climates might benefit from an airier model, though.

Regarding the width and shape, the Vento Stabiliata Carbon feel moderately wide. If you have particularly narrow feet, you probably won’t get on with them, and if your feet are particularly wide, there are at least other models in Fizik’s range which will suit you better. 

For me, I found that the toe box had quite a lot of volume to it. So, although I was pinched slightly on the sides of my feet, I didn’t actually feel as ‘locked in’ as with other models which are lower volume. As with saddles, this is pure personal preference - what works perfectly for one person might not be so great for another.

But let's come to the Arch Support 2.0 system, which is the main selling point of these shoes. You can really tell the difference, with a feeling that your arch is being ‘cupped’ that you don’t get on most other shoes. I don’t have a particular problem with collapsing arches and I didn’t feel I got much benefit from the feeling - nothing materially changed in my cycling performance or sensation. 

But there definitely is something going on there with the foot support and it could help those who struggle with their arches. That said, insoles would also be another avenue to explore - and there is the option there to go fully custom, which isn’t the case with these shoes.

Fizik Vento Stabilita Carbon: value and conclusion

In all, as USPs go, there are others I would consider first. Bont’s Vaypor+ ($499.00) has heat-moldable uppers for a more custom fit, as well as the option for four-bolt drilling if you’re running Speedplay pedals - a combination which is quite compelling. The Specialized Ares ($425.00 / £375.00) have a unique placement of the upper boa dial - which works better for those with more prominent ankle tendons - plus Specialized offers custom footbeds. And then there’s Lake’s CX 332 ($449.99 / £375.00), which comes in three different width options and also has the option for four-bolt drilling.

Then again, the Fizik Vento Stabilita Carbon’s ($399.99 / £374.99) sole was fantastically stiff, the upper durable and breathable and the fit well suited to those with moderately wide and high volume feet. If insoles fail you, the Arch Support 2.0 system would well be worth a go. 

They are a great pair of shoes - as are most models at this price point. The main points of differentiation tend to be very specific USPs, so just make sure you are getting the features you want most.