Giro Imperial AS shoe review: Can an all-weather white shoe really hack it in the winter?

I’ve always been a fan of Giro’s shoe portfolio and have used an array of models over the years - including the Factor, Prolight Techlace, Empire, Regime, and Imperial, which differ vastly in terms of intentions and closure systems. Of all the options, the Imperial has remained one of my best cycling shoes owing to its superb fit and ventilation.

White shoes have never really appealed to me, but since moving to the UK in 2019, I’ve slowly started to appreciate the clean and clinical look it provides, but keeping this colour clean throughout the year has always proved a challenge - until now.

The Giro Imperial AS isn’t an entirely new design, utilising the blueprint of the regular Imperial II and weather-proofing it to a certain extent. Yes, I hear you - white shoes can stain and never truly look the same once ridden through mucky roads in the wet, but this all looks set to change with the Imperial AS.

I’ve spent two months and 1,200km using the shoe in Spain and the UK - heat, cold, and rain included, to test the attributes of the Imperial AS and find out if it truly lives up to the hype and claims.

Technical details

The Giro Imperial AS shares much of its design with the existing Imperial II, which is a good thing, as I think it’s one of the most beautiful-looking shoes on the market. AS stands for 'All Season' and the differences naturally stem from its intentions - the Imperial AS is described by Giro as a shoe “engineered to deliver elite-level efficiency, comfort, and protection in colder and wetter riding conditions.”

To ensure the Imperial AS delivers on these claims, Giro has introduced changes to differentiate it from its breathable, airy sibling, the Imperial. The Imperial AS is constructed around a forged carbon-fibre sole. For years, Giro used Easton-developed outsoles, but no more. This time, the sole is made to its own proprietary design.

The sole is bonded to a two-layer upper made from warp-knitted mesh and 0.25mm TPU skin that is claimed to balance ventilation with weather resistance while still delivering the support Giro shoes have built a reputation on.

Each shoe is fitted with a pair of Boa Li2 dials that offer incremental micro-adjustability - the Boas use a textile-style lace called TX6 as opposed to wire systems, which is less abrasive on the tongue and also provides better tension, together with the soft lace guides when tightening.

The Imperial AS is available in two colours: white with silver Boa Li2 dials and black with gold Li2 dials. Both options look exquisite. While black shoes make sense if you live in a country where the weather is challenging year-round, the colour isn't immune to marks and discolouration. To me, the white does a great job of highlighting the shoe's contours and design and wipes clean with ease.

The silver dials also help to offset the white and add a premium and refined look - much like its rivals from Q36.5 and Nimbl. There's a nice design touch under the Boas that echoes its relationship with the regular Imperial II and a series of laser-cut perforations for ventilation on warmer days.

While the shoe is much the same as the version used by Giro’s professional riders, the main difference comes in with the Giro logos on the outer flanks and just below the tongue. The professional athlete shoes utilise a bigger Giro logo on the sides and have their name printed below the tongue - a nice personal touch that I appreciate. Other than that, the shoe is identical in material and construction.

In terms of weight, Giro claims the Imperial AS will weigh 234g per shoe (in size EU43). On the scales, our EU43 test shoes weighed 236g per shoe.

The Imperial AS is available in a host of sizes ranging from EU36-48, including half sizes from EU42.5-45.5.

Performance

The Imperial AS has a similar fit to the Imperial II - it’s roomy with plenty of wiggle room in the toe box. With wide feet, I struggle to find shoes that fit me well, but the Imperial AS has some flex in the TPU skin that conforms to my feet and provides good comfort. The Boa Li2 dials are superb as always, allowing a tailored level of retention that is evenly distributed across the top of the foot without compressing the tendons. A lot of this comes down to the lacing pattern, TX6 lace material, and lace guides, which are more supple and responsive to the even spread of tension. The stiffness from the carbon fibre sole is as expected from Giro - power transfer is crisp and immediate, and there are no hot spots and areas of discomfort through the footbed and sole.

I’ve put these shoes through a thorough testing regimen in two countries and under various conditions, including some fairly hot days in Spain during the recent Merida Reacto global press launch. While dubbed a shoulder season/all season shoe by Giro, it’s not as airy as the mesh-style upper designs of the Empire and Imperial II shoes, but it’s still not what I'd call overly hot either. The ventilation ports in the upper allow for decent levels of breathability and should be fine to use throughout the season, even in hotter climates.

On the other end of the spectrum, they're not what I'd call winter shoes either, so you’ll need to pair them with overshoes or toe covers when temperatures dip below 5 degrees Celsius. In terms of how the shoes perform in the wet, they do exactly what they say on the tin - keep your feet dry for the most part and resist dirt, road spray, and discolouration caused by grit.

They are not immune to marking, especially in white, but most scuffs will wipe off. Of course, you’ll need to apply some elbow grease to remove the tough marks, but the body of the shoe has remained as new, with very little staining.

The only area that has marked a bit is the tongue, and that’s due to the lacing of the Boas and their contact with the upper - the wires and subtly moving parts seem to work grit and dirt into the surface layer of the TPU skin here. As a tip, I suggest paying special attention to this area and cleaning it thoroughly after every ride to keep stains and marks at bay and prevent them from ruining the aesthetic over time.

While Spain tested the shoe's thermoregulation, all my dirt and foul-weather testing took place back in the UK. I used the shoe in cold temperatures with and without overshoes, as well as during some really damp rides, to test the TPU skin’s resilience to muck and grime. I came away positively impressed across all scenarios, especially with the white colour’s resistance to staining. A simple wipe with a cloth removes all dirt and mud, and the material has stayed stain-free to date.

More testing remains, but the signs are positive, and I reckon there’s a strong possibility Giro has created the ultimate all-season white shoe.

Value

The Giro Imperial AS is undeniably one of the best shoes I’ve used during the shoulder seasons. While I haven’t yet tested them during the depths of winter, they are touted by Giro as an all-season, Spring Classics shoe, meaning they are designed for when the temperatures start to get a little warmer, so we’re talking eight degrees and more here. Sure, you can save yourself the headache of white-shoe ownership and opt for the stunning black-and-gold Boa Li2 dial combination, but the Imperial AS look best in white, and I can confidently say they resist dirt and stains.

As a premium option, the Giro Imperial AS comes in at £399.99 / $499.95 / €449.99, which is neither the cheapest nor most expensive option in the best cycling shoe space. Its main rivals are the Q36.5 Unique Pro Road and Nimble Exceed Ultimate Glide shoes, both of which cost significantly more and don’t feature the same weather- and dirt-proofing materials for use in most conditions. Shoes, like helmets and bib shorts, come down to personal preferences and the shape of your body, but I truly feel Giro has answered the cries of the all-weather cyclist, who sport white kit come rain or shine.

Add to that the impressive fit, comfort, stiffness, and general all-round performance, and I think Giro has quite simply created a shoe that will last the entire season and more if you look after it.

Tech specs

• Price: £399.99 / $499.95 / €449.99
• Weight: 234g (claimed), 236g (actual, size EU43)
• Outsole: Forged carbon fibre
• Retention: Twin Boa Li2
• Colours: 2
• Sizes: EU36-48 (including half sizes)