Giro Prolight SLX II road shoes review

As the name suggests, the Giro Prolight SLX II road shoes don’t weigh much, hitting our scales at just 235g for a size 45. You may have seen lighter weights reported on other shoes, but this is often for the smallest size. Trust me, these are ridiculously light.

In order to save weight the Giro Prolight SLX II road shoes do away with ratchets and dials, instead opting for three simple straps that offer plenty of adjustment and a secure fit. The design also includes titanium hardware on the cleat bolt holes and straps.

I really like the Easton EC90 soles too. They are as stiff as you like, but also very thin. With a stack height of just 6.5mm you really feel connected to the pedals. By comparison, the Fizik R3B and Sidi Wire have significantly thicker soles. The soles in the Giro Prolight SLX II shoes are actually the same as used in the lace-up Giro Empire SLX.

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The low weight is noticable. If you are upgrading from a heavier plastic shoe, or transitioning from your winter booties. It can feel like you swapped a pair of clogs for Cinderella's slippers.

Fit and Sizing

Being, very light, comfortable, durable and stiff, the Empire SLX shoes my favourite road cycling shoes, so how do the Giro Prolight SLX II road shoes compare?

Trying both shoes in a size 45 I found the fit slightly larger on the Prolight, so try before you buy, as you may want to go down half a size. I found the Prolights to be wider than the Empires and also have a bigger heel cup. Like the Empires, I found that these are shoes you can wear in, so initially they might feel a little tight in places.

Similar to the Empire's, I was impressed with the durability of the Giro Prolight SLX II road shoes. The synthetic uppers are easily wiped clean, meaning that should you get splashed by some mud, your favourite white shoes don't become grey thereafter. This is a big advantage over cloth and mesh uppers on other shoes.

Watch: how to set up and adjust your cleats

The three straps allow for plenty of adjustment and a secure fit. Powerful sprinters may prefer a tighter upper closure though.

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The rubber heel pads are easily replaced too, further adding to durability. Having worn these kicks on some hot climbs, I can report that the ventilation is good too and would happily recommend them for those frequently riding in warm climates. The antimicrobial treatment helps in this regard too.

Also included is rather neat travel bag and an additional set of 'Ultralight' footbeds with adjustable arch supports, to help you tune your fit - A nice feature you don't get with all premium shoes.

These shoes are very well made, but it is hard to escape the high price, especially when you consider the Empire SLX is cheaper. The Giro Prolight SLX II is a super stiff, extremely light shoe, just make sure you try before you buy as in my experience they came up slightly large. Personally, I will be sticking with the Empires as the fit suits me better.

For more information, head over to Zyro.