Udog Sempre road shoe review: mid-priced kicks for high-volume feet
The Sempre road shoes look great but really need two dials to compete at the highest level
I wanted to like the Udog Sempre; the looks, brand and TWS idea all appealed to me, but they simply did not fit my feet as well as other shoes I have used. If you have higher-volume feet and struggle with narrow racing shoes, then they might be just the ticket, but for me, they are close but no cigar.
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Appropriate price
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Tidy aesthetics
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Excellent heel retention
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Good ventilation
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TWS concept
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Suitable for high-volume feet
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TWS really needs two dials ideally
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No alternative arch supports
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No micro-adjust for loosening
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Not suitable for low-volume feet
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A newcomer to the cycling shoe market they might be, but Udog founder Alberto Fonte worked for Fizik, Kask and Pinarello before starting the brand, so should know a thing or two about cycling. Started in 2021, it offers a concise range of mid-range to high-end shoes with a distinctive aesthetic and some interesting technology.
Based around its TWS 2.0 (Tension Wrap System) design, the Sempre is a mid-level road shoe with a dial-based lacing design; there is a version that uses laces called the Tensione. There are a number of similarities between this and the Udog Forza gravel shoe, which I also tried and liked, but there are important differences as well.
Design details
The Sempre’s key design feature is the Tension Wrap System, wherein a strap passes under the foot and is tensioned by the single twist dial lace, locking the mid-foot more securely in place. Operating the dial is simple enough: turn one way to tighten and the other to loosen the lace entirely, so no micro-adjust for untightening; if you look closely, you can see the cogs inside the dial through the transparent fascia.
the TWS part of the lace system pulls and secures the shoe around the midfoot
The upper is made from a micro-perforated PU with a decent protective bumper over the blunt toe (but nothing at the heel) and a well-padded tongue. As with the Forza, the Sempre’s tongue is captive down one side so it can’t slip around and become uncomfortable; indeed, the upper cuff of the shoe extends seamlessly around the foot and along the top of the tongue.
Silicone grips inside the heel cup hold the heel in place, and there are perforations in the insole that align with a couple of small slots in the sole unit for airflow. The insole itself is fairly basic, with no alternative arch supports or anything fancy, but it is decorated with an image of a bike rider, which is nice.
Udog gives the Sempre’s nylon-carbon composite sole a stiffness rating of 7, but it isn’t clear what this is relative to? Presumably it is 12, as with other brands, but there is no universally agreed-upon scale.
Heel retention was great for out-of-the-saddle efforts
In addition to the two small ventilation slots, the sole has very subtle rubber heel and toe pieces; these are non-replaceable and not very substantial. Similar to the Forza, the heel of the sole heavily undercuts the heel cup; this is much less of an issue on a road-going shoe, unless you are partial to scrambling about off-road to take photos, at which point it is very easy to damage the upper around the heel on rocks (who? me?).
Two small ventilation slots and slim, integrated rubber heel and toes pieces are included on the Sempre's Nylon-carbon composite sole
The weight of a pair of size EU44 Sempres was 620g.
Available in Sempre Total White (as pictured) and Sempre Octane (which is white with black straps and a turquoise bumper). There are no half sizes or a women's version, but the full sizes run from 38 to EU48.
Performance
Strangely, the fit of the Sempre seems to me to be quite different from its sibling shoe, the Forza. While the size EU44 Forza felt snug and well-suited to my low-volume feet, the size 44 Sempre would better fit a higher-volume foot, in my opinion. It isn’t as wide as the blunt toe box makes it look, but on my feet there is excess material over the forefoot, which makes them feel less secure.
Hot temperatures gave an opportunity to test the sole's airflow
The single-dial fastening exacerbates this, as it is impossible to effectively secure the front of the shoe without applying excess pressure to the top section. This also hampers the TWS, which should, in theory, be a good concept; however, the inability to isolate each section renders it slightly impotent. The more expensive Cento model has two dials and probably works much better.
I rode the Sempres at home in the Peak District and up some quite big hills in the French Alps, and unfortunately never quite gelled with them. In part, this was because I was also using the excellent Van Rysel RCR shoes, which fitted me very well, and in part because of the lack of independent lacing adjustability. I spent a lot of time while riding fiddling with the twist dial, trying to get the right balance of front-and-back tension.
The Sempres were tested in the Alps as well as in the UK
On the plus side, the little ventilation slots did offer some noticeable cooling benefits, and on long, hot alpine descents it was interesting to play with my foot angle and feel the airflow increase or decrease. Also, I really like the silicone grips inside the heel cup; they never rubbed or caused irritation and simply provided a highly secure, locked-in feeling without requiring excessive tension on the lacing, which is somewhat of a contrast to the front of the shoe.
The difference in stiffness between the Udogs and the Van Rysels under power, while certainly tangible, never bothered me much, although it was a good demonstration of the difference between a pro shoe and a mid-level product. Prior to wearing either, I had imagined I would wear the RCRs for short, hard rides and default to the softer Sempres for longer outings, but in fact I preferred the Van Rysel shoes for both.
Despite being less stiff than a race shoe, power delivery was fine
This is a shame, as I really liked the look and simplicity of the Sempre and the idea of a slightly detuned shoe for big days out. The TWS should work well too, but seemed to be less effective here than on the gravel variant – perhaps because of the more substantial upper material on the road shoe?
Value
Ultimately, I was a bit underwhelmed by the Sempre. For me, they were overshadowed by the fit and comfort of the Van Rysel RCR, and by Udog’s own Forza gravel shoe. Whereas I was always happy to wear the Forza, the Sempre was not my default choice.
Of course, fit is a huge part of this, and another rider could, quite justifiably, come to the opposite conclusion, but if I had £160/ $209 to spend on a pair of road shoes, then these would not be top of my list. The TWS concept really is crying out for two dials.
Not as wide as they look, but with plenty of volume in them
In terms of value, the Sempre is in the right ballpark, though; Specialized’s single-dial Torch 2.0 is a fiver more, and Shimano's similarly stiff RC5 is the same price and only has one Boa, too. Giving it a star rating is tough – 4 stars might seem a bit generous given my comments, but there will be people it fits well. And the style and quality are spot on, and it is great that it offers an alternative fit to lower-volume shoes
If you like the look and idea of the Sempres (which I do), and have high-volume feet (which I don’t), then perhaps save a bit longer and give the two-dial Udog Cento a try.
Tech spec
- Price: £160/ $209
- Weight: 620g (actual, size EU44)
- Outsole: Carbon-nylon composite
- Retention: Single dial (Twist Tech)
- Colours: 2
- Sizes: EU38-48
