Giro Men's Imperial Road Cycling Triathlon/Aero Shoes, 7 UK

Product Information

To deal with all of these differences, I’ve developed a chart comparing the last characteristics of the shoes we’ve worn and reviewed here. For a given size, you can see whether a shoe has relatively more or less of each key dimension versus the average fit of the shoes we’ve tested. Overall, we found the S-Works Torch to be a very comfortable pair of high-performance cycling shoes. The outsole is as stiff and the power transfer is as good as any previous S-Works or other models we’ve ridden.

Phinney wanted the laces because he was looking for a way to keep his shoes as aero as possible. I'm not aware of any wind tunnel testing I can point to but laces minimise bumps and protrusions and Bradley Wiggins seemed to see some value in the design given he chose them for his hour record. It's also relatively easy to cover the actual laces which is something Swenson did, using a chopped up arm warmer, when he won the 2023 Leadville 100 mountain bike race. There's also another advantage to the laces though and that's what the SLX version of the Empire leans into. The foundation of the shoe’s upper is a micro-mesh for a little stretch and plenty of breathability, then a Tijin microfibre reinforcement layer is applied. This gives the upper its structure, which is finished with a microfibre film top sheet — replete with padded sections. Also, while most of the shoes in this review are so close in weight as to be virtually indistinguishable, the Wire feels and is heavier than most by about 50 grams per shoe. That starts to get noticeable. You do pay a slight performance penalty for the leather upper. They feel more flexible than the synthetic leather most every other top shoe uses these days, so they give a little bit more on the upstroke.

There’s also a ton of room for my size D-width feet in the toe box, as much as I’ve felt in any other road shoes and far more than most. I almost feel guilty that my toes should be so free in shoes that fit so comfortably snug but are otherwise so stiff.

This wrap design, in combination with IP1 Boa dials, gives me a fit and level of stiffness on my upstroke that I haven’t felt with other shoes this comfortable.Unlike any shoes I’ve worn before, the DMT SH10 gives me the sense that I’m riding barefoot yet with a very strong connection to my pedals. The combination of knit uppers and hot-spot-free closures dials, laces, and guides make it feel that my feet are moving along topless. Don’t Like: Also, like Campagnolo, Sidi seems fixed on its way of doing things. Unfortunately, that model differs from a growing range of equally well-performing and less costly shoe options. Like: Fellow tester and regular racer Miles, whose feet work well with the historically narrower, flatter last characteristics of Giro shoes, feels the Imperial is one of the best fitting and most comfortable Giro or any shoes he’s ever worn. While the upper is stiff and well-ventilated with pinholes throughout, it has a cardboard-like feel. The tongue area, sewn into the outside of the upper rather than free-standing, has an extra layer of material and seems twice as stiff as the upper. Again, that’s good for power transfer but is not the most comfortable of approaches. They may not be the lightest model in the line-up - that spot is reserved for the 160g Prolight Techlace - but at 224g (actual weight) per shoe it’s certainly no heavyweight. The Easton EC90 SLX 2 carbon-fibre soles are stiff and responsive providing a solid platform from which to pedal - and while there's no flex, this has done little to impact comfort when spending several hours on the bike.

You want efficient power transfer so that the energy you deliver from your legs goes to your pedals with minimal loss through your shoes. A comfortable fit makes it possible to deliver that power hour after hour without your feet ever complaining. Shoes that are good-looking to you and perhaps others motivate your performance and enhance your enjoyment on the road. And a reasonable price, at least compared to what we other options we have to get top cycling gear performance, well we always want that. Efficient power transfer depends on two things: 1) how stiff the outsole is and 2) how closely your shoe moves with your foot. With a stiff sole and a fit that holds your foot firmly to that shoe so that it moves with no wasted effort, you’ll transfer your power efficiently. Without a good fit or one that doesn’t hold everything but your toes in place, power will be lost somewhere between your foot and the pedal. As I described earlier, most of the top-performance shoes now use two Li2 or IP1 model Boa dials. One is typically placed at the top of the shoe that closes it just below your ankle. The second goes lower down your shoe to close it across your midfoot. Exceedingly expensive but ever so light with great ventilation and supreme comfort, Giro's new Imperial shoes are an impressive addition to the US company's range, and a top choice if you want a light shoe that doesn't compromise on durability and foot retention. Don’t Like:On the hottest days, and we certainly had our share of those when I was testing these, my feet were hot in the Torch (Hmmm? Something in a name?). I’ve not had this issue in other shoes before. Perhaps the new upper material or the small, single vent in the sole between my first two toes was to blame.Depending on the shoes you buy or the needs of your feet, you may need to buy custom insoles when you first get your shoes. A lot of us just transfer the insoles we already have from shoe to shoe or buy a new pair every year or two when they flatten out or lose their shape. While the comparative last characteristics chart above shows the details, the DMT SH10 fit is closest to other Italian brands Giro and Sidi. The design of a road cycling enthusiast’s shoe, as with any piece of cycling gear, is mostly focused on delivering the desired performance level for a targeted cost and partly focused on delivering a certain look. Some designs work well in achieving performance goals, while others fall short. Some design characteristics, like sole composition, can be objectively measured against a performance goal while others, like a shoe’s attractiveness to a segment of customers, can only be judged in the eyes of potential buyers.