Huge fan of laces on cycling shoes. The fit and aesthetics afforded by laces are superior to a BOA type system while being lighter and less complicated. Thank you Giro for giving us a simple performance oriented lace-up shoe!
Got on gold sale....very light, stiff, comfortable and hi end
very lightweight and comfortable shoes. I've had sidi and theses are comparable in size as I wear 43 in both. lace ups make it so it is adjustable in more points.
I replaced a pair of Sidi shoes with these. I have a hotfoot problem and to date have not experienced an episode yet. That said I have not gone further than 50 miles. I like the light weight, they are super comfortable and I don't miss the buckle and Velcro one bit
These cycling shoes are the best. They fit exceptionally well, they are ultra light, and they don't have any technical weaknesses. I race in mine a lot and am the envy of many.
I'm a lightweight (150 lb) climber and ride a lot in the hills on the SF peninsula. I've been using Sidi Genius models for the past 15 years and also have an old pair of Rocket 7. Sidis fit me like a glove, but it seems they are getting so expensive, so I decided to try something different. The SLX Empires are about 125gshoe lighter than my Sidis (same weight as Rocket 7s). This weight savings is significant, especially for a shoe since that is rotational weight. When I ride with these I feel like I want to spin more. While not quite as comfortable as the Sidis, they are close. The main difference I feel in fit is the heel cup. The Sidis grab the heel more and the SLXs are tighter around the arch and instep. Once I'm on the bike grinding away and suffering I don't notice this however. Both are super stiff so no difference there I can tell. I do have to spend more time putting on the SLX and adjusting the laces (I actually have to use a shoe horn to get them on), so that's the only drawback. Otherwise I think they are a great shoe.
I wear size 10 consistently and bought these in 43.5. My Sidis are 44. They feel a bit narrower than the Sidis so if you have wider feet you probably want to size up.
Bottom line If you want to save some weight or like to spin, and don't mind spending an extra couple minutes putting on your shoes, you will like these. It may take some time to get dialed in with the right size, arch inserts, and lace adjustments, but once you do you'll benefit from these lightweight performers.
Road bike cycling, I having issues with hot feet the shoes give plenty of ventilation to help during hot days in the valley.
Unbelievably light and comfortable. Felt broken in within the first few rides. A definite upgrade from my older Giros. Hell of a price too.
