****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
Riding for 30 years - owned tons of great shoes and I’m a CPED. Feet are my profession. Pros and cons to these. I love laces. Agree that they’re still the best way to manage volume in a shoe. Euro sizing is the best way to size a shoe and these are spot on. With that said, these run a little narrow compared to most people’s standards. This shoe does not have a vet defined metatarsal head. Also, TEIJIN does NOT stretch. So don’t expect a break in. Otherwise, they’re very forgiving, the soles are STIFF!! :) ... and the full vibrant is awesome. Insanely well made. I don’t think it’s a $300 shoe at MSRP but $199 is a good value.No pressure points, super snug where I need it, no heel slip, grippy vibram sole.I have one very narrow, and one very fat foot. Previous Sidi and Specialized trail or CC shoes didn't get fit right for both extremes without pressure points from ratchet. Boa straps were better but not as good as laces.Tying these take me about 20 seconds longer than the ratchet or boa on other shoes. After they are tied, it takes an additional three to four seconds to tuck the laces under an elastic strap - very easy.I'm considering buying another pair to has a reserve - they bring me joy.Light, stiff, and very good looking. Great for short, fast ride (< 50 miles). Amazing stiff carbon soles that are great for acceleration and climbs. For longer rides, the stiffness will feel very uncomfortable. But I have different cycling shoes for grand fondos.In 18 years of MTB riding/racing I have never had a shoe this comfortable. I have mild planter fasciitis and even my previous pair of high end Italian carbon soled shoes left me in pain after a 2-4 hour hard ride or race. This is the first time I have been able to ride completely pain free. I have a wide foot so I did go 1/2 size larger than normal as suggested online. Shoe is very light, stiff and easy to clean.This shoe is perfect for my narrow feet (although with age, the feet supposedly start to splay out). And going from a Shimano M163 to this lightweight beauty, is like taking off boxing gloves and putting on a deerskin driving glove. It is probably the most significant update towards a psychological and physical edge since my change from Racing Ralphs to Thunder Burt tires for the rear, for flat out speed. This upgrade in shoe is that good.I would like to start this review by saying, I love Giro products. I have spent probably $3,000 in Giro Accessories over the years, including MANY pairs of cycling shoes - Privateer, Privateer R, Carbide, VR70s, VR90s and more.The Giro Empire VR90 shoes suffer from some of the absolute worst quality control, I have seen in any of Giro products thus far. I have now returned 2 pairs in less than 30 days for negligent craftsmanship. My first pair featured nearly a full inch of seam on the back of the heal that was not stitched closed. My second pair that I have just returned, many of the sections of tread block on the bottom of the shoe had their bonding fail and started to fall off, resulting in a floppy uneven walking shoe and perhaps my last Giro purchase.I understand that cyclists beat the hell out their shoes and we ask a lot, but I have had multiple pairs of Giro shoes last over 2 years without any of the issues mentioned here.Truly inexcusable for a top of the line, flagship product.Own the road version, and the mtb version is just as comfortable.Runs small. size up onePor este precio... una calidad insuperable. Se ajustan bien y en caso de incidencia, se cambia el cordón y punto.Carbono, piel, tres tipos de puente, clavos, cordones de repuesto y bolsa para transportar.UN 10.Envió rápido y buena comunicación con el vendedor.Perfekt super
