Suplest Edge/3 Pro Road cycling shoe

Suplest's top-end Edge/3 Pro Road shoes feature a super-stiff sole, roomy toe box and an innovative foot protection system. Comfort is wonderful and the heel retention is perfect. The 'wipe clean' upper does mark easily, though, especially at the toe.

The first, and probably most notable feature of the Edge/3 is the upper. The 'Anatomic WRAP Tongue' is a two-piece construction that Suplest says 'allows a maximum foot hold and is comfortable at the same time'. An accurate description: the hold on my foot was excellent, with no movement apart from in the toe box.

> Buy these online here

It's made in Japan and constructed with breathability in mind, and that breathability is spot on. Wearing these on a cold day with no overshoes really highlighted the 'fantastic' airflow to my feet...

The thin construction of the upper allows it to really wrap around your foot, and after a few rides it formed permanently to the shape of my foot.

Movement anywhere in the shoe really isn't an issue. My usual issue of heel slip with anything other than maximum tension in the closure system didn't occur when wearing the Edge/3. That's all thanks to the combination of 'cat tongue' fabric and silicone gripper dots used inside the heel.

The funny-looking criss-cross pattern on the top of the foot is the Carbon Shield. As the name would suggest, this is a thin carbon layer that's designed to spread the pressure of the Boa closure system, preventing any pain. It works superbly well. I had no issues with pain, even when I ratcheted them down super-tight for racing. The two-piece construction and Carbon Shield do make the shoes a little difficult to put on, but I'll take that for better on-the-bike performance.

The insoles are made by Solestar, and are notable due to the fact that I didn't notice them once. They provide good arch support for my regular arches, although anyone with specific foot issues will be putting their own insoles in.

The Ergo 360 sole appears across the whole range of Suplest's Pro edition shoes. It's a thin, full-carbon outsole that has been designed to reduce stack height to a minimum. While I've never found stack height mattering that much, stiffness and the sole's ability to disperse road buzz are the factors that are crucial to a high-end shoe's performance. I've had no issues with buzz causing pain.

The Boa dials here are quite large. They work perfectly, with good incremental tension adjustment, but they are quite tall, protruding from the shoe more than others. It's purely aesthetic, but Specialized's S-Works 6 shoes, which Dave Arthur tested in 2016, look a little sleeker to my mind.

One issue I've had is that the upper, in this grey colour, has marked easily. This has been especially prominent at the toe area, where I've clipped other riders' tyres in races. Others might get the same marks from toe overlap. With black or white shoes, this is easily corrected with a Sharpie pen or Tipp-Ex, but I haven't got a way to remove those marks here. It hasn't ripped the upper, but cosmetically it's annoying. A ride down one muddy lane has also stained the grey stitching brown. Scrubbing helped a little but I'd suggest the black is a more sensible colour choice.

> Buyer's Guide: The best performance road shoes

The Edge/3 Pros are available direct from Suplest for €349, around £299, and at that price have some serious competition from the S-Works 6 (£310) and Sidi's Wire Carbon Air Vernice (£325), which Dave tested in 2015. All three are brilliant for heel retention, have dials for micro-adjustments and stiff soles for power transfer. Choice will come down to personal preference, although I'd suggest trying them all on if you can because the approach to heel retention is vastly different in each shoe.

I've absolutely loved riding in these shoes. The comfort was top notch right from the first ride and I've not had a single issue, even on rides over four hours. At this price they have some stiff competition but I think they hold their own in performance. If you've got £300 to spend on shoes, they're worth serious consideration.

Verdict

Superb comfort from the first ride, with ample stiffness and a roomy toe box