The Quoc M3 Air road bike shoes are light, airy and performance focused. However, the price means that Quoc is going to battle with the best in the business so can no longer rely on good looks alone. Luckily, after a few months of testing, I can attest to their comfort, stiffness and features that you'll struggle to find elsewhere. They're not the perfect shoe but they're not far off.
Check out more options at a variety of prices in our guide to the best road cycling shoes.
The cycling shoe game is a hard nut to crack. Countless newcomers have tried to make a name for themselves, kick about some good-looking shoes for a few years, only to be beaten into submission by the big brands. The likes of Specialized, Sidi and Shimano have such huge research and development budgets that it's almost no wonder they've managed to stay on top for quite so many years.
Quoc, though, is proving to be a bit different. It's a British brand founded in 2009 and although this is plenty less experience than the aforementioned brands, Quoc has proven that it can consistently combine form AND function. Earlier this year, for example, we tested the £130 Quoc Escape Lace Road Shoes and were delighted with their performance for the money. The problem that the M3 Airs have is that with an RRP of £320 they're going up against the very best in the business. How can they possibly compete?
The M3 Air is, first and foremost, a performance shoe, and in fact Quoc claims to have designed them with the feedback and wishlists of some of the most competitive cyclists in the field, including one Geraint Thomas. There's no 'timeless' or 'luxurious' lingo being used here like with the Mono II shoes, instead in the press release you'll read words such as 'high-intensity conditions', 'maximises power transfer' and 'innovative'.
Despite all this performance talk I think you'll agree that this is still a very pretty pair of shoes. The uppers are made from a two-piece laminated TPU, the soles are hand-laid carbon fibre, and, similar to what we saw on the Mono IIs, there's a 'tongueless' wraparound design.
Also in the box you get a fancy-feeling carry bag and, more importantly, a selection of arch inserts. These are basically pieces of foam that can be stuck to the underside of the insole to offer support if you have high arches. Quoc says these offer a 'custom-like fit' and although they are some way off the comfort of a set of custom-moulded insoles I do think this is a step in the right direction and one that other brands should take note of.
Speaking of fit, like all shoes, these won't be for everyone. Us Brits apparently have wider and flatter feet than many of our fellow European counterparts and so even though the toe box is roomier than the sleek looks might suggest, if you have wide feet you'll be better off elsewhere. The Quoc website states that the M3 Airs have a 'slightly racier, foot-hugging fit than other QUOC models' and to 'size up if in between sizes'. I think that's marketing talk for 'we don't make half sizes but we still want you to buy our shoes'...
Half-size limitations aside, these are extremely comfortable shoes, which I think comes down to two main things: firstly, the wraparound design helps to reduce the amount of seams in contact with your foot, especially where you tighten them down over the top of the foot; and secondly, the excellent ventilation thanks to the large ventilation panels which are mercifully easier to keep white than mesh!
Ventilation is an area that I often think is overlooked when it comes to cycling shoes, not just because your feet might get a bit warm but because of how the foot behaves as it changes temperature. A hot foot swells and so even a comfy shoe can quickly become an uncomfortable one if it restricts this; the Quocs have some of the largest vents I've seen on cycling shoes but without the usual drawbacks.
I've used the M3 Airs for the majority of the summer now... and the autumn... and it's the ventilation which sets these apart from their competitors. Compared with my S-Works Torch or Fizik Vento Stabilita shoes there is a noticeable breeze over your feet while riding. In fact, out of all the latest shoes I've tried it's only the S-Works 7 Vent shoes that can compete in this area. This cooling comes without the usual drawbacks, though: I didn't feel that the ventilated sections are fragile and they're also pretty wipeable.
As you might expect with all that ventilation, these are not a shoe I'd want to use in all conditions. Even with the large hole in the sole covered with tape, the air will whistle past your toes. In fact, Quoc has already thought of this and made a neoprene toe cover for the shoes, but I haven't used it so can't comment on its performance.
Out on the road I've used the shoes for all sorts of cycling, from summer centuries to late-season crits and road races, and they've never felt out of their depth. The carbon sole is just as stiff as the market leaders and the dual dial system (like Boa but not Boa) provides consistent support across the foot without creating pressure points.
One feature that I would like to see added is the ability to micro-adjust when undoing the shoes as well as when tightening. As I've said, the shoes are very comfortable and well ventilated so there haven't been many occasions when I've needed to loosen them, but there have been a few times when I've overtightened them only to need to start again. This is, admittedly, nit-picking but when you're spending £320 on shoes you almost come to expect perfection, and I think the dial system is one of the areas where these fall short. Stick on a set of metal BOAs and add half sizes and I'd happily give these 10/10.
I'm reluctant to talk about weight of cycling shoes too much in reviews; I think that comfort, stiffness and durability are far more important factors, but I will, begrudgingly. The M3 Airs have a claimed weight of 232g in an EU42 shoe, and our size EU43s weighed in at 480g (pair) on the road.cc Scales of Truth. That's certainly light – for example, the top-of-the-range Trek RSL knit shoes that we tested recently weighed 557g on our scales, albeit in an EU45.
As far as performance is concerned, these are right up there with the very best. They're class-leading when it comes to ventilation, they're stiff yet comfortable, and despite the price being very high, they're no more expensive than most other flagship shoes. The S-Works Torch shoes mentioned earlier, for example, are £350, the Fizik Vento Powerstrap Aeroweaves are £334.99, and the Trek RSL Knits are £399.99.
Of course, there are plenty of cheaper alternatives out there: the Van Rysel RCR shoes, for example, cost just over half the Quocs at £179.99, but they are slightly heavier and less ventilated.
Conclusion
Buy the M3 Airs if you don't have massively wide feet, don't need a half size and are prepared to spend the big bucks on a set of WorldTour-level shoes that look great and function even better. As I said in the intro, they're not perfect but they're pretty darn close.
PS: I've just got my hands on a set of DMT Pogis, so look out for a feature comparing Pog's, Rog's and G's shoes in the near future!
Verdict
Great looking WorldTour-level shoes that take ventilation up a notch
Make and model: Quoc M3 Air
Tell us what the product is for
Quoc says that the M3 Air is the product of over a decade of research and discovery in performance and innovation with comfort through the duration of any pro-level race or limit-pushing pursuit. They're certainly comfortable and the function more than matches the form; they won't be for everyone but they're a great pair of cycling shoes.
Quoc says: "M3 Air is the product of over a decade of research and discovery in performance and innovation. Designed from the feedback and wishlists of some of the most competitive cyclists in the field, a new last matches the comfort and natural fit of its processors while adding increased support at the ball of the foot and space in the toe box to eliminate pressure.
The two-piece upper is built from an incredibly light, foot-moulding TPU. Constructed in multiple layers, it provides natural movement where needed and offers generous mesh panels for maximum aeration in warm and high-intensity conditions. Pairing perfectly with custom neoprene toe cover for comfort for colder weather, the upper is engineered to protect against scuffing, the upper is hardwearing and easy to clean.
Parallel, Dual-Dial Closure lace guides and an upgraded wrap design ensures secure enveloping of the foot for increased stability and an even fit, with none of the structural obstructions created by a tongue. Complemented by a stiff, carbon fibre sole that maximises power transfer, the shoes come with innovative insoles with varying arch supports for comfort through the duration of any pro-level race or limit-pushing pursuit."
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
From Quoc:
Upgraded, comfort-enhancing last
Stiff carbon fibre sole with embedded air vents
Sizeable mesh panels for maximum aeration
Dual dial closure with fast-adjusting, parallel lace guides
Two-piece laminated TPU upper
Innovative, tongueless wrap design
Vibration-absorbing insole with ball-of-foot pressure point release
Three arch inserts for custom-like fit
3-bolt road cleat compatible (Look/Speedplay)
Pairs with fitted neoprene toe cover accessory
Rate the product for quality of construction:
9/10
Rate the product for performance:
9/10
Rate the product for durability:
8/10
No issues; the upper feels robust and the dials have a lifetime warranty.
Rate the product for fit:
9/10
Very good. I like the tongueless upper and the two dials spread pressure evenly. My heel feels snug at the rear despite the low profile.
Rate the product for sizing:
7/10
No half sizes available which is a shame. They are a close-fitting shoe and it might be tempting to size up to get the required width – please don't! I'd say they're accurately sized for the width of foot they're designed for.
Rate the product for weight:
9/10
Rate the product for comfort:
9/10
Rate the product for value:
6/10
£320 is a long way from cheap, but it's what we've come to expect for light, high-performance shoes – and less than some.
How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?
Surprisingly well. The shoes are pretty wipeable and still white after several months of hard use.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
Very well: they're stiff, comfortable on long rides, don't cause pressure points and are very well ventilated.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
The comfort.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
I'd like to see half sizes added and the dial system allowing micro-release.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?
As mentioned in the review, they're expensive but no more so than other flagship shoes, which in many cases offer less comfort and ventilation.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Yes
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes – unless they had wide feet.
Use this box to explain your overall score
They're excellent. They can compete with the very best, they look great, feel great and there are features which other brands should copy! I think the arch inserts are a great addition and the ventilation is almost unmatched.
Age: 23 Height: 6ft Weight: 74kg
I usually ride: Specialized venge pro 2019 My best bike is:
I've been riding for: Under 5 years I ride: Every day I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, cyclo cross, commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, mtb,
Herefordshire man fined after throwing parking ticket...
Drivers like you tsk tsk
I'm sure that sort of thing will come sooner or later. But presumably a key ingredient (and why you'd turn to a big brand like Fizik) is knowing...
"the cost to rebuild the M25 junction 10/A3 Wisley interchange is £317 million. The project is expected to be completed in 2025. "
I think they did, from memory back in the 70s/80s... haven't seen one for years though, our current milkman uses a standard van, albeit hybrid.
I believe that straight forks that are used on carbon frames are more dangerous than the old steel forks because they are more rigid, the old steel...
Yes, sleep apnea produces more CO... I'm not aware of any doping effect but what do I know....
That's true enough. But doesn't address my point that the chainset you get as a replacement will not physically fit chainrings from the chain set...
In all fairness, it almost certainly NEVER happened…
1) I'd love to see anyone tell an EV driver that they shouldn't be on the road or move out of the way because they pay less VED....