The Sundried Men’s Road Cycling Shoes have a classy look to them, the black and white colourway looking smart, and they are well finished around the sole area. They are pricey for the spec, though, and they come up at least a size too small.
At first glance these look to be a quality pair of shoes. The manmade upper is soft and smooth and the way it wraps around the shoe under the sole is neat and tidy, with no excess glue visible.
You are also getting an Atop dial, which gives easy adjustment by turning it one way or the other, tightening (but not loosening) in increments, and a Velcro strap for added retention.
Inside the shoes you’ll find a ‘shark tooth’ internal liner which is designed to stop your heel lifting when pedalling. It’s not something you usually see on shoes at this price point and it works well.
Aside from this, though, the Sundried shoes are quite under-specced for their £130 price tag.
First up you’re getting a TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) sole – don’t be fooled by the fact that it’s been moulded to look like carbon fibre underneath the three-bolt cleat fixing point – whereas with these Van Rysels you get a stiff full-carbon sole for the same price. The sole on these Sundrieds is flexible for all but the most sedate of efforts.
Boardman’s Carbon Cycle Shoes aren’t the stiffest I’ve ever worn but they do offer more pedalling resistance than the Sundrieds thanks to a carbon fibre sole, and they are just £85.
Not helping matters is the sizing. This pair is supposedly a UK11 – well, that’s what it says on the box, but they are nowhere near.
It’s all been a bit Cinderella in the office trying to find who they’d fit, and after making their way to and from a size-11-footed tester’s house, it fell to me. I’m a size 10, and even then they are tight. With a pair of summer cycling socks on, my toes are rubbing the end.
That’s not so much an issue in the winter – though I’d struggle to wear them with thicker socks – but the warmth of summer or a long ride causing swelling would see these well under size.
The size guide (within the product pics) suggests a UK 11 is a 46, par for the course, but Sundried does offer free returns (just don’t wear the shoes outside before you’re happy with the fit!).
Breathability is decent enough, with vents running under the soles and more on the upper. The wind isn’t going to flow through massively in warmer times, though.
> Buyer’s Guide: 10 of the best high-performance road cycling shoes
Comfort on the whole is pretty good (once you’ve sized up) thanks to the plush padding of the insole. It’s quite firm but feels comfortable and supportive, and minimises the chances of hot-spots caused by the flexible sole.
Conclusion
Overall, looks aside, the Sundried shoes don’t really deliver on what you’d expect for the price. The flexible sole is below par for the money, once you’ve sorted out the sizing…
Verdict
Look good, but a higher spec shoe can be had for a lot less, and the sizing is way off…
All the deals displayed on our review pages are pulled from a constantly updating database feed of the best affiliate deals available. The criteria for deciding on what are the best deals is who is offering the lowest, delivered price. In most cases we will be showing the very best deal available online, but sometimes you may be able to find an item cheaper. If you can please feel free to post a link in the comments box below. To find out more about affiliate links on road.cc click here.
road.cc test report
Make and model: Sundried Men’s Road Cycle Shoes
Size tested: 11
Tell us what the product is for
Sundried says, “The Sundried men’s cycle shoes have all the advanced technology you need to increase your power efficiency and improve your ride, all while providing superior comfort and longevity. These will be the best cycle shoes you’ve ever owned and are comfortable and practical both on and off the bike.”
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
Sundried lists:
Two-way edging to the back prevents your heel slipping out and gives a locked-in feel while pedalling
Laser cut detailing to the top of the cycle shoe provides ventilation
The breathable soft inner liner wicks moisture and keeps feet dry
Expert fastenings improve speed, ease, practicality, and precision
Use the dial to fasten the shoes and make micro adjustments to the fit any time, even mid-ride
A stiff, efficient TPU sole provides excellent power transfer with enough flexibility to stay comfortable
Please note that these shoes are a narrow fit
These cycle shoes are compatible with both Look Keo and Shimano SPD-SL cleat designs.
These come up at least a UK size too small.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
They’re well suited to rides that don’t require a lot of power to be put through the pedals.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
The Atop dials allow plenty of adjustment.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
Come up small.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?
For the same price you can get a pair from Van Rysel with carbon fibre soles which are much stiffer. Boardman also offers a pair with carbon soles which are a touch stiffer than the Sundried, and £40 cheaper.
Did you enjoy using the product? Not massively.
Would you consider buying the product? No
Would you recommend the product to a friend? No
Use this box to explain your overall score
The build quality is good and they are well finished, but the spec isn’t that great for the money, so overall I’d say they’re average. They also come up small, so be prepared to return/exchange…
About the tester
Age: 42 Height: 180cm Weight: 76kg
I usually ride: This month’s test bike My best bike is: B’Twin Ultra CF draped in the latest bling test components
I’ve been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: Every day I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed,
Comments are closed.