Quoc Pham Tourer shoe

The Quoc Pham Tourer shoe is a chunky, comfortable touring shoe, for the more narrow-footed among you.

There just aren't enough nice looking, traditional leather cycling shoes on the market in my opinion. Quoc Pham stuck their big toe into the shoe arena a few years ago with their pretty 'fixed' shoe, a very slim shoe designed for toe clips.

Very popular with those who enjoy picnics and coasting through the countryside dressed in tweed, at least in my imagination they are. The 'Fixed' shoe was small and narrow and depending on the width of your foot, I needed a size and a half to two sizes larger than what was said on the box for my feet to fit.

The Tourers aren't much different to the Fixed in terms of fit - you might only need to go up one size and if you haven't got delicate, slender feet then these pups are going to be snug. If the foot can be squeezed into these elegant cycling slippers then you will be rewarded with a well fitted shoe but it may take a couple of days wearing them around the house before you break them in.

In time the leather becomes very supple indeed and if you have Hobbit-like feet then the outside of these shoes even begins to appear a bit knobbly!

The soles are fairly chunky. I would have preferred to have seen the thick rubber sole with less of an aggressive tread but still maintaining the recessed cleat.

The laces do a good job of keeping your feet in when honking on the pedals but these aren't designed for overly zealous play.

The leather does a good job of keeping the elements from attacking your toes as long as you put a bit of care into looking after them. They aren't the warmest shoe - probably because you can't get a thick sock in there being such a snug fit - so maybe go up another half size if you are buying them for year round use.

The recessed cleat and moderately stiff sole allows you to walk fine in these without you looking like you walking like you have something clenched between your butt cheeks.

They are an elegant shoe which make your feet look petite, like a ballet dancer, which can look a little lost with anything but narrow trousers or shorts.

In summary, if these shoes fit then you then you are able to enjoy proper footwear, that look like shoes rather than football boots but also offer the benefits of being clipped in.

Verdict

An elegant SPD shoe best suited to the well attired cyclist with narrow feet (and remember to buy them a size bigger).