Quoc Gran Tourer III

Designed for adventurous riders, the Quoc Gran Tourer III straddles the line between performance-oriented fit and style, and the practicalities of bikepacking and gravel riding. While its dial isn’t the best, and the design might not suit everyone, it’s a distinctive shoe that remains comfortable on longer, warmer rides.

Design

The Gran Tourer IIIs boast a design of two halves. Above the sole they’re delicate, light, and road-bikey, which is reinforced by the ‘Lilac Haze’ colour that somehow becomes less pink the more you look at it. Quoc reckons this upper portion’s material resists ‘bad weather,’ but the multiple perforations will let in water quite quickly – you will need shoe covers for damper weather. They do, however, keep your feet cool.

They also pick up oil stains quite easily, making them nice companions to my nigh-on permanent Cat 5 tattoo. Quoc has been resistant to providing these in darker colours – they’re also available in a similarly light ‘Ash’ shade, which will probably pick up stains just as easily. Maybe that’s fine though? They look classy, and stains and scuffs are the battle scars of a gruelling gravel ride, there to remind you never to take part in such foolish excursions again.

Quoc has incorporated a 3M retroreflective Plimsoll line that runs around the shoe, dividing the airy top portion and the rugged lower half, and it’s reassuring to have this extra high-vis element incorporated.

Beneath this limit is where Quoc has put all the gnarly stuff. The lower part of your foot is encased in stiff rubber, with chunky, aggressive lugs for traction on loose ground, plus a pair of replaceable studs at the front for extra grip. Like the (more expensive) Gran Tourer XC, these studs can be replaced with longer ones thanks to an included tool, but as with the Gran Tourer XC, you probably won’t need to.

Performance

This chunky bottom undoubtedly adds to the weight, and at 736g per pair (without cleats, size 45), they aren’t the absolute lightest on the market, but the weight feels well-distributed and doesn’t hinder that airy, performance-focused feel.

The Gran Tourer III’s nylon and glass fibre-composite sole is one of the stiffest I’ve worn, but there’s still enough flex in the design to ensure you don’t join the Ministry of Silly Walks when you’re walking or hike-a-biking, and there’s enough grip and traction for confidence when carrying your bike over muddier areas.

Quoc has employed its own dial here, combined with metal-core (not the musical genre) laces. The dial is probably the weakest aspect of the whole shoe. It boasts ‘10-degree rotational precision,’ but this means it takes more turns to tighten the laces.

Unlike BOA’s system, turning the dial anti-clockwise doesn’t reduce the slack; it just releases tension throughout the system. I always found myself having to add a bit more tension after about 15 minutes of riding, and the dials aren’t exactly the grippiest when you’ve got gloves on.

Size and fit

A below-par dial is a minor niggle on a shoe that’s good for the duration, though. I sit somewhere between UK size 10 and 11, and the size 45 fits like a glove, but for my feet, so not like a glove at all.

As someone who’s prone to excruciating hot foot, the roomier toe area is appreciated. There’s also a little wiggle room around the heel, which is beneficial for people like me who have had more Achilles tendon issues than Achilles himself.

It’s not the tightest or sportiest fit, but on longer rides (I did a 100km), leeway for swelling feet or insulating socks is more important than sapping every potential watt from your little toe. One minor revelation I made in this reviewing process is that my feet are narrower than average, and yet they still just about filled the shoe at its widest point, so I would definitely try before you buy if you have broad flappy feet.

Value

At £170, the Gran Tourer III is positioned as a premium adventure shoe that undercuts the hardcore race-oriented Gran Tourer XC (£240) while removing extras such as two adjustment dials and arch inserts.

Compared to the Shimano EX7 GTX (£199.99), the Quoc is notably lighter and more breathable for summer adventures, whereas the Shimano prioritises foul-weather protection with its Gore-Tex membrane and neoprene ankle cuff.

A closer rival for fit is the Fizik Vento Proxy Wide (£229.99), which could be a better option for those with wider feet. The Quoc, however, remains the better choice for walkability and off-bike style, whereas the Fizik leans into a more aggressive off-road aesthetic.

For those on a tighter budget, the Rockrider Race 900 (£79.99) offers a very stiff nylon and glass-fibre composite sole and impressive power transfer for significantly less money. Its lack of upper ventilation actually makes it a more weatherproof choice for cold-weather riding than the Quoc.

Overall

While the dials are a weakness, the Quoc Gran Tourer III is otherwise a comfortable, airy, good looking shoe that’s well suited to longer rides. If your feet are narrow enough, it’s a classy option.