Giro Imperial Road Cycling Shoe

Exceedingly expensive but ever so light with great ventilation and supreme comfort, Giro's new Imperial shoes are an impressive addition to the US company's range, and a top choice if you want a light shoe that doesn't compromise on durability and foot retention.

• Pros: Light, fit, comfort, support, durability, easy adjust dials
• Cons: Expensive

Making a shoe that is light is easy, but making a light shoe that doesn't skimp on comfort, durability, support and retention is altogether more tricky. Specialized's stunning S-Works Exos shoes I tested recently show the current limit of lightweight shoes at the expense of durability and foothold.

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The Imperials aren't the lightest shoes on the market, but pick them up and they are still clearly damn light compared to many. If you're a committed weight weenie these will still appeal. And thanks to the construction of the upper and the twin Boa dials, the fit is good and they keep your feet locked in place.

They're constructed from some fancy lightweight materials. The company's own Synchwire non-stretch mesh is combined with a Teijin TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane); the former keeps the weight low and provides ventilation and the latter provides the support, shape and durability. It's a one-piece upper with just a single seam down the back of the heel.

To provide cooling air and keep the weight low, panels of the outer TPU have been removed to reveal the mesh. Around the rear of the shoe, this provides the unusual ability to see through the shoes – best make sure you're wearing clean socks.

Underneath is a full-carbon Easton EC90 SLX2 sole, as used on other Giro shoes, with a replaceable heel pad and three-hole cleat drillings with decent markings to line up said cleats.

Inside are the company's own SuperNatural Fit Kit insoles, which have the neat feature of swappable arch pads to provide the fit you need – high, medium or low.

A pair of Boa IP1 perform the task of cinching the upper down onto your foot and providing the necessary foot retention when you are dishing out some serious watts. They're easy to use, with a quiet soft click and micro-adjustment in both directions. Pop them up to release all the tension and remove the shoes. The wires are laced through soft lace guides designed to prevent any pinch spots and mimic the comfort of laces.

A generously padded tongue distributes pressure well.

I've always been a fan of Giro shoes – the Empire E70 Knit is still one of my current faves – with the fit and shape working for my feet. These were no different. The arch support is a nice feature and lets you experiment with ease, without having to spend money on expensive custom soles. It can't match getting a professional shoe and sole fit, but is better than the non-adjustable wafer thin soles you get in some rival brand shoes.

As in the hand, these shoes feel very light on your feet. Clip in and start pedalling and it's clear the carbon sole provides a high level of stiffness; there's absolutely no flex under my measly power on town sign sprints or climbing steep hills out of the saddle.

The ventilation and general airiness has been a blessing in the current hot weather. Some shoes can slowly bake your feet on longer rides but the Imperials have kept mine refreshingly cool on some of my longer rides in temperatures nudging well above my comfort zone.

Comfort is good too. The upper is nicely shaped and follows the contours of the foot well. There's generous space around the toes and the heel is locked securely in place to prevent lift.

The two Boa dials work together nicely to let you tighten the wires evenly to fasten the upper down over the top of your foot. Once dialled in, they never needed adjusting during a ride.

Compared to the S-Works Exos shoes I mentioned earlier, the Imperials feel more stable with better foot retention thanks to the twin Boa dials and the firmer material. I adore the comfort of the front of the Exos shoes, but for performance-focused riding when you're dishing out the power, the support provided by the Imperials just nudges it while retaining a high level of comfort.

The foothold isn't quite on the same level as a heavier shoe, such as a Sidi Shot or Specialized S-Works 7. The upper feels softer and more flexible; it's not that your foot can move around, it just doesn't feel as locked in as with the Sidi or Specialized.

> Buyer's Guide: 19 of the best performance road cycling shoes

Ultimately, the Imperials provide a halfway house between extreme weight saving and all-day durability and support that should mean they have a broader appeal.

They might not be the lightest shoes on the market, but they appear to strike a nice balance of low weight and practical everyday durability. For racing, fast training rides and mountainous gran fondos, the Imperials would be an easy choice. They are very pricey, though not nearly as expensive as some shoes you could fork out some serious wedge for.

They're about the same price as the top-end Sidi, which for many is a benchmark performance shoe, but the Italian shoes are grossly overweight for the price. A mark to the Giros there then.

> Buyer's Guide: Essential advice for choosing the right cycling shoes

If you want a lighter shoe, the Imperials are beaten to the weight weenie crown by the S-Works Exos, but they cost a whopping £450, and they also don't have the same level of support or durability as the Imperials. So another mark to the Giros.

If you don't mind giving away 80g, the £99.99 FLR F-11 Pro Road Racing Shoes show how far lower end products have come on in the last decade or so, from the days when Sidi was the only real choice for a performance shoe, to the current market awash with dozens of choices at all sorts of prices.

Verdict

Light, comfortable and supportive shoes for the weight-conscious and deep of pocket