
User submitted reviews
Review by Lew
I have struggled with painfully cold toes when riding in weather below 45F. I bought these shoes because they sounded like a good solution and have not been disappointed. Have done a few rides in recent cold snap from 40 down to mid-20's and they keep my feet pretty comfortable for at least an hour when paired with a heavy wool sock. I am a US size 10, but sized up to a 45 which has worked out well. They are not bad for walking in and I like the appearance, even with the orange laces.
Review by Jonathan
Nice looking boot that I got for winter commuting. Hiking boot style, but fit is definitely cycling shoe snug. I wear 42-42.5 (size 9) cycling shoes, so I got these in a 43 for some extra room for winter thickness socks. I could could only get them on with thin summer socks, otherwise they were way too tight - not good for a cold weather boot. BTD exchanged these for me and I sized up to a 44 (as always, great customer service), which is a perfect fit with thicker socks.My commute is pretty quick, but a few miles today in the pouring rain and feet stayed warm and dry.
Don't forget to buy cleats if you plan on using these with SPDs.
Great styling, solid Vibram sole, and nice reflective detail on the lace loops.
Review by Anonymous
With the price I got these at (end of season clearance) - these shoes were a steal, but now I'm sad I waited. Other reviews mentioned sizing issues and narrowness being a factor. These fit just a touch small (I wear 45 in giro republic, these fit a tiny bit long in a 46 - if i were wearing these to walk - they'd be perfect. Though as I ride they aren't as snug in the toe box as I'd like).
This season I have been wearing overshoes on my republics - but with the weather as it is I'd arrive with water filled shoes. These shoes alone would work in damp weather (not active downpour) but the shafts are so short water would easily get in. I use the Alpineduro gaiters with these shoes and my feet stayed dry and warm.
Review by Anonymous
Purchased these to get me through the woods during a bridge closure on my daily work commute. Leaked on the second day. Giro's customer service said other people reported the same issue. Thankfully Giro's guarantee paved the way for a smooth return.
Review by Tired of winter already
Well, it is five stars for value when it is more than half off, under 100 bucks.
The sizing is truly the worst ever, if we want the Euro sizes to match up with US sizes per the online chart. I wear a 10 12 street shoe normally but I ordered a pair of size 47 and they are fine with two pairs of socks laced snugly. I suspect 46 would have worked OK too. However the chart shows size 47 matching up with US size 12-12 12 and I could wear four pairs of socks with a size 12 shoe and they would still not fit.
The uppers are made out of some kind of synthetic textile according to the sticker in the shoes, but they look like they are made of leather and seem quite water resistant.
I use a Crank Bros pedal that has wings that would not allow the cleat to seat well, but I have extra pedals, so I used an older pair of Crank Bros pedals that just have the metal loops for the cleat to attach to and they worked fine.
I don't plan on walking much in these, but I feel better riding in winter with these than the winter true road shoes I was using. And I have a bike with studded tires that has ratcatcher platform pedals and I can use these with it without taking the cleats off the shoes, which is a first for me.
My only beef with BTD on this one is that when I went online ten days or so ago, there were size 47 and something like 39 available. Today when I come back, there is size 46. Dang. But these 47s seem like they will be OK, even though that seems crazy.
Review by BILNYC
I got these on sale from here for I think around 130$....Im a roadie but used these with my spd pedals the entire winter and look foward to busting them out this winter!! I like my feet real war so occasionally throw toe warmer in there.....the sizing is not very generous, Im a size 9 and got a 43 and they fit me perfect with a mid weight wool sock and a toe warmer but I would not be able to add another sock or thicker one.....but i have no need to anyway, my cut off is 1520 degrees F and this do the job at those temps
Review by jamilkb
My value rating is based on getting these on sale and with my VIP point applied. I don't think I would have been as pleased had I paid MSRP.
I normally wear a US Size 10, which is normally a Euro Size 43. I had to go up to Giro's 45 before getting the fit even close to a 10. It's still kind of tight...but I think that's OK for my riding conditions. DON'T bank on wearing thick socks. I imagine that if your feet are prone to swelling then you'd likely need to size up even more than I did.
These don't include cleats, for this price I think they should. Maybe it's common for bike shoes in this range NOT to include cleats....i'm not sure. It's great that they include black laces in addition to the orange ones. I prefer the orange because it looks badass....but I understand some would prefer a more understated look. The sole is nice and thick, but these shoes are insanely and unbelievably lightweight. They look heavy, but they are lighter than my lightest running shoes.
They are nice and warm into the 20's. They have a nice narrow profile which allows for plenty of clearance at the chainstays on the heal. Walking in them is doable as the sole is nice and rubbery. The cleat will scratch on some surfaces as your foot rotates, but that's also going to depend on your cleat positioning.
In street clothes, these blend in just fine. Looks like a standard hiking boot. I actually wish Giro would make a true hiking boot version of them with a more flexible sole suitable for walking. The style is perfect. Reminds me of some old Vasque hiking boots I had back in the 90's....
The Cons as I see them are
-Size discrepancy. These run very small. Size up at least by a factor of 2.
-MSRP is high. Buy them on sale if you can. BTD has had the BEST sale price for the past several months.
-The laces are long and must be tucked into the ankle pad area. There's no lace restraint mechanism such as a velcro strap or something.
-Not sure of the durability of the outside shell material. It's some sort of fake leather?
Review by Anonymous
Despite the need for tying shoe laces, the shoeboot is awesome.
Review by Loko
I ride my bike for a living, and these are great! 15 degrees one pair of socks! Walking is not a problem, these are hiking boots with the cycling option!
Review by Anonymous
Got these boots to have something warmer in the winter for my commute (8 to 10 miles one way). I sized up to the 44 (typically wear a 42-43) to have some more room for thicker socks. You may want to size up 2 sizes if you have wider feet and plan to wear very thick socks.
I have not had any issues with cold feet even when it has dropped down to around zero degrees F when paired with a nice thick sock. The few times I have had wet weather my feet have stayed nice and dry. The boots seem nice and durable and my favorite feature is the soles. The boot is actually comfortable if you need to walk in them.
Review by Barry
I've had my boots for a few weeks now and they keep getting better as the break in. I really like how warm and dry they keep my feet with no need for a bootie.Plus they look really nice and come with a set of black laces if you want to be a bit more stealth. The only issue I have had is the upper padding was a bit thick but has compressed a bit and formed to my ankles way better after some use. I use these to commute and off-road in and they work awesome.
Review by jane
This is the Year of The Rain. Despite the rain and cold, these boots keep my feet dry and warm. I ride almost every day, sometimes 3-4 hr rides. Mine are over a year old and still work great. Just got this pair as a back-up because I love them and many bike shoes are only in men's sizes. I wear a 38 in this boot, same as my Sidis and Shimanos. I wear a 6 in Teva (just for comparison). The only trick is to make sure your pants cover the tops of the boots. That's the only place water gets in and it took me a while to isolate the source. I wear wool socks year round and a nice thick sock with this boot worked great in the upper 20s. A regular wool sock works into the low 60s. When it was windy and really cold, I tucked in a toe warmer.
Review by keith
I'm using these as my all-around Winter cycling shoes and they don't disappoint. I've worn them on some mountain bike rides and some road rides and my feet have stayed warm and dry. If anything, my feet may get too hot if it is only marginally cold outside.
I had some doubts about the laces, but that has not been a problem. There is a little retaining loop you can thread them through that mostly keeps the loose ends under control. It is nice to be able to adjust the fit with more degrees of freedom.
The part of the shoe around the ankle has some extra padding making it thicker so it tends to rub on the crank. At first I thought I was being followed by a bird, but it was my shoe squeaking. It's a mild annoyance.
Review by onewheelskyward
I've run these through two rainy seasons and here's what I know
- Not waterproof (at all, it starts in the toebox)
- The ankle cutout lets in more water from the top
- The fabric lace holds split after some time
- The vibram sole came unglued after a few months
I was wondering why during my second season they were so much worse. I found that the front of the sole had become detached from the bottom of the shoe, letting copious amounts of water enter the midsole. I glued everything up with some shoe goo after a few months, and that helped- but they were never, and still aren't, waterproof. I've even reinforced with silicone sealant and there's still a gap in the field somewhere. Add to that I only got through one and a half wet seasons before the lace holds started to give out (I've lost two so far) and these just don't work.
Review by Mark in Portland OR
These shoes are comfortable and do tend to be warm as low as 30 degree temps... But Water proof, NO.
I can't tell exactly where the water is coming from but even in light rain my feet are completely soaked after a 45 minute ride. definitely leaks somewhere around the toe box and the ankle seam.
I bought these because they very clearly state they have a water proof layer but it doesn't work.
Review by Anonymous
great fit, nice low cut, looks great, right warmth
Review by Anonymous
I purchased a pair of these as a present for my wife and she raves about how comfortable her feet are now on cold or rainy rides. Although they are not a women's sizing she got the same size as her other Giro women's specific shoes and they fit her just right. I am guessing the sizing might run a little small for a man. These are a fantastic multi-purpose cycling boot if they fit you.
Review by JohnnyBiltmore
Before ordering, I tried the Terraduro and Privateer locally in hopes that the last would be similar. Though both fit well, similar to my Sidis, the Alpineduros are more snug in the width, mostly from the insulated lining. Length is good but a HV version would have been nice. Really love the laces for adjusting fit. Also comfortable enough to drive in or walk around. Even with a thinner pair of merino wool socks, feet have stayed warm on 30-35 degree rides.
I did move the cleats in towards instep to keep thickness of shoe material from rubbing crank arms.
Review by Anonymous
I was excited to get these shoes as they were recommended to me to be weather tight and good for rain. Well after my first ride of 30 miles they performed miserably. Poor design a with ankle closure and water membrane.
I will try to return them.
Review by Wes
I have only had these boots a few weeks but they keep getting better the more I wear them. The uppers are getting more form fitted to my ankles which is making them more comfortable since I was not used to riding in boots. I have ridden them below freezing and they kept my feet warm even with a thinner sock. I have ridden them in the rain a lot and they have kept my feet warm and dry. Off-roading they have worked awesome when I have to get off the bike and are plenty stiff for riding with out feeling like a ski boot. I've had some other brands of winter boots and these are by far the best I've used for looks, stiffness, pedal feel and waterproofness. Do yourself a favor and ditch the booties and step up to some real trailcommuter do it all boots for chillier or wet weather.