Words: Liam Friary
Images: Cameron Mackenzie
RRP: $699
Distributor: Worralls

Shoes matter in everyday life and, arguably, even more so in cycling.  When it comes to cycling, shoes are one of the few touchpoints with the bike and the one that drives it forward. So, a good shoe is important not only for forward propulsion but also comfort. Striking the right balance between these two objectives can be challenging. We’re often told stiffer shoes are better because they can deliver more power to the pedals, but they can also be too stiff and uncomfortable. On the other hand, a comfortable shoe might feel great but may not produce adequate power. It really depends on what you want from a cycling shoe, and your riding style. Recently, there’s been a strong push in the gravel race scene to get closer to road shoes, as some professional riders are wearing them and because  they’re often stiffer and more locked in than a typical off-road shoe. However, there are still trade-offs to consider.

Giro has recently released the Gritter gravel shoe, which I’ve been wearing for the past few months. It’s designed for gravel racers or those seeking a high-end shoe. It’s worth mentioning upfront that the shoes sit towards the top end of the price range. So, perhaps check with your CFO (Chief Finance Officer) before reading further. The Dual Zone BOA® Fit System features a low-profile L6 dial with micro-adjustable precision fit, providing increased comfort and power. Synchwire construction, a stitchless upper, is vented and reinforced to create a lightweight cycling shoe with incredible airflow and structural integrity. This advanced composite of thermo-bonded film offers overall durability, while a non-woven internal sheet distributes force from the closure system to the upper for direct power transfer. Mono-filament mesh provides ventilation. Rock Print reinforcement along the toe and heel offers abrasion resistance and enhanced durability. A lightweight,all-day comfort approach has been taken through these chosen materials.

At first glance, I was drawn to the clean and minimalist design of the Giro Gritter Bike Shoes. As someone with a wider foot, I was curious to see how they would fit. In the past, some Giro shoes have run a bit narrow, especially around the toe box. However, just putting them on in my garage, they felt comfortable. Of course, time and riding would tell. I usually try to wear the shoes around a bit before riding to break them in. After a few rides, the shoes started to feel good. It’s all about getting the shoes to conform to your foot. Initially, I noticed that they were stiff and responsive to my pedal stroke. The upper of the shoes is made from Syncwire, a laminate material that combines a breathable ripstop fabric with a durable film. This makes the shoes strong and breathable while also encouraging power transfer to the closure system. One thing I didn’t like initially was the way the shoe opened. It was quite stiff, especially in the tongue. However, this has improved over time, but they remain quite rigid.

I opted for a few longer rides, over six hours, to test their performance. One of these was in Australia, where the weather temperature soared over 25 degrees. I also took a few local rides, including our recent trip to Dunedin (featured in this issue). So, I’ve had ample time to wear these shoes in a variety of climates. On the warmer rides, the breathability was adequate and I didn’t experience much discomfort on the longer rides. However, a few times, I had to adjust the BOA dials a bit as my feet started to swell. This is typical of most shoes during longer rides, and the dual BOA Li2 dials made it easy to get my foot comfortable. Instead of popping the BOA dials out, you twist them counterclockwise a click or two to loosen them up. Having two BOA dials allows me to dial in the fit across the whole foot, and they also notch up easily on-the-fly. Despite being exposed to dust and gravel, they’ve held up surprisingly well, showing little wear after a few months.

During these rides, the Gritter’s true nature became evident – these are stiff shoes designed for performance. The full-length carbon plate provides maximum power transfer, making them feel more akin to high-end race road cycling shoes. Despite this, they still offer a good level of all-day comfort, allowing me to ride for hours without feeling any hot spots or pressure points. However, there’s a trade-off: the high price tag comes with a desire for an all-out stiff race shoe. For me, the Gritters will be on high rotation, but I’ll likely opt for intense gravel rides and races where I want to maximise power and performance.