Giro Privateer Lace MTB Shoe

My feet are hard to fit I guess. Or maybe I'm just really picky. But for whatever reason, shoes are one of my most difficult kit decisions. I usually try several in a wide range of prices and styles, because fit and performance really matter to me. For me, these fit the bill really well. Starting with the closure system, for me, laces are the way to go. I was not always a fan of laces (way too showy in my mind) but the truth is that they really do work well to relieve weird pressure points and control overall fit. These shoes are very comfortable. Next is the sole. These shoes have a really nice and grippy rubber sole, but they are still relatively trim--making them more like a road shoe than a hiking boot. I use these for gravel riding, so for me that's the perfect compromise. Then there is stiffness. If I have a compliant, it's here. These shoes are not the stiffest and I wish they were. But after a half-dozen 30-40 mile rides and one 80 mile ride, I can't say that its really bothered me that much. Power transfer could be better with a stiffer, full carbon sole. But mostly, these have done the job nicely. Next criteria is weight. The lace closure really helps there. These are not road-shoe-light, but they're light enough and much lighter than most of the shoes I tried. So overall pretty satisfied with the weight. Aesthetics--I think these are really nice, understated shoes. And price. These are a mid-range price shoe that have excellent fit and performance characteristics--even with the less than super-stiff soles. For me, these were just right. It took trying on a BUNCH of shoes from Fizik, Giro, and Specialized before I landed on these. And they weren't even on my list to begin with. I'm glad I found them and recommend them.

Very nice feel and lint heavy / bulky definitely for narrow feet . Classic look

I am a roadie that recently purchase a gravel bike and this is my first pair of gravel shoes to use with spd pedals. I purchased them in March and have used them for 7 or 8 rides each between 40-50 miles. The shoes have been very comfortable with no hot spots or discomfort. The soles are stiff enough for good power transfer. I like the traditional look with the laces and the laces hold your foot snuggly in place. I have a medium width foot with a slightly narrow heal. I would highly recommend theses shoes.

Fit is great. Look really nice and don't stick out as "cyclist shoes." I like low-key cycling stuff, so these are great. I use them for commuting and even on a longer gravel race, and they were supremely comfortable.

Needed versatile shoes with 2 hole cleats for general use on both MTB and occasionally my road bike. Analyzed various options to the point of exhaustion before giving these a try. I like them a lot. Nice fit, good value. Laces are cool, but you have to be very careful to get them tied and keep them tied or bad things will happen. Not sure I would want to use them extensively in the deep woods. As to fit, I wear a 44.5 or 45 in Fizik road shoes, and the 45 fit me just right in this shoe. Overall I'm happy with the purchase.