Which decent casual SPD shoes? Dzr, Chrome, Quoc Pham, etc

2nd dibs on those @tilover

Anybody got any experience with Giro Rumble Vr specifically for fixed gear?
http://www.giro.com/eu_en/rumble-5.html/

Have been using straps for 6 years and want to go clipless for the first time. MTB shoes, SPD cleats 100%. like the idea of more casual looking shoes when out and about.

Since these don't have any straps or buckles I'm not sure the will they be solid enough on my foot for riding fixed?

have seen lots trainer like shoes, chrome, dzr, etc. But I feel without something stronger than shoelaces over the top of my foot I will struggle to break.

Any advice appreciated.

I've had mine for a year and ridden fixed, never felt any lack of confidence in them being laces. Only ever had a foot pop up when the cleat loses its grip on the pedal.

That said, I had a pair of DZR and didn't think the build-quality was that great. Wasn't riding fixed in them but they only lasted 6 months. Giro feel much better.

I ride with DZRs and have for years. They only last about a year or so of daily riding, but have good stiff soles and the cleat is well recessed for walking.

I have been thinking about going to Rumbles but the sole seems too flexible. @mattioats, seems like you would suggest going for the Giros?

Anyone else ridden with both DZRs and Rumbles?

if anyone has the cash, the quoc pham hardcourt boot, is a lovely shoe, stiff, deep recess, and very durable. The only issue I've had is with the fabric splitting at the back of the heel, which I was told was a pre production issue, of the stitching being too tight. I had them on review so wasn't too fussed..

But highly recommend them

https://quocpham.com/products/hardcourt-mid-black?variant=33087074191

I've had DZR, currently have Rumbles for summer and Quoc Pham hardcourt boot for winter.

I think the sole of the Rumble is stiffer than the DZR, at least, stiffer than the ones I had (can't remember the model). About the same stiffness as the Hardcourts, but the latter are a bit nicer to walk in.

Tried the rumbles on yesterday. In my opinion, waaaay more flexy than the DZRs...

My girlfriend got me these last year for my birthday, but they are really uncomfortable around the ankle. She hasn't forgiven me yet.
https://quocpham.com/collections/all/products/urbanite-mid-brown?variant=5896328196

I guess some more DZRs is the answer. Cool Starry Bra etc.

I picked up a pair of chrome lower southside spd shoes in Chicago from the Chrome hub on sale back in 2014 and while I dont ride all the time, they've held up 10x better than the 3 pairs of dzr I got through before then.

I found the chromes I got didnt have the cleat recessed enough though, made it so they clacked everywhere and had a spot of my stride where I had little to no grip.

DZRs dont last well enough though, I'm on pair 3 and going to try something else soon.

I had a very different experience with the hardcourt.
My first pair snapped across the sole after 2 months of working in them every day. . . Then the replacement pair also snapped in the same place after two months.
Very disappointed.
They were really comfy, and had really good, deep cleat recesses. . . But from my experiences I wouldn't buy another pair.
Quoc Pham informed me that they were aware of the weakness, that they're not designed for 'aggressive' use. To me, two months of daily courier work isn't exactly aggressive.
They said they're working on a stronger version though.

I switched to some of the Chrome spd leather work boots. . . And I'm also unimpressed by these too. Shallow cleat recess, and really not as weather resistant as they claim.
But for now, I haven't found anything else suitable.

interesting, I'm not riding in them everyday, but they've been fine in my experience, had them for over a year, commute in my fizik's/sidi's and then do everything else in the quoc's. I would actually buy a pair despite the cost, only other shoe of this kind that I'd spend money on is the DZR H2O's which I also loved on review..

I've got them, really comfy if you're on and off your bike and got to walk around as well. Not had any problems with them unclipping.

thanks @mattioats & @Jonny69 & others. Sounds like worth trying them out then. Seems like mixed reviews on the DZR's. I'm used to riding in toe clips and trainers so these might not be the stiffest shoes in the world, but will be much stiffer than what I am used to I expect.

Found the Rumble's cheap here:
https://www.sigmasport.co.uk/item/Giro/Rumble-VR-Mountain-Cycling-Shoes/841G

£57 including shipping with code "new5" on checkout :D
(would buy in store, but didn't find any bike shops stocking them)

Will leave some feedback after I get them

those look great! the price kills them for me :(

Quoc Pham informed me that they were aware of the weakness, that they're not designed for 'aggressive' use.

Were they not made with polo in mind?

Put my giro rumbles through about a year of daily commuting and still going... Would recommend.

... And at the time they were still usIng their tagline "designed for Extreme cycle sport"

I hoped I just had a dodgy pair, but then when the second pair snapped in exactly the same place and they confirmed the weakness in them, I gave up.
I don't mind paying top price for things, but I need the performance to match.

Just binned my giro chamber mids after 2 1/2 years of abuse. Really impressed with everything about them. Would definitely buy another pair.

Tops out at size EU47. Boo, hiss etc.

God damn, had just been reading this and thinking how happy I was with my Hardcourt boot, then at some point over the past week or so the hard plastic of the sole snapped just in front of the recess. Only noticed it at the weekend when something felt weird.

Will get in touch and see whether the improved design has come out before I get another pair. Two winters' commuting isn't quite enough when other brands can last longer for less cash.

@cornelius_blackfoot how are the hardcourt for sizing? also anyone know the cheapest place to get them from?

It's better than the couple of months both of my pairs lasted! :)

I've had the same thing happen to me recently, felt something odd a couple of weeks back, with the left shoe, the one I unclip with, had a fiddle and can feel where the plastic last has snapped. Still wearing them, but don't commute in them everyday, they're mostly weekend and evening wear, and will do so until the outer wears away...

@HatBeard, they feel true to size, I'm a uk nine in Nike/Adidas, the nine/eu 43 in Quoc Pham's fit the same.

hmm thought i'd found a decent option for a new pair of shoes that look decent and work well but all this snapping talk sounds disconcerting.

may roll the dice anyways, birthday in 2 weeks and been struggling to come up with a decent present suggestion for the missus who keeps pestering me.

They'd be my favourite casual cycling shoes if only the soles didn't snap! :)
Comfort and the deep cleat recess are awesome... Now just sort that sole Quoc Pham!!!